Start:	Jul 20, '08 08:30a
Location:	Assembly point is at the Baguio Post Office.

The Second BAGUIO LGBT PRIDE PARADE:

Lesbians for National Democracy (LESBOND)
Progressive Organization of Gays in the Philippines (PROGAY- Baguio)
BIND
Cordillera Womens Education, Action & Research Center (CWEARC)
Gabriela Women's Party
Thunderbirds Association in the Cordillera & Suburbs, Inc. (TACSI)
Gagamba Bar
Baden Powell Inn
Rumours
Stargazer
Samurai Male Entertainment Bar
Samurai Comedy Bar
D' 4th Comedy Bar
PhilHair
SonyT Productions

The Baguio Pride Network is Baguio City's broadest network of
Lesbian,Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People and advocates.

Hosting this year's LGBT Pride Parade happening on July 20, 2008
at 8:30am.

Assembly point is at the Baguio Post Office.

For inquiries email at:
baguiopride2008@yahoo.com

July 14, 2008

Aussie activists to hand out condoms to protest Pope's visit

By News Editor

Activists in Sydney are challenging "draconian" laws that outlaw condom distribution, and T-shirts and placards that could "annoy" Catholic pilgrims as some 500,000 people are expected to be present at the Pope's final mass on Sunday.

Thousands of protestors are planning to rally and hand out condoms this Saturday on Oxford Street and Anzac Parade ahead of an overnight vigil and papal Mass at Randwick racecourse to rally against the church's attitude homosexuality, contraception and abortion. News of the regulations have spurred more creative slogans - a T-shirt by Sydney designer Tristan Parry reads: ''5,500 dollars - a small price to pay for annoying Catholics.'' The Sydney Morning Herald online carried a picture of a more loaded T-shirt reading: ''The Pope touched me Down Under,'' a pun on Catholic sex abuse scandals which dog the pontiff on his travels. Under the temporary regulations, a person may be fined A$5,500 for causing annoyance at a World Youth Day event. However, under temporary laws, anyone handing out condoms and/or wearing T-shirts with slogans deemed annoying to Catholics may be arrested or face an A$5,500 dollar (US$5,200) fine. The sweeping new regulations were announced by the New South Wales police to limit behaviour that may cause "annoyance or inconvenience to participants" during Pope Benedict XVI’s first visit in Australia to celebrate World Youth Day (WYD). The laws will apply in the month of July; and in WYD-declared areas including areas of downtown Sydney, transport interchanges and the pilgrimage route, also taking in a radius of 500 metres around the zones. The World Youth event was founded by the Pope's predecessor, John Paul II in 1986 and will run from 15 to 20 July. Billed as the largest event Australia has ever hosted, it will culminate in a Papal Mass in front of an expected 500,000 people at Randwick racecourse next Sunday. Two activists from the NoToPope Coalition of gay and lesbian, religious, and atheist groups have challenged the validity of the powers in court. The court is expected to hand down its judgment on Tuesday, the official start of the six-day WYD event. "These laws are very draconian and we have the right to protest and say our piece," Rachel Evans, organiser of the NoToPope Coalition, told reporters outside the court. "Criticising WYD ethics includes promoting contraception, access to abortion and conducting any criticism of the reactionary views of some Catholic Church leaders." "We’re not planning to get into any trouble, we don’t want to condemn Catholic youth for being Catholics. We want to condemn the Pope for being homophobic," Evans was quoted as saying in a media report. She said the Pope's teachings contributed to 67,000 women dying every year from backyard abortions and a suicide rate among gay youth that is seven times the average. Anna Katzman, the president of the New South Wales Bar Association, said making someone's inconvenience the basis of a criminal offense was "unnecessary and repugnant." "If I was to wear a T-shirt proclaiming that 'World Youth Day is a waste of public money' and refuse to remove it when an officer... asks me to, I would commit a criminal offense," Katzman said. "How ridiculous is that?" The event is said to cost taxpayers some A$150 million. As he did during his US trip in April, Benedict is expected to offer apologies to Australian victims of sexual abuse by priests. Meanwhile, Australia's senior Catholic leader, Sydney Archbishop George Pell, came under fire last week following the reopening of a 25-year-old sexual abuse case. In 2003, Pell sent a letter to Anthony Jones in which he dismissed Jones' complaint of rape against Father Terrence Goodall despite a church investigation that upheld the allegations. Pell said Tuesday that his letter was "badly worded" but stood by his conclusion that the act had been consensual. He said he based his decision on Jones' age - he was 29 - at the time of the alleged rape and Goodall's Goodall's insistence that the act had been consensual.

