NAFCON Aims to Raise $7,000 for Typhoon Sendong Relief before New Year

PRESS RELEASE
29 December 2011

Contact: Jun Cruz NAFCON Public Info Officer
Email: info@nafconusa.org
Phone: 650-580-7382

For almost two weeks Filipinos in the U.S. have held various activities throughout the country to provide much needed relief for the victims of Typhoon Sendong (Washi) in the Southern parts of the Philippines. The calamity which struck the islands on December 17th has killed 1,453 people to date and left hundreds of thousands homeless and displaced.

NAFCON with its twenty nine member organizations throughout the country has raised nearly $4,000 and aims to reach a goal of $7,000 before the year ends through its Bayanihan Relief Effort.

Donations can be made via paypal at http://tinyurl.com/bayanihanreliefeffort, mailed in, or at upcoming events in several cities throughout the U.S. (Information for events and mailing locations can be found below.)

All funds raised will be remitted to BALSA Mindanao (Bulig alang sa Mindanao/Help Mindanao) who are coordinating ongoing relief efforts in the hardest hit areas.

In addition to raising relief funds, NAFCON aims to educate the community regarding the reasons behind the massive death toll and destruction.

Father Ben Alforque, former NAFCON President who was in the Philippines during the time of the tragedy says, “It was not the hand of God that caused the destruction. Government officials along with logging and mining companies were warned of the dangers from their terrible environmental destruction in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. But they did not listen. Corporate greed and government corruption ruled the day at the expense of the people, especially the poor.”

Terry Valen, current NAFCON President also commented, “There is a prevailing theme of sacrificing people for profit in our government that we need to change. We must hold President Aquino, the politicians, and the corporations accountable for their part in the man-made destruction and we should start by demanding a moratorium on all destructive mining and logging in the Philippines regardless if they are legal or illegal.”

###Upcoming Events:

Northwest:
Thursday, December 29, 2011 6:00pm -9:00pm
Bayanihan Vigil for the Victims and Survivors of Sendong
Filipino Community Center of Seattle: 5740 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way Seattle, WA 98118

Midwest:
Friday, December 30, 2011, 3:00pm – 8:00pm
Pizza for a Cause
Nancy’s Pizza and Ristorante: 8706 Golf Road, Niles, Illinois, 60714

Nor Cal:
Sunday, December 31, 2011 9:00pm – 2:00am
New Years Eve Fundraiser for Victims of Typhoon Sendong
Organized by Supervisor John Avalos, NAFCON, the Chair of Gabriela, and other community leaders

For more information contact: terrencevalen@yahoo.com or text at 415-203-0696

Mailing locations:

Cash or checks go to locations listed below. On memo please write: NAFCON Bayanihan Relief

Northeast:
Checks Payable to “Philippine Forum”
Mail to 40-21 69th St. Woodside, NY
Regional Coordinator: Michelle Saulon, ne@nafconusa.org, (347) 867 – 1550

Midwest:
Checks Payable to “Good Shepherd Congregation”
Mail to 4707 W. Pratt Ave Lincolnwood, Il 60712
Regional Coordinator: Nerissa Allegretti, mw@nafconusa.org, (224)-381-6888

Nor Cal:
Checks Payable to “FOCUS-Filipino Community Support”
Mail to 4681 Mission St. San Francisco, Ca 94112
Regional Coordinator: Angelica Cabande nc@nafconusa.org, (415) 946 – 9904

So Cal:
Checks Payable to “Tulong Sa Bayan (TSB)”
Mail to: 519 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013
Regional Coordinator: Alex Montances, sc@nafconusa.org, (253) 381 – 7444

Northwest:
Checks Payable to “Pinay Sa Seattle”
Mail to 5740 Martin Luther King Junior Way Seattle, WA 98118
Regional Coordinator: Freedom Siyam, nw@nafconusa.org, (206) 659 – 1130

For more information on fundraising and relief activities in your area please contact NAFCON regional coordinators nearest you.

For Immediate Release
December 22, 2011

Reference: Michelle Saulon, US Northeast Coordinator, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns, ne@nafconusa.org

Immigrants Light Up Queens with 1st Annual Lantern Festival on International Migrants Day

WOODSIDE, QUEENS, NY– Bright, colorful paper and straw lanterns lit up Roosevelt Avenue last night as immigrant communities from all over New York City gathered together in solidarity to commemorate December 18th, International Migrants Day, appointed by the United Nations back in 2000, through the First Annual Lantern Festival.

