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[Statement] Teachers decry p300 additional poll duty pay -TDC

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

Teachers decry p300 additional poll duty pay

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) said they appreciate the P300.00 additional honorarium for teachers who served during the 2013 barangay elections held on October 28 and special elections on November 28 held in Bohol Province and Zamboanga City. The announcement came from the budget department yesterday as its response to the Comelec’s appeal for increase in teachers’ pay.

“This is an admission that the Comelec gave us less than what we deserved. However, we would be more thankful if they provided a truly just pay commensurate to our tasks.” Said Benjo Basas, the group’s national chairperson.

The TDC prior to the elections protested what they call “a legalized exploitation” of teachers thru the compulsory election duties that they said exposes them to “all sorts of dangers- health risks, harassment, legal charges and physical attack.”

“Yet at the end of all these sufferings,” Basas continued “teachers will only get a very minimal compensation- not even enough for transportation, paracetamol, food and energy drink to keep us awake, often, the honorarium comes very late, as late as a month or more.”

Basas cited the October 28 elections in which the group received reports of non-payment of the P2, 000.00 honorarium as late as one month after the polls. Meanwhile the payment for those who served as canvassers (amount varies depending on the number of clustered precinct) as well as the P500.00 transportation allowance have not been paid in such areas as Palo, Leyte and Olongapo City, respectively, that is two months after the elections.

Basas also criticized the government for paying “huge amount of honoraria and bonuses to those who practically just sit in their respective offices, including the bosses of government corporations and financial institutions” and giving away people’s money to the “discretionary funds of incompetent and corrupt officials” while providing very little to the lowly rank and file employees.

The group long before the elections asked the government to pay those who sit as board of election tellers (BET) more. “The amount of honorarium should have been doubled, it should not be less than P4, 000.00, same as our total per diem during automated elections, because barangay elections use manual system which is more physically exhausting.” Basas added.

Basas, again reiterated his group’s call for the abolition of the mandated poll duties of teachers.

“These are the reasons why we push for the optional election duties. We cannot refuse the assignment to sit as election workers, even if this task may expose us to harm, even death. We cannot negotiate with the Comelec on the amount they want us to be paid. We can never demand for a lawyer to defend us when we are in trouble. The mandated poll duty of public school teachers is a legal excused for the government to perpetuate exploitation.” Basas ended. #

Reference: Benjo Basas, National Chairperson 0920-5740241/ 3853437

PRESS STATEMENT
December 30, 2013

Statement

[Press Release] Teachers make last-minute appeal to COMELEC, candidates -TDC

Posted on October 25, 2013 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

Teachers make last-minute appeal to COMELEC, candidates

Three days before the Barangay Elections, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) made a final appeal to the Comelec for their demands that include higher compensation package, assurance of security and legal protection for the teachers who will sit as Board of Election Tellers (BET) on Monday’s village election. The group expressed dismay because according to them, the Comelec seems to ignore their request for a meeting they have submitted as early as mid-August.

“Teachers will work for almost 24 hours or even more, from the time of distribution of election materials in the respective Comelec centers at early dawn of Monday up to the completion of all the tasks that usually up until the morning of the next day.” Benjo Basas, the group’s national chairperson said. “Yet teachers are only paid half the amount of the honorarium in the last automated elections held in May.” He continued.

Basas said that manual elections like the one in Monday would expose the teachers in more possible errors, physical and mental fatigue, health risks, legal trouble and threats of harassment and physical attck. Thus, according to him, teachers deserve more than the total of P2, 500.00. The TDC proposes a payment of at least P4, 000.00, the total amount Comelec paid the teachers who sit as members of BEI last May.”

Basas also noted that the Comelec still failed to review and implement its legal mandate that prohibits the appointment of teachers who are not registered voters in the city or municipality as members of the BET.

“Both the election code and the subsequent Comelec Resolutions including the one for this October 28 Barangay polls prohibit the non-registered voters of the locality to sit as members of election tellers, yet the Comelec, in many instances allowed this to happen. Our teachers who are actually compelled to do this duty may face a possible election offense.” Basas explained.

Last week, teachers of Manila raised this issue and ask a Comelec representative during the training in Araullo High School, the Comelec personnel agreed that indeed there may be a violation but told them to address the concern to the Comelec national office.

Aside from these two issues of compensation and legal protection, the group also appeal to the Comelec and the national government to ensure that teachers will be protected against physical harm. Basas noted that Barangay elections, most of the time, are most intense and tensionable due mainly to the clannish nature of Philippine villages and the opposing candidates and their supporters are coming from the same grassroots localities, some are actually blood relatives.

“We call on the Comelec to ensure the visibility of law enforcement authorities in areas they declared as election hot spots, from the start of the teachers work until they have finished all the tasks including the transportation of election paraphernalia from Comelec centers to polling places and vise versa.” Basas said.

Basas believe that the presence of law enforcers may deter those who are planning to disrupt the process thru violence, tension and disorder on election day.

“The problem with the bad politics and ailing electoral system is, everything may be blamed to the teachers, the front liners in elections, as if we have a direct stake in it.” Basas lamented. “We are the hapless victims of pre-election harassment, we cannot just leave the polling precincts whenever violence erupts on election day and after the polls, we are also subjects of electoral protests filed by the losing candidates.”

Basas added that most of the time, they face these difficulties alone for the DepEd has no readily available legal assistance and the Comelec serves as prosecutors in election-related cases.

“We appeal to the candidates and the general public to please spare the teachers. We do this task because we consider this as our patriotic duty, aside from this is our mandated work as public school teachers. However, given the choice, many of us would be opted not to sit as BET and would not risk our profession, our safety, our limbs or even our lives.”

The TDC is one of the most active organizations advocating the amendment to election laws to effect the relief of teachers from ‘hazardous non-teaching related assignments’ especially poll duties and make these optional.

TDC members who will not sit as Board of Election Tellers (BET) on Monday will man the group’s Command Post in Quezon City to monitor and document the field situation and provide any possible assistance from the organization and concerned agencies.

