Upholding the Working Class Struggle Towards a Socialist Canada
National Statement Congress of Progressive Filipino Canadians May 4, 2016 Toronto, ON—The Congress of Progressive Filipino Canadians (CPFC) celebrate International Workers Day with continuing vitality and strengthening resolve to defend, advance and uphold working people's struggles towards genuine and long lasting justice and social transformation. This May 4th marks the 130th anniversary of the Haymarket Square demonstrations, which has served as a commemoration of workers' struggles for economic justice, social stability, safety and better working and living conditions. Now celebrated on May 1st, it is a day to remember both the defeats suffered and victories hard fought by working-class communities all over the world. Workers fought arduously for the rights, protections and benefits we enjoy today such as the eight-hour work day standard, overtime pay, parental leave, and sick days. It is also a day to acknowledge and carry the culture of resistance and militancy forward to guard against the deepening and worsening exploitation and oppression of millions of workers under contemporary capitalist globalization. In this regard, we echo the ever-growing need for the working class to pave the revolutionary [...]
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Filipino Canadian youth and women’s organizations continue to celebrate International Women’s Month with launch of second critical discussion in their series, “Where Have all the Women Gone?”, on the topic of sex trafficking and prostitution GalleryFilipino Canadian youth and women’s organizations continue to celebrate International Women’s Month with launch of second critical discussion in their series, “Where Have all the Women Gone?”, on the topic of sex trafficking and prostitution
Filipino Canadian youth and women’s organizations continue to celebrate International Women’s Month with launch of second critical discussion in their series, “Where Have all the Women Gone?”, on the topic of sex trafficking and prostitution
March 21, 2016 The Philippine Women Centre of Ontario (PWC-ON) and the Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance (FCYA) at York University are gearing up once again in preparation for the next event, which will be a continuation of the month-long critical political discussion series "Where Have All the Women Gone?" to celebrate International Women's Month this year. After the successful first event, titled “Inside the Home, Outside the Home: Where Have All the Women Gone?” held on International Women’s Day, PWC-ON and FCYA-York invite everyone to stay critically engaged and to partake once more for the upcoming critical discussions centering on the issues of sex trafficking and prostitution, as well as reproductive justice. The discussions are set to take place on March 23rd and March 30th respectively at York University at South Ross building, Room 174. In this age of intense implementation of neoliberal globalisation through austerity measures, it is working class women of colour who are the ones most adversely affected. As progressive organisers and activists, we see it as an imperative that the experiences and narratives [...]
Being leaders on the revolutionary road towards women’s liberation
International Working Women’s Day Statement from the National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada (NAPWC) March 8, 2016 This year, we celebrate International Women’s Day and move forward in our struggle for women’s liberation by challenging ourselves to expand and assert our vision of a just and equal society. Here in Canada and around the world, we are tackling the blatant and insidious nature of women’s oppression. Forced migration, domestic servitude, sexual commodification, lack of or denial of reproductive rights, physical/sexual violence and increasing economic marginalization are current realities Filipino women and women all over the world continue to face. These blatant attacks on women’s lives and well-being under the evolving tactics of neoliberal globalization make women’s leadership at the forefront of true social change more necessary than ever. We recognize the need to connect our struggles and nurture alliances with women across communities in order to strengthen our leadership in manifesting the necessary changes in our community and in our present society. For over 25 years, we, along with our sister organizations, have been campaigning against Canada’s [...]
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Filipino Canadian youth and women’s organizations to commemorate International Women’s Day with the launch of a critical discussion series and ask “where have all the women gone?” GalleryFilipino Canadian youth and women’s organizations to commemorate International Women’s Day with the launch of a critical discussion series and ask “where have all the women gone?”
Filipino Canadian youth and women’s organizations to commemorate International Women’s Day with the launch of a critical discussion series and ask “where have all the women gone?”
