Sheryl, Glen, Me, Shay, and Pia
My Filipino-American friends from Seattle and San Francisco.
Me with my friend, Kusela. She studies at Stanford University and is involved with various NGOs in California and Mexico.
Hey Janice, remember this pic? My buddy all the way from Winnipeg coming for a visit!
Its my Birthday Party! Thanks to everyone who called to wish me a happy birthday! MWAH!
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(left) sharing a prawn cracker with my nephew, Allen. (right) my newest God-son, Redd Ashley.
A protest against corruption on the anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law (Sept. 21)
Our latest campaign was to free 3 Filipino Overseas Workers in Saudi Arabia. They were imprisoned for 6 years and sentenced to be beheaded for a murder they were found innocent of. Here we are protesting the Saudi Courts decision to lash them each 360 times.
(left) My friend Jose, the street poet, suddenly inspired to write. (right)Migrante using its number one weapon, the media.
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A bittersweet end to a 7 year long campaign to free both Ramiro Esmero, and Joselito Alejo. I am there in the blue, and the man with his back towards the camera (in the white shirt)is the actual victim we helped free. I will never forget when he turned around just to say thank you to me.. you can't see me tearing up.
This is Ramiro Esmero embracing his family on their way home. I was touched when I took this picture. I just couldn't help but think that this man was on death row.
This is how poor NGOs, like Migrante, travel. You can't see the rest of my colleagues sitting on the roof and hanging from the vehicle outside.
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Yes, I am a paralegal.
We are getting set for the big Anti-Bush Protest (October 18). If the police get unnecesarily rough, my job is to document all their legal violations and report them to the lawyers who will take the legal steps necessary to punish them. Honestly, I was terrified.
My friend, Agtang, preparing another placard.
Migrante in front of McDonald's (another symbol of American cultural imperialism - though I still can't resist their french fries!) at Philcoa (a very popular and busy area of Quezon City). We gathered here with thousands of other protestors from throughout the country to march down the famous EDSA highway towards Ever. Can you imagine marching over 20km in above 30C temperatures? Well, we did and man was it wild.
Here's a shot of me on a brief break from the march. My hands started to shake uncontrollably from the heat, but after drinking some water it eventually went away.
ANG TAO! ANG BAYAN! NGAYON AY LUMALABAN! * IMPERIYALISMO IBAGSAK! * BUSH BUSH GO AWAY! ISAMA MO SI GMA!
Though we never did see Bush drive by on his way to Malacanang because we were blocked by the military (thousands more that were coming from the countryside were also blocked and have gone missing), the world did see and hear our protest. Really, thats all that matters.
I know.. I know.. an army of Philppine Police, Secret Service snipers on the cross walk, and military helicopters in the air is enough to make anyone worry. But, I'm telling you, the media had a field day with this setting. In all honesty, the media is the one that pushed down the barricades. If you look closely they are right there in the middle shouting orders. I'm telling you it was all staged. However, if things did get out of hand, there is no doubt in my mind they would have opened the water cannons on us, or worse still, bullets.
Eating on the line. At the office I've become a vegetarian because, well, meat is just too expensive.
Adobong sitaw at kanin. "Kamay na lang kayo, wala kaming dala na kutsara!"
(left)Me and my bestest friend and bodyguard, Loyd. (right)My colleagues (Mellie, Jerzy, Gina) of the Migrants Assistance Committee. We are the ones who victimized migrants workers come to see.
Some more media props.
At the end of one very, very long day. The media said we'd march to Malacanang, but (as organized) the march ended in Rotonda, Manila. Maybe we marched another 30km here. All I can remember was not being able to move my legs.