Founding Assembly of Gabriela USA, First Overseas Chapter of Gabriela Philippines, Marks Milestone in the Progressive Women’s Alliance 25 year History

 

Gabriella USA 1st Founding Assembly

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2009
Reference: Raquel Redondiez, GABRIELA-USA, Chairwoman, (415) 244-9734, email: amihan33@gmail.com

 FOUNDING ASSEMBLY OF GABRIELA-USA, FIRST OVERSEAS CHAPTER OF GABRIELA-PHILIPPINES,  MARKS MILESTONE IN THE PROGRESSIVE WOMEN’S ALLIANCE 25 YEAR HISTORY

Los Angeles, CA–On March 29, 2009, over one hundred Filipinos from across the U,S. came together to celebrate 25 glorious years of women’s resistance led by GABRIELA, an alliance of Filipino women’s organizations in the Philippines. At this special event, scores of women representing 4 different organizations came together to formally establish GABRIELA-USA, the first overseas chapter of the progressive and world-renowned Philippine women’s alliance.

The founding assembly of GABRIELA-USA was aptly named “Sulong GABRIELA: Celebrating the Advances of the Filipino Women’s Struggle! Twenty Five Years and Onward!” During the all-day event, members of Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE) in New York, Pinay Sa Seattle, Babae in San Francisco and Sisters of GABRIELA Awaken (SiGAw) in Los Angeles affirmed their commitment to GABRIELA’s principles, approved chapter bylaws and adopted a two-year plan on developing and building an alliance of Filipino women’s organizations that have localized grassroots approaches.
Proud of their long lineage of strong Filipino women’s leaders, the four women’s organizations that comprise the national women’s alliance were elated to extend GABRIELA’s vision and mission to the U.S. Along with taking up the local issues and concerns of Filipinas in their  respective regions, GABRIELA-USA also places prime importance to supporting the women’s and struggle in the Philippines.
Emmi De Jesus, Secretary-General of GABRIELA Philippines, was the keynote speaker of the US chapter’s founding assembly where she shared the rich and full history of victories of the women’s movement in the Philippines in which GABRIELA is an integral force.

Sulong Gabriela! 25 Years and Forward!

SULONG GABRIELA! 25 YEARS AND FORWARD!

GABRIELA-USA Celebrates International Working Women’s Day with Month Long Activities Culminating in the Formation of the First Overseas Chapter of GABRIELA- USA

Los Angeles, CA–To honor International Working Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, Babae, FIRE, and PINAY sa Seattle will undertake a slew of activities during this March 2009. These celebrations will culminate in the National Founding Assembly of GABRIELA-USA, where Filipinas from across the nation will gather on March 29, 2009 at the University of California, Los Angeles Downtown Labor Center, to establish the first overseas chapter of the Philippine-based progressive women’s alliance, GABRIELA.  Presenting the keynote address will be GABRIELA’s renowned Secretary General, Emmi de Jesus. 

This commemoration of 25 years of GABRIELA history comes at a very challenging time for women all over the world. In the Philippines, the current global economic crisis affects Filipino families gravely as the daily struggle for wage, healthcare and basic social services become increasingly more difficult. The Philippine import-dependent and export-oriented economy is heavily reliant on remittances from overseas workers.   Filipina women, who represent over 70% of the overseas workers, are dramatically affected due to dwindling dollars impacting the welfare of families still living in the Philippines. According to the Philippine Department of Labor, over 3,770 workers were sent abroad daily for work in 2008 and in the same year, ten million overseas Filipino workers (OFW’s) remitted over $16.4 Billion USD.

The Philippine government heralds these economic gains as national successes, yet it neither recognizes the vulnerabilities and exploitation of overseas workers, nor protects individuals when they face abuse. In the past year, over 20 overseas workers were sent home in body bags labeled “mysterious deaths,” but are suspected cases of employer abuse. Despite this, the Philippine government, under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, has responded by increasing the number of laborers sent abroad, rather than strengthening the local economy which might help retain talent and skills within the nation.