The Philippine Women Centre of Ontario (PWC-ON) and Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance at York (FCYA/UKPC-York) are inviting everyone to the York University campus during the month of March for a critical discussion series that will tackle a multitude of women’s issues from reproductive justice, domestic work, sex trafficking and prostitution, and women’s history of resistance. The first event, titled “Inside the Home, Outside the Home: Where Have All the Women Gone?”, will take place on International Women’s Day, March 8 at York University, Student Centre, Room 313 at 6:30PM. As progressive organizers and activists, we recognize the need to educate our community and lobby against discriminatory, often anti-human, outdated policies of the Canadian government. However, as women, we also gather to build our collective experiences, resistance and strength to empower and become empowered in asserting our body autonomy, equal rights, and our own vision of genuine liberation. The first discussion of the series will challenge the notion that domestic roles in Canada can continue to be filled by women of colour from the Global South, specifically Filipino [...]
We say no to homophobia and sexism! We say no to irresponsible and false leaders!
Congress of Progressive Filipinos National Statement February 19, 2016 The Congress of Progressive Filipino Canadians (CPFC) is disgusted by the recent homophobic statement made by boxer, Philippine congressman and Senatorial candidate, Manny Pacquiao, against LGBTQs comparing them to being worse than animals for having same-sex relationships. These comments in particular reflect the persisting machismo, homophobia, and sexism in Philippine society. It is shameful and unacceptable that any Filipino politician representing the Philippine population, continues to use religion as a way to marginalize and dehumanize minority groups within the country. Following the statements made by Pacquiao, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile ran in defense of the senatorial candidate and quipped that gays should go to Mars instead. The Liberal Party of the Philippines was also vocal in their vulgar objectification of women during Congressman Benjie Agarao’s celebration. Moreover, a presidential candidate and currently a Mayor, Rodrigo Duterte forcedly kissed his female supporters during his presidential campaign in Pampanga. These politicians who are in a position of immense political influence have perpetuated the systemic oppression and violence against women and the [...]
Forum to challenge globalization and expose systemic factors perpetuating violence against women
November 26, 2015 On the eve of the National Day of Remembrance and Action Ending Violence Against Women, commemorating the 14 women who passed away at the École Polytechnique Massacre in 1989, a public forum to highlight the work from grassroots women’s organizations across Canada to tackle violence against women will take place on December 5th in Toronto. Aiming to tackle broader, systemic violence that continues to be facilitated by federal policies implemented by Canada, Charie Siddayao, a community organizer with the Philippine Women Centre of Ontario (PWC-ON), and Andrea Bobadilla from University of Western Ontario (PhD Candidate) will bring out the critical perspective of globalization’s impact on women specifically within the transnational working class Filipino community. More directly, they will look at how challenging Canada’s Caregiver Program points to the necessity of ending a globalized system of violence affecting women across countries. This event will be held at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) Room 5260 (5th floor) This forum will challenge participants to see Canada’s Caregiver Program, a federally implemented program, as one of the government’s [...]
Justice for Janitors and Cleaners! Advance and Uphold the Working-class Struggle!
2nd Solidarity Statement for Toronto Janitors and Cleaners November 25, 2015 Janitors say no to exploitation! Toronto, ON—SIKLAB Ontario (Advance and uphold the Struggles of Filipino Canadian Workers) and the member organizations of the Magkaisa (Unity) Centre commend the downtown Toronto janitors and cleaners in their steadfast and resilient strike against the exploitative and abusive hiring contractors Amphora Maintenance Ltd., and Impact Cleaning Services and subcontractor MCC Inc. As these corporate entities continue to disregard and devalue rights and entitlements owed to you, deny you secure employment, and lead you further into a life of instability, your unwavering and ongoing efforts for justice is of manifold importance in fighting against neoliberal practices of keeping labourers cheap, desperate and disposable. With these being the norm under neoliberalism where profit and business reign supreme over the lives of workers, it is more critical than ever to create a culture of resistance and empower ourselves to take back what is owed to us as working people. It is illegal for employers to threaten, fire or discipline workers for supporting [...]
End contractualization and flexibilization of labour! Meaningful and secure livelihoods for workers now!
