May 2018 Issue 36

MAY DAY
News, views and analysis from Migrante Australia
SPECIAL
BATINGAW; BELL; HERALD; The Voice of Filipino Migrants in Australia

IN THIS EDITION
◆ Show of Solidarity
◆ May Day
◆ Change the Rules
◆ May Day in the Philippines
◆ International Solidarity
Under Attack
◆ A LPA, a new community-
based arts and cultural
organisation
◆ Upcoming Events
2 Issue 36
EDITORIAL
Show of Solidarity
This year’s commemoration of the
International Labor Day served
as an opportunity for the Filipino
community in Australia to assert
for labor rights and express soli-
darity with fellow Filipinos in the
Philippines.
Back home, over 150 000
workers joined hand in hand with
the other sectors of the society in
the protest activities held in various
parts of the country. This show of
force demonstrates the widespread
discontent of the Filipino labor
sector with Duterte’s failure to
lift the condition of workers in the
Philippines. Despite his campaign
promise that he would put an end
to labor contractualization in the
Philippines, Duterte has not done
anything substantial to ensure
that laborers will get security of
tenure. A few months ago, he
even conceded that he could not
end contractualization as doing
so would earn the ire of foreign
investors in the country.
The economic crises hounding
the Philippines, particularly the
perpetually rising unemploy-
ment rate, forces many Filipinos
to migrate to other countries to
look for economic opportunities.
Unfortunately, the Philippine
government fails to ensure the
safety of migrant workers, as
evinced in the recent case of
Joanna Demafelis, a Filipina
domestic worker in Kuwait who
was killed by her employers. The
Duterte administration’s irrespon-
sible intervention has worsened
the country’s diplomatic ties with
Kuwait, compromising the welfare
of over 200 000 migrant workers
in Kuwait.
Migrant labor continues to
keep the crisis-ridden Philippine
economy afloat. Unfortunately,
the labor export policy of the
Philippine government offers very
little protection for overseas Filipino
workers (OFWs) who even suffer
from abuse and violence abroad.
Here in Australia, the fight for job
security is an uphill battle with the
growing power of big business,
and for Filipinos, the struggle
is compounded with issues of
discrimination.
Migrante Australia thus
expresses solidarity with the labor
sector in the Philippines. In the
face of socio-economic violence
attended by the impending instal-
lation of dictatorial rule through
charter change, as well as the
worsening culture of state-spon-
sored terror in the country, this
forging of unity is a significant step
towards the consolidation of a truly
necessary people’s movement to
realize a just society for all.
 Issue 36 3

May Day By Geril Lumawig

As militant steps echo throughout the busy urban streets,

serving as the guiding melody for the red flags
boasting murals of liberty
We commemorate the sole drivers of society,
those who forged the pillars of history

The workers who occupy factories, farms and offices,

schools, railways, and other premises
Whose rage is manifested through strikes,
demonstrations and revolutions
Prompted by worsening contradictions and fraudulent solutions

Concrete jungles, frozen limbs in the ghettos,

Yet the builder of royal castles and affluent boroughs,
who stacked the blocks of stones in ancient structures
and everything that followed?
Surely not the kings and pharaohs

This is the rationale for the internationale,

The third world’s agonising cry for national morale,
The struggles being waged in the cities
and the countrysides,
to relieve the plight of the toiling masses,
even with arms beside

That’s where the real fight for national liberation lies,

not in the wars of aggression
that send workers abroad to die
The forces of labour,
Whose very motion feeds
the beast, the empire, and the frozen pits
Once again struggles for a just and lasting peace

As workers around the world celebrate mayday,

may they, find solace in a future
where mayday is not broadcasted through the radio waves
Strictly as a signal of distress,
but as recognition for the owners of production,
Ever free and not oppressed

