While organizers prepare for tomorrow’s the grandiose welcome and opening ceremonies of the South East Asian Games (SEA Games) at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, members of the labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) holds a symbolic unveiling of medals that reflect Philippine realities at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila, Friday morning.
Andres Bonifacio’s 156th Day celebration on November 30 coincides with the opening of the 30th SEA Games. The working class hero’s day is by tradition celebrated through street marches by organized workers who make use of the occasion to raise age old and present day issues. Tomorrow, PM and labor groups under the banner of Nagkaisa! labor coalition will be marching from the Mabuhay Rotonda to Mendiola.
“Hindi lang ang ating mga atleta ang may laban sa SEA Games. Ang mga manggagawa ay patuloy ding nakikipaglaban sa noon ay pangarap na nina Bonifacio na kalayaan at kaginhawahan. Kaya’t ang tanong namin ngayon: May medalya ba para sa manggagawang Pinoy sa harap ng pagiging fastest growing economy ng Pilipinas dito sa ASEAN?,” stated PM Secretary General Judy Ann Miranda.
Six symbolic medals for “Panalo ang Pinas” and “Laban ng Pinoy” were unveiled by PM members at Liwasang Bonifacio. Printed for the “Laban ng Pinoy” medals are demands for wage hike, end to endo and respect for labor and human rights, while for “Panalo ang Pinas” are medals for shooting, rice importation, and weight lifting.
The group explained further that the “Laban ng Pinoy” medals represent the workers’ lingering demands for the free exercise of labor rights and having a fair share from decades of economic growth.
The “Panalo ang Pinas” medals, on the other hand, is a scorn to the prevailing environment of extrajudicial killings in the country, the rice tariffication law that burdens our local farmers, and the kind of leadership the country has at present, represented by the “three brightest stars” (Duterte, Go, and Cayetano) in Philippine politics.
“Hangad namin ang matagumpay na pagdaraos ng SEA Games dito sa ating bansa. Pero ang mga medalyang ginto ay higit pang kikinang kung may sariling medalya na kumikilala at magpapasaya sa buhay ng uring manggagawa,” concluded Miranda.
29 November 2019
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