Solidarity statement for Toronto Cleaners and Janitors November 10, 2015 Toronto, ON—SIKLAB Ontario (Advance and Uphold the Struggles of Filipino Canadian Workers) and the member organizations of the Magkaisa (Unity) Centre extend our solidarity to the Toronto cleaners and janitors, and their allies, in protest against exploitative working conditions and oppressive labour practices. As part of the ongoing Justice for Janitors campaign jointly organized by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 2, the cleaners and janitors have been in an attempt to form a union because of issues ranging from unpaid wages, job security and abusive misconduct of their employers. The men and women working in various downtown buildings along Bay St., owned by Dream Office REIT, have filed numerous legal complaints against the hiring contractors Amphora Maintenance Ltd. and Impact Cleaning Services, and its subcontractor MCC Inc. The previous contractors, Impact Cleaning Services and MCC Inc., refused to pay the provincial minimum wage and now face 9 complaints under the Ministry of Labour for lost wages amounting to $18,000 and vacation entitlements over a 12-month [...]
Filipino Canadian Women to tackle systemic violence in upcoming forum “Taking the Revolutionary Road: Ending Violence Against Women”
Event announcement November 5, 2015 Toronto, ON--On December 5th, join the Philippine Women Centre of Ontario, along with women leaders and organizers from across communities, as we take up the important question of ending violence against women at our public forum, “Taking the Revolutionary Road: Ending Violence Against Women”. Women at the frontlines, who are fighting against sex trafficking and prostitution, and for childcare, women’s health and reproductive justice, are coming together to tackle Canada’s implicit role in perpetuating systemic violence against women. The forum is set to take place at the University of Toronto, St. George campus at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Room 5260. While the struggle to end violence against women has always been central to the work of the feminist movement, escalating levels of violence continues to persist and permeate all women’s lives today. As working class women of colour, we recognize that violence against women goes beyond individual instances, and is part of a broader framework of legislated violence that has manifested in the policies that Canada has either implemented or [...]
No to bombs over Syria! No to Canadian warplanes and US Troops in the Middle East!
Congress of Progressive Filipinos National Statement Beginning in April of 2015, two of Canada’s CF-18 fighters dropped the first set of bombs over Syria, participating in a US-led airstrike to take out a Syrian military installation occupied by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Since then Canada has participated in 3 more airstrikes in Syria. Locked in a state of civil war for decades and because of the Global “War on Terror,” Syria has many parties in conflict with one another including the Bashar Al-Assad Regime, Al-Nusra (an affiliate organization of Al-Qaeda), Kurdish Forces, operating in Turkey and Iraq, Opposition Party Forces and ISIL who has claimed over half of the country. As a result of the political instability and ongoing violent conflict, Syrians have been leaving the country in the thousands. All for the sake of survival, many gamble their lives in cramped transportation vehicles and boats in the Mediterranean sea to neighboring Greece. Other refugees look toward other EU nations and Canada as a possible place to stay and bring their families. As [...]
Roots, Rhymes & Resistance is one day away!
September 26, 2015 Toronto, Ontario – With just a day away, the stage is finally set for the annual fundraising concert, Roots, Rhymes, and Resistance organized by Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada/Filipino Youth Alliance (UKPC/FCYA). The concert, titled “Celebrating Filipino Women’s Resistance,” will be held tomorrow, Saturday, September 26th at the United Steelworkers Hall at 25 Cecil St, Toronto. The event will feature performances by Jewstice League Klezmer Ensemble, the Magkaisa Centre’s No Class Today band, and many more young talented artists. Additionally, this year’s Roots Rhymes and Resistance will premiere "Power", the second music video produced by the Magkaisa Centre performed and written by Dagamuffin, Fenaxiz, Chris Blade, and Kimmortal. Join us at this year’s RRR and celebrate our community’s progressive roots, history, and creative expressions of women’ resistance! Roots, Rhymes and Resistance: Celebrating Filipino Women’s Resistance Saturday, Sept. 26 2015, 8PM-10PM Doors open at 7:30 PM United Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil St, Toronto Tickets: $15 at the door For more information, contact: ukpc-on@magkaisacentre.org 416-519-2553