TDC News Release
25 October 2013

Press Release

[People] The G8 environmental report says coal plants are the worst of all By Fr. Shay Cullen

Posted on June 9, 2013 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

The G8 environmental report says coal plants are the worst of all
By Fr. Shay Cullen

Dublin and Northern Ireland. The shocking revelation that environmental damages caused by economic activities like coal plant electrical generation and mining is costing the global economy as much as US$4.7 trillion a year. The report released last 15 April was commissioned by the Group of Eight economic powers and the United Nation’s Environmental Programme.

The G8 nation’s next meeting is at the Lough Erne Summit, June 17-18, 2013 in Northern Ireland. The grim facts of environmental degradation are causing worldwide economic loss and that means greater poverty and health problems.

The loss to the world economy by environmental destructive economic activity is greater than the wealth generated. The short term benefits are mostly for the rich while the environmental damage hurts the poor. The study calculates the impact of air and water pollution, health costs, the damage caused by climate change due to global warming and the destruction costs of deforestation, the rise in ocean temperature and one hundred other impacts.

Coal fired power plants do the worst damage to the environment and the economy. The negative impact and damage is so grave that it negates any economic benefits that the electricity generated helps create. The damage in East Asia alone, including the Philippines, causes economic losses to the costs of $452.8 billion. The wealth generated is only $443.1 billion causing a net loss – that’s bad business for the world economy.

Those who claim that we need to suffer some environmental damage to generate wealth, progress and development are wrong. It is now proven that the losses are greater than the benefits.

It’s not often that environmental protectors and campaigners get good news and have victories in protecting the health of citizens and protecting the environment. Recently, a Philippine court ruling set back the construction of a coal fired power plant on Subic Bay after intensive campaigning against it.

In the Philippines as elsewhere, a real democratic political system does not work to protect the greater good. It benefits the few rich. The so-called economic boom in the Philippines is only for those already rich. The value of their holdings and stocks are rising. So it is really an oligarchy, not a democracy. This court ruling has revealed a dent in that armor of invincibility of the ruling elite. Once-in-a while, a judge is independent of their influence.

State employees are usually beholden to their political masters who appoint them and the energy industry and these politicians are frequently in cahoots with each order. Former industry businessmen get elected and invited by the President into the cabinet. They see that the interests of their masters are protected and enlarged. They get political protection and permits to pursue development projects that are detrimental to the environment.

There is nothing new in that arrangement. Keep the poor poor so they will take the money to fill empty stomachs during election time and the rich can elect themselves. The recent election in May has proven the point. Arnold Padilla on http://www.preda.org made it clear that the business people and the political elite are one and the same. Dozens of rich politicians from ruling families made fake parties, a legal right reserved for the poor and the marginalized. These members of ruling families had their fake party approved by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the Supreme Court and bought enough votes to get themselves elected to Congress and there they can work for the benefit of the rich.

The classic place to see this link up in action is the power plant application project at Subic bay. RP energy, a consortium of Philippine and foreign tycoons, some inner sanctum members of the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the government agency (SBMA) in charge of the Subic bay industrial complex had petitioned the court to reverse previous court rulings saying that the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) permits they issued to RP Energy to allow the coal fired plant to be built were invalid.

Their appeal for a reconsideration of this ruling was recently denied by Associate Justice Celia Librea-Leagogo. She denied the motion for reconsideration filed by the DENR, RP Energy, and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). The planned 600 megawatt coal fired power plant due to be set up at the Redondo peninsula on Subic Bay is now back to square one. The people in the Olongapo city and surrounding area are happy with this. But RP Energy will be in cahoots with the government officials to get the permits. But community acceptance is not possible.

In all nations, people of conscience and concerned for the well-being of people and nature are challenged to renew efforts to reduce the environmental destruction going on all around us. Every issue is important. Since my recent column, “The Fishing Wars”, the EU has finally made a binding agreement with member nations to abide by the strict quotas and banning of bad practices of throwing millions of tons of non-commercial fish back to the sea dead. Lobbying and speaking out can bring positive change and a healthier world. We are stewards of this beautiful planet; it’s the only one we got. There is nothing much on Mars.

(Fr. Shay’s columns are published in The Universe, The Manila Times, in publications in Ireland, the UK, Hong Kong, and on-line.)

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People

[Press Release] COMELEC lauded for speedy Baguio & Comval response, urged to allow “live-streamed manual counting” for “special cases” -SANLAKAS

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

COMELEC lauded for speedy Baguio & Comval response, urged to allow “live-streamed manual counting” for “special cases”

Multisectoral partylist group Sanlakas lauded the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) for a “speedy response” to the ballot switching in Baguio and Compostela Valley and urged the commission to allow for “special cases” of poll failure “live-streamed manual counting” monitored by mainstream media and social networks.

“We know that COMELEC is doing all it can to make every vote count, as fast as it can. Maybe it can do better by conducting tech-assisted manual counting for similar incidences,” Sanlakas Secretary-General Aaron Pedrosa said.

Pedrosa believes that the combined power of mainstream and social media can discourage anomalies in manual counting and canvassing in small cases, and can do away with the need to conduct special elections.

“It might be easier for COMELEC to conduct manual counting in cases similar to Bgy. Lualhati’s involving 638 voters, as long as it is closely monitored by the public,” Pedrosa said.

Accountability

Pedrosa also said that the people responsible for the “Baguio and ComVal mishap” must be held accountable and be prosecuted.

“Electoral justice necessitates penalties to people responsible. Since we do not know yet whether this is accidental or concious on their part, we need an urgent investigation on the matter,” Pedrosa said.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE

Contact Person: Aaron Pedrosa, Sanlakas Secretary-General @ 0932-364-3137
Val De Guzman, Media Liaison @ 0919-965-7509

Press Release

[In the news] Votes for sale: From P100 to P3,500 per person -INQUIRER.net

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

Votes for sale: From P100 to P3,500 per person
By Philip C. Tubeza, Philippine Daily Inquirer
May 11, 2013

How much is a Filipino’s vote worth these days?

According to the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), candidates are offering up to P3,500 for a single vote in Ilocos Norte, P3,000 in neighboring Ilocos Sur, P2,000 in Zamboanga Sibugay, and P100 in Tawi-Tawi.

In a letter sent to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday, Namfrel chair Corazon de la Paz-Bernardo said reports from the group’s volunteers showed that vote-buying—either with cash, groceries, and even farm implements—is expected to intensify as Election Day nears, with some candidates even resorting to “bidding” to corner votes.

