We will remember you Elenita “Tita” Ordonez
The passing away of Elenita Ordonez brings us great sadness as we recall the days when we were together with her partner, Elmer, in Montreal, Canada during the 1970s and 80s. The first time we met Elenita or “Tita,” as we called her, was during a Christmas carol fundraising campaign in January 1979 on behalf of political prisoners in the Philippines. At that time, martial law in the Philippines was entering its 7th year and Filipinos abroad had been campaigning for the release of political prisoners, the restoration of civil liberties and supporting the national democratic struggle. Tita, Elmer and members of the solidarity group came to our apartment to sing Christmas carols and progressive songs from the national democratic movement. This was the activity in Montreal that propelled us to join and be engaged in the support and solidarity movement for human rights and the restoration of civil liberties in the Philippines. Tita and Elmer were pioneers and leaders of this movement, which eventually spread across the country and continues today as part of the progressive movement [...]
Conference announcement: Switching up the neoliberal agenda by switching onto social change
Conference announcement April 24, 2012 Toronto, ON—Amidst the engulfing impacts of the economic crisis on workers’ lives, a national conference aims to spark up vital discussions towards generating a wave of resistance for genuine social change. The Congress of Progressive Filipino Canadians (CPFC), its member organizations and allies invite all to participate in “Workers Struggles Amidst Neoliberal Globalization,” to be held on August 11th and 12th at the United Steel Workers Hall in Toronto. As workers’ lives and conditions are being edged onto the precipice of society by the crisis of neoliberal globalization, the conference hopes to meet this critical moment by underscoring the important role that all workers have to play in addressing the challenges and opportunities at hand. We are at a current juncture whereby the impacts of neoliberal globalization can no longer be denied. The fragile state of the economy, otherwise touted as having reached a state of recovery, can instead be seen and felt clearly in the everyday struggles faced by multitudes of people at a global scale. Workers all over the world are [...]
Progressive Filipino Canadian workers organization announces new National Council
National Statement April 26, 2012 SIKLAB Canada, a progressive Filipino Canadian workers organization, announces its new national council for the year 2012. The council members include Cora Cadiz, National Chairperson; Yolyn Valenzuela, National Vice-Chairperson (East); Arlene Oropel, National Vice-Chairperson (West); and Bryan Taguba, Secretary General. Since October 2005, SIKLAB Canada has been steadfast in advancing and upholding the struggles of Filipino Canadian workers through their program of educating, organizing and mobilizing the community towards their just and genuine settlement and integration in Canadian society. In recognition of the need to build a genuine movement for social change achieved through nothing less than class struggle as workers, women and youth, the new composition of the National Council are taking SIKLAB Canada into greater heights with its involvement in the organizing for the upcoming conference titled “Workers’ Struggles Amidst Neoliberal Globalization,” to be held in 11th until the 12th of August in Toronto. This national conference aims to put forth a vital and critical discussion amongst progressive organizations, groups and individuals about our struggles and conditions as workers under the [...]
The “Maleta Project” to be featured at the 27th Annual Mayworks Festival of Working People and the Arts
For immediate release April 17, 2012 Toronto, ON—Once again, witness the Filipino Canadian community’s histories and experiences unfold as the “Maleta [Suitcase] Project” becomes featured at the 27th annual Mayworks Festival of Working People and the Arts. Titled “Workers: Makers of History,” this exhibition brings to the fore the struggles of the Filipino Canadian community, who now compose Canada’s largest source of immigrants and temporary foreign workers, as a pivotal part of the overall struggle of the working class in Canada. The exhibit will run from May 10th until the 13th, and will feature an opening night that will be accompanied by keynote speeches by artists and cultural performances. This exhibit will also be part of the “Workers’ Struggles Amidst Neoliberal Globalization” conference educational series. Featuring pieces from the Grand Maleta Art Exhibit that was originally held in October 2010, each collectively-produced art piece vividly depicts the struggles of a transnational community largely composed of workers—the majority of whom are relegated to low-wage, casualized and deskilling service sector jobs as Canada’s pool of cheap labour, whose vital contributions [...]
Standing in solidarity against strategies of corporate slashing: progressive Filipino Canadians support campus food service workers
For immediate release April1 17, 2012 Toronto, ON—The progressive Filipino Canadian community, alongside the member organizations of the Magkaisa Centre, sends its militant greetings and solidarity with the hundreds of campus food service workers across Toronto demanding their entitlement in calling for new work contracts that allow for better wages and benefits. Campus food workers from York University and the University of Toronto, along with the Unite Here Local 75 union, took to the streets of Toronto on April 16th to assert to corporations like Aramark and Compass that their anti-worker and anti-union tactics, such as locking workers into insufficient working contracts and creating strategic divisions amongst workers, will not keep them from organizing to obtain better wages and benefits. Rather than being immobilized by such practices, campus food workers across are exercising their pivotal role in advancing the rights and struggles of all Canadian workers. The conditions that have lead to workers demanding for new contracts include working full time hours on contractual and casual basis which lead to working without benefits, and earning poverty wages. In [...]
