New RP envoy to The Netherlands passes initial scrutiny of NDF

By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 09/25/2009 2:12 AM

Contrary to the expectations of many, the National Democratic Front (NDF) has reacted positively to the appointment of the new Philippine ambassador to The Netherlands, even if the new appointee is a former military general.

Filipino migrants’ organization Migrante Netherlands had earlier condemned retired Lt. Gen. Cardozo Luna’s appointment for his alleged “military mindset.”

But the NDF didn’t doubt him for a second…also because of the military.

Apparently, the NDF has connections too in high-ranking places in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“Hindi ako nai-intimidate. Nakakatanggap naman ako ng comments sa mga kaibigan kong military officers. Hindi ko na babanggitin ang pangalan. May mga rango. General din. Brigadier General. Sinasabing si Luna as a person eh mabait, intelihente, gentleman at kung gayon hindi ako natatakot na me extraodinary na gawin,” Communist Party of the Philippines founding chair Jose Maria Sison said in an exclusive interview with Balitang Europe.

Sison, also chief political consultant of the NDF’s negotiating panel in peace talks with the Philippine government, said he is also not alarmed at President Arroyo’s appointment of a former AFP vice chief of staff as the Philippine’s envoy.

“I don’t know kung si Gloria [Arroyo] sa kanyang remaining months nilagay si Luna diyan para pagawin ng special mission. I don't think so. I have no basis na anticipating na si Luna may gagawing masama. Alerting lang porke sa kanyang background,” Sison said.

“At the same time, alam ko naman na batay sa hindi ko alam, hindi ako sigurado, batay sa words ng nirerespeto kong military officers, hindi siya barumbado, sibilisado [siya] at may pride siya sa kanyang ginagawa. Hindi siya basta gagawa ng masama alinsunod sa utos mula sa isang presidente na paalis na sa kapangyarihan,” Sison added.

The NDF however indicated however that it is puzzled at the process of Luna’s appointment.

“Ang katakaka eh iyong method ng pag-appoint sa kanya [Luna]. Na si Gilbert Teodoro, Secretary of Defense. At saka mukhang hindi napaalam through protocol ways sa Dutch government. Pero sa tingin ko naman, makikita natin sa performance niya,” NDF Negotiating Panel chair Luis Jalandoni said.

But Jalandoni has high expectations of Luna.

“’Andyan iyong Filipino community. Makikita rin ng taong bayan dito sa Netherlands, iyong mga overseas workers dito kung paano ang performance niya. Kaya doon na lang namin ibabatay at sa tingin [ko], wala naman kaming prejudice against him. We hear quite good things about him from his fellow military and so will await the way he performs his tasks and we hope that it will be in accordance with his function as ambassador,” Jalandoni said.

The NDF hopes that the new ambassador will maintain the group’s good relations with the Philippine Embassy.

“We had good relations with Ambassador [Ramon] Arguelles. Friendly and civil relations. We hope the same type of relations could be achieved between his office as ambassador and the international office of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines,” Jalandoni said.

However, according to the NDF, it will be on guard as to Luna’s keeping his promise of supporting the peace talks between the Philippine government and the NDF.

The peace talks, which was supposed to take place in Oslo, Norway in August, was once again stalled because the NDF cancelled it, complaining that the Arroyo regime refuses to release its jailed negotiators, consultants and staff.

By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
as of 09/25/2009 2:12 AM

SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/09/24/09/new-rp-envoy-netherlands-passes-initial-scrutiny-ndf

EULOGY FOR CORA GALICIA-PESIGAN

Eulogy for Cora Galicia Pesigan who died on the 7th of August 2009.

by Loui Galicia

This eulogy was shared during the mass for her burial at the St. Mary's Church in Vancouver, BC on 19th August 2009

SAYING GOODBYE IS NOT EASY. YET IT IS IMPORTANT TO DO SO. BECAUSE MY ATE CORA IS A SISTER THAT WE ALL LOVE.