Themed “Lighting the Way for Migrants’ Rights, Diversity, and Solidarity”, the Lantern Festival was organized by Philippine Forum, a Filipino community-based organization with the mother chapter based in New York celebrating its 15th year. The event was co-sponsored by the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) and the International Migrants Alliance (IMA).

Participating organizations included Sisa Pakari Cultural and Labor Center, Frente Unido de Imigrantes Ecuatorianos (FUIE), Peoples’ Organization for Progress (POP), Justicia Global, the Filipino School of New York and New Jersey, Kalusugan Coalition. Inc., Kinding Sindaw, Toboso-Escalante Association USA Inc., Kabalikat Domestic Workers Support Network, SanDiwa National Alliance of Fil-Am Youth, New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (NYCHRP), Anakbayan New York, Anakbayan New Jersey, Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE), Philippine Forum New Jersey and survivors of labor trafficking such as the Florida 15 and Arizona 34.

The procession started at the BAYANIHAN Community Center along 69th Street in Woodside, where hours before, participating organizations held a Solidarity Cultural Program commemorating International Migrants Day. Solidarity messages and cultural performances were rendered by different participating organizations and local artists, such as Alex Sarmiento, Bayanihan Kultural Kolektib, Koba, Kinding SIndaw, Kabalikat, Sisa Pakari and POP.

The program ended with participants gathering their lanterns, made in various community workshops leading to the festival weeks prior, and proceeded to walk 12 blocks along Roosevelt Avenue ending up at San Sebastian Church. The procession displayed the lanterns, some with prints of passports and visas pasted, and calls such as “No to Labor Export Policy”, “Legalization for All”, “Stop Trafficking Our People”, “No to Deportation”, “Family Reunification Now”, and “Justice for Victims of Human Rights Violations” written or embedded on them.

The lanterns were then offered at the Simbang Gabi, the traditional Filipino evening mass leading up to Christmas day. The mass was celebrated by Fr. Julian Jagudilla and was coordinated by Philippine Forum’s Cultural Festivals Ecumenical Committee.

“We may come from different parts of the world, but as immigrants in the US, we share the same story of sacrifice, separation from our families back home, and labor that contributes to the American economy but remains unrecognized,” stated IMA representative Julia Camagong. “But even in the face of discrimination, racism, and worsening economic crisis, immigrants who are organized and united to protect their rights continue to inspire and provide a shining example of how movements are the key to genuine social change. That is the message of this year’s lantern festival in Queens, one of the most ethnically-diverse areas of the world.”

The US chapter of IMA was formally launched in New York City last October following a year of highlights, including the 3rd International Assembly of Migrants and Refugees in Mexico (IAMR), which mobilized thousands of immigrants worldwide to challenge and frustrate efforts of the UN-sanctioned Global Forum of Migration and Development (GFMD) to push a neoliberal framework that would lead to greater dependency on labor export and migrant remittances for economic development versus the development of migrant-sending countries to be sustainable, self-reliant and non-dependent on migrant labor.

IMA is currently working with local city legislators and allies to pass a resolution declaring New York City a deportation-free zone. ###

Frente Unido de Inmigrantes Ecuatorianos (FUIE) giving solidarity message, translated by
Herminia Sanchez of Kabalikat, for International Migrants’ Day (Photo courtesy of Robert Roy)

Kinding Sindaw, a Filipino organization from Mindanao, renders cultural performance
at the Solidarity Cultural Program on International Migrants’ Day (Photo courtesy of Robert Roy)


The International Migrants’ Alliance (IMA), National Alliance for Filipino Concerns
(NAFCON), and Philippine Forum lead the Lantern Parade contingent in celebration of the
International Migrants’ Day along Roosevelt Avenue (Photo courtesy of Jonna Baldres)

Kalusugan Coalition Inc. from the health sector carry their “parol”
at the Lantern Parade of the First Annual Lantern Festival in celebration
of International Migrants’ Day (Photo courtesy of Jonna Baldres)
 

