UPA Crisis Intervention (Anti-Eviction) Work

‘Running Priest’ Goes on Fasting to Save the Grand Mosque

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‘Running Priest’ Goes on Fasting to Save the Grand Mosque

19 September 2009. Activist priest Father Robert Reyes went on fasting this morning with the Muslims living near the Grand Mosque to mark the end of Ramadan and to signify their opposition to the government’s plan to demolish the mosque located in Pasay City. The demolition will give way for the implementation of the Southwest Public Transport Intermodal Project. The said area is also reportedly being developed for commercial establishments, including casinos.

In a statement, Reyes said he is one with the Muslim community in their fight to save the mosque. He said the mosque has been there for a long time and is already a holy landmark for our Muslim brothers and sisters.

Through the said fast, Reyes is asking the government to heed the call of the people not to relocate the mosque. “Let it stay together with our churches so that it may be seen as a symbol of Muslim and Christian understanding in our country,” said the Cubao Diocese-based Catholic priest.

Ramadan is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and indulging in anything that is in excess or ill-natured; from dawn until dusk.

Reyes was joined by Task Force Anti-Eviction group composed of various people’s organizations and NGOs such as Urban Poor Associates (UPA), Community Organizers Multiversity (COM) and Community Organization of the Philippine Enterprise (COPE) Foundation who have been supporting the Muslim group in fighting for their sacred place.

“We must remember that there are things beyond and greater than law. Christ even said do not follow the letter of the law without understanding its spirit. Therefore, whatever projects the government has for this land where the mosque is built, spare it from demolition in this way the government can prove its sincerity promoting peace and equality in our country,” Reyes said.

“Our society needs to deepen our acceptance, our respect and appreciation of other religions, especially the very old religion of Islam,” Reyes added.

On the other hand, Abdelmanan Tanandato, leader of Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Nademolis sa Roxas Boulevard, said their group is very happy with the support given by the Catholic church and different NGOs. “Their respect towards our culture, rights, and religious beliefs strengthened our hope that we will be able to come up with an amicable solution to this problem,” Tanantado said.

Currently, the group of Tanandato has filed a motion to quash/ hold in abeyance the writ of execution immediately after Sheriff Jeffrey Sales served a notice to vacate on Aug 13, 2009 from Parañaque Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 274.

Tanandato has high-hopes that the court will be favorable to them this time due to the growing support coming from the Catholic Church and from local and international NGOs.

For his part, Jun Alferez, UPA community organizer, said there is a total of 3,295 families evicted this year alone as a result of the government’s supposed “beautification” projects. -30-

Running Priest to join Muslims in fasting and prayers at the Grand Mosque in Pasay City

Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

MEDIA ADVISORY

Running Priest to join Muslims in fasting and prayers at the Grand Mosque in Pasay City

Fr. Robert Reyes, the running priest, will stage a fasting with Muslims tomorrow (September 19) beginning at 9:00 AM at the Grand Mosque in Baclaran, Pasay City to publicise a petition concerning the demolition of the mosque and the eviction of urban poor families living in the community.

The Muslim community started reclaiming the land in 1992. In 1993, the Grand Mosque was built. In 1994, the Muslim leaders decided to make it concrete. It was completed in 2002 and the total amount of expenses reached 11.3 million pesos. Various Muslim groups donated the money while some residents contributed their hard-earned money.

The Muslims built the mosque at the reclamation area in Baclaran with the endorsement of the then Parañaque City Mayor Joey Marquez. The area is now considered a part of Pasay City.

But now they are told to vacate the community to give way to Southwest Public Transport Intermodal Center. The said area is also reportedly being developed for commercial establishments, including casinos.

Fr. Robert will join the Muslims in prayers and silence as they mark the end of Ramadan.

Date: September 19, 2009 (Saturday) / 9:00 AM

Venue: Grand Mosque, Baclaran, Pasay City

American soul-searching and Tiger Woods

Commentary : American soul-searching and Tiger Woods

By Denis Murphy
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Posted date: September 15, 2009

My wife and I went to New York City recently expecting to see some signs, even small ones, of the recent economic collapse. There were hardly any. It’s a very wealthy city where even severe financial losses leave little visible trace on people’s everyday lives. My wife did notice that fewer families grew flowers in their gardens, and people had a little less food in their shopping carts when they left the supermarkets.

What is evident, though, is that Americans show a certain loss of faith in the institutions that once received their uncritical adulation, including the icon of American industry, General Motors. Its managers once said, “What’s good for General Motors is good for the country,” and many Americans believed them. Now General Motors is bankrupt.

Wall Street is another fallen idol. Americans always kept a wary eye on Wall Street’s doings, but they were still proud to walk along the short street at the foot of Trinity Church and realized it dominated the markets of the world. Americans now have their worst fears about Wall Street realized.

Another example is American health care. Americans were told they had the “best health system in the world.” Now, in the heat of a great debate over President Barack Obama’s national health program, people are learning that the health system is rated only average among the systems current in developed countries. One commentator called it “islands of excellence (cancer treatment, for example) in a sea of misery.”

Americans get a sinking feeling in their stomachs when they see their armed forces entering one more bloody and extended war in Afghanistan. The signs of it becoming another Vietnam are as prominent as crosses along highways that mark the places where people died. US and NATO troops are supporting a corrupt government of questionable legitimacy. The government forces are untrained and reluctant to fight, while the Taliban are deeply motivated, surprisingly well armed, and outnumber government soldiers. Americans hope against hope this war will have a different ending from the one in Vietnam, but they are also aware of the maxim that to repeat the same actions and expect different results is a sign of insanity.

Finally, Catholics, or at least some of them, worry about the Church’s seeming unequivocal concern for abortion in all the social issues that arise. They share the concern over abortion, but they miss the Church that was prominently engaged in the struggle for labor union rights, that resisted the war in Iraq, and defended the rights of children, immigrants and the poor in general.

The new questioning stance of Americans may be a good thing in the end, even if it leaves them a little more insecure and skeptical of their institutions. Filipinos and peoples everywhere have grown used to failures in government. It is only Americans who have believed they were “special” in any fashion. Skepticism about government is healthy. Why should anyone think a society built by humans should be perfect?

To appreciate America’s new loss of faith we should remember that American children have been taught that the United States was given to the human race as some sort of evolutionary step forward in nation building.

How could Americans have failed to take more seriously the accounts of the bad things done in their name around the world by their government and multinational companies, and the injustice done to Afro-American people and other minorities at home?

I received what may be an answer to this question quite by accident. Just before the recent PGA Golf Championship that began on Aug. 13, our TV set in New York went on the blink. The screen moved up about 1 1/2” which gave all the people big torsos and heads and small bandy legs. We wondered how we could watch Tiger Woods looking so strange for four days.

We sat and watched and the first day was painful. Poor Tiger with his small legs and big head! It was unseemly. Then little by little we didn’t notice the distortions any longer. We no longer saw them. We unwittingly combined the actual sense data and our past experience of what should be before us. We “saw” Tiger in normal size and great golfing shape, up to the very last hole, that is.

Americans didn’t see the facts. They saw instead what their education had prepared them to see. They saw what they wanted to see.