NOT A BAD BONE IN HER BODY, SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR US. SHE WAS NOT ONLY OUR BIG ATE. SHE WAS OUR SECOND MOTHER.

I REMEMBER WHEN SHE WENT TO COLLEGE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF STO. THOMAS AND TOOK UP BACHELOR OF ARTS MAJOR IN NUTRITION, SHE USED US AS HER GUINEA PIGS. THAT WAS THE BEST PART OF OUR GROWING UP WITH HER….BECAUSE WE GOT TO SAVOR ALL THE DELICIOUS FOOD THAT SHE HAD TRIED AS PART OF HER EXPERIMENTS. SHE FED US SWEETS. AND LIKE HER PASTRIES, ATE CORA WAS ALWAYS VERY SWEET. WE LOVED HER THEN. WE STILL LOVE HER NOW AND WE WILL NOT FORGET THOSE GOOD MEMORIES.

WHEN SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER IN 2004, IT CAME AS A SHOCK. HOW CAN SHE GET IT? SHE’S THE MOST HEALTH CONSCIOUS IN THE FAMILY. SHE DOESN’T DRINK ALCOHOL NOR SMOKE. SHE WAS CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT SHE ATE.

AFTER HER SURGERY, I ASKED HER TO COME TO HOLLAND. THAT WAS IN THE SUMMER. SHE WAS A PERFECT PICTURE OF JOY AND HEALTH. SHE WAS VERY STRONG. THERE WAS NO SIGN THAT THE DISEASE HAD RAVAGED HER BODY. YOU CAN SEE HER STRONGEST WILL TO LIVE. WHEN WE ARE AT RESTAURANTS AND THE KIDS WOULD NOT FINISH THEIR FOOD, SHE WILL DO IT FOR THEM. YOU CAN FEEL HER FULL DESIRE TO NOURISH HER BODY…TO FIGHT THE CANCER.

THE DOCTORS GAVE HER THREE YEARS…YET SHE BEAT ALL ODDS. SHE WAS A FIGHTER. NEVER IN THOSE YEARS DID I HEAR HER COMPLAIN ABOUT PAIN….ABOUT THE CANCER. NEVER. NEVER IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS WAS SHE BEDRIDDEN. SHE WAS A WARRIOR. SHE WAS JUST SO HAPPY TO WAKE UP EVERY MORNING…FOR FIVE YEARS. SHE ALWAYS LIVED FOR THE NEXT DAY.

ATE CHOR. I MISS YOU. I TRIED MY BEST TO SEE YOU BEFORE YOU’VE GONE. IF ONLY I CAN STOP THE TIME. EVERY HOUR SINCE I HAVE FINALLY PACKED MY BAGS, I WAS PRAYING FOR YOU TO HANG IN THERE BECAUSE I AM ALMOST THERE. BUT I GUESS THIS IS MEANT TO BE… BECAUSE GOD KNOWS I WILL NOT BEAR TO SEE YOU SUFFER..TO SEE YOU IN PAIN…BECAUSE AS MY ATE, YOU HAVE THE GENTLEST SOUL. YOU LOVED US SO MUCH. YOU GAVE SO MUCH OF YOURSELF FOR US. I AM NOW HAPPY TO SEE HER GO. AT LAST SHE IS IN PEACE. . BUT IF ONLY I HAD ONE CHANCE TO SAY GOODBYE...ONE LAST HUG…ONE LAST KISS…