Related Sites

Notopope.com

Below is the letter of invitation we circulated to people in 2005 when the Arroyo Administration had implemented CPR: callibrated pre-emptive response and a policy on "no permit, no rallies". We, in the LGBT community thought we had to share in the burden and responsibility of upholding the rights and freedoms of all Filipino people--heterosexuals, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders, transsexuals, and others. To highlight the community's conviction and aspiration we also used CPR to mean Celebrating Pride and Rights. En route to historic Plaza Miranda in Quiapo there were about 3,000 of us, probably more, participants and spectators cheering, jubilant, proud and most of all, DEFIANT and BRAVE.

With the recent attacks on the humanity of LGBTs in the Philippines--1) Jan-jan's dignity stripped with the humiliation he suffered from the hands of Cebu doctors and nurses at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and with the un-Christian statements of the Cebu Monsignor all these because Jan-jan, the victim, is poor and gay; 2) the bar and bath raids involving police extortion and higher TV ratings; 3) the Makati-Ayala "policy" disallowing transgenders and transsexuals from entering certain bars and establishments to curb "prostitution" which dampened the anniversary celebration of Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines; and 4) the Catholic Church's ban on gays to  participate in the Santacruzan/Flores de Mayo with Manila Archbishop calling such participation as "horrendous" and "an insult to the Blessed Mother"--and with the long-standing and continuing socio-economic discrimination and structural-systemic violence towards the poor people of this country, I have a feeling it's time once again to assert the recognition, protection and promotion of human rights and freedoms of the Filipino lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, and poor, marginalized people.

What do you think?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

December 8, 2005


Dear Friends,

Warm rainbow greetings from LGBT Freedom March Organizing Committee!

For ten years now, lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBTs) have been marching in Manila and Quezon City to celebrate diversity, equality and human rights. In an event we call the "Annual LGBT Pride March", we have gathered LGBTs, non-government organizations, members of various communities and sectors. These Pride marches called for an end to discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation; lobbied for the passage of an anti-discrimination law; advocated for access to sexual health services and information for LGBTs; and pushed for political participation and representation.

The current political crisis in this country presents threats to our freedoms and liberties, both as Filipinos and as LGBTs. We continue to experience discrimination, harassment, abuse and violence because of our gender identity and expression and sexual orientation. Yet the state – which is bound to respect, protect, and promote our human rights – has not done its duty.

In this light, we wish to voice out and express our concern at the current crisis in our country. On this tenth year of the Pride March – which we have called the Freedom March – we want to express support to the call for systemic and structural change. The theme for this year is, "CPR: Celebrating Pride and Rights".

On December 10, 2005, in celebration of International Human Rights Day, we are inviting you to join us as we march in the streets of Manila. The parade will be held in the vicinity of España going to Plaza Miranda, with assembly time set at 3 pm in front of UST. The parade is expected to start at 4 pm and end at 5 pm at Plaza Miranda. A program with performances and speeches depicting LGBT pride will be held from 5pm to 8 pm at Plaza Miranda. We have secured a permit from the mayor's office to enable us to hold the parade and program. We hope you will join us in this important event and express your support and solidarity to the aspiration for change of all LGBTs, and of all Filipinos.

Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

Malu S. Marin and Bruce P. Amoroto
For the LGBT Freedom March Committee

MEDIA RELEASE
Reference: Prof. Danilo Arao
Department of Journalism
College of Mass Communications
University of the Philippines Diliman
Contact Number: 09178332726

*UP COMMUNITY JOINS MARCH 14 COMMUNAL ACTION FOR TRUTH, JUSTICE AND CHANGE*

Faculty, students, staff and alumni of UP Manila will participate in the March 14, 2008 Communal Action for Truth, Justice and Change in Liwasang Bonifacio. This participation is in line with the UP Diliman's University Council resolutions last February 27, 2008 declaring Gloria Arroyo and Romulo Neri must resign and the March 10, 2008 declaration of the University Council of UP Manila "support(ing) the call of the Filipino people for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to resign now!" (Please see complete text of UP Manila declaration at the end of this statement)

UP Diliman community's March 14 activities will kick off at 7:00 am with the launching of miniature hot air balloons calling for truth, justice and change at 7 am in the UP Sunken Garden in UP by AGHAM, an organization of scientists. At 12 noon, a program on the AS (Palma Hall) steps will be held by the mutisectoral groups in UP Diliman prior to departure for Liwasang Bonifacio.