The young and young at heart displaying their lanterns for the First Annual Lantern Festival
in Woodside in celebration of International Migrants’ Day (Photo courtesy of Robert Roy)

One of the colorful and meaningful lanterns at the First Annual
Lantern Festival in celebration of International Migrants’ Day
made by the Florida 15, survivors of labor trafficking
(Photo courtesy of Jonna Baldres)


New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (NYCHRP)’s
lantern carrying calls such as “Stop Human Trafficking” and
“Immigrant Workers’ Rights are Human Rights” in celebration
of International Migrants’ Day (Photo courtesy of Jonna Baldres)

Kabalikat Domestic Workers’ Support Network’s lantern for
International Migrants’ Day made up of Balikbayan Box
with passports and visas pasted on it as symbol for struggling
migrant workers (Photo courtesy of Jonna Baldres)

Lanterns by different migrant organizations being blessed by Fr. Julian Jagudilla
at the Simbang Gabi (evening mass) in celebration of the International Migrants’ Day
(Photo courtesy of Dominique Liwanag)

Some of the lanterns at the First Annual Lantern Festival in celebration
of International Migrants’ Day (Photo courtesy of Jonna Baldres)

Fr. Julian Jagudilla as the officiating priest for the Simbang Gabi (evening mass)
at the Roman Catholic Church of St. Sebastian in Woodside to celebrate
the International Migrants’ Day (Photo courtesy of Jonna Baldres)


The lanterns from the First Annual Lantern Festival offered at the
Simbang Gabi in St. Sebastian Church in celebration of the
International Migrants’ Day (Photo courtesy of Robert Roy)

The organizers and participants of the First Annual Lantern Festival in Woodside, NY
in celebration of the International Migrants’ Day (Photo courtesy of Robert Roy)

Please forward to all your networks!

Press Release

December 20, 2011

Contact: Jun Cruz NAFCON Public Info Officer

info@nafconusa.org / 650 580 7382

NAFCON Activates Bayanihan Relief for Victims of Disastrous Calamity in Mindanao

On the quiet night of December 17th, the Philippines was struck by another calamity in the Southern Islands of Mindanao identified as tropical storm ‘Sendong’.

Cagayan de Oro, Negros Oriental and Iligan were amongst the worst cities hit by flash floods and landslides leaving 650 confirmed dead, with more reported fatalities expected, and nearly 100,000 victims homeless.

The National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), with member organizations throughout the U.S., is activating its Bayanihan Relief  program for the victims of ‘Sendong’ in Mindanao.

NAFCON is collecting exclusively monetary relief (not material goods) and ensures that your donations go directly to the communities of the Philippines who are deeply and adversely affected by ‘Sendong’.

“As we near Christmas, we urge our kababayan to ease the suffering of children, families, and loved ones back home who were hit hard by ‘Sendong’ by making immediate monetary donations in the true spirit of the holidays,” said Terry Valen, NAFCON President.

NAFCON has established collections centers throughout the U.S and has a Paypal account. For Paypal go to: http://tinyurl.com/bayanihanrelief

Cash or checks go to locations listed below. On memo please write: NAFCON Bayanihan Relief

North East: Checks Payable to “Philippine Forum”

mail to 40-21 69th St. Woodside, NY

Regional Coordinator: Michelle Saulon, ne@nafconusa.org, (347) 867 – 1550

Mid West: Checks Payable to “Good Shepherd Congregation”

mail to 4707 W. Pratt Ave Lincolnwood, Il 60712

Regional Coordinator: Lorena Nabua, mw@nafconusa.org, (224) 678 – 3415

Nor Cal: Checks Payable to “FOCUS-Filipino Community Support”

mail to 4681 Mission St. San Francisco, Ca 94112

Regional Coordinator: Angelica Cabande nc@nafconusa.org, (415) 946 – 9904

So Cal:  Checks Payable to “Tulong Sa Bayan (TSB)”

mail to: 519 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013

Regional Coordinator: Alex Montances, sc@nafconusa.org, (253) 381 – 7444

North West: Checks Payable to “Pinay Sa Seattle”

mail to 5740 Martin Luther King Junior Way  Seattle, WA 98118

Regional Coordinator: Freedom Siyam, nw@nafconusa.org, (206) 659 – 1130

For more information on fundraising and relief activities in your area please contact NAFCON regional coordinators nearest you. ###

Please forward to all your networks!