America has much to learn from the countries, like the Philippines, that have become more expert in criticism of their government over many centuries. The world can benefit from the new American soul-searching if it results in a humbler America, more ready to deal with other people as brothers and sisters and not as a master or guru.

(Denis Murphy works with the Urban Poor Associates. His e-mail address is upa@pldtdsl.net.)

http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20090915-225247/American-soul-searching-and-Tiger-Woods

©Copyright 2001-2009 INQUIRER.net, An Inquirer Company

PRESS STATEMENT NG TASK FORCE ANTI-EVICTION – ARAW NG MGA BAYANI

IKA-31 NG AGOSTO, 2009


Sa panahon na may krisis pang-ekonomiya ang buong mundo, MAKATAONG PAMUMUHAY
PARA SA MARALITA ang tugon. HINDI DEMOLISYON.

Inilabas kailan lamang ang Executive Order 803, isang ehekutibong aksyon na nagtakda ng gampaning papel at gawain ng Metro Manila Inter-Agency Committee (MMIAC). Ang itinakdang namumuno nito ay ang Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA)na ang mandato ay manggiba ng mga bahay ng mga Maralita. Hindi mandato ng MMDA ang magtayo ng disenteng pabahay para sa mga maralita. Mandato ito ng National Housing Authority. May mali sa lipunan natin sa pagtrato sa problema ng panirahanan. Matagal nang isinisigaw ang MAKATAONG PAMUMUHAY PARA SA MARALITA. HINDI DEMOLISYON ANG TUGON SA GUTOM, SA KAWALANG TRABAHO AT SA KAWALANG BAHAY AT LUPA.

Ang E.O. 803 ay taliwas sa kabutihan para sa mga Maralita. Sa representasyon na lamang ng mga Maralita sa MIMIAC na itinakda ng E.O. 803, pakitang-tao lamang ang sinasabi nito. Ang MIMIAC ang magtutukoy ng kinatawan na galing sa Maralita. Bakit ganun? Bakit hindi 50% ng MIMIAC ang boses ng mga Maralita kung para sa mga Maralita nga ang MIMIAC? Kahit na ang manera ng pagdidisisyon sa MIMIAC ay hindi malinaw.

Ang Pasig River ay kadugtong ng ating buhay bilang mga mamamayan at obligasyon nating lahat ang linisin ito. Madumi ito dahil walang maayos na DRAINAGE SYSTEM ANG METRO MANILA. Madumi ito dahil ang mga PABRIKA sa paligid nito ay hindi maayos ang pagtapon ng kanilang dumi. Bakit ang unang iniisip sa paglinis ng Ilog Pasig ay ang paggiba ng mga bahay ng mga Maralita? Kabayanihan ba ito? Kung pupwedeng tumayo sa libingan sina Andres Bonifacio, Jose Rizal, Tandang Sora at iba pang nagmahal ng bayang ito dadagundong ang sigaw na HINDI. HINDI KABAYANIHAN ANG PAGYURAK SA MGA KARAPATANG PANTAO NG MGA MARALITA.

Kamakailan lamang may mga demolisyon sa Quezon City na hindi sumunod sa isinasaad sa walong MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS ng Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA). At marami ang nakaambang demolisyon sa mga tinatawag ng gobierno na DANGER AREAS. Gigibain ang mga bahay sa danger areas pero walang programa para sa makataong pabahay. Maling mali ang mga nangyayaring ito. Biruin niyo, pagkatapos gibain ang mga bahay ng mga maralita, ang mga bata ay nagtatanong: Saan po ba tayo titira ngayong gabi? Paano po kung umulan dito sa kalsada?

MAKATAONG PABAHAY, HINDI DEMOLISYON. ITO ANG PANAWAGAN NAMIN NGAYON AT BUKAS.

MAGBUO NG MAS MAKA-MARALITA AT MAKATARUNGANG PROGRAMA PARA SA MGA MARALITA. PALITAN ANG NILALAMAN NG E.O. DAHIL HINDI ITO ANG DIWA NG MAKATAONG PABAHAY PARA SA MARALITA.



TASK FORCE ANTI-EVICTION
IKA-31 NG AGOSTO 2009
ARAW NG MGA BAYANI
c/o COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS MULTIVERSITY
No. 18, Marunong STREET, Barangay Central, Quezon City
Tel. No. 9220246; Mobile Phone: (Jessica) 09297406771

Members of urban poor communities mark National Heroes Day

08/31/2009 | 12:44 PM




100 protesters march toward Mendiola to mark National Heroes Day

08/31/2009 | 10:54 AM

Demolition of Baclaran Mosque during Ramadan Looms

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Demolition of Baclaran Mosque during Ramadan Looms

28 August 2009. Will they demolish our place of worship during our most holy time?

This was the question raised today by a Muslim group concerning the proposed plan by the local government to demolish their Grand Mosque occupying a reclaimed land in Pasay City.

The said area is reportedly being developed for the establishment of commercial establishments, including casinos.

In a statement, Abdelmanan Tanandato, leader of Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Nademolis sa Roxas Boulevard said the government’s plan to demolish their place of worship even during their holiest time is the height of insensitivity and callousness.

"Clearly, at the rate things are going, they are hell bent in destroying our mosque. Proof of this, they even threatened to do it during Ramadan, the holiest period in the religious lives of the Muslims," Tanandato said.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and indulging in anything that is in excess or ill-natured; from dawn until dusk.

Tanandato said Sheriff Jeffrey Sales of Parañaque Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 274 served a Notice to Vacate on August 13, 2009, few days before the start of Ramadan.

Signed by lawyer Roberto Makalintal, Jr., branch clerk, the Parañaque RTC issued the notice to Baclaran-Parañaque City Islamic Cultural Center, Inc. and/or to Nasser D. Ramos and Jalil Moluk and Sultan Sohayle Cosain Tanandato, defendants on the reclamation site in Roxas Boulevard.

The notice stated that "all the adverse occupants are hereby given three (3) days from receipt by virtue of the alias writ of execution dated August 11, 2009 to voluntary vacate and peacefully surrender the premises they are occupying."

The notice also said "failure to vacate, the government will be constrained to use force and effect the said order to the full force and limit provided by law."

Tanandato said they filed a Motion to Quash / Hold in Abeyance the writ of execution at the Parañaque RTC last August 14, 2009. The hearing is set on August 28, 2009 (Friday).

"We appeal to the government to hear and exhaust all the legal venues for us to arrive at an amicable settlement of the issue instead of threatening our community with violence and forced eviction," Tanandato said.

Meanwhile, Imam Abdul Fatah Sarip warned that blood might spill if the government will pursue with its plan to demolish the mosque.

"Muslims brothers and sisters would gladly offer their lives during Ramadan if it is the only way to save their place of worship from utter destruction," Sarip said.

Task Force Anti-Eviction, composed of various people’s organizations and NGOs such as Urban Poor Associates (UPA), Community Organizers Multiversity (COM), and Community Organization of the Philippine Enterprise (COPE) Foundation, have been demanding the government to defer the demolition.