The UP Diliman and UP Manila contingents will join forces in Liwasang Bonifacio where the program will include the performance of UP Diliman's Kontra Gapi, the resident gamelan or music and dance ensemble. Media coverage is requested for the above activities.

*Declaration of the University Council*
University of the Philippines Manila
March 10, 2008

* *
*TRUTH, JUSTICE, AND GOOD GOVERNANCE*

We are once again confronted with a serious political crisis caused by the series of exposes of big-time corruption and bribery involving top officials of the Arroyo administration. As responsible and concerned members of the University of the Philippines Manila academic community, we believe it is our duty and right to make our voices heard and to take a stand on the social ills affecting everyone of us.

We believe that integrity and accountability in public office have been severely compromised putting in serious doubt the credibility and legitimacy of the present political dispensation and therefore its capacity to govern.

We are gravely concerned with the persistence of a culture of impunity with the government's indifference and inutility in prosecuting and punishing all those involved in cases of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and torture. We condemn the continued disappearance of two UP students: *Sherlyn Cadapan* and *Karen Empeno*. There is no place for these human rights violations in a democratic society.

We are outraged by moves of the Arroyo administration to silence witnesses to anomalies and prevent people from participating in peaceful assemblies to express their sentiments.

As professors of UP Manila, we cannot teach our students integrity, service, justice, and good governance if we remain silent in the face of the present national crisis in leadership with such severity as the one we are facing now. We cannot be silent that in the midst of hunger, disease, and other forms of deprivations of our people, billions of public money go into the private bank accounts of unscrupulous government officials and their relatives.

As the Health Science Center of the University of the Philippines System, we are appalled by the deteriorating health conditions and violations of the peoples' right to health. Money that should be used to help save lives, prevent the rise of infectious diseases, and improve the well-being of ordinary Filipinos, and even to fund universal health care, are lost through a system that is permeated by graft and corruption from the barangay level to the highest level of government.

Thus, we are convinced that the search for truth, justice, and good governance in the midst of charges and allegations must be relentlessly pursued especially at this time that the moral ascendancy of the Arroyo administration is being raised.

As an academic institution, we state our stand for truth, accountability, and justice.

- We *CONDEMN* the culture of corruption and impunity characterizing the present political dispensation, and continue to assert for real change in governance by exercising the people's rights of peaceful assembly, to information, and to take active steps to ensure that our fundamental rights and freedoms are protected.

- We* JOIN* the Filipino people in asserting their rights by being actively involved in the search for truth and justice.

- *We SUPPORT the call of the Filipino people for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to resign now! *

We are one with the Filipino people in their struggle for the truth, justice, and good governance.

*Members of the University Council, UP Manila*
*10 March 2008*

Re: 8 March 2009: Women's Day March/Mobilization
(a quick translation of a response to an email)

Hello to everyone,

As for my political line, my minimum is for a more humane (makatao) which means there's also a recognition of equality, more democratic, more inclusive, and non-elitist government and governance and my maximum is to change the entire system of governance and concept of government altogether because I believe it's not serving many Filipinas, Filipinos, and indigenous sisters and brothers in the Philippines—including all the marginalized, oppressed, discriminated and disadvantaged.

This is similar to the need for auditing (illegitimate) debts. (I'm currently a secretariat member of the Independent Citizens' Debt Audit Commission and for the People Against Illegitimate Debt (P.A.I.D.) initiatives). Most of our external and domestic debts are not only illegitimate but they are also immoral that's why there's a need for auditing.

For governance, it's the same; we also have to audit our morals. It’s actually wrong to say “moderate your greed, exterminate your breed" because 1) greed is greed, and greed is one of the 7 deadly sins in the Judaeo-Christian tradition and 2) the message of extermination is too negative and violent and does not evoke peaceful and humane resolution of the problem of corruption.

For me, it’s also inadequate to simply search for TRuth, Accountability and rePOrm because that only means one thing: TR + A + PO = TRAPO. So, most likely, that’s the same breed they’re looking to replace GMA—trapos (traditional politicians) like Noli, Erap and allies of Cory and FVR etc.

HOWEVER, if show of force or numbers is needed and tactically it’s useful to join forces with "mellow" people, that’s ok with me JUST ENSURE that the progressive forces do not look like accessories or end up getting used as support group of “mellow” forces in a rally. It’s like what happened in a mobilization at Senate grounds when a La Salle group arrived and handed out food to the ones who were already there beforehand and were overwhelmingly thanking them saying, “thank you for coming here.” What was that? Do they mean, they were the stars and the ones who were there earlier carrying slogans "NO to TRAPO" and "SYSTEMS CHANGE" were merely their support group?