Statement

December 18, 2011

Contact: Terry Valen NAFCON President

415.333.6267 / info@nafconusa.org

NAFCON Affirms its Commitment to Stand With All Filipino Migrants on International Migrants Day

More than four thousand Filipinos leave the Philippines everyday in search of work to support themselves and their families. Most often, the costs of emigrating totals over several thousands of dollars including airfare, government fees, and at times, payments to recruiters who promise assistance in finding work, training and obtaining the appropriate legal documentation.

Many Filipinos leave the Philippines, arrive in the U.S. and consider themselves lucky believing in the promise of greater opportunity and better work conditions associated with the mystique of the “American Dream.” Yet day by day, stories of Filipinos encountering horrifying experiences chasing this “American Dream” surface, highlighting a major problem facing migrants.

One example is the story of the Florida 15, a group of Filipino workers recruited by Sun Villa Ship Management Co. in Manila to work as hotel housekeepers in Florida. After paying exorbitant fees up to $300,000, they arrived in Florida where no jobs were available for them. In addition their visa and extensions were kept from them making them unable to renew their immigration papers on time resulting in their loss of legal status.

Migrants Struggle Throughout the U.S. and the World

Tragic experiences of Filipino migrants like the Florida 15, that are victims of scams, exploitation, and/or mistreatment are widespread throughout the world and particularly in the U.S. Many of them also end up undocumented, unemployed, indebted and desperately seeking ways to support their families back home.

Examples of these experiences include many who the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) support in their struggles for justice such as the Sentosa 27++ in New York, the Adman 11 in Los Angeles, the Arizona 34, the hundreds of teachers in Prince George County, Maryland, the over 12,000 workers in the Northern Marianas Islands and the countless Filipino caregivers and domestic workers facing slave-like work conditions and wage theft whose stories are still left untold.

Root Causes of the Migrants Struggle

“At the root of the problem is the Philippine Government and its continuation of the Labor Export Program (LEP) which generates millions in remittances that band aid a bleeding economy. There is also the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), a department under the Philippine government, allowing recruitment agencies to actively participate in trafficking Filipino people,” says Terry Valen, NAFCON President.

A particular example that substantiates Valen’s implication of the POEA’s role in human trafficking is the case of the Los Angeles Adman 11 where the agency involved was a government-registered and authorized recruitment entity. One obvious motive for government officials to look the other way or act in collusion is of course the profitability and payback of providing low cost and easily exploitable labor to U.S. based businesses.

NAFCON Stands With Migrants

To combat the widespread issues that face Filipino migrants both in the U.S. and throughout the world, NAFCON actively organizes migrants and campaigns to expose the failure of the Philippine government to deal with the root causes of the migrant workers’ problems.

On one hand NAFCON calls on the government to scrap the LEP and instead focus on creating jobs at home through genuine industrialization by harnessing the vast abundance of natural resources in the Philippines.

On the other hand NAFCON calls on Aquino to crackdown on the POEA’s role in fostering human trafficking as well as increase the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) resources to better enable them to assist the hundreds of thousands of migrants in distress.

For Filipino migrants residing in the U.S., NAFCON affirms the basic human right of all people to keep their families united, earn a decent living, and work hard to support their loved ones regardless of immigration status. NAFCON stands behind the over one million undocumented migrant Filipinos in the U.S. and calls on the American government to provide “Legalization for All!”

“America should stop investing its efforts in breaking up families and criminalizing hard working Filipinos. Instead it should focus its attention on stopping the real criminals, both in the Philippines and in the U.S., who participate in human trafficking and wage exploitation,” continued Valen.

To honor and celebrate Filipino migrants on International Migrants Day, NAFCON will be hosting activities throughout the U.S. For more information on these activities please contact the various regional coordinators listed below.

Southern California Alex Montances alexmontances@gmail.com

Northern California Angelica Cabande awake3eye@yahoo.com

North East Michelle Saulon mitchiko2182@yahoo.com

Midwest Lorena Nabua lorena.cpnb@gmail.com

North West Freedom Siyam freedomallah@gmail.com

Mabuhay ang Manggagawang Pilipino at Mabuhay ang Migranteng Pilipino!###