Comelec Chair Sixto Brillantes Jr.’s advice to voters: Take the money and junk the candidates.

“Take it but junk those who give you money. That’s the only way to do it so that the next time these people will not give away money because they know they will lose,” Brillantes said in an interview on Friday.
The Comelec tried to fight vote-buying by prohibiting bank withdrawals in excess of P100,000 and carrying cash worth more than P500,000, but President Benigno Aquino III rejected the strategy on Thursday, saying it was bad for the economy, and the Supreme Court, acting on a petition brought by bankers, stopped it on Friday and called for oral arguments.

Brillantes said vote-buying had become more rampant because politicians had fewer means to “manipulate” the vote after the automation of elections in 2010.
Read full article @newsinfo.inquirer.net
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

In the News

[Press Release] Teachers, lawyers established command post to monitor poll events -TDC

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

Teachers, lawyers established command post to monitor poll events

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) headquarters in Quezon City will serve as the command post to monitor all election-related concerns of public school teachers, especially the report of harassment to teachers beginning Sunday morning until Tuesday night, May 14, 2013. Dubbed as “Proteksiyon sa mga Guro, Proteksiyon sa ating Boto” the post will document untoward incidents like harassment, cheating, intimidation, emergency situation or any election-related concerns of public school teachers during May 13, 2013 polls.

Emmalyn Policarpio, the group’s Secretary-General and teacher from Valenzuela City said they will be monitoring the field especially the situation of teachers before, during and immediately after the elections. “We will work like call center agents to accommodate reports from teachers.” She said. “This is our own way of helping our fellow teachers who are tasked to ensure the success of our elections on Monday.”

TDC has established hotline telephone numbers and several mobile numbers for easier reports from teachers. They will be assisted by law group LENTE (Legal Network for Truthful Elections) which will also provide their own hotline to answer legal questions in the field as well as the peace human rights advocacy group, Sulong CARHRIHL.

Several teacher-volunteers who will not sit as BEI on Monday and who are deactivated from voters’ list will man the Command Post and they are tasked to monitor and document the field situation and provide any possible assistance from the organization and concerned agencies.

The Command post will closely coordinate with government and private agencies specifically the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Elections (Comelec), Law Enforcement Units (PNP etc.), election watchdogs and the media. This is the second time that TDC launched such command post just as they did in 2010. TDC members from all over the Philippines will provide the first-hand information from their respective localities.

“Reports that we gathered during 2010 elections were sent to Comelec and DepEd and served as reference for their policies. W call on all our teachers and concerned citizens to reveal all the ”irregularities or any untoward incidents, we need vigilant people to protect our teachers and this democratic exercise.” Policarpio ended. #

NEWS RELEASE
May 10, 2013

Teachers’ Dignity Coalition
“Unity of Teachers to Regain the Dignity of Teaching Profession”
SEC Registration Number: CN 2007-10645
117-C Matatag St., Bgy. Central, Quezon City
Hotline: (02)3853437 • Telefax (02)4350036 • Mobile: 0920-5740241/ 0920-4142614
Email: teachersdignity@yahoo.com.ph • Website: http://www.teachersdignity.com/

Press Release

[Press Release] Anti-Epal Intensifies Campaign Through Change Family Political Dynasty -No More Epal Movement

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

Anti-Epal Intensifies Campaign Through Change Family Political Dynasty

Aimed at educating the public on the problems of Philippine politics, the Anti-Epal campaign created a fictional political dynasty led by Rep. Juana Change and the Epaliticians Party List, hailing from the province of Nueva Change Occidental Sur. The Change Family believes in “political destiny, not dynasty.”

“Mula pa noong panahon ng himagsikan laban sa mga Kastila, hanggang sa paglaban sa mga Hapon, sa pagtutol sa Batas Militar at hanggang sa paglaban kay Little Lady, tatak CHANGE ang kilala. Ito ang legacy ng CHANGE. Gusto nyo ba ng reporma? Eh di CHANGE nalang tayo ulit!,” Rep. Juana Change said.

“Sigaw daw ng iba, ‘Wala na bang iba?’ Wala syempre! ‘Yan ang demokrasyang tatak Pinoy!,” Rep. Juana Change added.

Other members of the Change Family includes Don Juan Change III, Juan Change IV, Yoko Change, Pansy ‘Bida’ Change, Tita Sen Change, Datung Change, Lola Change, and Lolo Change.

“Epalism is only a symptom of deeper problems in Philippine politics, which each character in the Change Family personifies. The characters reflect real politicians and their campaigns and the public has seen these parallelisms. The Change Family is an exaggeration of what is happening in Philippine politics, so a lot of times people are entertained. But more than entertainment, we want them to see that these are real problems we are facing as a nation,” Ayeen Karunungan, spokesperson of Dakila, an organization part of the No More Epal Movement, said.

The Change Family filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) last October 1, the first day of filing of COC’s at the Commission on Elections. The campaign is a new phase of the Anti-Epal campaign and is organized by the No More Epal Movement, composed of Dakila, People Power Institute, Center for Youth Advocacy and Networking and individuals such as Vince Lazatin, Executive Director of Transparency and Accountability Network, Mae Paner, Betty Romero, Gabriel Mercado, and Atty. Eirene Aguila

For more information, contact Ayeen Karunungan at 09175057055 or visit The Change Family Facebook page at http://facebook.com/TheChangeFamily
The CHANGE Family
“The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same”
Nueva Change Occidental Sur (NCOS)
Check Wikipedia of NCOS

The province of Nueva Change Occidental Sur was split into two congressional districts to accommodate the political ambitions of the son of Don Juan Change III and Juana Change, Don Juan Change IV. Although not qualified as a stand-alone congressional district, District 2 of Nueva Change Occidental Sur (with a voting population of only 75,000) was created by a law that was sponsored by Don Juan Change III, and co-sponsored by Juana Change. The creation of District 2 survived a legal challenge when the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Tirso Change ruled that the creation of congressional districts is the sole prerogative of the legislature, and who best to determine the need for new districts, but the congressmen themselves. CJ Tirso Change, the first cousin of Don Juan Change III, was two-time governor of Nueva Change Occidental Sur before being named as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
JUANA CHANGE:
CONGRESSWOMAN, Epaliticians Party List (“EPaL”)

See Juana Change on Facebook

Juana used to be the district congresswoman of Nueva Change Occidental Sur but when her 3rd term ended, she created the EPaL party list group so she could continue to serve in the House of Representatives. EPaL represents the maligned and marginalized epaliticians who have been at the center of the anti-epal movement sweeping the country. She vows to author legislation that would legalize the practice of credit-grabbing by public officials. “How else will the voters know of our benevolence?” she once remarked.