I'm not against any faith, in fact I'm a very spiritual person. What I'm against is religion. And sadly, many (mind you, not all) in the religious sector have become part of the system of corruption in the Philippines. Let me be the first to coin these terms if in case no one's done it. For me, CBCP stands for 1) Catholic Bishops Corporation in the Philippines or 2) Catholic Bishops' Corruption in/of the Philippines – And why, are they paying taxes here in the Philippines? And where do they take their hundreds of millions of Sunday collections, isn’t it in Rome? Isn’t it also true that they are the ones who own hectares and hectares of land which are supposed to be part of the "equal distribution of wealth and power" in the Philippines? And if Cardinal Sin unabashedly says it’s ok to accept money from the devil, doesn’t this mean that they are accepting huge sums of money/donations from politicians in return for “moral” support. It’s same money that the politicians stole from the public through padded projects. Of course, there are still members of the Church who are progressiver but we still have to be critical who they are. I think the Church is stalling because they haven't exactly figured the political puzzle--which one to support so they can maintain the flow of cash/"donations". Isn’t this corruption as well?

The March 8, Women’s Day Rally, I will definitely be there (minimum as an individual because I really believe that women need to be free from the patriarchal system in society; maximum, I will be carrying my Freedom from Debt Coalition membership). But, I still think it would be nice if the LGBT community has a presence there at the International Women's Day Mobilizaton. I sat at the meeting, despite not being a woman, because I asked permission and besides, they welcome lesbians, bisexual women and transgender-transsexual women to the mobilization.

I wouldn't be keen to support a proposal that says the lgbt community should have its own rally because I think that mentality is part of the community and the movement's problem. We've been too sheltered, too exclusivist, too elitist in our approach. What we need to do is to recognize that we have a common struggle with the millions of Filipinas, Filipinos and  indigenous sisters and brothers. And that is the struggle for (human) dignity, equality, genuine inclusion, and full participation in society. What we need to do is to join the other (marginalized) sectors and their NGOs in calling for a change in the system.

If we can say "LGBT Agenda: Equality", isn’t equality the same call as of the millions of impoverished, hungry, homeless, unemployed, uneducated, dying (because of the lack of health service) and those whose human rights and dignity are trampled upon and not  protected by the state? What many, if not all, are saying is to uphold our humanity and defend our dignity. And these are not the calls of the church people especially the elites, the elitists at the trapos.

The way I see it, even though we call for equality, some of us are still elitist in our mindsets. I think we are forgetting that the civil and political rights strategy, though that is important, is not enough for lgbt activism/advocacy in the Philippines. In our economic situation, what is most important is an emphasis on economic, social and cultural rights. We’re a Third World country, aren’t we? We keep forgetting also that not all of us are ready to accept the "LGBT" discourse because they are “tomboy,” “bakla,” “bayot,” “silahis,” or they simply refuse to boxed in a western construct or any construct for that matter. We also forget that with our varied identities in the Philippines, the key to our development (as organizations, as a  movement, as individuals) is to accept, uphold and protect our diversity and equality. It's time for us to recognize and protect our cultural-, biological-, economic-, social- and sexual diversity and equality and to reach out to as many discriminated, oppressed, marginalized and disadvantaged people as possible. These people are also the ones who belong to a sexually diverse world.

Still for a free and dignified humanity,

Bruce Portugal Amoroto
TEAM PILIPINAS
team-pilipinas@yahoogroups.com

Don't be mislead that this is purely an interfaith rally because the interfaith session just took an hour from the 5:30-8:00pm program. This rally is sentiment-proof of the Filipino people's clamor for real change in society. Don't be fooled that this rally is merely a response to a specific issue (the NBN-ZTE deal) or to another political crisis (corruption and hiding the truth) BECAUSE the Philippines has been in crisis since Spain colonized us and institutionalized ELITE RULE of those who have resources (capital) and are educated (usually in the West). So, when you read or hear that former Presidents such and such were at this or that rally, be critical and note that they, together with other TRAPOS (traditional politicians), are or were there because of their selfish business and political interests. Let us note that the during the Aquino Administration, the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Programme (CARP)--at the time a ground-breaking instrument to distribute wealth (and power) among the Filipino people especially in the context of Martial Law and the ouster of a dictator (Marcos)--failed to accomplish its mission because for example, the Hacienda Luisita (which is owned by the Cojuangcos--Cory Aquino's clan) and other large tracts of land owned by business and political elite families, were, one way or another, spared from the coverage of the CARP.