ATE CHOR, I WILL MISS YOUR LIVELY VOICE. I SENT HER SURPRISE PACKAGES TO CHEER HER UP. SOMETIMES IT WILL JUST BE COFFEE PADS, COOKIES AND TEA. OTHER TIMES IT WILL BE FLOWERS OR SHIRTS BUT BOY SHE LOVED DESIGNER BAGS. ONE TIME I RAN OUT OF IDEAS SO I DECIDED TO ORDER FROM THE FRENCH BAKERY IN GRANVILLE ISLAND SOME CROISSANTS AND TIRAMISU. SHE LOVED TIRAMISU. SHE CALLED ME IMMEDIATELY AFTER DELIVERY. SHE WAS IN A FRENZY. SHE SAID THE TIRAMISU WAS SO HUGE IT WAS THE SIZE OF HER DOORMAT. I ORDERED THAT ALL THE WAY FROM HOLLAND. I GUESS GOD FOUND A WAY TO HELP ME KEEP HER HAPPY AND IN HIGH SPIRITS IN A LITTLE WAY. I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT VOICE BURSTING WITH ENERGY AND LIFE. SHE HAS LIVED TO SET AN EXAMPLE THAT WE SHOULD LOVE OUR LIFE. ATE CORA HAS SHOWN US THAT LIFE IS GOOD BUT TOO SHORT TO WASTE.

ATE CHOR WAS A GOOD MOTHER. HER DAUGHTER ANGELEE WAS THE CENTER OF HER LIFE. SHE WAS A FAITHFUL AND LOVING WIFE. BUT ALTHOUGH SHE DID NOT GET NOR FEEL THE SAME AMOUNT OF LOVE....SHE DIED LOVING DANNY. ATE CORA SHOWED US THAT WE SHOULD LOVE AND GIVE LOVE AND NOT EXPECT TO GET LOVE IN RETURN.

I GUESS IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO MOVE ON WITH HER PASSING. BUT WE KNOW THAT SHE IS IN GOOD HANDS. SHE IS WITH GOD.

I WROTE THIS EULOGY EXACTLY DURING ATE CHOR’S DYING MOMENTS.

BUT ON MY ARRIVAL HERE IN VANCOUVER, I REALIZED I HAD TO REWRITE IT.

TO INCLUDE A BIG THANK YOU TO HER CLOSEST FRIENDS WHO HAVE BEEN WITH HER ALL THROUGH HER DYING MOMENTS. TO DONNA AND RAY...WHO TOOK CARE OF EVERYTHING. WHO TOOK ALL THE RESPONSIBILITIES FROM THE HANDS OF A SUPPOSEDLY GRIEVING HUSBAND. DAY IN AND DAY OUT AFTER ATE CORA DIED, DONNA AND RAY DID NOTHING BUT WORK FOR THIS BURIAL...TO MAKE SURE THAT ATE CORA’S LAST WISHES ARE FULLY MET.

TO JOYCE AND ARNOLD, CINDY AND JERRY, LOY AND DWIGHT, JUDITH AND JOEY, MERCY AND ERWIN, LILIA AND FREDDIE WHO HAVE UNTIRINGLY SPENT THEIR HOURS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, ATE CORA’S FAMILIES ARE CARED FOR.

THE SUPPORT AND PATIENCE THEY HAVE GIVEN US WERE BORNE OUT OF THEIR LOVE FOR MY SISTER....BECAUSE CORA WAS A GOOD AND LOVING FRIEND TO THEM....AND THEY WANTED TO GIVE HER THE BEST EVEN IN HER DEATH.

CAN I PLEASE REQUEST EVERYBODY TO STAND UP AND GIVE A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THE BEST SISTER, MOTHER, WIFE AND FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WORLD..THE ONE WHO I ALWAYS CALL A LIVING SAINT SISTER WHO HAS FINALLY JOINED HER CREATOR. ATE CORA.

Stop scuffles during ballgames say Pinoys in Belgium

Stop scuffles during ballgames say Pinoys in Belgium

By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 09/03/2009 7:25 PM

BELGIUM – Filipino basketball fanatics in Brussels urged compatriots not to bring personal disputes to court following Sunday’s scuffle during a tournament held in Brussels.

Don Rivera was hurt during the scuffle. His face was swollen when he reported the incident to the Belgian police. Rivera was punched several times by a fellow Filipino while watching the basketball match.

“Sinuntok yata iyan. Daplis ata ito kanina. Hawak ko yung cellphone ko. Tinatawagan ko si Amor. Tapos bigla na lang may sumuntok sa likod ko,” said Rivera.