She served her 3 terms after her husband, Don Juan Change III finished 3 terms as well. Believes that there are good political dynasties and that theirs is destiny, not dynasty. Juana Change resents being told to remove her wang-wang from her SUVs because she has much important work to do and spends congressional recess in Paris, New York, Zurich, among other cities.
DON JUAN CHANGE III:
CONGRESSMAN, 1st District of Nueva Change Occidental Sur

Don Juan Change on FB
Don Juan Change, also known as DJ, is now the family patriarch. He is CEO of the CHANGE business conglomerate which interests span from mining, logging, manufacturing, lands, construction, manpower agencies and agriculture.

He is the husband of Juana Change and is running for Congressman of the 1st District, Nueva Change Occidental Sur. Don Juan wants to continue the legacy of his father, his grandfather, and his great-grandfather. Don Juan III believes that only the Change family knows what’s best for the province of Nueva Change Occidental Sur.

He sponsored the bill to carve out a new congressional district from NCOS, the newly formed Second District of Nueva Change Occidental, for his son, Don Juan IV.
JUAN CHANGE IV:
CONGRESSMAN, newly formed 2nd District of Nueva Change Occidental Sur

Be a fan of JC IV in FB

Popularly known as JC IV, he is the son of Juana and Don Juan III. He has learned the business of politics from his father. He has mastered the art of patronage politics. Not a spot of free space in Nueva Change Occidental Sur is safe from his numerous tarps, signs, announcements claiming credit for everything from vaccination programs, libreng tuli/libing/cell load/etc., footbridges, and road asphalting to the cool January weather and the soon to be proclaimed 8th wonder of the world, the NCOS buwaya, which has a voracious appetite and breeds only with relatives; it has a bullet proof, thick skin that is impenetrable to any kind of criticism.

JCIV is often seen passing out school bags (with his name and face embroidered on it) to schoolchildren, who many times, have to wait hours on end for the congressman to arrive, usually 3 or 4 hours late. He can also be seen performing circumcisions for his Libreng Tuli program, even if he isn’t a licensed medical practitioner. His PR people make sure that all his activities are photographed and printed in the Nueva Change Occidental Sur organ, the Change Times.

JC is a part time model and commercial endorser. He is a sports enthusiast and a gym buff. He is often seen with his celebrity friends either partying or attending to social charities. His rumored girlfriend is actress Fart Evangelista. JC is often called the “Nueva Gwapo” as he is the most handsome guy in NCOS.
YOKO CHANGE
GOVERNOR, Nueva Change Occidental Sur

Yoko for Change FB

Yoko is the daughter of Juana and Don Juan III. She is running for her first term as governor of NCOS. She was going to run as Board Member of the Province but was pulled in last minute for the gubernatorial race to replace Lolong Change, when her niece, Munting Change (daughter of Pansy Bida Change) wisely asked, “Paano tatakbo si Lolong? Eh, patay na siya!”

Yoko is said to be the apple of Don Juan’s eyes. She was trained to be a leader since birth. The Change Family enrolled her in the finest schools and even sent her abroad at age 5 to undergo leadership camps with children of politicians. She served as SK Chairperson for 6 years, Student Council President from Prep to 4th year College, and won several leadership awards most notably the Youth Outstanding Winner of the Nation (YOWN) and the Women on Top Award.

Yoko is a youth role model. She has started several social entrepreneurship projects that help the youth of NCOS under her youth movement Yoko for Change (YFC). Yoko is also a social media sensation having many twitter followers. She contributes to a lot of publications as an expert on youth affairs and hosts a cool youth oriented show – YOK On Radio.
DADO FORTUNATO “DATUNG” CHANGE:
MAYOR, San Buwaya City, Capital of Nueva Change Occidental Sur

Datung FB Page

Datung Change is the nephew of Juana and Don Juan III. He is the only child of celebrity turned politician, Tita Sen Change.

Dado Forunato, also known as “Datung”, is the perennial mayor of San Buwaya City and has been mayor for eight terms, broken only by his placeholder grandfather, Juan Jr. “Lolong”, who ran the city from his urn (he’s been dead since 1986). Mayor Datung also is the campaign manager for the Change family.

He is also responsible for raising money for everyone’s campaigns. He is rumored to be the local jueteng lord and has a private army. Allegedly, his business interests in San Buwaya City include smuggling, drug trafficking, gunrunning and money laundering.

Despite his tough stance, the masses of San Buwaya are affectionate of Datung as his “the end justifies the means” motto brings peace to San Buwaya.

TITA SEN CHANGE
SENATOR

Follow Tita Sen

Tita Sen is the sister of Don Juan III. She is an iconic movie star. She is well known as a comedienne and a TV personality. She tried to shun politics but after an overwhelming clamor from her family, the Change family, she gave in and parlayed her popularity as a TV personality and comedienne into a successful sentorial bid. She is in her second term.

However, from time to time, Tita Sen finds it hard to refuse her showbiz life so she still dabbles in acting, hosting and commercial endorsements. Her Hot Pink movement – the name she calls her Fans Club, is with her everywhere she goes – from Charity projects to awards night. Tita Sen also has a penchant for social media like twitter and instagram, which leaves her vulnerable to criticism and malicious attacks. This is why one of her strongest advocacy is internet censorship.