Lawyer Bienvenido Salinas II, legal counsel of UPA, said they are also drafting a house resolution in aid of legislation halting the demolition of the mosque. The said resolution is in partnership with ABA-AKO Party-list Rep. Leonardo Montemayor. -30-

Mar Roxas engages urban poor in Talakayan 2010

Mar Roxas engages urban poor in Talakayan 2010

Written by Ofelia T. Sta. Maria

The Urban Poor Alliance (UP-ALL) Mega Manila held a forum last Saturday, August 9, at the Institute of Social Order (ISO) Social Development Complex at Ateneo de Manila University. Talakayan 2010: Panayam ng mga Maralitang Tagalungsod sa mga Kandidato aims to invite 2010 presidential candidates to present their platforms, programs, and plans for the urban poor sector.

According to Jose Morales of the Uganayang Lakas ng mga Apektadong Pamilya sa Baybaying Ilog Pasig (ULAP), Quezon City UP-ALL, Talakayan 2010 is one of UP-ALL's steps to learn more about the 2010 presidential candiates. The group discussion, he said, is UP-ALL's participation in the upcoming elections.

Instead of presenting his presidential platform for his opening remarks, Sen. Roxas talked about former president Corazon Aquino's life. He told stories about her struggle with her husband Ninoy Aquino's imprisonment and assassination, the EDSA revolution, and her responsibilities as former president under a revolutionary government. He said that prayer and hope are the things that the people need for a better future. "Ang Pilipino, tatayo, titindig, lalaban [The Filipino shall stand up, make a stand, and fight]" he said, adding that what drove him to talk about Cory was her example of honest service to Filipinos. "Taglay niya ang kadakilaan natin [She carries within her our greatness]," he said.

He ended his opening speech by saying his familiar refrain: "Lalaban po tayo [We shall fight]."

Out of all invited guest speakers (Vice President Noli de Castro, Senator Manny Villar, Senator Loren Legarda, Pampanga governor Ed Panlilio, Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, and Isabela governor Grace Padaca), only Senator Mar Roxas was able to attend the forum. According to John Francis Lagman of the UPA, they have not received word from some invited guests.

When asked about his plans for his first 100 days if he is elected president, Roxas said that cabinet members and all those who are going to have positions in government will sign a waiver setting aside bank secrecy. He said that although this is not the answer to graft and corruption, it could be a step towards a more transparent government, unafraid to be questioned or examined.

He used the agriculture sector as an example: if it becomes more productive, people will have easier access to food. He mentioned the importance of education as "the great equalizer," and referred to "pantay, maayos at mabilis na katarungan sa bansa [equal, proper, and swift justice in the country]." Lastly, he stressed the importance of the domestic economy, saying that it should bloom so Filipinos will not always have to rely on other countries.

Roxas also brought up the Cheaper Medicines Law (Republic Act No. 9502) and how, upon signing the Executive Order, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo met with pharmaceutical companies. Roxas said that out of the 21 medicines recommended by the Department of Health, Arroyo only placed five on mandatory price control. "May martilyo para pukpukin ang presyo, bababain [There is a hammer with which to hit prices and make them come down]." He compared this to the issue of housing and the provisions that fall under it.

One of the sector's advocacies is to raise the national budget for social housing to 2 percent (the current budget for housing is 0.5 percent). When Roxas was asked about his support for the budgetary allocation, he admitted that he could give no exact number for the budget. He, however, assures that he will continue to promote the proclamation of government-owned lands for social housing. Regarding Arroyo's feeding program, Roxas said that he is not against it. "Ang nilalabanan ko po, yung pagnanakaw, yung mali na implementation nitong programa [What I am fighting against is theft, the wrong implementation of this program]."

The forum was attended by around 1,000 people composed of UP-ALL Mega Manila from Montalban, Antipolo, Taguig, Caloocan, Makati, Manila, Pasig, Malabon, Muntinlupa, and Quezon City.


http://www.thepoc.net/index.php/10-for-2010/10-for-2010-News/Mar-Roxas-engages-urban-poor-in-Talakayan.html

Demolition of Mosque a Ticking Time Bomb Says Archbishop Cruz

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Demolition of Mosque a Ticking Time Bomb Says Archbishop Cruz

13 August 2009. The government’s plan to demolish a Mosque is a ticking time bomb, a high-ranking Catholic bishop said in reaction to reports that the Grand Mosque located in Pasay City will be demolished this month to make way for commercial establishments including casinos.

In a statement, Dagupan-Lingayen Archbishop Oscar Cruz said, “The demolition of the mosque is a ticking time bomb because it will cascade into a mishmash of complicated and sensitive religious, cultural and social issues.”

“Destroying a religious symbol in place of a symbol of vice and greed is the height of arrogance and brazenness. It is a violation of Christian and Muslim religious tradition and beliefs,” said Archbishop Cruz, also a known anti-gambling crusader.

According to Islamic law, it is forbidden to destroy houses of worships, including Christian Churches.

“We told the government that we will not leave the mosque. If declaring holy war is the only way to preserve our mosque, we will do it,” said Abdelmanan Tanandato, president of Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Nademolis sa Roxas Boulevard.

Imam Abdul Fatah Sarip said, “If we die during Ramadan for defending our holy mosque, it means we will be rewarded twice by Allah. This gives us more courage to fight for our place of worship even it means our death. Unless the government heeds our call, blood may possibly flow on this disputed land.”

In a May 26 memorandum to Philippine Recalamation Authority, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Transportation and Communications and Office of Muslim Affairs, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita informed government agencies of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s instruction to relocate the entire Mosque structure to a proposed relocation site adjacent to the Coastal Road. The memorandum said the reclaimed land must be cleared to give way to Southwest Public Transport Intermodal Center (Metrotrans).

However, it was reported to Muslim residents that the land, where the Muslim community and mosque are situated, is very valuable and destined for commerce, luxury housing and casinos.

The Task Force Anti-Eviction composed of various people’s organizations and NGOs such as the Urban Poor Associates (UPA), Community Organizers Multiversity (COM) and Community Organization of the Philippine Enterprise (COPE) Foundation said Ramadan is only eight days away and yet the government is ignoring the plea of the Muslim community, civil society organizations and international human rights group to stop its plan to demolish the mosque.

“Evictions are a common problem between government and urban poor people. However, in this particular case, the issue has become complicated as it is in direct conflict with the Muslim community’s religious and cultural beliefs,” said Ted Añana, deputy coordinator of UPA.

“The least that the government can do is to spare this mosque from forced eviction. The government should be reasonable, judicious, and considerate in resolving the problem since this issue or the kind of action to be taken is very sensitive in view of its religious, social, cultural, legal and political ramifications that will certainly have long lasting national and international consequences,” Añana added.

Archbishop Cruz agreed. “Considering the anger and disgust of many Filipino Christians towards the ruling administration, the last thing it needs is the ire and hatred of Filipino Muslims,” Cruz concluded.

Some 14 demolition incidents were monitored in 2008 which affected 2,411 families, according to the UPA. The anti-eviction group is lobbying for the House Bill No. 6675 filed by Aba-Ako Party-List Rep. Leonardo Montemayor. The bill is entitled to “An act securing the rights of urban poor beneficiaries to proper housing amending for the purpose Republic Act 7279 otherwise known as Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA).” It seeks to amend several sections of UDHA to strengthen the protected right of every Filipino to a decent home, and provide sanctions upon those who violate the mandate of the law.

