Thanks to:

• Spirit Accounts@UCI
• pitas.com

 Some links may open in a separate window.

"You're making me wanna say 'hoy!'  Hindi ko alam ang pangalan mo pero 'excuse ma'am/sir' !  Nag kita tayo sa kuarto. Nag kuha ka yong attencion ko cuz you're making me wanna say 'hoy'!" - Ria and Tin.

The political and community aspect of Kababayan provides a way for our members to address the issues that directly concern our Pilipino American community. In the past, Kaba has been involved with UCI Kababayan Conference; Canned Food Drives; AIDS Walk; Veterans Vigil; SIPA Garden Cleanup; High School Outreach; Prop 209, 21, & 22; APAAC (Asian Pacific American Awareness Conference); FPAC (Festival of Pilipino Arts and Culture); Womensfest, and T.A.P.S. (Tagalog and Pilipino Studies at UCI campaign).

KABABAYAN AT UCI TO HOLD SEMI-FORMAL DINNER AS A COMMUNITY FUNDRAISER FOR GAWAD KALINGA

Irvine – Kababayan, the Pilipino-American cultural club at the University of California, Irvine , will be hosting their annual semi-formal dinner on Saturday March 4^th at the Irvine Hyatt. This year, Kababayan is hosting the event with the goal of raising $1,600 to sponsor a newly built house for a poor family in the Philippines. They have been working throughout the school year to reach this goal, and they are hoping that this event will put them past their target.

Kababayan is pursuing this goal in conjunction with Gawad Kalinga (GK), an organization dedicated to reforming poverty-stricken areas in the Philippines. GK pursues this goal mainly through building villages in poor communities all over the nation. Their ultimate objective is to build 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities in 7 years. However, their vocation does not end there. In addition to shelter, Gawad Kalinga also seeks to establish longevity in these communities through enrichment in the areas of health, education, livelihood, and community empowerment.

Aside from their own membership, Kababayan is also seeking to enlist the help of the local Orange and Los Angeles county community in helping to achieve their goal. "The key to this fundraiser is to make a connection with everyone," explains Kababayan External Vice President Ernest Tamayo. "No one in our community can evoke change by themselves, so we ask you all for your help and support."

Community members and organizations can become involved in any of three ways. First, they may sponsor an individual plate for $55. Second, they may place a quarter page ad in the event program, which will be placed at every table, for $75. Third, they may make a monetary donation of any amount to Kababayan. In any case, the proceeds from the event will go directly toward Kababayan's Gawad Kalinga fund. "Our goal is not only to raise money to provide a home, but also provide hope for a family of Pilipinos who could have easily been our own," states Kababayan Secretary Kristen dela Cruz.

If Kababayan is able to reach their sponsorship goal of $1,600, Gawad Kalinga will be building the new house in the Philippines this June. Mitzi Samot, President of Kababayan, hopes that this project will be the first of many that will continue to enrich the community both in the US and the Philippines . "We in Kababayan at UCI are trying to break out of the mold of being just another student organization and evolve into an organization for reform and empowerment," says Samot.                                                                                   

To learn more about how to donate to Kababayan and Gawad Kalinga, please contact Ernest Tamayo at (213) 503-0429. He can also be reached via e-mail at emtamayo@uci.edu. For more information about Kababayan at UCI, visit http://clubs.uci.edu/kababayan. Gawad Kalinga may also be visited online at www.gawadkalinga.org. A donation form is available for download in the "Download" section of this website.

Alyansa ng mga Kababayan at UCI Condemns Human Rights Violations and De Facto Martial Law in the Philippines

Download Statement in "Download" section of website.

On February 24, 2006, the eve of the twentieth anniversary of the first EDSA Revolution that ended Martial Law under the Marcos regime, “elected” President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Proclamation 1017, declaring a “State of Emergency” in the Philippines. This “State of Emergency” grants her multiple powers such as arrests without warrants and extension of detention without charge, the ability to raid and seize media productions, the suspension of public assembly, and other such powers which can be compared to a “De Facto” state of Martial Law.

The catalyst, according to President Arroyo, for this “State of Emergency” was the disruption of a potential military coup d’etat and an alleged “conspiracy” by political factions on the extreme left and right. However, the facts are that prior to the enactment of Proclamation 1017, the Arroyo administration had long been losing public favor amid national policies that placed the interests of multinational corporations and foreign nations above her own country, coupled with reports by multiple NGOs of human rights violations initiated by her government, as well as the admission of guilt in organizing voter fraud in the last Presidential election that placed her in the very office she currently occupies. Not only has her political opposition shown dissatisfaction in her policies, even former supporters and members of her administration have asked for her resignation.