Rivera admitted that he had a fight with the unidentified Filipino last year but he never expected that the latter would retaliate.

“Pagkatapos bigla na lang sumulpot din yung mataba, sinuntok din ako tapos nakailag ako. Ang tumama sa akin siguro dalawa,” he explained.

Balitang Europe was not able to get a statement from the attacker who fled the scene after the brawl.

Spectators to the tournament were shocked because everything happened so fast. They were watching a very intense game between Filipino teams from Brussels and Antwerp when the fight ensued.

“Bigla na lang may sumapok sa kanya [Rivera]. Di ko rin namalayan. Wala na kong magawa dahil iglap yung nangyari. Ewan ko kung may alitan pero alam ko sa basketball nun araw pa yan,” said Leonilo Gapasin, president of the Pangasinense Association, who was watching the game.

One of the players also got furious when someone hurled a table that almost hit his daughter.

The incident prompted Filipinos to urge compatriots to immediately stop hostilities in the courts and instead set a good example to the youth who are also basketball enthusiasts.

They said basketball is a wholesome event that becomes an activity for the whole family. Thus, there should be no room for quarrels in ballgames.

“Dapat yung mga personal na problema nila wag nang pag-usapan dito. Di na dadalhin dito sa loob kasi gaya kanina nagkagulo sila dun sa loob itong inaanak ko muntik nang tamaan ng lamesa,” housewife Jenny Cruz said.

Also, they fear that Pinoys will be banned from sports venue if the feuds continue.

as of 09/03/2009 7:25 PM


SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/09/03/09/stop-scuffles-during-ballgames-say-pinoys-belgium

Pinoy choir spreads message of peace, love in Holland

By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 08/04/2009 3:46 PM

Peace and love is the message in every song of Kammerchor Manila wherever they go.

The multi-awarded choir, which is composed of Filipinos who are mainly friends from way back their college days, have just recently won the gold, silver and special prize at a choir competition in Linz, Austria.

They were most recently in The Hague, Netherlands for Ambassador Romeo Arguelles's last cultural event for the community.

"Gustong kong iwan sa ating kababayan at mga Dutch ang masayang pagkakatipon tipon dito sa pamamagitan nitong choral group at nakita nilang magaling ang mga Pilipino at magaling sa musika," Arguelles said.

Arguelles was very proud at the very warm reception given to the Kammerchor by the more than 150 guests who attended the event.

In fact, at the end of their performance, the crowd gave Kammerchor a 10-minute standing ovation complete with the most energetic and thunderous applause.

The choir was so happy and obliged to the three encores from the audience.

One can feel from every note the passion of the Pinoys who were all united by one goal and that is to share their talents in music in order to spread the word of God.

The choir started singing at the EDSA Shrine and is now singing and performing in the different churches in the Philippines and abroad for more than 14 years now.

"We work as evangelists. Maibahagi namin ang aming musika lalo na sa mga Pilipino sa abroad na alam natin nami-miss nila ang Pilipinas na kahit sabihin natin na magulo sa Pilipinas pero nami-miss pa rin nila so through our music parang nababalik natin sila sa ating bayan," Kammerchor Musical Director Ronnie Abarquez told Balitang Europe.

As a conductor of the choir, Abarquez holds the emotion and success of every show that can be observed with the beautiful performance of the singers and the deep and serious facial expressions and movements of Abarquez as well.

Each song paints a vivid emotional picture of bliss and serenity that is soothing to the listening audience.

"As an artist kailangan mailabas ko ang emotion through my conducting para maipasa ko sa singers kung ano gusto kong mangyari sa kanta na nailalabas nila through sa kanilang kanta," Abarquez said.

But just like any other musical group, the Kammerchor needs funds in order to support their activities.

Apart from fundraising, the choir is also accepting donations and sponsorships in order to help them propagate the spread of God's words in a language that is understood by many--through music.

as of 08/04/2009 3:47 PM

SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/08/04/09/pinoy-choir-spreads-message-peace-love-holland

Young Pinoy finishes 4-day walkathon

By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 08/06/2009 4:12 PM

A 12-year-old Pinoy succeeded in his quest to raise funds for the orphaned children of victims of political killings and disappearances by capping off the four-day Walk of the World in Nijmegen, Netherlands.

