PHILIPPINES: PROGRESSIVE FILIPINO YOUTH END YEAR WITH CULTURAL EVENT AND CAMPAIGN LAUNCH FOR IMMIGRANT FILIPINA YOUTH RESTAURANT WORKER

The performances and speeches exposed the true experiences of Filipino
youth and the larger Filipino community, especially the domestic
workers and low-wage workers. They included performances by US-born
Filipinos and children of immigrants expressing dislocation from the
homeland and erasure of our people’s history. Other parts of the
program, especially the testimonies of Pinon and Padilla, revealed the
experiences of educated, skilled immigrant youth who were forced to
migrate because of the lack of opportunities in the Philippines, then
upon arrival in the US were pushed into low-wage service work and made
vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, sexual harassment, and racism.

“My father was an engineer in the Philippines, but was downgraded when
he came here to the US,” said Aaron Rigodon, 21-year old student,
2nd-generation Filipino and member of Ugnayan. “My parents came to the
US because of the American Dream, but we know now that the American
Dream doesn’t exist. I learned from Adriane that if we don’t fight, we
are allowing slavery to continue in this country.”

The enthusiasm and commitment of the youth to effect change both
locally and in the homeland, where the roots of our community’s
migration lie, follows the tradition of Andres Bonifacio, leader of
the 1896 Philippine Revolution against Spain, whose birthday, November
30, Ugnayan celebrates as its anniversary. Bonifacio led the Katipunan
(Movement) that fought the Spanish colonizers and eventually formed
Magdiwang which asserted the leadership of the Katipunan. Magdiwang is
also a Filipino word meaning “celebrate”.

“I was honored to have been part of MAGDIWANG,” said Adriane, “And to
have the support of community organizations like Ugnayan and Damayan.
I’m very hopeful and looking forward to this campaign.”

Ugnayan with its allied organizations vow to continue the Justice for
Adriane Campaign in 2008, and launch various creative forms of action
such as petition-signing, education forums, and street actions to
gather support for Adriane and raise awareness about the situation of
Filipino youth restaurant workers.

To read the testimonies and speeches delivered at MAGDIWANG, view more
photos, and for more information about Ugnayan and the Justice for
Adriane Campaign, please visit www.ugnayan.blogspot.com .

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