Gabriela-HK sets proclamation rally
Ocampo, Maza, GWP nominees to grace OFW event

28 January 2010

“OFWs and our families also have high stakes in the coming elections. This early, we want to express our concerns, our stand on issues and our demand for change.”

This was declared today by Cynthia Abdon-Tellez, chairperson of Gabriela in Hong Kong as the group and its allies prepare to conduct a proclamation rally for Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP) this February 7 in Hong Kong.

“With the unjust de-listing of Migrante, we shall again take on the cudgels of carrying the OFW agenda in the partylist race. Since 2007, Gabriela has carried the issues of OFWs inside the Congress such as repatriation of stranded workers, assistance to OFW victims of violence and opposition to onerous fees. We shall continue to do this until the disenfranchisement of OFWs is addressed,” she added.

Migrante was de-listed by the COMELEC based on what the group believes are flimsy and illegal bases. In its national and international conventions late last year, the group affirmed its support to Gabriela’s bid for partylist representation in the 2010 polls.

Militant senatorial bets, Rep. Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna and Rep. Liza Maza of Gabriela, and GWP nominees – Rep. Luz Ilagan and Sheila Ferrer – are expected to grace the event that organizers project will gather more than 3,000 OFWs.

Hong Kong holds one of the highest registered voters among OFWs and the highest voter turnout overseas during the 2004 and 2007 elections. It is considered as the trend-setter in overseas voting as the OAV in HK for the past two years defined the overall outcome of the elections abroad.

Hong Kong has been touted as a bastion of the opposition as shown by the runaway victory of the Genuine Opposition in the senatorial polls in 2007 and the consistent topping of militant groups in the partylist race. Migrante took in more than 19,000 votes or 60% of total partylist votes cast in 2004 while in 2007, Migrante-supported Gabriela also cornered 60% of partylist votes.

“The active participation of OFWs in HK in the Overseas Absentee Voting shows that we do recognize the importance of participating in the elections to push the migrant’s agenda. We also actively seek out the support of our families back home to support candidates who will carry the interests of OFWs and our families in their platform,” Abdon-Tellez relayed.

According to her, the presence of militant senatorial bets Ocampo and Maza and the GWP nominees in the rally is important for OFWs as it gives them the chance to air out major issues that they want to forward to the parliament as well as hear the reform agenda that the two carry.

“The political and economic condition in our country badly needs reforms. While these may not fully address the chronic problems in our system, such reforms can bring some relief to the situation our people are now in. We, Filipinos abroad, do also need these reforms,” Abdon-Tellez added.

Abdon-Tellez said that the invitation for Ocampo and Maza was in recognition of their long-time support to OFW concerns and the platform for politics of change and reforms by the coalition Makabayan – the umbrella coalition of progressive partylists including Migrante, Bayan Muna and Gabriela. She recalled that way back in 2003, Ocampo came to HK to support the campaign against the HK$400 wage cut and levy to employers of foreign domestic workers proposed by the HK government. Maza, meanwhile, also came to HK in 2007 in the midst of OFW protests against the POEA guidelines on hiring of Filipino household workers that was later on proven to exacerbate overcharging of fees by recruitment agencies.

The group reported that they also invited Nacionalisa Party standardbearers, Sen. Manny Villar and Sen. Loren Legarda, running for president and vice president respectively, to the event but are yet to receive confirmation of their attendance.

The whole-day event, Abdon-Tellez stated will also include a Lunch Forum with the Candidates that will be attended by representatives of more than 100 OFW organizations that include church groups, and provincial and regional formations from many parts of the Philippines.

Also part of the program will be a walkthrough in major areas in Central where thousands of OFWs gather in their Sunday dayoff.

“OFWs are significant electorates for we also carry the voice of our families. In the coming elections, we shall make our mark and let our voices be heard,” Abdon-Tellez concluded.