I just remembered a title of an article or column, it says something like, "birds of the same feather, corrupt together"--which means that for this current crisis, the ouster, resignation, removal or replacement of Gloria with another TRAPO--most definitely one who belong to one of the fractious and factious elite families in the Philippines--WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

The real crisis in the Philippines is (in) the SYSTEM: the rich gets richer and the poor gets poorer because 1) there is NO GENUINE government commitment, policy and program to distribute wealth (and power) to the people (read: masses) and 2) because there is a COLLUSION between North countries (where the Philippines borrow money and "ODA" from), transnational corporations (like McDonalds, Coke, Microsoft, Nike, call center companies, mining companies etc--that exploit cheap Philippine labor, sap our precious natural resources and destroy our environment and cultural-economic-social diversity), with local business elites who want to keep the Philippines (still) indebted, impoverished and underdeveloped at the expenses a great number of Filipinas and Filipinos and indigenous sisters and brothers in the Philippines and those working outside as OFWs.

Help us change the system.

Help us leap to a better possible Philippines by being critical of what you read, hear and see on the news and papers.

Continue to ask why.

Continue to ask why after so many EDSAs and People Power Revolutions, we're still in the streets clamoring for real change. Continue to ask yourself, perhaps you're adding to this socio-politico-economic crisis (I hope not).

It's time for a more dignified humanity, for a society that recognizes and upholds the equality and diversity, and for a Philippines without any marginalization, exclusion and discrimination in all forms.

It's time for real and lasting change... FOR ALL FILIPINOS (not for the elites and business companies).

Every LGBT, bakla, biyaning, bayot, silahis, TG, pa-gurl, pa-mhin--all those belonging to a sexually diverse Philippines are invited to join LAGLAG--Lesbians And Gays Laban kAy Gloria (Lesbians and Gays Against Gloria) tomorrow as it participates in the Ayala March/Mobilization/Rally (29 February). Assembly point is at Estrella Street (EDSA) at 3pm. Attire: LOUDEST pink.

Yes, that's true. Malu, I and Danton arranged to meet a while ago to discuss the participation of the LGBT community in addressing this political/socio-economic crisis; unfortunately Malu could not make it. I invited everybody else and Danton and I met. Anne of R-Rights arrived later and a plan that you now know was formed. LAGLAG evokes a message of change in the system but that change, I hope, is for everyone, especially for the marginalized sectors of society--bakla, lesbiyana, bisexual, transgender, mahihirap, indigenous peoples (IPs), moros, kababaihan, kabataan, atbp.

It's time for us to call for a more progressive stance. This mobilization is not just about changing a president, it's about changing a corrupt, non-progressive, and marginalizing (read: cancer) socio-politico-economic system.

Isama niyo ang inyong mga kapitbahay, kamag-anak, kalaguyo, kaibigan, kamag-aral at iba pa at ipakita na ang pagbabago ay nagsisimula hindi dahil sa pangunguna ng mga elite, pulitiko at may pondo para sa isang malaking mobilisasyon o rallyng tulad nito, kundi ito ay nagmumula sa ating mga sarili dahil naniniwala tayo sa pagkakapantay-pantay (equality is the LGBT agenda, you know) at sa dangal ng lahing kayumanggi.   

See you in your most empowering and very loud PINK, bring your most colorful umbrellas (it might rain), and your most potent noise makers (whistles, rattles) and don't forget your feet of course. This is a march, so be prepared.

Happy Leap Year everyone!

Together, let us progressively leap to a brighter, more humane, more dignified and more inclusive Philippines FOR ALL, not just those who have money and resources. Mabuhay ang kababaihan! Mabuhay ang kabataan! Mabuhay ang mga transgender, bisexual, bakla at lesbiyana! Mabuhay ang mga katutubo nating kapatid! Mabuhay ang mga manggagawa! Mabuhay ang mga may kapansanan! Mabuhay ang mga inaapi at isinasantabi (nawa'y maging patas na ang sistema)! Mabuhay ang lahing kayumanggi!

In relation to my post "Patawad / Paumanhin" and to my newly-created facebook group "Should Spain, the US and Japan Apologize to the "Filipino" People?" a human rights colleague over at Asia Pacific Rainbow forwarded me this link.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/02/25/080225fa_fact_kramer

I think it's still worth thinking about the (continuous) role the United States play in our politics, governance and economy. And as we celebrate today, 25 February, the EDSA People Power Revolution of 1986, we should equally and critically think about the role they played during those historic days of protest.

What do you think?