Registration now open for upcoming conference “Workers’ Struggles Amidst Neoliberal Globalization”
Toronto, ON—The Congress of Progressive Filipino Canadians (CPFC) and its allies welcome and invite all to participate in “Workers' Struggles Amidst Neoliberal Globalization,” a North American conference which will be held on August 11th – 12th at the United Steel Workers Hall in Toronto. The conference aims to put forth a critical and dynamic dialogue amongst progressive organizations, groups and individuals about our struggles and conditions as workers under the present crisis of capitalism. Throughout history, we have witnessed and felt imperialism’s assaults on the working class. Now more than ever, workers’ lives are becoming more insecure and unstable as the neoliberal agenda of globalization intensifies its attacks on workers’ employment, wages and standard of living. This conference will provide an opportunity for all to discuss and deepen our understanding of workers’ realities and struggles under neoliberal globalization. Through this gathering, we hope to further understand the historic role of the working class in building a movement for social change. “Workers’ Struggles Amidst Neoliberal Globalization” North American Conference August 11 & 12, 2012 United Steelworkers Hall 25 Cecil Street Toronto, ON Canada [...]
Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance–Ontario to speak at the Diamonds in the Rough youth forum
Objectives: Address the unique struggles and challenges of East and Southeast Asian youths Exchange and develop ideas on youth development between different ethnic groups and community sectors Explore methods and community resources to nurture youth's potential Panel: Youth representatives from Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Vietnamese community, community leaders from education, economy, sociology, mental health and government sectors Date: April 14, 2012 Venue: Scarborough Civic Center, Council Chamber 150 Borough Drive, Toronto Time: 2:30 to 4:00pm Capacity: 150 Registration: online, by email or in person Target: Youth, parents and people who care about youth Registration Deadline: Apr 9, 2012 (Monday) Admission: Free (First come, first serve)
International Women’s Day forum challenged all women to take the revolutionary road
IWD Forum: Taking the Revolutionary Road, a set on Flickr.For immediate release March 22, 2012 Toronto, ON—In celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day, over 80 participants gathered to heighten their militancy and strengthen their resistance at the Philippine Women Centre of Ontario’s forum, “Taking the Revolutionary Road: Heightening Women’s Resistance Against Neoliberalism.” Organized in collaboration with Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada/Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance—Ontario at York University and the University of Toronto (UKPC/FCYA-ON @ York and UofT), the forum engaged participants from both campuses and beyond during each back-to-back session. The forum also set a successful start for the upcoming string of educational events in preparation for the conference titled “Workers Struggles Amidst Neoliberal Globalization,” to be held later in August this year. In outright refusal of the intensifying violence perpetuated against women in light of the current downward economic spiral, the forum challenged all women to reclaim their rightful role in taking the revolutionary road towards building a women’s movement that strives for nothing less than genuine equality and liberation for all women and humanity [...]
PWC-ON chairperson to speak at Violence Against Women fundraiser
Philippine Women Centre of Ontario (PWC-ON) Chairperson to speak on violence against women under Canada's Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) at "Break the Silence: The Purple Ribbon Campaign" fundraiser. The event is organized by the 2012 class of Women's Studies 4502: Violence Against Women. It will be held on March 19th, from 7:00 - 9:00 PM at York University's Founders Assembly Hall.
Opening the way towards genuine women’s liberation: International Women’s Day forum calls on all women to take the revolutionary road
For immediate release March 3, 2012 Toronto, ON—For this year’s International Women’s Day, members of the Philippine Women Centre of Ontario (PWC-ON) call on everyone to celebrate women's historic role in social change by heightening militancy and gathering at their forum titled “Taking the Revolutionary Road: Heightening Women’s Resistance Against Neoliberalism.” Organized in collaboration with the Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance of Ontario (UKPC/FCYA-ON) at York University and at the University of Toronto, the forum is set to take place on Thursday, March 8that York University and on Friday, March 9that University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. The forum also forms part of an educational series in anticipation of “Worker’s Struggles Amidst Neoliberal Globalization,” a worker’s conference to be held in August 2012. In celebration of the working-class women who took to the streets towards the creation of the first-ever International Women’s Day, this forum hopes to advance the pivotal role that women play in creating history and to continue this legacy of resistance by confronting the present challenges that women face under neoliberalism. Through neoliberalism’s [...]
Taking the Revolutionary Road: Heightening Women’s Resistance Against Neoliberalism
TAKING THE REVOLUTIONARY ROAD: HEIGHTENING WOMEN’S RESISTANCE AGAINST NEOLIBERALISM A forum by the Philippine Women Centre of Ontario to celebrate International Women’s Day GUEST SPEAKERS: Cecilia Diocson, Executive Director of the National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada Rachel Gorman, Professor at York University Tania Das Gupta, Professor at York University Evelyn Encalada, Researcher and community organizer THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 6 to 8pm York University, 313 Student Centre FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 7 to 9pm University of Toronto, OISE 5250 CO-ORGANIZED BY UKPC@YORK AND UofT Ugnayan ng Kabtaang Pilipino sa Canada/Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance at York University and the University of Toronto Part of the “Worker’s Struggles Amidst Neoliberal Globalization” Conference Educational Series