The trail to his victory though, was not painless and sweet as Kyle Baleva almost gave up on the second day of the biggest walkathon in the world.

“Fatigue po. Sa pangalawa, ‘di ko po alam kung bakit kaso mas mahirap. Dun naman po sa pangatlo, grabe pong malakas ulan. Umuulan po sa pangatlong araw,” Baleva said in an interview with Balitang Europe.

“Nagkaroon ng streams ng tubig dun po sa mga fields. Grabe lang pong lakas ng ulan. Nabasa lang po kami ng grabe.”

“Masakit po yung aking dito,” Baleva added, as he showed his feet.

Each night for four days, after walking for eight hours, Baleva needed to forcefully pull the socks that were almost glued to his skin only to find his smooth young feet very sore and swollen.

But Baleva's solid determination allowed him to finish 30 kilometers each day of the bloody walkathon.

“Naisip ko po kung gaano mas marami akong nalakad, ganoon mas maraming makuha ang mga ulila. Para mas marami pa po silang makuha, kailangan pa po akong tumuloy,” he said.

Outpouring of support

Although Baleva suffers from Multiple Complex Developmental Disorder, which is a form of autism, it did not become a hindrance to nurturing a strong will to raise funds himself for the Children's Rehabilitation Center.

“Madali lang ang paglalakad. Ang hindi madali ang pagsisigurado na hindi mahihirapan si Kyle sa paglalakad, lalo na tuwing bago dumating sa finish line. Yun yung panahon na nahihirapan siya. Akala niya malapit na, yun pala ilang oras pa pala," said Kyle's father, Boyen Baleva.

There was an outpouring of support from Pinoys and Dutch which overwhelmed Baleva.

He surpassed his target of 1,000 euros, raising 1,500 euros (P100,000) from as little as 20 euro cents per kilometer that he walked.

“Grabe akong saya na ‘yong mga ulila, nakuha nila yung ganong karami, at saka nasayahan din ako sa nakita kong suporta. Grabeng maraming tao,” he shared.

Many admired Baleva for his seemingly impossible feat, especially the young Pinoys.

“I think Kyle's a hero. Just knowing that he's only a 12-year-old boy and that he walked 120 kilometers is just impressive. He inspires me and other teenagers my age to also do something for the poor people of the Philippines,” Adrian Paras from Belgium said.

Baleva's story continues to serve as an inspiration to many.

In fact, in the Philippines, several groups of youth, peasants, workers and child rights advocates organized solidarity walks for Baleva.The “Walk With Kyle” marches coincided with Baleva's four-day trek.

as of 08/06/2009 4:12 PM

SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/08/06/09/young-pinoy-finishes-4-day-walkathon

Joma, Cory had 'exceptional' relationship

By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 08/03/2009 10:03 AM

Jose Maria “Joma” Sison, founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines, and his wife Juliet joined the rest of the world in mourning the death of former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino on Saturday.

Sison said he and Cory maintained a special relationship that dates way before her presidency. He said he and Cory's husband, Beningno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr., worked together for a common goal to fight the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos.

And in the political struggles of Joma and Ninoy, their wives Juliet and Cory became tightly knitted by their love for their husbands, joining and working vigorously in the campaign against Marcos.

“First time nung makilala ko si Cory nung 1967. Dumalaw ako kay Ninoy Aquino. Siya [Cory] ang nagsilbi nung kape kaya natatawa ako noong sinasabi na siya ang nagsisilbi dun sa ibang bisita,” Sison in an interview with Balitang Europe.

“Yan ang pang-charming ni Ninoy eh. Talagang very friendly si Cory, yung kanyang ugali,” he added.

Sison has Cory to thank for his release from almost nine years of imprisonment under Marcos.