Migrante Australia
Publisher of
A member of Migrante International
PO Box 606, Laverton, Victoria 3028
Email: batingaw.migrante@gmail.com
About Batingaw
Batingaw is a bimonthly newsletter expressing views, news and analysis from
Migrante Australia. An important aspect of developing this newsletter is an
intimate knowledge of and close involvement in all aspects of the Philippine and
Australian struggles for justice, democracy and fair-go.
Contributing to Batingaw:
Articles, photographs, cartoons, clippings, comments or a few lines are all very
welcome. All material should be sent electronically to: batingaw.migrante@
gmail.com. Readers are encouraged to contribute whatever they can by sending
donations to the above address.
4 Issue 36
Change the Rules
By Steph Rabusa
The right to strike The 9th of May 2018 marked one
of the biggest shows of force of
is recognised all the working class in Australian
over the world as history. More than 120,000 workers
marched the streets of Melbourne
a fundamental in response to the Change the
human right. Rules campaign spearheaded by
the Australian Council of Trade
Unions (ACTU).
The campaign is based on
the premise that Australian
industrial rules are currently
broken, that big business has too
much power and that trickle-
down economics is not working.
According to research done by the
ACTU, inequality in Australia is at
a 70 year high and wage growth has
remained stagnant for many years.
The lowest paid workers struggle
to keep up with the cost of living
and at least 4 million workers are

in insecure work. One third of big
business did not pay any tax last
year and the top 1% own more than
the bottom 70% of Australians.
This campaign is meant to put
to light the excesses of corporate
power and anti-worker industrial
laws, especially regarding the
right to strike. The right to strike
is recognised all over the world
as a fundamental human right.
However, in Australia, the laws
have made it very difficult for
workers to assert their right to
strike. The only time workers can
Issue 36 5
take protected industrial action is
during an enterprise bargaining
period when they negotiate for a
collective agreement. Even then,
union members have to go through
hoops and layers of red tape to
launch strike action.
Years and years of neoliberal,
trickle-down economics have
eroded the power of unions in
Australia. It’s time the working
class take it back.
“I am Filipino… I am Australian… I am in Australia…
I am a worker… I was a refugee… I am a leader…
I am a volunteer… I am an actor… I am writer…
I am an advocate… I am a social worker… I am a
student… I am a partner… We are a community.”
I Am/We are…
A community theatre and performance,
for the community, by the community.
Laverton Community Hub
Function Room on 2 June 2018 at 3pm
FREE ENTRY West Chapter
6 Issue 36

May Day and the Philippines

Abridged version of the speech delivered at the Melbourne Unitarian Peace Memorial
Church on 6th of May 2018
By May Kotsakis

Magandang araw! Good Day!
I would like to start by acknowl-
edging the traditional owners of this
land and pay respect to elders past,
present and emerging.
If Australia is called the land Down
Under, my country, the Philippines
is called the Pearl of the Orient Seas
– because of its natural beauty, rich
bio-diversity and abundant natural
resources. Our nation’s mineral
resource assets are valued at around
A$1.32 trillion, and those remain
largely untapped.
We are a country of over 7,100
islands clustered into 3 main
island groups – Luzon, Visayas and
Mindanao – and a total land area of
300,000 square kilometres. With the
current population at around 103.32
million, it is predicted that by end of
December 2018, it will reach 107.2
million. In Australia, our total land
area of 7.692 million square kilometres
holds a population of 24.13 million
based on the 2016 census.
We have a Presidential form of
government – just like the United
States. Elections are usually popularity
contests where most people vote
“personalities” (actors and actresses,
models and boxers) over “principles”.
Elections are also fought using gold,
guns and goons – the 3Gs.
We are a peace-loving, beautiful,
hospitable, hardworking and resilient
people. But we are also warriors with
a long history of fighting oppression,
colonisation, tyranny, fascism and
dictatorship.
There are currently two govern-
ments in the Philippines – the
Manila government run by the
reactionary Duterte regime and
the revolutionary government in
the countryside represented by the
National Democratic Front of the
Philippines (NDFP).
Human rights defenders
are being harassed and
attacked. The Duterte
government listed more
than 600 human rights
advocates as terrorists
practically giving
a blanket order for
their harassment and
killings.
Current political and
economic situation
Duterte won the 2016 election and
gained popular support due to his
pro-poor pronouncements and promise
of change. Among his promises
were independent foreign policy,
end of labour contractualisation,
distribution of land to poor farmers
and the resumption of peace talks
between the Philippine government
and the National Democratic Front
of the Philippines. In the early days
of his presidency, it looked like he
was keeping true to his promises. He
appointed several known activists to
some key government positions to
effect implementation of some of his
promises but later on, his appointees
were not confirmed. The peace talks
with the NDFP was terminated before
the second substantive agenda – the
Comprehensive Agreement on Social
and Economic Reforms - was fully
discussed.
Duterte is even expanding the
neoliberal policies of the past govern-
ments. He and his cronies continue
to clear his government of oppositions
including interfering in the justice
system by impeaching justices who
are critical of his policies.
Human rights violation is
widespread. Duterte’s war on drugs
has led to more than 13,000 killings
of mostly poor Filipinos. The recent
killings of 71 years old Fr Tito Paez
after he helped facilitate the release of a

