At least a hundred participants from across Canada joined the online townhall meeting to listen to LIZA MAZA, senatorial candidate for the Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan (MAKABAYAN Coalition), a political coalition of progressive parties in the Philippines advocating new politics.
At the townhall meeting, several overseas Filipinos from the sectors of migrant workers, migrant youth, international students, and migrant justice advocates raised their general and specific concerns as OFW and overseas Filipinos in Canada. These issues included labour trafficking of workers by fraudulent and unscrupulous immigration consultants, the forced state exactions (e.g. PhilHealth mandatory premiums), the lack of access to consular support and services and the disenfranchisement of Filipino overseas voters from voters registration to election day.
Liza Maza talked about the MAKABAYAN platform and named the 11 MAKABAYAN senatorial candidates (Taumbayan sa Senado!) that truly represent the basic classes and sectors that make up Philippine society. Sa tutoo lang, the membership of the Philippine Senate and the House of Representatives should look like the people they represent, not a bunch of human rights violators, candidates with records of graft and corruption, families of rich and powerful political dynasties, movie stars, and a rich pastor who claims to be the “appointed son of God” and is in jail (Dios na mahabagin)! Kung hindi lang nakakaiyak ang ganitong sitwasyon, matatawa ka.
The MAKABAYAN platform takes up the people’s interests and welfare. Foremost is the livelihood and economy (tampok dito ang livable daily minimum wage at subsidy para sa magsasaka); services for all (including free and comprehensive health services and a progressive, nationalist and mass-oriented public transport system and support for PH-made jeeps); at ang national sovereignty (importante ito kasi di ba sampal sa ating soberanya ang kasalukuyang siyam na US military bases, ang mga unequal na treaties tulad ng VFA at EDCA, at ang kulang na pagtugon sa nangyayari sa West Philippine Sea).
Caring for the environment is upheld in the MAKABAYAN platform (tama na ang malakihang pagmimina, logging at reclamation!); Pushing for Peace and Rights (and of course, junking the anti-terror law and the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC, holding accountable the violators of human rights law and international humanitarian law, and advancing the rights of women and others), and advancing a nationalist culture and democratic leadership (napapanahon na ang pagreporma sa Partylist system kasi saan ka nakakita na ang mga pamilya ng mayayaman, political elite, at political dynasties ay nasa partylist system na dapat ay para sa marginalized at underrepresented tulad ng mga magsasaka, manggagawa, indigenous peoples? Binalahura ng mga may pera at may kapangyarihan ang Sistemang Partylist!)
Liza Maza is no stranger to politics. She was and still is a committed activist, she is a prominent lawmaker and a genuine public servant. She was the first Congrsswoman of GABRIELA Women’s Party (2004-2010) and of Bayan Muna (2001-2004). From 2016-2018, she was Secretary and Lead Convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission. She is a people’s diplomat with her leadership in the International League of Peoples’ Struggles, the International Women’s Alliance and her work on local and global issues.
At the online townhall meeting, it was very clear that Liza Maza’s track record, in life and in work, continues to inspire those who fight for the rights of the marginalized, and a future of a better Philippines for Filipinos.
Liza Maza also represents the people’s alternative to this year’s midterm elections. This election is not about having no choice. It is also not about choosing a greater evil and a lesser evil. Or between kadiliman and kasamaan! Naku naman!
Renato Reyes, Jr., MAKABAYAN Campaign Manager, declared in his speech Bakit Tatakbo ang MAKABAYAN sa Senado: “Ngayong araw sinasabi natin na may alternatibo. May pagpipilian. May bagong pag-asa. May magagawa tayo. Dahil sa wakas, meron tayong pagkakataon para maglagay ng katulad natin sa senado. Narito na ang pagkakataon na maglagay ng taumbayan sa senado.”
Malinaw. Tama iyan. May alternatibo tayo. We. Have. A. Choice.
By Erie Maestro
Leave a Reply