“Nung ma-release ako, dun sa penthouse ng Cojuangco building ako na-release at dun kami nagtagpo sa presidente, kay Cory. Kung maalala ko, released ako on recognizance to Doña Aurora Aquino,” noted Sison.

He said that his relationship with Cory was exceptional that it did not end even after an official act to cancel his passport.

“Pati na dun sa cancellation ng passport ko siyempre in public pupunahin ko ‘yon na ginawa ni Cory. Pero di nawawala yung pagkakaibigan namin kasi nagpaabot eh,” related Sison.

According to Sison, it was Cory who fought for almost two years the urgings of the military to cancel his passport.

It was also Cory, according to him, who warned him that it was safer for him to remain outside the Philippines.

“Mabuti daw na nandito ako dahil ang mga militar ang nagtutulak na kanselahin ang passport ko so ganun, hindi nawawala yung aming mabuting relasyon kahit na gumawa siya ng official act na kanselahin ang aking passport,” he said.

Sison said that for his part, the revolutionary movement helped in putting Cory in power and getting rid of Marcos.

A witty and gracious Cory

Juliet has nothing but good memories of Cory. She explained that as wives of husbands driven by a common goal, she and Cory were always together in political events.

“Maraming pag-oorganiza na ginawa namin nun upang kalabanin si Marcos so andun siya sa mga organisasyon na binubuo para labanan si Marcos. Yung Aquino Justice For All, yun namang kilusan na ‘yon di naman para lang kay Aquino kundi para sa lahat ng nabiktima o nabibiktima ng martial law,” she added.

“Kaya nagkakasama kami nun sa mga pagsisikap na ‘yon. Ang mga meeting na ‘yon kasama namin sila Guingona, yang si Cory, si Doña Aurora, sila Salonga at yung mga personalidad na lumalaban kay Marcos na padami nang padami,” she noted.

Juliet said her first impression of Cory was that she was a woman of very few words. But when Aquino became president, Juliet was surprised to see a very witty Cory.

“Si Cory masigasig yan dun sa paglaban kay Marcos. Pumupunta siya sa meetings at demonstrations pero hindi siya masalita,” she continued.

“Medyo tahimik siya at medyo reserved kaya nagulat ako na nung presidente na siya, aba biba din pala siya at natutong mas maging ano yan, relaxed sa public although graciosa siya na tao.”

Communication lines open

Meanwhile, the National Democratic Front Negotiating Panel (NDFP) in Utrecht also expressed its solidarity with the family, relatives and friends of Cory in their time of mourning and grief.

NDFP Chair Luis Jalandoni said that Cory's greatest contribution was her ratifying the Protocol II of the Geneva Conventions which is very significant for the human rights standards and policies.

“Napakalahaga dahil ito ay respected throughout the world as (an) important document and convention regarding the upholding of human rights at nandyan din sa constitution ng 1987 for which Cory Aquino to a great extent yung pag-uphold ng human rights pati na yung mahalagang bagay… yung pagrestrict ng martial law," Jalandoni told Balitang Europe.

He also said that Cory as president was very different from others in that she kept all communication lines open.

“Cory would make use of different means kahit personal na pagpaabot kay Joma na ‘wag ka munang bumalik dito. Meaning she was concerned for his safety or she would use other channels and say she would like to have peace talks,” said Jalandoni.

“She was creative in a very personal way also to maintain communication.”

For NDFP Consultant Fidel Agcaoili, Cory was responsible for initiating the peace talks between the Philippine government and the NDFP in 1986.

“Siya ang nag-facilitate. Of course nagkaron ng ceasefire agreement. It led to a ceasefire agreement and then it led to maraming NDF na lumitaw at lumabas,” said Agcaoili.

Jalandoni added that Cory's outstanding feat was the release of hundreds of political prisoners, which included Sison.

“All those hundreds of political prisoners is a good example of fulfilling her commitment and her magnanimity with regards to political prisoners and those in need and for the families of these political prisoners,” he said.