Congresswoman Liza Maza, who is now facing arrest, states, “Malacanang (The Philippine equivalent of the White House) is bent on muzzling its critics, the opposition, and those who are espousing reforms.” Ultimately, this executive order amounts to a last ditch effort to hold on to power amidst a military, government, and nation that no longer wishes to see her in office.

Although we live thousands of miles away, the same blood that runs through our veins runs through the 7,000 islands back in the Philippines. It is our duty to exercise the liberties and freedoms that have wrongfully been stolen from Pilipina/os. By condemning the actions of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and opposing the human rights violations and the current state of de facto martial law, we stand in solidarity with the people of the Philippines and the struggles that they face and will face in the near future.

Alyansa ng mga Kababayan demands an immediate end of the “State of Emergency” on the Philippines; politically meaning the end of Proclamation 1017, resulting in the immediate release of all unwarranted political prisoners, the return of resources, materials and freedom of speech to all media organizations as well as the restoration of civil liberties and rights to all the citizens of the Philippines.

In Solidarity,

Alyansa ng mga Kababayan at the University of California, Irvine
    FUSION – Filipinos Unifying Student-Engineers In an Organized Network at UCI
    Kababayan at UCI
    PASS – Pilipino Americans in Social Studies at UCI
    PUSO – Pilipino Pre-Health Undergraduate Student Organization at UCI
    TAPS Kollektive – Tagalog And Pilipina/o Studies at UCI

COMMUNITY TEACH-IN: De Facto Martial Law - Proclamation 1017

Last Thursday, February 23rd, Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo issued Proclamation 1017, declaring a state of national emergency.  In other words - de facto Martial Law.  Proclamation 1017 bans all rallies and demonstrations; allows warrantless arrests; seizure of private property including media outlets; and the usurpation of civil authority by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

What does this mean to the Pilipino people? 
What does this mean for the Philippines?
What does this mean for us living here in the United States?

Please join Alyansa ng mga Kababayan and GABRIELA Network, Irvine in discussing Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's decision in proclaiming a "State of Emergency."  All are encouraged to attend the teach-in/working meeting to discuss de facto Martial Law, its effects, and the power of our actions.

Alyansa ng mga Kababayan & GABRIELA Network, Irvine
COMMUNITY TEACH-IN: De Facto Martial Law - Proclamation 1017
Thursday, March 2, 2006
7:30-9:30 pm: Educational Discussion
9:30-11:00 pm: Working Meeting
University of California, Irvine
Rowland Hall Room 104
Irvine, CA 92697

During the working meeting we will be creating placards for the demonstration which will be on
Friday, March 4, 2006
4:00-6:00 pm
In front of the Philippine Consulate
On the corner of Wilshire & Kingsley
@ 3600 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90010

In solidarity,

Alyansa ng mga Kababayan
University of California, Irvine
Cross-Cultural Center
Irvine, CA 92697
email: maguas AT uci DOT edu, ricky DOT macapinlac AT gmail DOT com, msamot AT gmail DOT com 
The Alyansa ng mga Kababayan, initiated by Kababayan at UCI, is the Pilipino/Pilipino-American umbrella organization under the Cross Cultural Center at the University of California at Irvine.  Our mission is to provide a network of Pilipino/Pilipino-American student organizations and to advocate for the needs of the Pilipino/Pilipino-American community and the Cross Cultural Center at UCI.  In recognition of the movement for increased representation of Pilipino/Pilipino-Americans, we are committed to the mobilization of the Pilipino/Pilipino-American community through structural organization, political education, and continuous social support.

GABRIELA Network - Irvine Chapter
A US-Philippine Women's Solidarity Mass Organization
University of California, Irvine
Cross-Cultural Center
Irvine, CA 92697
email: irvine AT gabnet DOT org
web: www.gabnet.org
GABRIELA Network is a Philippine-US women's solidarity organization since 1989. GABNet provides the means by which Filipinas in the US can empower themselves, functions as training ground for women's leadership, and articulates the women's point of view. GABNet effects change through organizing, educating, fundraising, networking, and advocacy.

Love for the People: Hearts and Hands

"Our resistance is born in our hearts and shaped by our hands." --Kabataang maka-Bayan (Pro-People Youth)

Let's deconstruct Valentine's day. On Wednesday February 15 at 7pm in Historic Filipinotown,  "Love For The People: Hearts and Hands" will highlight the ways that we as youth can express our love and warm-heartedness through serving the people. This passion propels us to take action. The event will be a celebration featuring expressions of people's culture and resistance presented by youth organizers of KmB and solidarity organizations. $5 Donation. With performances by Bambu and the Terrorist, KmB Theatre, Gabriela Network, and many more. Proceeds will support a medical mission for victims of all out war in Sulu.