political prisoner and Fr Mark Ventura
(who - just last week - was gunned
down in the presence of children and
the church choir) demonstrate the
brutality of Duterte’s regime. Both Fr
Ventura and Fr Paez were anti-mining
activists and advocates for the rights
and welfare of the indigenous Filipinos.
Human rights defenders are being
harassed and attacked. The Duterte
government listed more than 600
human rights advocates as terrorists
practically giving a blanket order for
their harassment and killings.
Duterte and his cronies aim to hang
on to power. They are pushing for a
Charter change (Cha-cha) to change
the Philippine constitution. The
proposed charter change will enable
Duterte and his cronies to extend their
tenure in government and will remove
the protection of local business from
foreign control. These are only a few
of the many changes in the proposed
charter change.
Workers’ condition &
workers’ organising
In any capitalist country like Australia,
the workers are the first to get the brunt
of economic crisis, get blamed for the
slow progress and financial difficulty
and receive just the crumbs that fall
from the capitalist pockets. In the
Philippines, being a semi feudal and
semi colonial country, the workers’
condition is even worst.
There are 10.9 million jobless
Filipinos. Unemployment has increased
from 15.7 percent in December 2017
to 23.9 percent in March 2018. This
figure does not include the more than
1.7 million Filipinos that leave the
country every year or an average of
4,690 daily to work overseas. There are
now more than 10 million Filipinos
working in other countries including
here in Australia.
The minimum daily wage is P512.00
per day (about $14.00 per day) in
the National Capital Region. The
actual value or the buying ability
of this amount is worth P360.00
(about $10.00). The supposed family
living wage (FLW) for a family of
5 is P967.00 ($26.00). Even if both
parents are working, the total wage of
both will still be short to provide for
the family and with an additional cost
for house help or child care.
Contractualisation & labour flexibi-
lisation is rampant. With the absence of
policy to stop this practice, employers
are employing various techniques such
as sacking permanent employees and
hiring contractual ones, company
re-structuring to change the status
of the employees or establishing its
own union to end the CBA and change
their hiring system.
Labour flexibilisation includes
compressed work-week and multi-
tasking. With this, a total production
of 76 hours can be achieved per line
with only ordinary pay. This is also
being practiced here in Australia by
employers especially in process work.
Each worker will work for only 3 days
per week from 12 to 14 hours per day
In any capitalist
country like Australia,
the workers are the
first to get the brunt
of economic crisis, get
blamed for the slow
progress and financial
difficulty.
Issue 36 7
totalling 38 hrs. Machine operators
produced for each machine a total of
76 production hours a week and the
employer only pays each employee
ordinary time rate. Sometimes, the
employee is asked to come another
day to work a shift, with no pay.
It is not easy to organise workers in
the Philippines nor to form a workers
union although unionism is legal and
getting registered as a union is easy.
The government serves the interest
of the capitalists especially the big
foreign capitalists and sees to it that
unions will be ineffective and if strong,
is harassed and intimidated and or
coerce. Workers forming a group
or a union are terminated once the
employer found out about it.
Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) or
May First Movement organise workers
through solid organising. Part of
their organising work is organising
the people inside the community.
Organisers work even after hours and
meet workers after work. Part of the
discussion and workers’ education is
the Course on “Genuine, Militant and
Anti-imperialist Unionism”.
KMU organisers discuss the
principle of unionism and clarifies the
realities of the contradiction between
the capital and wages and between
the capitalist and the workers. This
contradiction will never be effaced.
Every increase in wages is decreased
in profit. The organiser ensure that
every union member understand
this and that they are ready for the
8 Issue 36