She continues her work on TV and was recently accused of plagiarizing one of her episodes of “The Tita Sen Hour” from a Korean sitcom. In her defense, she said, “Eh, paano sasabihin plagiarism yan? Ang show ko ay Tagalog, yung isa ay Koreano. Copying is the sincerest form of flattery. Chos!”.
PANSY “BIDA” CHANGE
VICE GOVERNOR

Pansy on FB

Pansy is the eldest daughter of Juan III and Juana. Pansy “Bida” has stayed away from politics, content to be the personal assistant to her mother, Juana; and a secretary to her father Don Juan. A college graduate, Pansy is the quietest among the Change siblings. With the busy life her siblings live, Pansy attends to all their needs – taking care of the clothes of brother JC and seeing to it that Yoko’s hair and make up are done well.

At the last minute she was asked to file her certificate of candidacy as Vice Governor of NCOS, when Lola Change decided to run against Yoko for the governorship.

Pansy, criticized for her inexperience in public service – well for her lack of experience of in anything, shot back to her critics saying, “Who needs experience when you have the family name, ‘Change’? My experience as being my mom’s alalay had prepared me well for the role as Vice Governor.”
LOLA CHANGE
VICE GOVERNOR

Lola & Lolong Forever FB
Lola Change is the surviving spouse of Lolo Change. Lola Change was all set to run as Vice Governor and running-mate to her late husband, Juan Jr. When the decision was made to field Yoko Change for the governorship instead of her husband, Lola decided to run against her, in the memory of her deceased husband, who is also her running-mate.

Lola Change hails from one of the elite haciendero family of NCOS. She speaks fluent Spanish, Latin, French and Italian. A devout religious, she is member of the exclusive “Order of Morals”. At the same time, she runs the vast family hacienda, which employs thousands of farm workers and manages the 10 ancestral houses of the family with the help of her 200 domestic workers which includes her loyal servants.

DON JUAN, JR. “LOLONG” CHANGE (Deceased):
VICE GOVERNOR

Don Juan is the Change Family Patriarch who died in 1986. Although dead for 27 years, has been filing his certificate of candidacy for every election since he died. Lolong filed his first certificate of candidacy at 14 with a fake birth certificate indicating he was 18 years old. He died in 1986 after the People Power Revolution from a heart attack while in captivity.

Lolong, known for ruthlessly ordering the assassinations of his political opponents, was captured swimming inside the carcass of a crocodile in the Nueva Change Occidental Sur river trying to escape capture from law enforcement officials. The crocodile carcass was certified by the Guiness Book of World Records as the largest crocodile carcass used for escape. He was wanted in connection to several killings of prominent political oppositionists. His remains are incarcerated at the NCOS Maximum Security Prison, serving out seven consecutive life terms, reclusion perpetua, for the murders. From his urn in jail, Lolong is often used by his family members as a placeholder so they can run again after 3 consecutive terms.

Lolong was supposed to run as governor, but the decision was made by the family to bypass Lolong and field Yoko instead. This decision was made when the 5 year old granddaughter of Don Juan III and Juana, Munting Change (daughter of Juan IV) pointed out, “Paano tatakbo si Lolong? Eh, patay na siya!” After 20 minutes of stunned silence, Juana and Don Juan III decided that Yoko should run instead.

His campaign slogan is “Patay na patay makapagsilbi!”

PRESS RELEASE
No More Epal Movement
9 May 2012

Press Release

[Statement] Teachers reiterate appeal for teachers’ right to vote -TDC

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

Teachers reiterate appeal for teachers’ right to vote

A week prior to the actual campaign period, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) reiterates it’s earlier appeal to the Comelec to pay attention to the matter of voters’ registration of teachers and the practice of appointing them as chairmen and members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI). We would like to cite the particular case in 2010 elections, the first ever election where we employed the automated system. Unfortunately, many teachers were not able to cast their votes.

The problem emanates from the usual practice of both the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Department of Education (DepEd) in appointing teachers in the BEI. While election laws explicitly provide that only teachers who are registered voters of the city or municipality can be appointed as chairmen and members of the BEI, the assignments given to teachers are actually based on the places of their work, regardless of their registration. Due to this, teachers cast their votes in the precincts where they are assigned and not in the precincts where they are registered as voters. Still, there are cases that teachers are given BEI assignments even if they are not registered voters.

In 2010 elections, the first-ever election that the country fully utilized the automated election system (AES), many teachers were disenfranchised. Some of them were deactivated for allegedly not casting their votes for two consecutive elections. But the truth is, they actually voted in their precincts of assignment but the votes were not recorded in the book of voters in the precinct of their registration. Some of them failed to vote because they are assigned in distant polling places and could not afford to vote in their precincts of registration within the 30-minute limitation. Because in the AES, BEI members are not allowed to vote in their precincts of assignment, unlike in the past that Comelec provides three (3) excess ballots for them, and the votes must only be manifested in the minutes of voting and counting.

The possibility of disenfranchisement was formally brought to the attention of the Commission several times- few months before the May 2010 elections.

As an answer to that query, the Honorable Commission promulgated Resolution 8878 on May 7, 2010, or three (3) days before the May 10, 2010 elections and the last working day before the election day.

We are however, grateful that the Comelec resolved to reactivate the registration records of the teachers who actually served the previous elections (2007 mid-term elections and October 2010 Barangay and SK Elections) for exigency of service. The Resolution also said that registration records of teachers were inadvertently deactivated, thus teachers, registered or not were deemed reactivated and can be appointed to sit in the BEI.

Prior to the AES, the services of all public school teachers were needed by the Comelec. In 2007 elections for instance, the required number of BEIs has reached 800, 000. But in May 2010 elections, because of clustering of already clustered precincts, the Comelec only needed some 300, 000 BEI members. The problem is, most of the teachers, especially those who already attended the AES training and orientation were found out to be deactivated or non-registered. Comelec Resolution 8878 was made to resolve its own problem. The Commission created a legal remedy by allowing the teachers, whose registration were “inadvertently” deactivated to still sit as members and chairmen of the BEI. But many teachers were not able to exercise their right to vote. The resolution only provides solution to the problem of the Comelec- the possible lack of teachers to serve as BEIs.

The DepEd estimated the disenfranchised teachers to 120, 000, or almost the same as half of the number of teachers who served the May 2010 polls. A number that could easily elect a district representative if counted.