-30-

Is the President Lying?

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Is the President Lying?

12 August 2009. Urban poor leaders said, “The President is lying. The 300 million pesos she promised to us last August 1, 2008 for the development of relocation site in Montalban for thousands of urban poor families affected by demolitions and forced evictions does not exist.”

The urban poor leaders who headed the big protest rally yesterday morning at the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) had a confrontation with Usec. Lucille Ortille, the Secretary General of HUDCC at 2 pm in her office.

The leaders asked her where was the 300 million promised by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?

According to Usec. Ortille, there was no budget yet for the relocation site in Montalban because the 300 million is not stipulated in the Executive Order 803.

Executive Order No. 803 or the Metro Manila Inter-Agency Committee (MMIAC) is a comprehensive shelter program for informal settlers affected by the government’s infrastructure projects and those living in dangerous areas.

In that EO it says: “ The MMDA is hereby directed to set up a trust fund, wherein funds sourced from the office of the President, National Government Agencies, LGUs..(will be held).”

In short, there is no trust fund yet.

“We wasted a year waiting for the 300 million to be released,” said Prescilda Juanich, leader of SAPIPA R-10 Navotas City. “I remember in the meeting with the president August 1 last year she gave directives to government agencies to relocate in Montalban the 1400 families from the 11 priority areas evicted by the MMDA. I adore her so much. But now, I have lost all my respect to her,” she added.

“MMDA destroyed our houses without hesitation and now we are living in the streets. Our only hope was the promise of the president that we will be relocated. But we were dismayed that it was just a big lie,” said Rosalinda Saturno, leader of Samahang Nayon ng Balintawak QC.

Task Force Anti-Eviction (TFAE), composed of various people’s organizations and NGOs such as Urban Poor Associates (UPA), Community Organizers Multiversity (COM), and Community Organization of the Philippine Enterprise(COPE)Foundation, thinks that the President promised the 300 million to pacify the urban poor complaints and soften resistance against demolitions and force evictions.

Jun Alferez, representative of (TFAE) who was in the confrontation said, “The president will expect the urban poor to mobilize in a bigger number to get the 300 million she promised for the housing of thousand families.”

-30-

Evicted urban poor settlers picket HUDCC office

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Evicted urban poor settlers picket HUDCC office

11 August 2009 (Tuesday). Some 300 people picketed the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) this morning to protest the government agency’s inaction in providing relocation to thousands of urban poor families affected by demolitions and forced evictions. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo promised the people August 1 last year she would relocate them to Rodriguez (Montalban).

Singing songs of protest, the demonstrators gathered at the Ninoy Aquino monument at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas. Some of them had boxes shaped like houses on their heads that they said symbolize their right to shelter. Beginning at 9:00 AM the group marched toward the HUDCC office at the Banco de Oro building.

Carrying banners bearing “Where is the relocation? Are you listening Mr. Vice President?” they called the attention of Vice President Noli de Castro, concurrent HUDCC Chair, to address the problem of the evicted families and the president’s promise.

Members of Task Force Anti-Eviction, composed of people’s groups and non-government organizations such as Urban Poor Associates (UPA), Community Organizers Multiversity (COM) and Community Organization of the Philippine Enterprise (COPE), met President Arroyo twice last year to ask the government to stop forced evictions and provide adequate relocation. During the August 1 meeting in Malacañang President Arroyo ordered various government agencies including HUDCC to develop the Montalban relocation site with an initial budget of 300 million pesos for 1,500 families evicted and left in the streets.

“Nothing has happened since the meeting. Urban poor communities are constantly threatened with forced evictions without adequate relocation. Evicted families have been living on sidewalks exposed to the elements of heat and rain. What happened to the money and the relocation? What happened to the promise of the president?” the people asked.

According to the UPA annual demolition monitor, some 14 demolition incidents were monitored in 2008 which affected 2,411 families. In the cases monitored, the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA) requirements on 30-day notice, consultations and provision of relocation were largely ignored. “Only 741 families or 30.73% were relocated. Some 353 families, including children, women and elderly, were victims of repeated demolition operations,” said lawyer Ritche Esponilla of UPA.

“Every time flashfloods occur in Metro Manila, authorities are quick in pointing fingers to informal settlers as culprit even though the real problem is a city wide poor drainage system, graft and corruption among others. The prompt solution is demolition and forced eviction. The government failed to provide relocation which can be paid through monthly amortization. Without relocation, evicted families rebuild their shanties. This is clearly a waste of time and effort on the part of the government. You cannot expect different results by doing the same action all over again,” Atty. Esponilla pointed out. “It is a sign of insanity,” he said.

In a letter, leaders of people’s organizations asked the Vice President for help. “We believe that as Vice President and HUDCC Chair, you can help the release of initial budget of the Montalban relocation. We are hoping that the budget will be released at the soonest possible time. Please don’t fail us. You are our last hope,” the letter read.

-30-

Urban poor group to picket HUDCC office

Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

MEDIA ADVISORY

Urban poor group to picket HUDCC office

Some 300 urban poor people will converge at the Ninoy Aquino monument (Ayala Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas) in Makati City on Tuesday morning and beginning at 9:00 AM they will march toward the office of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) located at the Banco de Oro Building (Paseo de Roxas corner Makati Avenue) to protest the government agency’s inaction in providing relocation to urban poor families affected by demolitions and forced evictions.

Members of the Task Force Anti-Eviction met President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in August 1 last year and she ordered various government agencies including HUDCC to develop the Montalban relocation site with an initial budget of 300 million pesos. Nothing has happened since. People will ask HUDCC, what happened to the money and the relocation?

Urban poor communities are constantly threatened with forced evictions. Evicted families have been living on sidewalks exposed to the elements of heat and rain. What happened to the promise of the president?

Photo ops: Demonstrators will wear colorful boxes shaped like houses on their heads which symbolize their right to shelter. Songs of protest. Giant slide show.

Date: August 11, 2009 (Tuesday)

Time: 9:00 AM

Assembly Point: Ninoy Aquino monument, Ayala Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas

Government’s Plan to Tear Down Mosque Provokes Muslims to Fight

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Government’s Plan to Tear Down Mosque Provokes Muslims to Fight

08 August 2009. Muslims living near a mosque in Baclaran, Pasay City said they will turn their community into a war zone if the government pushes through with its plan to demolish the mosque to give way for commercial establishments, including casinos.

“Kapag may nasaktan na bata, matanda, at babae, lalaban kami ng patayan,” (If there are children, elderly and women hurt in the demolition, we will fight them to the death) said Abdelmanan Tanandato, leader of Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Nademolis sa Roxas Boulevard.

Tanandato was informed that the muslim community and mosque will be demolished on the first week of August. The plan was later moved to Monday (August 10) “perhaps due to the typhoon and the death of the former President Cory Aquino”.

He said the community is prepared to face the demolition team and they will form a human barricade around the mosque to protect it.