contradiction they are facing and the to regional areas and field trips to In solidarity with
possible retaliation of the capitalist. worksites where delegates especially the
Filipino workers,
The workers are made to understand international delegates hear organising
that it is not easy to win, that every experience, stories and the workers I enjoin you to:
benefit, right and entitlement of the struggles. Sharing is done mostly in Write a short email to President
workers have to be fought for. picket lines. Duterte, calling on his government
Militant standpoint for a united The biggest event on May Day cele- to respect workers’ rights, increase
action is the only way. The workers bration is the May Day march and the minimum wage to P750 per day,
cannot depend on someone else rally. Last Tuesday, the May Day rally end contractualisation, stop large-scale
but their own united strength. The was a historical first with about 60,000 mining projects on ancestral domains,
workers cannot depend on any political in Metro Manila and 150,000 people stop the ‘drug war’ slaughter, end
party or legal recourse. They need to nationwide marched – a very strong harassment and attacks on activists,
understand and be well versed of the show of the workers’ growing frustra- and re-start the peace talks with the
local and national issue so they know tion, disappointment and dissatisfac- NDFP.
where they stand. tion over President Duterte’s failure to
The union struggle is not enough to fulfil his promises. Rival labour feder- Long live workers’ solidarity!
offer any meaningful change on the ations across the political spectrum
conditions of labour. Whatever success marched together. Maraming salamat! Thank you!
in their struggle or any reform in the
labour policy can easily be overturned
later. We see this happens so many
times here in Australia. One example
is the penalty rates for overtime work.
The workers need to unite with
other exploited sectors in our society
and struggle for a genuine change
and for a true national democracy.
Without doing this, all those hard-won
entitlements, benefits and workers’
rights will one by one disappear
in time.

May Day in the

Philippines
Filipino workers see the May Day
event as the yearly culmination and
celebration of the workers’ struggle.
It is a day to show their unity with
the workers and the exploited people
in the whole world. May Day in the
Philippines is not just a celebration
but a day of big protests in various
parts of the country against the
exploitation of workers and for a
better pay, better working conditions
and for the recognition of workers’
rights.
KMU organises the biggest workers’
gathering as part of the May Day cele-
bration. It includes an international
gathering (ISA) where delegates from
different regions in the Philippines and
delegates from other countries join to
share their experiences and discuss
current workers’ issues, exposure tours
 In the future, ALPA seeks to expand its partnership with progressive organisat
membership of artists that are pro-people and critical to the current anti-peop
Issue 36 9
If you would like to get more information about ALPA, visit our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/ALPAMELBOURNE/

ALPA, a new community-based arts or send us an email: alpamelb@gmail.com.

and cultural organisation

By Reagan Maiquez

Advance League of Peoples’ Artist (ALPA) has been In the future, ALPA seeks to expand its partnership
recently established as a new peoples’ organisation. with progressive organisations and membership of
It aims to use creative and cultural work in examining artists that are pro-people and critical of the current
social issues in the Philippines and Australia. anti-people policies.
Advance League of Peoples’ Artists (Melbourne) If you would like to get more information about
was established to invigorate, create, and educate the ALPA, visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.
public on social and cultural issues through the vehicle com/ALPAMELBOURNE/ or send us an email:
of art and creativity. alpamelb@gmail.com.
In this digital age, we strive to enhance creative skills
as a community and for the community, especially
in Australia’s culturally and linguistically diverse
environment.
ALPA envisions harnessing the power of culture,
creativity, and art in examining and responding to the
contemporary challenges faced by the local commu-
nities on a global and cosmopolitan setting.
ALPA currently works with ethnic communities and
mass organisations in creating community theatre in
the Western region of Metropolitan Melbourne.