In 2013 elections, we do not want this to happen again. Thus, we would like to reiterate our earnest appeal to the Deped and the Comelec, respectively, in considering appointment of teachers in BEI:
To verify the status of teachers’ registration to identify those who are qualified to sit in the BEI in the polling places where they are registered voters;
To reactivate the voters’ registration of teachers who have been deactivated, despite consistently performing their tasks in the past elections

We believe that the Commission has enough time, power and resources to preempt yet another massive disenfranchisement of public school teachers- the very facilitators of Philippine elections. Suffrage is a constitutional right of every citizen, and it is quite ironic that we teachers, the frontline workers to assure that every Filipino could participate to this democratic exercise will be deprived of this right.

While the terrible experiences in the past elections give us good reason to lobby for the optional poll duties of public school teachers, we still believe that this is a part of our extended obligation to our people, beyond classroom teaching- it is our patriotic duty. The teachers are more than willing to serve the country. The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) would be very happy to help the Honorable Commission in any way we can. #

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For details:
Benjo Basas, National Chairperson 0920-5740241/ 3853437

PRESS STATEMENT
February 6, 2013

Statement

[Statement] Teachers must be registered voters to serve the elections -TDC

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

Teachers must be registered voters to serve the elections

Two days before the deadline of registration for 2013 elections, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), does not expect for an extension of voters’ registration. However, we would like to bring to public attention the matter of voters’ registration of teachers and the practice of appointing them as chairmen and members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) during elections. We would like to cite the particular case in 2010 elections, the first ever election where we employed the automated system. Unfortunately, many teachers were not able to cast their votes.

The problem emanates from the usual practice of both the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Department of Education (DepEd) in appointing teachers in the BEI. While election laws explicitly provide that only teachers who are registered voters of the city or municipality can be appointed as chairmen and members of the BEI, the assignments given to teachers are actually based on the places of their work, regardless of their registration. Due to this, teachers cast their votes in the precincts where they are assigned as BEI members during elections and not in the precincts where they are registered as voters. Still, there are cases that teachers are given BEI assignments even if they are not registered voters.

In 2010 elections, the first-ever election that the country fully utilized the automated election system (AES), many teachers were not able to cast their votes for several reasons. Some of them were deactivated for allegedly not having voted for two consecutive national elections. But the truth is, they actually voted in their precincts of assignment but the votes were not recorded in the book of voters in the precinct of their registration. Some of them failed to vote because they are assigned in distant polling places and could not afford to vote in their precincts of registration within the 30-minute limitation. Because in the AES, BEI members are not allowed to vote in their precincts of assignment, unlike in the past that Comelec provides 3 excess ballots for them, and the votes must only be manifested in the minutes of voting and counting.

The possibility of disenfranchisement was formally brought to the attention of the Commission several times- few months before the May 2010 elections.

As an answer to that query, the Honorable Commission promulgated Resolution 8878 on May 7, 2010, or 3 days before the May 10, 2010 elections and the last working day before the election day.

We are, however grateful that the Comelec resolved to reactivate the registration records of the teachers who actually served the previous elections (2004 presidential elections and 2007 mid-term elections) for exigency of service. The Resolution also said that registration records of teachers were inadvertently deactivated, thus, teachers registered or not were deemed reactivated and can be appointed to sit in the BEI.

Prior to the AES, the services of all public school teachers were needed by the Comelec. In 2007 elections for instance, the required number of BEIs has reached 800, 000. But in May 2010 elections, because of clustering of already clustered precincts, the Comelec only needed some 300, 000 BEI members. The problem is, most of the teachers, especially those who already attended the AES training and orientation were found out to be deactivated or non-registered. Comelec Resolution 8878 was made to resolve its own problem. The Commission created a legal remedy to their problem by allowing the teachers, whose registration were “inadvertently” deactivated to still sit as members and chairmen of the BEI. But many teachers were not able to exercise their right to vote. The resolution did not solve the problems of the teachers, and it only provides solution to the problem of the Comelec- the possible lack of teachers to serve as BEIs.

PRESS STATEMENT
October 29, 2012

Statement

[Press Release] TDC welcomes house approval of insurance for teachers in poll duties

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

TDC welcomes house approval of insurance for teachers in poll duties

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) welcomes the House approval of HB 6528, authored by Rep. Juliet Cortuna of A Teacher Party List. The bill provides an insurance package for election personnel including public school teachers tasked to perform election duties during national and local elections as chairmen and members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI).

TDC Chairperson Benjo Basas, a teacher of Caloocan City who regularly attends to election tasks since his entry in public school in 2002 said that they are grateful that the Congress finally decides on the matter which for him “is long been overdue.” The TDC, he said is continuously lobbying both in Congress and in Comelec for the amendment of omnibus election code to effect the optional poll duties of teachers. He continued, “However, despite the lobby effort of the DepEd secretary himself, Comelec and even some lawmakers are reluctant to discuss the bill because according to them, teachers are the most fit for the job, given their integrity, credibility and familiarity to the community.”

Basas also said that since teachers have no right to refuse the appointment, they want to at least ensure that they will be protected from all forms of danger- harassment, physical attack, health risk and accusation of cheating.

Early last month, the group sat in a dialogue with Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes, Jr. to discuss the demands of the teachers for 2013 elections.

“The honorable chair assured us that they will provide insurance to cover all the teachers who will sit as members and chairmen of the BEI in next year’s polls.” Basas said. “Another thing that the COMELEC will set aside is the fund for legal defense of teachers who will be charged of cheating or any election offense by losing candidates especially is there is an obvious indication that those are only meant to harass teachers.” Basas continued.

In September 14, the TDC submitted the list of their demands that includes insurance, 24-hour presence of law enforcement units and deployment of medical team in the vicinity of polling places, 100 percent increase in per diem, reduction of number of voters’ per clustered precincts and optional duties or provision of hazard pay in places declared as areas of immediate concerns or election hot spots.

“The Chairman actually responded positively and we hope that matters that are not beyond Comelec control would materialize.” Basas ended.

For details:
Benjo Basas, Chairperson 0920-5740241/ (02)385-3437

Press Release

[Press Release] Anti-Epal Activists highlight problems beyond Epal -Dakila

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

Anti-Epal Activists highlight problems beyond Epal

Manila – Anti-Epal activists, led by Mae Paner dressed as the popular character Juana Change, trooped to the Comelec to join the thousands of political candidates to file their certificates of candidacy on the first day of filing for the May 2013 elections. Candidates will have until the Friday, October 5 deadline to file their intention to run.

