February 4, 2012 BAYAN marched in protest to the US embassy in Manila in commemoration of the 113th anniversary of the Fil-Am War

14 Photos

January 28, 2012 Groups protest plans for more US troops in PH

11 Photos

Powerpoint Presentation
Dagdag ng tropang Kano sa PH

As another year comes to a close, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the valuable help that you extended to us in many of our campaigns and advocacies. This was an interesting year for the cause of justice and accountability. And we know that a lot remains to be done for true and complete justice to be realized by our people.

We are glad to have worked closely with you on this journey, We hope to continue working with you on other advocacies for the coming year; for the cause of human rights; for the welfare of our people; for national sovereignty and genuine democracy and for a brighter future for our nation.

Muli, maraming salamat po!

October 14 – Solidarity action for #OccupyWallStreet

October 15 – Global day of action vs imperialist war and plunder

Continue Reading

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October 1, 2011 Bayanihan Alay Sa Sambayanan (BALSA) Relief Operation in Dona Pepeng in San Mateo, Rizal

33 Photos

Typhoon-hit community Dona Pepeng in San Mateo, Rizal says thanks to all those who helped them

October 4, 2011 Bayanihan Alay Sa Sambayanan (BALSA) Repacking of Relief goods for the Victims of typhoon Pedring

15 Photos

October 8, 2011 BALSA Relief Operations in Guimba, Nueva Ecija

54 Photos

Bayan marks 20th anniversary of US bases rejection by Philippine Senate

Anti-US bases activists and campaigners held a gathering today to mark the 20^th anniversary of the Philippine Senate’s rejection of a new bases treaty with the United States. Twenty-years ago in September 16, amid intense public pressure and protests, 12 Philippine senators voted to reject a new treaty.

Umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, the League of Filipino Students and Gabriela were at the forefront of the efforts to oust the bases. Past and present leaders of these and various cause-oriented groups gathered at the University of the Philippines College of Law to remember the hard-won victory of booting out the US bases in the country. (read more).

See photos here and here

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Mayroong kasabihan noon, “mapapatalsik ang pangulo ng Pilipinas ngunit hindi ang mga base militar ng US sa bansa”.  Nagmumula ito sa pagtingin na grabe ang kapangyarihan ng US. Nadidiktahan ng US ang gubyerno natin. Kontrolado ng US ang mahahalagang bahagi ng ating ekonomya. Namamayani ang kaisipang kolonyal.

Noong Setyembre 16, 1991, nangyari ang wari’y imposible. Nagapi ng makabayang kilusan ang pinagsamang pwersa ng US, gubyernong Cory Aquino, militar at malalaking negosyo. Walang nagawa ang panunuhol, presyur at pananakot. Sa lakas ng agos ng makabayang sentimyento, mga protesta at aksyong masa, itinakwil ng Senado sa botong 12-11, ang US-RP military bases agreement. (read more)

Lessons from September 16

By Carol Pagaduan-Araullo

When I am asked here or abroad what are the two outstanding achievements of the Philippine mass movement in the 20th century, without thinking twice I declare it is the ouster of the dictator Marcos through a people’s uprising in 1986 and the booting out of US military bases through the Philippine Senate rejection of a new treaty in 1991. (Read more)

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September 14, 2011 20th Anniversary Bases Rejection Forum

33 Photos

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Balik Tanaw: Protest Action vs US Bases

13 Photos

REVISITING THE DAY WE SAID NO! TO UNCLE SAM

by
Roland G. Simbulan
University of the Philippines

Grande Island, Subic, Sept. 12 –  It is drizzling Monday afternoon, the ocean water in Subic Bay is choppy all around Grande Island which on the google map seems to guard the entrance of Subic Bay from South China Sea. At least 25 ships, mostly commercial and container vessels float on the waters inside the Bay. A large tanker, with the markings NYK Hinode, floats near the Hanjin Heavy Industries Shipyards. More than 20 years ago when Subic was still the United States’ largest naval base outside U.S. territory, such a scene was unthinkable. For Subic, and Subic Bay for that matter, was an exclusive enclave for the U.S. Navy and the U.S. 7th Fleet that operated in the Western Pacific. Commercial and civilian vessels were then not allowed inside Subic Bay. (Read more)

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“State of the wang-wang address ang nangyari. Ang daming sinabi tungkol wang-wang, pero sa totoo lang, ang speech parang ‘buWANG-buWANG.’ Nothing so far on wage hike, land reform, pahapyaw lang ang human rights, walang sinabi sa bawas ng VAT sa langis… unbelievable ang claim ng lower unemployment. Mababaw ang programa.”

