OPINION
PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY January 16 - 31, 2019
Tinig Migrante BAYAN Canada Celebrates Peoples’ Resistance
By E. Maestro
The General Assembly of Bagong
Alyansang
Makabayan
(BAYAN)
Canada held its successful second
Congress in Toronto last January 19-
20, 2019 on the theme of “Celebrating
People’s Resistance.” The Canada
chapter is the third overseas chapter
of BAYAN Philippines, the other two
being BAYAN-USA and BAYAN-
Hongkong and Macau.
BAYAN Canada brings together
all progressive, anti-imperialist and
democratic organizations of Filipinos
living in Canada into a strong
multisectoral alliance.
Thirty official delegates from the
chapter’s 17-member organizations
participated at the Congress. A
total of 80 people registered and
represented member organizations,
allies, and partners across Canada.
Special guests from Europe, the US
and the Philippines also attended. The
Canadian delegates represented their
various cities: Vancouver, Edmonton,
Winnipeg, Barrie, Ottawa, Montreal
and Toronto. It is significant to note
that two-thirds of the attendees came
from the youth sector.
The Assembly opened with
the parade of banners and flags
as each member organization was
summoned in a roll call. BAYAN-
Canada immediate past Chairperson
Dr. Constancio Claver and Secretary
General Joey Calugay opened
the assembly followed by a land
acknowledgment by youth leader
Vanessa Gray from the Aamjiwnaang
First Nation
Eman Villanueva, Chairperson
of BAYAN-HK & Macau, delivered his
message of support by video and said
that they were “very much heartened
that
the
national-democratic
movement of progressive and patriotic
Filipinos continues to advance in
Canada…a testament to the deep
desire of overseas Filipinos to see our
motherland free from imperialism,
feudalism and bureaucrat capitalism
that lead to the forced migration of
millions.”
AYAN-Philippines Chairperson
Dr. Carol Pagaduan-Araullo in
her interview with TV Migrante
expressed the hope for BAYAN-
Canada to “revitalize, strengthen
and expand its membership.” She
stressed the importance of BAYAN
as an instrument to involve overseas
Filipinos in becoming aware of the
root issues that sent them abroad and
in supporting and participating the
movement for national democratic
change back home. “Through
BAYAN-Canada, our compatriots
can expose the current exploitative
and oppressive system back home,
educate and generate solidarity and
support from citizens of the world in
a systematic and organized way,” she
said.
Keynote speaker Renato Reyes
Jr., Secretary General of BAYAN
Philippines noted that the Congress
of BAYAN Canada could not have
come at a better time. “BAYAN and its
member organizations were leading
forces in the ouster of the Marcos
and Estrada regimes,” he said. “We
were at the forefront of the long
and arduous struggle to remove US
military bases in the Philippines. We
fought for justice for thousands of
human rights victims under Marcos,
Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, Arroyo,
Aquino and now the Duterte regime.
BAYAN chapters overseas have given
Filipinos abroad a powerful voice
and a direct means to participate in
the struggle for national and social
liberation in the home front.”
Members of several progressive
community groups and networks
delivered their solidarity messages,
including those from the Latin
American
Caribbean
Solidarity
Network, The Tamil Freedom
Coalition, Japanese Canadians for
Social Justice, CPC-ML, People’s
Defense and Basics Newsletter
and Migrante Fort Washington and
Maryland.
The Political Prisoners in Camp
Bagong Diwa in Bicutan sent their
message of solidarity which was read
to the assembly. The political prisoners
appealed for the continued support
of BAYAN Canada in the campaign
L-R: Secretary-General Rhea Gamana, Chairperson Christopher Sorio,Vice-
Chairperson Sheryl Anne Montano,Finance Officer Remegio Pajadura and
Propaganda Officer Yshmael Cabana
to release all political prisoners, to likewise inspired and encouraged
stop the criminalization of political by the tireless work that you do in
prisoners and filing of trump-up supporting the struggles of various
charges, and to help improve the oppressed sectors in the homeland.”
plight of political prisoners, e.g. the
The Congress elected the
right to proper medical care and National Executive Committee of
humane prison conditions.
BAYAN Canada for 2019-2022:
More than ever, overseas
Chairperson Christopher Sorio
Filipinos cannot ignore what is from Vancouver, Vice-Chairperson
happening in the Philippines. While Sheryl Anne Montano from Greater
we continue to organize and mobilize Montreal, Secretary-General Rhea
our kababayan in promoting and Gamana from the Greater Toronto
protecting their rights and welfare as Area, Finance Officer Remegio
migrants and immigrants in Canada, Pajadura, and Propaganda Officer
we also need to speak up and take part Yshmael Cabana. Congratulations
in resisting tyranny and injustice. The to the new officers! Congratulations
political prisoners in their message to all the delegates who met in their
put it simply: “To fight injustice is not sectoral caucuses to discuss plans and
a crime.”
campaigns for BAYAN’s General Plan
BAYAN Sec Gen Reyes put out of Action for the next three years!
the challenge: “We definitely need
To struggle for a just and lasting
BAYAN-Canada to be a strong voice peace is very hard. To resist tyranny
against human rights violations, and evil is to continue to hope and to
tyranny, impunity and plunder.” In his wage victories. To celebrate people’s
trip to Canada, Reyes acknowledged resistance is to stand with those who
the work of BAYAN member resist and fight back.
organizations when we said, “We are
Mabuhay ang BAYAN-Canada!
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