“I am here today to file my certificate of candidacy for the Epaliticians’ Party List, or EPaL, along with my family members who are also running for political office,” declared Paner as Juana Change. “I have with me my Auntie Sen Change, husband Don Juan Change IV, my sister Yoko Change, my son Juan Change V, and my granddaughter Juanita ‘Luce’ Change. We call her ‘Bariya’. We are here to continue the legacy of Change that my late great grandfather started in 1898. In Philippine politics, Change is inevitable. My father and mother are here to witness the continuation of the Change legacy. Even my great grandfather is here, but he’s in an urn,” added Paner wryly, tongue firmly in cheek.

Members of the No More Epal Movement joined the real filers today to highlight what it calls the “deeper problems of Philippine politics.” In a press statement, the group said that the problem of “epal”, “the habit of politicians to claim personal credit for publicly funded projects and programs,” is only a symptom of the deeper problems of patronage politics, family dynasties, and campaign finance, among others. “Many of our supporters have asked if we are only focused on the problem of ‘epal’. Many have even suggested that we should go beyond epal,” said Vincent Lazatin, founder of the No More Epal Facebook page. “We are here today to start a deepening of the discussion of our politics. Epal is merely a symptom of our rotten politics. We must direct our campaign to the real issues.”

Paner was accompanied by theater actors and members of Dakila, as the character Tita Sen Change, and other performance artists filling in the roles of Juana Change’s relatives. “It may seem ridiculous to come here with members of the Change family all of whom intend to file their certificates of candidacy, but this is what our politics has become – a family business,” said Kate Lim from the artist group DAKILA. “Look around and you will see mother, daughter, husband, son, brother, sister all running for various positions in politics. It’s crazy. We are here today to highlight just this one aspect of our politics, but there are so many other problems as well. The No More Epal Campaign, which has been surprisingly popular, is really only an entry point to discuss the poor state of our politics and political institutions,” Lim added.

The anti-epal movement has gained a lot of popularity in recent months as an online campaign has caught the popular imagination. Aside from online campaigns on the popular social networking site Facebook, there are websites and blogs that have taken up the anti-epal campaign. Some public officials such as Mayors Alfredo Lim and Herbert Bautista of Manila and Quezon City, respectively, have ordered signs and billboards bearing their names and images taken down. Both Mayors Lim and Bautista have separately said that the signs and billboards have been put up without their approval by their supporters.

Contact: Betty Romero (“No More Epal”): 0917 821 7227
Kate Lim (DAKILA): 0917 708 0988

Press Release

[In the news] After campaign vs ‘epal’, group trains gun on ‘bopal’ -PhilStar.com

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

After campaign vs ‘epal’, group trains gun on ‘bopal’
By Jovan Cerda, PhilStar.com
September 28, 2012

MANILA, Philippines – A national political party representing the marginalized sector held on Friday a rally against “epal” politicians and “bopal” groups, urging the Commission on Elections to fulfill its mandate of ensuring genuine, clean and honest polls.

Partido Lakas ng Masa said its rally is meant to jumpstart its campaign against epals and bopals.

Epal is a term for credit-grabbing politicians while bopal stands for bogus party lists.

PLM said it supports the Comelec’s move to rid the elections of bopals which do not really represent the marginalized sectors.

“The party list system is designed to enable the marginalized and underrepresented sectors to secure a seat in Congress, which has long been monopolized by traditional parties and clans. Getting rid of the Bopal is a most welcome action by the Comelec,” PLM Chairman Sonny Melencio said.

“While we appreciate Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr’s recent moves against the Bopal, we ask that the process of disqualification be open and transparent to prevent the exclusion of the genuine party lists in the certification,” he added.

“Our campaign against Bopal is also our way of ensuring that the genuine partylists -those truly composed of the marginalized sectors- should have better chances of getting the Comelec certification,” Melencio said.

Read full article @ www.philstar.com

In the News

[In the news] CDO Now Movement chooses to stay transparent, honest | Sun.Star

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

CDO Now Movement chooses to stay transparent, honest | Sun.Star.

By Michael Andrew W. Yu
March 13, 2012

THOUGH its recall campaign has already been terminated, Save CDO Now Movement said it still chooses to stay on the course of transparency and honesty.

Tito Mora, spokesperson of the movement, said they did not purposely file the petition with spurious signatures just to make a point.

“Save CDO Now Movement is not just about making a point. It is about pointing to the direction of our vision of a safe Cagayan de Oro. That is where we want to go to, that is where all this leads to and that is what we want to build,” Mora said.

He said they respected the pronouncement of the city’s political leaders from “politicizing” their cause.

“We rejected the temptation to shortcut the process. We paid out of our pockets and people donated, that even just one peso was so precious to us,” he added.

Last week, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) called off some petitions for recall election filed at its offices due to “lack of budget and time.”

Read full article @ www.sunstar.com.ph

In the News

[Blogger] Aftermath: The Future of AngLadlad – germainetrittle86.multiply.com

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Human Rights Online Philippines One comment

Aftermath: The Future of AngLadlad.

[This article was posted in Germaine Trittle P. Leonin’s blog “Maximum Exposure” in May 31, 2010. That was almost 1 year ago making it as their “1st year anniversary when the Filipino LGBT Community was given recognition somehow” according to her.

HRonlinePH welcomes Germaine to our initiative to create a human rights bloggers network. To read more of Germaine’s blog please visit germainetrittle86.multiply.com.

Read on… -HRonlinePH]

File photo source: leaflens.blogspot.com

Aftermath: The Future of AngLadlad
by Germaine Trittle P. Leonin
Maximum Exposure

By and large, I believe AngLadlad and the Filipino LGBT Community won a great battle in this past elections. While AngLadlad’s real story began in 2006 (when it first applied for partylist accreditation and got denied by COMELEC for failing to show its national membership), it was the last six months prior to the May 10, 2010 elections which proved most significant to its ultimate aspiration of respect and equality for Filipino LGBTs.