The Task Force Anti-Eviction composed of various people’s organizations and NGOs such as Urban Poor Associates (UPA), Community Organizers Multiversity (COM), and Community Organization of the Philippine Enterprise Foundation (COPE) have asked the government to defer the demolition. “The government should reflect on its plan to pursue the demolition of the mosque now that Ramadan is approaching,” the group said.

Muslims believe that a person is twice saved if he or she dies during Ramadan defending Islam.

“The Muslim people believe it is God’s will that they defend the mosque. The government should allow the Mosque to stay, let it remain amid the infrastructure projects that will be built,” said Ted Añana, deputy coordinator of UPA.

Congressman Leandro Montemayor yesterday sent a letter to Ms. Andrea Domingo, General Manager of Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) to inquire about their position regarding the occupancy status of muslims over this reclaimed property. The objective is to arrive at a peaceful and amicable solution to the problem.

The letter requests PRA to defer the eviction of the Muslim community especially in the light of pending cases at the Pasay City Regional Trial Court and the City Ordinance No. 4411 / moratorium on demolitions.

An international human rights organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), also shared their concern about the imminent forced eviction of the Baclaran mosque community. They visited the community in 2007 and have followed the case closely since then.

“COHRE has already raised this case with the government of the Philippines and at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, and will again be writing to the relevant Philippine authorities in order to urge them to respect their obligations under international human rights law,” said Dan Nicholson, Asia Pacific programme coordinator of COHRE. -30-

‘Aquino made it look easy to be good’

UCAN Commentary by Denis Murphy

August 7, 2009

MANILA (UCAN) -- Calling Corazon Aquino a “female Saint Thomas More” and the “Joan of Arc of the Philippines,” Catholics here have publicly thrown their support behind a suggestion to work for the late Philippine president’s canonization.

For Denis Murphy, coordinator of the NGO, Urban Poor Associates, this is understandable. He says her cause for canonization is being discussed as she was "very religious."

Though the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines has publicly cautioned that the Church imposes strict conditions in the canonization process, Murphy, in a commentary for UCA News, makes clear the case for Aquino has merits.

The former Jesuit priest and longtime social worker in the Philippines recalls experiences with Aquino that showed she cared for people and tried to help them as much as she could. She led the 1986 "people power" revolt that ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

During her presidential campaign, Murphy was serving as editor of a Church news agency. Later in her presidency, which lasted 1986-1992, he devoted his time to working for the rights of city dwellers to decent housing.

Following are his reflections on Aquino’s life:


Aquino died in hospital on Aug. 1 after battling colon cancer.

Thick crowds, 30 meters deep in places, lined the roads leading from Manila Cathedral to the burial site 22 kilometers away in Paranaque. Most people cried as the giant float, with Mrs. Aquino’s casket on top of a huge bed of yellow flowers passed by.

Women shrieked in sorrow as if their own mothers were dead. The rains poured down through the journey, but the crowds got bigger. At one point, firemen saluted the former president by shooting streams of water in the air. The water fell, of course, on the people at the roadside, but no one seemed to notice.

As late as 4 a.m. the night before, near riots threatened outside the cathedral as people pressed to get in to see her one more time.

People had stood in line for up to 10 hours. Along the road to the cemetery there was a man who sat on a wall for 12 hours straight waving a flag, waiting for the cortege to pass by.

It is almost impossible to exaggerate the hold Mrs. Aquino has on the Filipino people and it is natural that people are abuzz with the idea that this former Philippine president should be made a saint.

Perhaps the explanation is that, since all national heroes and heroines reflect the better characteristics of their people, Filipinos see their better selves reflected in the former president more than in anyone else.

What have they seen in Cory Aquino? What is it they wish to see in themselves?

At the necrological service the night before the burial, 19 Filipino men and women, some well known, some not, told a packed cathedral what struck them most about her.

The quality mentioned most often by her close women friends was her never ending thoughtfulness. She never forgot a friend’s birthday or a friend’s problem. She would show up unexpectedly at wakes and stay an hour or so. She had a kind word for everyone. She treated everyone with respect, including her bodyguards, drivers, maids and cooks. It might be hard to believe anyone was so nice but the stories told were so many it seems she really was that good and thoughtful.

She was thoroughly honest. No one in this back biting, overly critical country has ever said she took a single centavo from the Philippine treasury that she hadn’t earned. When she promised something, she kept her word and she never gave up. A sister-in-law told of Cory and herself waiting hours to see rude Marcos officials, sometimes waiting in the rain to ask a small favor for Aquino’s husband who was in jail. She never complained.

She was queenly. This was the aspect of Cory seen by some of the very macho men who worked with her. Former President Fidel Ramos, Mayor Alfredo Lim of Manila, Mayor Jejomar Binay of Makati, Congressman Teddy Locsin, Jr., journalist and former Aquino spokesperson, among them. Locsin put it in words at the necrological service, “She was my queen,” he said, “and I was her knight, her servant. She made me better just by being good herself.”

The poor loved her too. It wasn’t that she did great things for them, but rather that they thought she cared for them. It is the poor women who called out in sorrow along the roadside of her final journey. When things were not going well during Cory’s years in office, the poor always said, “Give her a chance, give her a chance.”

I remember one meeting that the urban poor had with her. They came to complain of several cruel evictions. In one, the police had released vicious dogs into the slum area in the early morning hours. Women told Cory how terrified they were when the dogs broke into their homes. The women cried. Cory cried. Everyone cried, even her military attache. Cory apologized and said it would never happen again.

The dogs were never repeated, but evictions went on. Possibly she could have done more if she had been more experienced in handling a huge bureaucracy.

Cory loved gossip as much as anyone. I remember watching her with a group of friends at a wedding anniversary. She would lean into the circle to make sure she heard every detail, then burst out laughing, then add her own comment on the person they were talking about, then they all laughed again and started over. You would never guess this was a woman who overthrew a dictator, rescued a people from despair, wowed a joint session of the U.S. Congress, inspired a generation and became “the beacon of democracy in Asia.”

Her cause for canonization is now being discussed. Is it possible a saint could enjoy gentle gossip?

Archbishop Ramon Arguelles (of Lipa) likened her to Thomas More and someone during the wake called her the Joan of Arc of the Philippines. I can understand it. I’ve never heard people talk so unanimously about a person’s thoughtfulness, generosity and all those virtues. She was president of the Philippines. She did not have to be all that.

She made it look easy to be good, her friends said. And she was good in the ways her people valued. She was thoughtful, kind, loyal, honest, very religious, just as everyone here wants to be. Loving her, they were loving the ideals their parents had put in them when they were children.

She was so good to others, so confident and buoyant, it was easy to forget she was a widow who had loved her husband dearly and always felt a deep emptiness in her heart because he was gone.

I interviewed her once for UCAN back in 1987. It was the end of the day and she was very tired. At the end, I asked if she could pose with my wife and me for a picture. “I sent the photographer home early, but wait,” she said. Soon she had her staff people running all over for a camera, while she talked about her days in Boston when Ninoy (her husband) was released from jail and allowed to go to the United States for a heart operation. In the end the staff couldn’t find a camera and she was very apologetic. “Next time we meet,” she said. I wish I had that picture now.