FIGHT FOR RECOGNITION, JUSTICE AND EQUITY!

COME AND PROTEST INJUSTICE AND DISCRIMINATION!
Protest the 60th Year of the Rescission Act, February 18, 1946

COME TO TWO IMPORTANT MASS ACTIONS:
Presentation of Los Angeles City Council Resolution Supporting the Filipino  World War II Veterans Bills in the US Congress
Friday, February 17, 2006 at 10: 00 AM
Los Angeles City Council Chambers
3rd Floor, City Hall
200 N. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

JFAV Protest Rally
Friday, February 17. 12:00 PM
INS Federal Building
300 Los Angeles St. 90012

Questions?  Contact Ernie: emtamayo@uci.edu

kababayan conference

Politics through Education
Dissecting the Hyphen : the role of Pilipino-Americans in Higher Education.

7th Annual Kababayan Conference
Ernest Tamayo, Conference Coordinator
(213) 503-049
e-mail: emtamayo@uci.edu

Students and Community Members
        This year at the 7^th Annual Kababayan Conference, we will focus on the various aspects of the Filipino community in the U.S. and all around the world, and how all these aspects contribute to the political natures that encompass our community. The objective of this conference is to open the eyes of all people, specifically those Filipinos who are unaware of the issues that affect them in the U.S., the Philippines and all around the world. By "dissecting the hyphen" of such labels such as Filipino-American, Filipino-Canadian or even Filipino-Saudi Arabian, the conference, comprised of workshops and speakers, will expose how many issues of language, education, art and politics affect Filipinos regardless of where their literal home is.
         The key to this conference is to make institutions of higher education realize that the Filipino community within their walls paying for their education have the right and need to be learning about their history in order to more efficiently deal with the trials and tribulations that effect their community today. Language is one of the most important elements in terms of the survival of a culture. Because institutions of higher education are not offering certain courses for languages such as Tagalog despite the growing presence of Filipinos in the U.S., the needs of the Filipino community are still not being met or adequately represented by our school, city and national officials. The conference will highlight issues of how this lack of education is detrimental to the political advancement of the Filipino People. To understand women and queer studies through a Filipino perspective is the only way to resolve issues concerning the disparities between genders and the misunderstanding of sexuality. To understand the Filipino role in the media is key in terms of understanding our role in society. Are Filipinos to be forever seen as dancers and sexual objects in the media or does our community have a further horizons we have yet to see? To understand the connection of the political activity in the U.S. and in the Philippines and what issues effect Filipinos directly is the only way the people of the world and Filipinos specifically are going to be able to combat them. Issues such as the exploitation of Filipino veterans and female overseas workers must be talked about and discussed in all areas, not only in this conference but in schools of higher education.
       We invite you to come and learn about these topics. You will be able to bring more awareness to yourselves as students, and see the many opportunities for involvement within the community.  We at Kababayan at UCI hope you can come and begin your journey and to continue the struggle for our people all over the world. Maraming Salamat. Mabuhay!

What: Politics through Education - Dissecting the Hyphen: The role of Pilipino-Americans in Higher Education.
When: Saturday, November 19, 2005 9:00-6:00pm
Where: UC Irvine Campus, Irvine, CA 92612
Tickets: $5 for Kababayan members and $7 for non-members.
Registration form can be found in the downloads section.

community kick-its

Filipino WWII Veterans Rally
Justice for Filipino American Veterans Rally. Friday, February 17 at 1pm in LA near Federal Building. Filipino Veterans Equity Act will be accepted by LA City Council & will be sent to Congress.

Filipino WWII Veterans Rally
Sponsored by Justice for Filipino American Veterans [JFAV]. November 11 at 8am in LA. Meet at Flagpoles at 7am. Planning meetings - Wednesdays at 10pm in CCC

Hurricane Benefit @ SIPA
November 17. Accepting business or personal item donations for a silent auction. Contact Jason - jaguinal at uci.edu.

Sister Francis Drive
Alyansa ng mga Kababayan is collecting money for refugees in the Philippines who are affected by human rights violations. Many of these people are prosecuted for their Muslim beliefs. Other people are being targeted for their work w/ unions, protesting, and disagreements w/ Philippine gov't. We are also collecting food, water, medical and non-medical supplies, or toys and other things for kids. Starts Fall Quarter Week 4 and continues for a few weeks. Details given later.

RELIEF: A Benefit for APIA Survivors of Hurricane Katrina

Presented by CLAPS Productions, a collective of artists and organizers that use creative arts to stand up for social and political issues that affect the Asian Pacific Islander American community. CLAPS, Culture, Love, Art, Politics, and Soul, both literally and figuratively.