AngLadlad had always played by the rules. It relied on clear Constitutional mandates for marginalized sectors and took advantage of the opportunity that the Philippines’ Party List System provided. AngLadlad gathered its LGBT membership from all around the Philippines and documented its relevant activities, as well as the required qualifications of a Party List under the law. However, certain “powers that be” in the COMELEC chose to be more obvious with their biases and homophobia to outrightly deny AngLadlad’s application.

Everyone saw through the blatant injustice being done to AngLadlad, since various “bogus” organizations claiming to represent certain sectors were getting accredited at the snap of a finger by simply forking over a couple of hundred thousand pesos. These supposed sectoral organizations did not even fall within the same category of similarly disadvantaged groups enumerated by the Constitution and the Party List law. I mean, honestly, “sabungeros” or cockfighters and LPG-users as a marginalized sector? Give me a break! And maybe balut-vendors, security guards and tricycle drivers may fall within the contemplation of the economically-marginalized “informal industry or underground economy”, but to have the Presidential sister-in-law and a Presidential son represent such sectors as its intended nominees? Come on! They should have been the first to be disqualified.

But as is our wont, in the LGBT Community, we took everything in stride. We are used to these types of prejudice after all. The only difference is, we are no longer so willing to endure it. AngLadlad challenged the COMELEC and sought the judicious guidance of the Supreme Court in the name of human rights. With the fiasco surrounding COMELEC’s erroneous decision, the everyday discrimination Pinoy LGBTs actually experience in their lives became more real for other people in the straight world. Our own families and friends, or even mere acquaintances came to understand our plight more.

Fortunately, the Highest Court in the land showed incredible progressiveness and upheld our basic rights under the law. Quoting the Solicitor-General’s own Comment to the petition, it practically chastised the COMELEC Commissioners for their gross ignorance of the law. I personally think that, had it not been a critical election year, these as..h..les should have been impeached already!

While we in AngLadlad just grinned and bore it, unbeknownst to us, there were more people supporting us and declaring themselves as our allies. They may not be as vocal since they do not completely understand our struggle, but instinctively, Filipinos knew something was not right and it was not fair to LGBTs. Touted as an underdog, the sympathy generated for AngLadlad ultimately worked in our favor. Apathetic and indifferent LGBTs finally came out in solidarity to speak in behalf of LGBT rights.

But the greater revelation came on election day when we realized our own families and relatives, classmates and workmates all came out to vote for AngLadlad. Just when we thought our parents and siblings would never come to accept or understand us, they came out in full force to make their votes count even with the long queues under the sun, risking heatstroke as they did so. We were so surprised – shocked even! We were so overwhelmed by the support they showed us, most of us were driven to tears.

In my case, my own sisters and very religious mother (who would never challenge Catholic dogma), donated some stickers as AngLadlad campaign materials. My youngest sister and cousin hung AngLadlad tarpaulins at their homes even when they never fully understood my advocacy. As a result, our whole parish in Kamias came to know about AngLadlad so that neighbors were enjoined to vote for us. My mom could have been arrested for electioneering when she continued to campaign on election day within the polling areas!

The total votes we eventually got, albeit lacking to garner us a seat in Congress, was a decent number. Our ranking was considerably dignified compared to other partylists which had greater resources. Given the late release of the SC decision, we had a mere three (count that 3!) weeks to campaign formally. Thus, all five nominees, including Danton himself, were simultaneously deployed around the Philippines to campaign – Bemz to North Luzon, Danton to the Bicol region, Cris in Mindanao proper, Dex in Leyte and Samar, and I was sent to Cebu and Davao. We alternated with press duties – giving various interviews to TV, radio and print media. Meanwhile, we had Edmond, Gelo, Patrick, and Naomi holding the fort in Manila. Malu, Ging and the rest of the lesbians from LEAP, together with Ceejay and MCC-QC pulled off three weekends’ worth of mini-motorcades around the Metro, including an LGBT Flores de Mayo.

Within this very short time, I know many others from the LGBT Community were also working, doing whatever they can do to help out. From Cagayan de Oro (c/o Norms, Louie and the rest of PLUS) to Cebu (c/o Tisha, Jubelle, and Orly), Davao (c/o Pidot and Shielfa) to Laguna (c/o Kearse and Bron), our LGBT networks and friends were hooking us up with local media and providing us whatever exposure is available.

And sorry if I will fail to mention all of you due to memory gap, (I know Marlon went to Dumaguete, Abra and Pangasinan to campaign, as well LIKHAAN within their communities), but I believe this genuine unified effort for AngLadlad galvanized something within the LGBT Advocacy Movement – a great achievement in itself! Besides the true solidarity these different LGBT groups around the country showed us, we were amazed by the support local politicians in the provinces gave us. If people are still wondering whether Abalos was correct in calling us “phantom voters”, the clear visibility we displayed proved this disgraced ex-COMELEC chairman was so wrong about us.

We must remember that we also didn’t have enough financial resources and relied mostly on donations from friends and supporters. We welcomed and are thankful for all the support we got from different people, national and local candidates alike. And while tough choices had to be made, the leadership assured everyone that final decisions were made without losing focus on our main goal – and that is, to do everything it takes to represent Pinoy LGBTs in Congress.

Yet criticisms still abound, differences and misunderstandings will continue long after this election is over. But all I can say is, Filipino LGBTs should know where their loyalties should lie because no one else can do this better than a fellow LGBT. We may all have our political leanings, but after everything is said and done, this option has already been presented to you, that your own marginalized sector should be recognized in the political realm – will you stand by and simply watch when what we are fighting for are your own rights?

This early, there is a clamor for more LGBT groups in different parts of the country for AngLadlad to visit them for proper orientations on the partylist’s goals and plans. There is also an expressed desire to organize themselves better so they can serve as better campaign mechanisms in the future. Well-off LGBTs don’t seem so complacent anymore and entrepreneurs have shown interest in helping out with fundraisings. Our families and friends have become stronger allies and supporters. Already I feel Philippine society has already changed significantly and it gives me goosebumps.

Danton Remoto’s dream for AngLadlad and of greater political participation for Filipino LGBTs will continue. On the eve of the Philippine LGBT Advocacy Movement’s 15th year this June 2010, we celebrate our diversity and remain steadfast in our desire for equality and respect. Mabuhay tayong lahat, mga kapatid!