Paalam (good bye), Cory.

Copyright © UCA News. All rights reserved.

http://www.ucanews.com/2009/08/07/%E2%80%98aquino-made-it-look-easy-to-be-good%E2%80%99/

Talakayan 2010 - Presidential Candidates Forum

Dear friends,


On Sunday, August 9, Urban Poor Alliance (UP-ALL) Mega Manila will hold a forum dubbed "Talakayan 2010" in which some of the candidates vying for the presidency in the coming elections are invited to present their plans and programs for the urban poor sector.

This is in preparation for UP-ALL Mega Manila's scorecard activity. The venue will be at the Walter Hogan Hall, Institute of Social Order (ISO), Social Development Complex, Ateneo de Manila University, and will start at 9:00 A.M.

Non-government organizations such as FDA, FDUP, PASCRES, COM, UPA and ULRTF committed to mobilize at least 600 people.

So far only Sen. Mar Roxas has confirmed his attendance in the forum. We invited a few others-- VP Noli de Castro, Sen. Manny Villar, Sec. Gilbert Teodoro, Gov. Grace Padaca, Gov. Ed Panlilio and Sen. Loren Legarda. The camps of VP de Castro and Sen. Villar have expressed their regrets, while we are still awaiting response from Gov. Padaca. We haven't received any word from the others.

For your information.

Thank you.


###


Talakayan 2010:
Panayam ng mga Maralitang Tagalungsod sa mga Kandidato
Conference Room 5 and 6, Walter Hogan Hall, Institute of Social Order
Social Development Complex, Ateneo de Manila University
August 9, 2009
10am – 12nn



Programa


9:00 -10:00
Registration


10:00 -10:15
Pambungad
Jose Morales
Uganayang Lakas ng mga Apektadong Pamilya sa Baybaying Ilog Pasig (ULAP),
Quezon City UP-ALL


10:15 -10:30
Pagpapakilala sa mga dumalo
Cipriano M. Fampulme
Luzon CMP PO Network
Quezon City UP-ALL


10:30 -10:50
Pagpapakilala ng mga Kandidato
(Bibigyan ng oras ang mga kandidato na ipakilala ang sarili, ang kanilang plataporma at mga plano para sa maralitang tagalungsod)


10:50 -11:45
Panayam at Open Forum
Dr. Anna Marie A. Karaos
Associate Director
John J. Carroll Institute on Church and Social Issues (JJCICSI)


11:45 -12:00
Pangwakas
Vangie Serrano
Resettlement Action Group
UP-ALL Montalban

Demolition of Mosque to Spark Bloodshed

** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE **

Demolition of Mosque to Spark Bloodshed

31 July 2009. “Blood will flow if the government will pursue the demolition of the mosque. Hundreds of Muslim men and women living outside the mosque will fight the demolition team. They are not afraid to die to preserve the sacred mosque.”

These are the words of Abdelmanan Tanandato. He is the leader of Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Nademolis sa Roxas Boulevard. Their mosque and community are on the reclaimed land in Pasay City opposite Baclaran Church.

According to Tanandato, the mosque on the reclaimed land in Manila Bay is the third biggest mosque in Metro Manila. He remembers that the land for the mosque was part of the sea. It took them three years in landfilling/ reclaiming to produce the 3 hectares to build the mosque. He is sad that the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) is now claiming the land and that the court allows PRA to have full possession of the lot for commerce, luxury housing and casinos.

On 26th of May 2009, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita issued a memorandum, saying that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo instructs government agencies to relocate the mosque.

Issuance of the memorandum alarms the community because they know there will be attempts to demolish the mosque and evict them forcefully. Earlier in 2007, PRA violently demolished their dwellings rendering the elderly, women, and children homeless. In June 2008, another government demolition team came but hundreds of Muslims faced them armed with wooden clubs ready to fight the demolition team to protect their homes and mosque. The demolition was not executed.

Tanandato was informed that there will be demolition the first week of August.

Task Force Anti-Eviction composed of various people’s organizations and NGOs such as Urban Poor Associates (UPA), Community Organizers Multiversity (COM), and Community Organization of the Philippine Enterprise Foundation (COPE) is now helping the community to prevent the violent demolition.

“If the government proceeds with the demolition and eviction, the people will resist—violently most likely. Some may be killed. The mosque will be destroyed-- a sight that has a good chance of appearing in every newspaper in the world,” said Denis Murphy, Executive Director of the UPA. He added that, “the people will also write President Barack Obama if the government persists to execute the demolition of the mosque.”

Atty. Bienvenido Salinas II, legal counsel of UPA and Cong. Leandro Q. Montemayor are drafting a letter of inquiry addressed to Andrea Domingo, General Manager of PRA. In the letter, they reiterate the request to defer the demolition of the Muslim community and defer the plan to relocate the sacred mosque, especially in the light of the pending cases and demolition moratorium ordinance in Pasay City.

Meanwhile, Tanandato is seeking the help of Commission on Human Rights, Congressmen, Senators and the Church to secure and arrive at peaceful and amicable solution to the problem.

-30-

A Prophet for the Philippines

A Prophet for the Philippines

by Denis Murphy

[This story hasn't happened yet, although we tell it in the past tense. It may happen any day now, so look out. Forewarned is forearmed. You will hear thunder rumbling.]

The old archbishop walked up and down beside his cathedral as he did every night after dinner. He said his rosary as he walked and was so deep in thought a person would have to bump into him before the archbishop would notice.

An even older man suddenly appeared beside him, seemingly out of nowhere. The man was dressed in the white suit, brown and white shoes and panama hat that gentlemen wore in the 1940s.

"You look terrible, excellency," the man said.

The archbishop knew him. "It could be worse, my friend."

"Is it the poor again?"

"My people just don't care about them."

"We know and we are going to give them one final chance. Remember that favor you kept asking us for?"

"The prophet?"

"We had a hard time finding him, but now we have him. We've chosen you."

"Me? I'm no prophet."

"That's what they always said, isn't it? Don't argue. You are God's prophet for this stiff-necked Filipino people. You are their Amos, Jeremiah, John the Baptist. It's decided."

"Wait a minute. What do I say to them?"

"It's up to you. We don't have any idea. Nothing seems to work with your people, especially those well-off people of yours. Good luck, excellency. You'll need it." The man disappeared in a single whoosh of air.

The archbishop-prophet wondered how he would approach his people. They like statistics and theory. They like serious discussions, but after such talk nothing happens. He was fond of quoting United Nations figures that claimed over 300 Filipino children died each day of malnutrition-related diseases. The children simply didn't have enough food. His audience shook their heads in horror when they heard his sad tale, but when they left the church all was forgotten. Calm, informed discussion wouldn't do it.

He thought for some more time and then decided: if I am a prophet, I'll act like one. A few days later, dressed in ragged pants, rubber slippers and a faded T-shirt advertising soap powder, with his face and arms smeared with dirt, he pushed a kariton to the middle of a bridge over an estero. People living under the bridge had been evicted. When word got around that the scavenger was the archbishop, the crowds gathered.