ALPA and Community
Theatre at Melbourne’s
West
ALPA is currently working with
various community organisations,
including Migrante Melbourne
(West Chapter), Australian Karen
Cultural Association Inc., African
Family Services, and Australia Asia
Performance Community Inc., in
delivering a community theatre
project at the City of Wyndham in
Melbourne’s outer West. Entitled, I
am/We are, this project aims to use
theatre to discuss and examine the
lives of migrants, refugees, partner
and economic migrants as they settle,
struggle, and live in Australia. ALPA’s
current members include established
theatre and film directors, scholars,
student-artists, and writers. The photo
below also shows the rehearsal of the
Filipino group that will eventually be
integrated with the performances from
the Karen and African storytelling,
dances, and drumming on the 2nd of
June 2018 at Laverton Hub. Join us
as we celebrate diversity, inclusivity,
identity and connection in this project
as well as future creative endeavours
like community film workshops and
creative development projects by this
group in the coming years.
ALPA and May Day
Cultural Night
Last 3rd of May 2018, ALPA was invited
to perform at the Annual May Day
Cultural Night at Victorian Trades
Hall. It was a night full of inspiring
updates on the recent political and
social situations around the world given
by leaders from various community
groups and unions. ALPA performed
two poetries about the significance
of May Day on the lives of Filipinos
and Filipino-Australians and inter-
preted Danum by Saliddumay, a
song about indigenous struggles in
the Philippines beautifully metaphor-
ised through the force of water. ALPA
will continue to promote cultural and
artistic expression that connects our
struggles and gains as communities
under pressure.
10 Issue 36

International solidarity
under attack By Stu Harrison

When I met Catholic

Missionary Sister Patricia
Fox recently at a coffee shop
in Quezon City, we were
all wondering what would
happen next.
A shadow of doubt had been
placed over the numerous
human rights activists from
around the world who had
traveled to the Philippines to
express solidarity and learn.
Should we march? What
precautions should we take?
After all, President Rodrigo
Duterte’s claimed personal
intervention to issue 71-year
old Sr. Fox a deportation order
after twenty-seven years in the
country was a warning to all non-Fil-
ipino citizens: international solidarity
was a crime that would be punished.
The deportation order followed the
precedent set by now detained Senator
Leila DeLima, under the previous
Noynoy Aquino administration, who
issued an operations order outlawing
participation of foreigners in rallies
and other political activities.
Duterte is simply using the tools
of a broken system to push his own
tyrannical agenda.
While Fox will be deported for
involvement in a international human
rights mission, Australian big business
is being welcomed in their aim to
exploit cheap labour and resources
of Mindanao.
Far from his election promises
of building a just peace, Duterte is
consolidating power, punishing dissent
and promoting cronyism of local and
foreign big business. His claim that he
never jailed a single critic is refuted by
human rights group Karapatan who
said 173 activists have been detained
under his administration. Thousands
more are victims of his so-called
drug war.
As a response to ongoing human
rights concerns, there has been a
long history of Australians showing
solidarity with the Filipino progressive
movement. Perhaps no one personifies
this spirit more than Fox.
Fox had been a Philippine solidarity
activist since the late 1970s when
her congregation took up the issue
of human rights under the Marcos
regime and Australia’s ongoing support
for such violations. She was an active
member of Philippine Australia
Solidarity Group throughout the
80s before deciding to move to the
Philippines full-time since the early
90s. Since then, she has played an
invaluable role supporting peasant
and indigenous struggles. For Fox
and other progressive religious leaders
in the Philippines, supporting the
people’s struggle for justice is central
to their social Catholic teachings. To
not act in the face of injustice would
be a crime against their beliefs.
It is perhaps no surprise that Fox
still seemed in shock at the news she
was being deported. She has been in
the country so long as to feel more at
home there than her native Australia.
This is reflected in the support she has
received since the deportation order
was issued.
Fox told of her great surprise when
many people visited her during her
detention and after. As she told me,
“they clearly don’t think I’m walking
all over the Philippines”.
Bae Bibyaon, known for her
leadership of the Lumad indigenous
struggle in Mindanao, said Duterte’s
decision was hypocritical considering
the real foreign destruction happening
across her territories.
“These mining and logging
companies have a long list of human
rights violations with our people but
they can still freely monopolized our
land, they are even secured with the
government’s armed forces,” she said.
Similarly, Pasaka Confederation of
Lumad Organizations in Southern
Mindanao (PASAKA) secretary
general Jong Monzon stated, “We are
 Issue 36 11