Join us in this historical concert and silent auction to raise money for the APIA community in the Gulf Coast. Asian Pacific Islander Americans comprise the 2nd largest ethnic group in Louisiana. Filipino "Manilamen" were some of the first Asian settlers to establish a community in the "New World," having arrived here on the Spanish Galleon trade during the 1700s. Nearly half of the Asian Americans in Louisiana are Vietnamese and play a significant role in the local fishing trades. South Asians, including Sikh and Bangladeshi Americans, also comprise one of the largest Asian communities in the region, and can even boast having a U.S. congressman, Congressman Bobby Jindal, representing them on the national level. Despite such significant representation in the Gulf Coast, APIAs have been largely overlooked by aid organizations and relief efforts. RELIEF seeks to call attention to this community and to raise funds for aid organizations that are specifically providing assistance to the APIA community in the affected regions.

Thursday, November 10th, 2005, 5:00pm to 10:30pm
Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA)
Temple Gateway Youth & Community Center
3200 W. Temple St.
Los Angeles, CA 90026

There is parking in the residential areas. Donations will be taken at the door, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. All proceeds will be given to benefit organizations providing direct services to APIAs in the devastated Gulf Coast region. More information on these organizations will be provided at the event.

RELIEF will feature 1896, Alison De La Cruz & D Lo, Alfie Ebojo (Balgatasan Collective), Bambu (Native Guns), Ethnic Descent, For Elise, Jenni Trang Le, John Eric Concordia, Karmacy
Meymuna Bekela...and many of Los Angeles' diverse and renowned Asian American performers, poets, and musicians.

Free food and beverages will be provided for all volunteers. If you are interested, please contact Maureen Ivy Quicho at mquicho1@hotmail.com , or (951) 333-4306. Please share this opportunity with your friends, family, and other contacts.

Thank you for supporting our efforts! Salamat.

5th Annual People's CORE & JFAV Veterans Day Parade

Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles - Join the 5th annual Veterans Day Parade and other activities on Friday, November 11, 2005 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm in Historic Filipinotown.

The annual community event organized by People's CORE, Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV), and the 5th Veterans Day Organizing Committee will start with an ecumenical service at FACLA at 1740 W. Temple St at 9:30 am. The ecumenical service with Very Rev. Fr. John B. Reid, PhD of the Syriac Church of Antioch, Western Rite Archdiocese, North America and Rev. Marc Marcos of the First Rosewood United Methodist Church will honor the departed and still active veterans.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles will grace the occasion as the main speaker after the service. California Senator Gil Cedillo, District 1 Council Member Ed Reyes, Los Angeles Consul General Marciano Paynor, General Delfin Lorenzana of the Philippine Embassy will be present at the event.

From FACLA grounds, the parade will start at 10:30 am with numerous Filipino veterans organizations with JFAV as the parade vanguard. The parade will end at FACLA where a cultural program and a community fair will be held. Different health providers will give free services to the community while entertainment and cultural numbers will regale the public. People's CORE will give out awards to veterans, advocates and community, youth and student organizations.

More than twenty eight (28) organizations will be participating in the annual event. Some of which include UCLA SPACE, UC Riverside Katipunan, Knights of Rizal, Philippinetown Inc., Parish Generation Choir of St. Columban, To Help Everyone (T.H.E.) Clinic, AADAP, Danza Azteca Cuahtemoc, United Filipino American Veterans (UFAV), Philippine Action Group for the Environment (PAGE), American Coalition Filipino Veterans (ACFV)-Western Region,Veterans Forum of Los Angeles, Veterans Federation (VFP)-Long Beach, Pesante-USA, Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council (GEPENC), Ecumenical Fellowship,GEPENC District 5, Kalayaan 2006, Golden Agers of Los Angeles (GALA), Philippine American Network for Advocacy (PANA), Fil Am Arts, GABRIELA Network, VGA and Associates, and other youth, student and community organizations.

The 5th Veterans Day Organizing Committee are composed of People's Community Organization for Reform and Empowerment (People's CORE), the Office of Council Member Eric Garcetti District 13, Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV), Pro People Youth (KmB), UCLA Samahang Pilipino, Filipino American Service Group Inc. (FASGI), Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC), and Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA), CSULB Philippine American Coalition, Kappa Psi Epsilon, Occidental College Pilipino United Student Organization (PUSO), Theta Delta Beta, UCI Kababayan, UCLA Samahang Pilipino, USC Troy Phi, and Zeta Phi Rho.

For more information, please contact Al or Johneric, the event coordinators, at Peoples CORE at (213)241-0995 or email apg_pcore@hotmail.com or jfav_causa@yahoo.com

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