"The Lord God Almighty says: ‘Once upon a time 57 families lived in darkness under this bridge. Now it's empty. Where have you put my children? Where are my children? Where are the old people? Where is the old blind woman who lived here?' The Lord God says to you: ‘Because you drove them out and threw them in the streets like garbage, and left them homeless in the rain, I will punish this city. Shame on those who ordered the demolition. Shame on all of you who stood by and did nothing. Shame on you police who could have stopped it. Shame, too, on my priests who failed to struggle to stop it.'"

The Archbishop finished and as he pushed his kariton away from the bridge the crowd fell back to let him pass. "Thank you, excellency," an older woman said, but most everyone else was silent. Few looked the archbishop in the eye as he passed. Instead, they worried about him.

The headline in the leading newspaper the next morning was guarded: "Archbishop's Bridge Talk Puzzles Listeners." People calling in to the radio stations worried about the "appropriateness" of the action, or felt his dress and the kariton were "troubling". They noted the archbishop had completely departed from his usual low key manner of speaking. "He sounds so hostile now," a listener to Radio Veritas's Caritas at Maralita said. "I don't think I like him this way."

The archbishop understood the reaction was bad. It didn't do any good to threaten his people.

He was a prophet till he died, so he couldn't stop. He would try another approach, and so on TV the following Sunday night he wore a simple gray clerical shirt with a small wooden cross hanging around his neck. He asked the camera to zoom in close. He wanted to speak in the soft tones he used when talking to his priests who had problems or to old people close to death. It was indeed a soft tone, but thunder rumbled in the background of his words. The close-up would also, though the archbishop didn't realize it, show the kindness and sadness in his eyes.

He talked about two little squatter boys he had passed near a hospital. They were 4 or 5 years old and were sitting on a rubber mat eating cheese curls. Not far away were the kariton where their families lived. When it rained the families pulled blue plastic sheets over themselves and their kariton and settled down low like carabaos in the rain. "The boys talked and shared the bag of cheese curls, passing it back and forth. I waved to them and they waved back. I felt so sad. What will happen to the boys? Will their lives be full of pain and frustration? Then I realized, those two boys were there by the road because God intended us to see them. God is saying to us, ‘you are responsible for them'. Yes, we are also responsible for the mothers nearby building their small wood fires to cook rice, and for all the weak and poor of our city. As God gives these children to us, He also gives Himself. If we refuse them, we refuse Him.

He stopped there and stared into the camera. He prayed his people would take this last chance that God was giving them to amend their ways. He was afraid to think of what would happen otherwise. He heard thunder rumbling.

###

Denis Murphy works with the Urban Poor Associates. His email address is upa@pldtdsl.net.


http://www.thepoc.net/index.php/Parokya-Sa-Web/Tinig-ng-Maralita/A-Prophet-for-the-Philippines.html

Urban Poor Group Seek Help of Catholic Bishops

** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE **

Urban Poor Group Seek Help of Catholic Bishops

30 July 2009. Various urban poor groups in Metro Manila have asked the help of Catholic Bishops to arrange a meeting with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to discuss the Executive Order 803 creating and directing the Metro Manila Inter-Agency Committee (MMIAC) to plan, coordinate and implement a comprehensive shelter program for informal settlers.

In a letter to President Arroyo, through Archbishop Diosdado Talamayan of Tuguegarao and Bishop Ramon Villena of Bayombong, the Task Force Anti-Eviction told the president that her advisors have given her bad advice in the matter of MMIAC, especially in making Bayani Fernando and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) the chair of that body.

“For years Bayani Fernando has been perceived as the number one oppressor of the poor. He has evicted thousands of the poorest families (those living under bridges and along esteros, for example), and left them without relocation, literally homeless in the streets, against our own and international law. He has destroyed the goods of poor vendors. Now he is promoted to head the MMIAC which puts him in charge of all aspects of social housing, including evictions, relocation, upgrading and construction. His control over the poor is greatly increased. Poor people say they are deeply offended by this promotion given their oppressor,” the letter read.

“Remove him, Mrs. President. There are many other more capable and humane men and women who can head the MMIAC. Bishops, the Commission on Human Rights, dozens of NGOs, civil society groups and thousands of urban poor people had asked that you not appoint him,” urban poor leaders said.

“The act of promoting Bayani Fernando will greatly increase his control over the poor. We request the president to remove him as the chair of MMIAC. Instead replace him with capable and humane men or women who can head the MMIAC,” said Ted Añana, Deputy Coordinator of the Urban Poor Associates (UPA).

If this is not possible for any number of reasons, people’s organizations and NGOs such as Community Organizers Multiversity (COM), Community Organization of the Philippine Enterprise (COPE) Foundation, and UPA, want Chairman Fernando to pledge in public way that he is committed to provide relocation for all evicted families and to seek genuine consultation with the poor.

“We ask that you advise Chairman Fernando to seek genuine consultation with the poor and NGOs, allow people’s participation, and learn from the best experiences of other countries. We ask that this consultation begin with the makeup of the MMIAC. The poor wish there be representatives of the poor and the NGOs,” the letter added.

Urban poor leaders also reminded the president that during their meeting August 1 last year, she gave directives to government agencies so that the 1,400 families from the 11 priority areas evicted by MMDA and now living in the streets be relocated to Montalban at the cost of P300 million.

-30-




TASK FORCE ANTI-EVICTION
c/o URBAN POOR ASSOCIATES
25A Mabuhay Street, Brgy. Central, Quezon City
Tels (632) 426 4119/ 7615 Telefax (632) 426 4118
Email: upa@pldtdsl.net



July 10, 2009


H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President, Republic of the Philippines
Office of the President
Malacañang Palace
Manila

Through the kindness of:
Archbishop Diosdado Talamayan and Bishop Ramon Villena


Dear Mrs. President,

Warm greetings from all the urban poor.

We must tell you in all respect that your urban advisors have given you bad advice in the matter of the Metro Manila Inter-Agency Committee, especially in making Bayani Fernando and the Metro Manila Development Authority the chair of that body (E.O. 803).

For years he has been perceived as the number one oppressor of the poor. He has evicted thousands of the poorest families (those living under bridges and along esteros, for example), and left them without relocation, literally homeless in the streets, against our own and international law. He has destroyed the goods of poor vendors. Now he is promoted to head the MMIAC which puts him in charge of all aspects of social housing, including evictions, relocation, upgrading and construction. His control over the poor is greatly increased. Poor people say they are deeply offended by this promotion given their oppressor.

Remove him, Mrs. President. There are many other more capable and humane men and women who can head the MMIAC. Bishops, the Commission on Human Rights, dozens of NGOs, civil society groups and thousands of urban poor people had asked that you not appoint him.

If it is not possible to do this for any number of reasons, we ask that you require Chairman Fernando, to pledge in a public way that he is committed to providing relocation for all evicted families. The law binding in these matters is well expressed in the Resolution of the CHR recommending a moratorium on evictions and demolitions (CHR (IV) No. A2008-052).

We ask that you order the creation of “The Independent Body, legally responsible for preventing illegal forced evictions” that was recommended to the Philippine Government by the United Nations Human Rights Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in 1995. This new body can be located in the CHR.

All other attempts to prevent illegal forced evictions have failed.

