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*