saddened on Sr. Pat’s deportation. Back in Australia, 500 religious, As Fox said, “Whatever happens,
We can clearly see that this regime political, labor and academic leaders I will be forever grateful to all those
has instilled fear to its people under have so far signed a petition initiated by Filipinos that I call my friends and for
Martial Law and we are more worried Movement Against Tyranny Australia. all those from both church and sectors
to know that this government can do One thing is clear. Whatever who have supported me through this
anything not just to its people but also happens, the struggle for human rights time. I may lose my right to be in the
to those who are like Sr. Pat that has and social justice will continue both Philippines, but I can never lose the
been on our side. We will never forget in the Philippines and Australia. learnings and beautiful memories.”
what Sr. Pat has done for us... She is
more than a Filipino.”
The National Churches Council of
the Philippines said, “The detention
of Sister Patricia Fox speaks loud and
clear of the powers that be, of their
aim to suppress the truth and cast
out those who dare tell it. With the
increasing number of human rights
violations, her detention is an indirect
admission of guilt by this government,
which threatens and persecutes human
rights advocates who witness the
suffering of and show solidarity with
the vulnerable.”
Even the Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
has called for a reconsideration of the
deportation order following the wide
outcry against the decision.
12 Issue 36
Important Dates and Upcoming Events
6 May 2018
May Day march, rally and concert
“DEFEND WORKERS’ RIGHTS; DEMAND THE
RIGHT TO STRIKE!”
12.00 noon, assembly at the corner of Lygon and
Victoria Streets, Carlton, Victoria
9 May 2018
“Change the Rules” Rally in Melbourne
FIGHT FOR WORKERS’ RIGHTS, SAFE
WORKING CONDITION, SECURITY IN JOB,
LIVING WAGE & OTHER ENTITLEMENTS –
CHANGE THE RULES!
10.00 am assembly at the corner of Lygon and Victoria
Streets, Carlton, Victoria
18 May 2018
Public meeting on the Philippines
“MARAWI SEIGE, MARTIAL LAW IN
MINDANAO, HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION
DUTERTE’S WAR ON DRUGS, STRUGGLE OF
THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.
6.30 pm, Meeting Room 1, Victorian Tradeshall,
Victoria
2 June 2018
“I am / We are” Multicultural Performance
LISTEN & WATCH A STORYTELLING
THROUGH THEATRE AND PERFORMANCE BY
FILIPINO, KAREN & AFRICAN COMMUNITY.
3.00 pm, Laverton Community Hub Function Room,
Cnr Railway Ave, & Crown St, Laverton, Victoria
GET INVOLVED!
Name: ______________________________________
Address: ______________________________________
______________________________________
Tel: ______________________________________
Email: ______________________________________
I would like to:
 become a member of member organisations of
Migrante Australia
 be updated with information from Migrante Australia
 donate to Migrante Australia
16 June 2018
Migrate Melbourne’s “Tipanan”
DANCE, MEET FRIENDS, SHARE & ENJOY A
FAMILY NIGHT
SUPPORT DISTRESSED OVERSEAS WORKERS
6.00 pm, Koornang Uniting Church hall,
117 Murrumbeena Rd, Murrumbeena, Victoria.
6 October 2018
Gala Dinner Dance
FUND RAISING EVENT FOR THE CAMPAIGN
AGAINST FAMILY VIOLENCE
BY PARTNER MIGRANTS ADVOCATES
NETWORK
6.00 pm, Grand Star Reception, 499 Grieve Parade,
Altona North, Victoria
November 2018
International Migrant Alliance (IMA) 4th General
Assembly
“END MODERN DAY SLAVERY, TRAFFICKING
AND NEOLIBERAL ATTACKS ON MIGRANTS
AND FAMILIES”
Mexico, Latin America
(more details will be announced later)
23 – 26 June 2019
International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS)
6th International Assembly (6thIA)
“WIN A BRIGHT SOCIALIST FUTURE FOR
HUMANITY! UNITE THE PEOPLE TO FIGHT
AND END IMPERIALIST WAR, RACISM AND
FASCISM!”
Hong Kong (more details will be announced later)
Migrante Australia is an alliance of voluntary community
organisation of Filipino and Filipino-Australian migrants
and workers promoting and upholding their welfare, human
rights and workers’ rights. It also deepens members’
awareness of the root reasons of the Filipino diaspora to
over 200 countries and settlement issues in their adopted
homelands.
SEND TO PO BOX 606, LAVERTON, VICTORIA 3028