We ask that you advise Chairman Fernando to seek genuine consultation with the poor and NGOs, allow people’s participation, and learn from the best experiences of other countries. We ask that this consultation begin with the makeup of the MMIAC. The poor wish there be representatives of the poor and the NGOs.

Can you take action so that the 1,400 families from the 11 priority areas evicted and now living in the streets be relocated to Montalban at the cost of P300 million? You ordered that this be done last year.

We make these requests because the future of our children depends on your decision.

We ask that you please meet with our group to discuss these matters which are very important for us as soon as possible.

We thank you for all the time you have given us. You have had more meetings with the poor than any other president.


Very sincerely,



ROSALINDA TAGHOY
Bacood Ilaya Looban Homeowners Association


ROSALINDA SATURNO
Samahang Nayon ng Balintawak, Inc.


PRESCILDA P. JUANICH
SAPIPA-R10, Navotas


ROLANDO L. SERNA
Market-3 Fishport of Navotas Neighborhood Association


YOLANDA R. OFAGA
Samahang ng mga Residente ng R-10, Navotas


IDA J. CABAZARES
United Group for Progress


JOSE MORALES
Ugnayang Lakas ng Apektadong Pamilya sa Baybaying Ilog-Pasig (ULAP


FRED DAMIAN
Samahang Magkakapitbahay ng Estero dela Reina (SMER)


JOANNE B.
Pasay Estero Informal Settlers Alliance

Civil Society Organization’s Perspective on the Philippine Urban Poor Situation

This document is publicly viewable at: http://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dhhqg4t6_186d2pm2qfw

Denis Murphy

Denis Murphy
Parangal Lingkod Sambayanan (Public Service Award) 2009

When as a young Jesuit, Denis Murphy returned to the Philippines in 1967 fresh from his Masters in Social Work studies at Fordham University, New York, Fr. Horacio de la Costa, S.J., then Provincial, assigned him to work with Fr. Gaston Duchesneau, S.J. at the Institute of Social Order. Fr. Murphy, S.J. was to help develop a strong Jesuit apostolate dedicated to the needs and aspirations of the urban poor. Given the leeway to explore possible locations for this work toward social justice over the next few months, and actively studying Tagalog, he settled on Tondo as the most complex, interesting and challenging of city neighborhoods.

Today Denis Murphy is solidly recognized in civil society circles as “the Father of Community Organizing in the Philippines”. Thousands of community organizers have been trained in “CO” and its many derivatives since the 1970s.

Currently the Executive Director of Urban Poor Associates, which he founded in 1992, he has enabled communities to resist and negotiate poor people’s rights to secure land tenure over the last 44 years. Some 50,000 Filipino families directly owe their access to land tenure to his creativity, dedication and facilitating leadership. Through effective community organizing, poor groups have learned to confront the inequities of urban land distribution, interact as equals with government officials, and utilize both pressure as well as bargaining tactics to become upstanding citizens of this nation.

Denis Murphy helped organized the Philippine Ecumenical Council on Community Organization (PECCO) in the mid-1960s, serving as a representative of the Catholic membership in collaboration with Protestant church representatives. Such an interdenominational alliance was unheard of before then. In the early 1970s he recruited the Catholic board members from academia, media, and the Church as well CO trainees for this new work, selected the Tondo Foreshore as the initial organizing area, and spent many hours “doing legwork” to convinced disheartened residents as well as some “know it all” authoritarian local leaders that democratic organizing could indeed lead to a better life for all.

The resulting Zone One Tondo Organization, which still thrives today, is living proof that informed, determined, and active poor people can, as organized groups, transform social power discrepancies and demand benefits not voluntarily allocated to them by the larger society. The results emerged in ZOTO’s victories around secure land tenure on the Tondo Foreshore and Dagat-dagatan, Navotas in the 1970s, the residents’ subsequent access to improved basic services, infrastructure improvements, and housing, and their ability to sustain these accomplishments and confront new challenges over time.

Denis Murphy’s vision and enabling leadership continues to move and shape Philippine society in the 21st century, giving empowered people a voice in their own destiny. As a result more enlightened government processes have emerged in the course of this “demand from below”. Today many housing officials in government are strong advocates for people’s participation in human settlements planning, having discovered that negotiating with organized poor groups who can articulate their perspectives and recommend workable solutions, makes their own work easier and more effective.

Soon after ZOTO was organized, “CO” spread to many other cities in the Philippines. So notable were these early developments that other Asian groups working with their own urban poor readily responded in 1971 to Denis Murphy’s advocacy for an ecumenical network, the Asian Committee for People’s Organization, each with its own national set of equivalent NGOs and POs. Remaining at the forefront of civil society initiatives in support of the urban poor in Asia, ACPO recognizes Denis Murphy as consistently having organized the Catholic Church’s participation in the work.

In 1976, he left the Jesuit order but continued his commitment to community organizing. His subsequent marriage to community organizer Alice Gentolia-Murphy created the well-known and formidable “dynamic duo” that has brought significant breakthroughs for people empowerment. He credits the Society of Jesus for protecting him when the Marcos Administration not only refused him permission to work with the Office of Human Development, Federation of Asian Bishops Conference (OHD/FABC), but threatened to deport him as well.

Safely back at the OHD/FABC a few weeks later, the bishops again asked him to concentrate on the cities and their growing numbers of urban poor informal settlers, disempowered and living in inhumanly degraded environments. This effort would include organizing the Bishops Institute for Social Action, with a major program that brought hundreds of bishops from Asia and other continents to the Philippines. The bishops met as a group to discuss what they had experienced and discerned in the light of the Gospel and the Social Teachings of the Church.

This commitment to involving the Church directly in dialogues with the poor, thereby making the Gospel resonate in the everyday lives of marginalized groups, continues to be a part of Mr. Murphy’s mission now. He insists that the Church is the most reliable ally of the urban poor in their struggles for a better life, and that it is part of his role to help people make their faith a motivational force in community organizing.

As for his Jesuit brothers, some of whom remain his best friends, he believes that “A person can best appreciate the Jesuits if he knows them from within and from without. One point of view without the other is inadequate.”

Denis Murphy is also a prolific writer who expertly combines his social and humanities proclivities. Some 30 articles and poems of his have been published in America, the Society’s official magazine in the United States. His four volumes of short stories and his novel, A Watch in the Night, have been widely read. Although exercises in fiction, they are usually based on the real social issues he has confronted all his life. But perhaps he is best known among today’s reading public for his insightful articles in the Philippine Daily Inquirer as well as the now-defunct Manila Chronicle.

For his dedication to community organizing as a vital social force toward social justice in Asia;

For enabling thousands of urban poor families to achieve dignity by having a voice in their own secure future, for training and inspiring hundreds of young community organizers to be “men and women for urban poor others,” for assisting the Catholic Church to carry out its preferential option for the poor in the Philippines and Asia and to do so in ecumenical partnerships;

And for his contributions to social commentary and fiction rooted in social issues, the Ateneo de Manila University, in this year’s sesquicentennial anniversary of its foundation, is proud to confer the Parangal Lingkod Sambayanan on Denis Murphy.

###