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“Sabihin natin kay Aquino, dahil boss niya raw tayo, ‘You’re fired! Kuha mo?’”

–Renato Reyes Jr., secretary-general of Bayan, on Aquino’s 2011 SONA

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“Dinaan naman natin sa tamang proseso, sa dialogue sa lahat ng sektor… Everything’s okay. Next year, tingnan natin, baka pwedeng mas malapit na.”

--QC Mayor Herbert Bautista on the contested rally permit issued by the local government to SONA protesters

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Giant “Penoy” effigy burned at People’s SONA

(2:45 pm)

Protesters cheered as a giant effigy of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino — 14 feet high, perched on a GI Joe military jeep, and shaped like a rotten “penoy,” or duck egg — was burned down during the People’s SONA to signal public dissatisfaction with the Aquino administration’s governance.

The depiction of Aquino as a rotten penoy is a commentary on the failure of his policies, which have led to a series of price hikes at the start of the year and the continuation of corruption and human rights violations, explained UGATLahi, the artist collective which created the effigy.

The top of the egg was designed to separate from the body, revealing it to contain placards condemning Aquino’s anti-people policies.

“Galit na galit ang mga mamamayan kay Noynoy Aquino!” said Charisse Banez of militant youth group Anakbayan as the effigy burned.

The flames leaping from the giant effigy forced protesters to back away amidst a cloud of smoke and falling ashes. But the demonstrators returned as soon as the fire burned lower, circling the burning effigy and waving the flags of their organizations: Gabriela, Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Migrante, and League of Filipino Students, among others.

It took at least ten minutes for the effigy to burn itself out.

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“Sa isang taon ng kanyang panunungkulan, walang pagbabago. Puro pangako lamang.”

–Lito Bais, President of the United Luisita Workers Union, on Aquino’s policies regarding land reform

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“Siguro naman gising na ‘yung mga pulis d’yan sa likod!”

–Datu’s Tribe after their performance, on the policemen at Commonwealth Ave who had fallen asleep while manning the barricade

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“Sa ilalim ni Aquino, hindi pa nagwawakas ang pamumunong manhid sa taong-bayan.”

–Elmer Labog, chair of Kilusang Mayo Uno, on the recent death of two residents in Pangarap Village, Caloocan City after security guards of an Araneta-owned company opened fire during a demolition

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People’s SONA ongoing, despite denial of permit to rally at Commonwealth

(1:01 pm)

Thousands of protesters are gathered along Commonwealth Avenue, past St. Peter’s Church, launching a program for a “People’s SONA” despite the refusal this morning of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court to grant a temporary restraining order (TRO) against a ban on rallying near Batasan Road.

After the issuance by the local government of a notice advising protesters that any rally during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) could only be held at the football field in the Quezon City Hall, militant umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) filed a request for a TRO with the QC-RTC, asserting their legal right to “peaceably assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.”

Though the TRO was not granted, mass demonstrators continued the march until they were halted by a police barricade past St. Peter’s Church, near the intersection of Commonwealth Ave and Batasan Road.

“This is a peaceful march and we condemn the curtailment of our rights,” said Bayan Secretary-General Renato Reyes Jr.

QC-RTC ruling judge Ma. Luisa Quijano-Padilla said in her ruling that the Court denied the TRO on the assumption that both parties had reached a concession, with the protesters and the QC local government agreeing to allow rallyists up to St. Peter’s Church.

No such agreement was reached, according to Bayan officials, who slammed the court order.

“The court did not actually rule on the merits of the case filed by Bayan, assuming that the two parties had reached an agreement already. We had not. For the record, while Bayan was open to compromise, the city officials, even at the last minute, did not want to give in and allow the protest [near Batasan Road],” Reyes said.

Still, “while it is unfortunate that the TRO was not granted, in reality we have been able to march beyond the original restrictions imposed by the police,” Reyes added.

The program of the People’s SONA is ongoing, with performances by progressive music artists and speakers from various militant organizations, including Kilusang Mayo Uno and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), among others.

Several hundred farmers under the banner of KMP, many of them from the Cojuangco-owned Hacienda Luisita, were the first to arrive at Commonwealth Ave this morning, to launch the day-long protest against President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. #

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Visit this page on July 25 for live updates on the SONA protests.

News Releases:

Bayan slams proposal to hold SONA rally in football field in City Hall

On the arbitrary and illegal curtailment of the people’s right to peaceably assemble

On making Arroyo accountable

Bayan to stage nationwide mass protests on SONA

Bayan slams overkill preps for Aquino SONA

Features:

Artists to parade giant “Penoy” for PNoy’s 2nd SONA

Discussion and education materials:

English Powerpoint on the State of the Nation

Filipino resource materials