International Migrants Day 2006 in Hong Kong

Pamaskong Handog organized by the Mission for Filipino Migrant Workers (MFMW) brought cheers of hope and joy to thousands of Filipinos at the Chater Road in Central on Sunday, December 17, the eve of International Migrants Day.

The special event started with a Holy Mass officiated by Revd Dwight de la Torre (IFI), MFMW chaplain. This was followed by the launching of the book on Migration & AIDS by Elijah Fung, manager of the St. John’s Cathedral HIV Education Centre.

The Share-a-Wish portion conducted by Buhay Bangcawayan of the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) was a hit with the migrants who shared their most ardent aspirations for their loved ones, their employment as well as national concerns.

The main program in the afternoon echoed the sentiments of Filipino migrant workers especially on the burning issue of the Charter Change plan of the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo government. Cultural performances centered on the conditions of the OFWs, the issues of migrant workers in Hong Kong and national issues in the Philippines.

Speaking for the MFMW, Edwina Antonio expressed the service provider’s desire for the Hong Kong government to address the needs of the migrants who are suffering from the two-week rule and other discriminatory and exploitative policies.

UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK chairperson Dolores Balladares reiterated the call of the OFWs for the Philippine government to stop collecting unnecessary fees and provide sincere services to the workers. Six months after the submission of the issues taken up during the First Women Migrant Workers Summit this year, there’s still no response or action from the government, according to her.

She rallied the migrants to keep fighting for wage increase, the abolition of the levy as well as the two-week rule and other anti-migrant policies of the Hong Kong government.

The day’s event also featured the 10th year anniversary of the Migrante International to which the United Filipinos in Hong Kong is affiliated.  Formally established in 1996, Migrante International started organizing as early as 1985 through the formation of the Committee for the unity of Overseas Filipinos, explained UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK vice chairperson Sol Pillas.

In a fitting show of solidarity with the Filipino people who were participating in an anti-chacha rally in Luneta that day, the migrants condemned the Arroyo administration for its extreme greed, corruption violence and evil tactics in its recent attempts to railroad charter change.

Migrante Sectoral Party (Hong Kong) secretary general Rowena de la Cruz announced that the unity forged among different sectors in the Philippines has forced GMA and her cronies in Congress to “archive” charter change.

But this is no guarantee that Arroyo and pro-administration politicians will stop their efforts to change the constitution to suit their interests and bow to the pressures of the United States to control the economy and the country, according to her.

While the program at the Chater Road was going on, more than 200 Filipinos joined other Asian migrants under the Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body (AMCB) and other local groups in a prayer march from the Edinburgh area to the Central Government Offices.

Initiated by UNISON Hong Kong, the action was intended to push for an effective Race Discrimination Law. Specifically, the groups urged the Hong Kong government to take away the exemptions in the bill that put the ethnic minorities under abuse and discrimination.

A rally gimmick compared the Racial Discrimination Bill of Hong Kong to an apple - nice and attractive in the outside but rotten in the inside.

Later during the day, Filipino overseas workers were entertained by Philippine movie stars who were brought to HK by sponsors of the event.