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For Immediate Release
August 6, 2009
Contact: Chris Araquel (CA), Demetrio P. Maguigad (IL), Anang Palomar (NY)
Web:www.daluyong.com
E-mail:daluyong.filamyouth@gmail.com
Los Angeles: 213.241.0906 (phone), 213.241.0944 (fax), propeopleyouth@gmail.com
Chicago: 312.324.0129 (phone), masa@bagwiscollective.org
New York: 212.564.6057 (telefax), ugnayan.nynj@gmail.com
With the Passing of an Icon, Filipino Youth in America Uphold a Legacy
National Filipino American Youth Consultation Creates Action Plan to Serve Their Community, Struggle for Their Future
Los Angeles, CA - As Filipinos across the world mourn the loss of former Philippine President Corazon Aquino, a new voice echoes to reclaim the legacy of the Filipino people – proud, indignant and courageous in the face of struggle. From July 26th through the 28th, over 75 Filipino American youth leaders, workers, students as well as parents, Filipino WW2 veterans and their widows, domestic workers, laity, and allies gathered and participated in the national youth consultation “DALUYONG: Surging to Confront the Crisis of Our Times” to address and link local, national and international issues concerning their community.
The consultation was jointly organized by Ugnayan ng mga Anak ng Bayan based in New York and New Jersey, Kabataang maka-Bayan (KmB) in California, and Bagwis Collective and Committee on Pilipino Issues (CPI) based in Illinois under the auspices of the Alliance for a Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines.
“The consultation was a necessary evolution that has formalized relationships not only among Filipino American youth and student organizations across the US, but also among organizations representing women, domestic workers, cultural groups, veterans and more,” says Demetrio Maguigad, co-founder of the cultural collective Bagwis. “The passing of Cory Aquino does not declare an end of an era in Filipino history, but it is a call for us now to unite, uphold the legacy of peace and justice generations have written before us, and for us now to be the creators of our destiny.”
Featured keynote speaker Christine Araquel, Chairperson of KmB, spoke about the current economic crisis affecting Filipino Americans today and the centrality of youth in effecting social change. A multi-generational panel presentation consisting of five speakers from different regions in North America synthesized the current global economic crisis, US foreign policy in the Philippines, the effects of forced migration and assimilation on youth, the resurgence of youth activism through the anti-war movement, and the role of culture as a tool for creating positive social change in our communities.
“DALUYONG was one way that we intend to build a strong Filipino American community that is socially conscious, critical, and equipped to advocate for the needs of local and international community,” said Araquel. “It strengthened our organizational ties with all like-minded youth who share our sense of social responsibility to our community, while relating back to the struggle of the Filipino people in our homeland.”
Participants further examined the keynote address and panel synthesis through a series of youth-led workshops highlighting topics on Family Separation and Reunification, Education, Labor, and Women’s Issues.
“In the Women’s workshop, a space was created to build trust among young Filipino American women to share personal stories and issues that wove together with the collective experience of all women. In the end, the workshops developed individual and collective solutions to combat women’s oppression and exploitation,” said Joana Palomar, spokesperson for Ugnayan.
“In the Labor workshop, we explored the broader context of racism in the workplace through an interactive people’s theater exercise, collectively arriving to an analysis of society’s power structures as they exist today. Participants then used the same process to envision the ideal power structures, and discuss ways to get there,” said Raven Guerrero of the Bagwis Collective.
Participants celebrated DALUYONG on Saturday night through a cultural event at Remy’s on Temple in LA’s Historic Filipinotown where Bagwis, Bambu, the Fighting Cocks, the Pakaraguian Kulintang Ensemble, and members of the Women’s workshop performed. It was a diverse and energetic lineup representing the stories and aspirations reflected in the stories shared throughout the day and an affirmation of commitment towards social change.
Films created by the youth in People’s CORE’s Youth Media Arts Project were showcased, some of which included teen suicide and high school drop out rates. Solidarity messages were also read by the youth organizers and participants.
PLAN OF ACTION
Participants resolved to continue working together as a national Filipino American youth formation and crafted a national plan of action for the coming year. It included further investigating the situation of Filipino American youth and coordinating an educational curriculum that serves the needs and interests of youth and their families. The DALUYONG organizers will also be releasing a summary report in the fall containing the speeches, workshop outcomes and resolutions, plan of action, and photos from the consultation.
Although Filipinos continue to mourn the loss of Corazon Aquino who became a symbol of the people’s uprising against the fascist Marcos dictatorship, youth participants and their allies in the DALUYONG national consultation are focusing on how they will confront and tackle the crisis of their times.
“It’s been amazing,” said Kim Baglieri, Ugnayan organizer and a young mixed-race second-generation queer Filipina from New York. “It’s transformative to be able to voice our concerns and come together with a plan of action to change our society for the better! If not youth, side by side with the other sectors in our community, then who?”
For more information, please visit the official website at www.daluyong.com or contact 213.241.0906 or daluyong.filamyouth@gmail.com.
Regional speakers available for interview upon request.
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