Fil-Ams mark Martial Law anniversary with protests

LOS ANGELES - Forty-one years ago, martial law was implemented in the Philippines. The human rights violations eventually sparked a revolution.

But while it had since been abolished, Filipinos are still fighting to end corruption, holding a vigil to call for an end to the pork barrel system.

While the numbers have dwindled since the last anti-pork protest, even non-Filipinos are joining the fight against corruption.

"This issue itself very much relates to issues we face here in the United States -- the example of public funds money that should be going to the people, being stolen and summed up to these very corrupt politicians," Mike Prysner of the Answer Coalition said.

Last week, 38 people including 3 senators were charged with plunder, the misuse of public funds.

Activists are expecting more lawmakers to also face raps.

"We are making progress because the plunder charges has been filed. But we are following (the issue) and our demand is still President Aquino should finish this job within 100 days because if not it will just be like Maguindanao massacre case," said Arturo Garcia
US Action Against Pork Barrel

In the meantime, Fil-Am activists commemorated martial law with recently returned missionaries.

They said they got a first hand look at the effects of the pork barrel scam, as they visited impoverished communities in Mindanao.

"It was obvious when the money was not getting to the people who need it especially the indigenous tribes," Pastor Frank Wulf of Panaghiusa said.

"To know that if the funding was going to social services to the people instead of to these scams being wasted through the pork barrel, they would have what they need," Theresa Jaranilla of Bayan USA said.

The annual Panaghiusa International Solidarity Mission brought over 30 people from around the world to the Philippines, focusing on educational, livelihood and medical needs.

Basic necessities that they believe the government should be funding.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Teen in Holland marches 160 km for Filipino kids orphaned by human rights violations

Not a lot of teenagers are willing to wake up at five in the morning. Fifteen-year-old Kyle Baleva is not one of them.

The bespectacled teen was ready by 6 a.m. Tuesday so he could begin a 160-kilometer march in Nijmegen, the oldest city in The Netherlands, to raise funds for children back in the Philippines who have been orphaned by human rights violations.

Clad in a blue raincoat, Baleva joined some 45,000 participants in the four-day Walk of the World, which started Tuesday. Already on its 96^th run, the event remains one of the biggest sporting events in the country in terms of number of participants and public interest. It ends Friday.

Although this is his fourth time to take part in the Walk, which has him marching 40 kilometers each day, it is his first time to traverse the 160-kilometer distance meant for adults. In the previous years, he walked 120 kilometers during each event.

Fundraising for CRC kids

Baleva isn’t doing it for the exercise, however. He hopes to shine the spotlight on A Hand for an Orphan, a fundraising program initiated by The Children's Rehabilitation Center (CRC).

By donating either a fixed amount or 10 Euros for each day of the march, sponsors can help provide educational materials, food allowances, and medicine for orphans whose parents were either snatched in enforced disappearances or were killed extra-judicially.

CRC gives psycho-social support to these children and their families to help them overcome trauma, said Stichting voor Filippijnse Kinderen (The Foundation for Filipino Children) chairperson and Baleva’s mother Angie Gonzales.

To reach these children, CRC visits parts of the Philippines with "high incidences of human rights violations," as well as those with "intensive military operations."

Last year, the funds generated through A Hand for an Orphan were enough to support the basic needs of six children. CRC organized a peace camp for some 100 children as well.

"Every year, Kyle trains hard to participate in the 'Vierdaagse Nijmegen (Nijmegen Marches)' because through these efforts, he wishes to give more orphans more opportunities for healing," said Gonzales.

Sponsors can head to Baleva's profile page at https://www.devierdaagsesponsorloop.nl/index.php/ik-ben-sponsor?option=com_content&view=article&catid=2&id=5&did=52&src=sp to donate, although the site is in Dutch.

Alternatively, they can e-mail kyleswalk@filipinochildren.net for sponsorship details.

So far, pledges amounting to 600 Euros have been made.

Sponsors can keep track of Baleva's progress through a map on the event's website, http://4dfollowme.nl/, and typing in his registration number, 40G461, in the space provided for "Registration number participant."

source: interaksyon.com