“Something we don't see in the present administration,” commented Jalandoni.

as of 08/03/2009 1:48 PM

SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/08/03/09/joma-cory-had-exceptional-relationship

Young Pinoy inspires youth, child rights advocates

By Maria Aleta Nieva-Nishimori, abs-cbnNEWS.com 07/18/2009 4:18 PM


Taking the cue from the initiative of a young Filipino boy in the Netherlands, a child rights group in Manila has organized a children’s solidarity walk for justice and peace.

Executive Director Ma. Esmeralda dela Paz of the Children’s Rehabilitation Center (CRC) said the “Walk for Justice, Walk for Peace” will coincide with the biggest walkathon in the Netherlands in which Kyle Baleva is one of its 45,000 participants.

“Kasabay iyan ng mangyayari sa the Netherlands na walkathon kung saan si Kyle ay lalakad ng apat na araw,” said Dela Paz.

The “International Four-Day Marches in Nijmegen” in the Netherlands is set for July 21 to 24, 2009. Participants to the Netherlands’ walkathon will walk 30, 40 or 50 kilometers daily, for four days.

Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau correspondent reported that upon completion, they will receive a “Vierdaagsekruis,” or a royally-approved medal.

Galicia, who first reported Baleva’s preparation for the walkathon, added that every kilometer that the boy walks is equivalent to 20 Euro cents, which he intends to donate to orphaned children victims of political killings and disappearances.

“Hindi lang siya lakad. Mag-aadvocate siya ng support para doon sa mga batang anak ng mgabiktima ng extra-judicial killings, mga desaparecidos at iba pang mga victims ng human rights violations dito sa Pilipinas,” Dela Paz said.

Baleva aims to collect 1,000 euros for the benefit of “A Hand for an Orphan Program” of the CRC.

“Nag isip kami ng isang activity dito sa Maynila na parallel sa kanya para ipakita din ang solidarity at na-package namin siya as solidarity walk,” said Dela Paz.

Manila’s Walk for Justice, Walk for Peace will also coincide with the Lakbayan of peasants, workers and other sectors from Southern Tagalog, who will join a protest-mobilization on July 27, the day President Arroyo delivers her 9th State of the Nation Address to the Filipino people.

“Kasabay siya ng Lakbayan na mangyayari sa Southern Tagalog na aalis din July 21 o 22 from Calamba, and expected silang makarating sa Makati by 24,” she said.

Children under the SALINLAHI Alliance for Children’s Concerns and other child rights advocates will walk in solidarity with Baleva.

“May mga bata from Southern Tagalog na magpapakita ng kanilang support at actually sila din victims din. Mga galing sa urban poor na victims ng demolition na na-relocate sa Calamba at yung iba mga anak din ng mga biktima,” she said.

Young advocateBaleva’s parents and Filipinos living and working in the Netherlands fully support the boy who, at a very young age, has taken on a sense of responsibility to highlight the plight of orphaned children of victims of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and political repression.

“Kahanga-hanga talaga kasi sa ganyang age naisip niya at saka yung effort. Pinoy siya at hindi niya iniiwan ang roots niya, at alam niya ang nangyayari sa Pilipinas, at mula doon, nag e-effort siya,” added Dela Paz.

In the Philippines, the CRC said that an average of three children are orphaned every week due to killings that are political in nature.

In the last five years, CRC added that more than 800 incidents of human rights violations have been recorded in the country, affecting some 215,200 children.

“Mula 2001 hanggang 2008, 66 children ang namatay dahil sa state violence,” she said.

CRC, according to its website, is focused on children in the rural and urban areas who suffer from physical health problems, emotional disorders and social maladjustments due to traumatic events such as arrest, torture, forced displacement, strafing, bombing, massacre, disappearance and other forms of human rights violations.

It offers immediate psycho-social aid to children and families who are affected by natural disasters and accepts referrals for children-victims of other social disasters such as abuse and exploitation on a case-to-case basis.

as of 07/18/2009 4:58 PM

SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/07/18/09/young-pinoy-inspires-youth-child-rights-advocates