Posted by Abi Kwok on September 10, 2008
MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) Militant groups stormed the Department of Agriculture and the National Food Authority offices in Quezon City early Wednesday to protest the pullout of the P18.25 a kilo government subsidized rice from commercial markets.
Posted in News | Tagged: protest | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Abi Kwok on August 28, 2008
Activists pressing on despite unheeded demands
MANILA, Philippines — Leftist groups on Thursday said the series of mass actions they have been holding lately would be a prelude to much larger mobilizations next month if government continues ignoring their demands for higher wages, the scrapping of the value added tax (VAT), and a return to regulated fuel prices.
Posted in News | Tagged: protest | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Abi Kwok on August 26, 2008
Could be prelude to Sept transport strike–KMU
MANILA, Philippines — Thousands of left-wing activists are mounting protest actions across Metro Manila on Thursday, August 28, to continue pressing government for a legislated P125-across-the-board wage increase and scrap the value added tax (VAT) on oil and electricity.
The protest, organized by the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU, May First Movement), will see simultaneous protests from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Welcome Rotonda, Araneta Avenue, Philcoa, Litex-Commonwealth, Stop ‘N Shop, and Novaliches-Bayan in Quezon City; along Sta. Mesa, Pedro Gil and Taft Avenue in Manila; at Pinagbuhatan in Pasig City; Marikina Sports Complex, in In Marikina City, Cainta-Junction, Marulas Market in Valenzuela; and in Alabang and Las Piñas.
KMU chairman Elmer Labog said the Thursday protests could be the prelude to a nationwide transport strike in September if government does not heed their demands.
“For every second, minute, and hour that the prices of petroleum products are not rolled back, the oil cartel earns a huge profit and the Arroyo government a windfall through taxes,” Labog said. “For our government not to implement a corresponding substantial rollback in the light of current large rollback of the world oil price is tantamount to plunder against the people. The people need a reasonable, timely and substantial rollback, not tiny and portioned rollbacks.”
He also claimed that at the rate world oil prices are declining, the prices of oil in the local market should be at around P44 per liter.
Labog said government should stop pushing Charter change and should push, instead, for the immediate legislation of the P125 wage increase.
“The prices of basic commodities are sky high while the wages of the majority of the Filipino people are still inhumanely low,” he said.
Posted in News | Tagged: oil, protest, wage | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Abi Kwok on August 22, 2008
Today was a tiring day. I got home at 9:30 p.m. after being stuck three hours in traffic; my legs are aching because of a 1 hour walk (total); and my stomach is killing me. But I got pretty pictures 
Today I was at Roxas Boulevard for the 12-hour ‘Truth Fest’ there. You read it right, 12 hours. No, I did not finish the entire event good Lord o_O.
Anyway, I tinkered around (again) with my SLR and here are some photos I took:
If I must say so myself, my photography skills have greatly improved *gloats*.
Posted in News, Photo diary | Tagged: photography, protest | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Abi Kwok on August 22, 2008
Traffic snarled on northbound lane of Roxas Blvd
MANILA, Philippines — Thousands of people have turned out for a 12-hour “Truth Fest” at the Rajah Sulaiman Plaza on Roxas Boulevard in Manila from 5 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday.
The participants, from militant labor, youth, church and other sectoral and civil society groups, carried banners and were escorted by marching bands as they converged on the site of the activity, where they were greeted by “gigantes,” giant figures traditionally used during the fiesta in Antipolo City.
Posted in News | Tagged: protest, youth | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Abi Kwok on August 13, 2008
This is probably one of the cutest videos I’ve seen locally. This video is a preview to what people will expect on the ‘Truth Fest’ celebration on August 22, which I wrote. Watch and be enlightened
This one is a video I took of National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera as he reads the statement of artists on national issues today.
This page requires a higher version browser
Posted in Video blog | Tagged: bienvenido lumbera, music, protest | 2 Comments »
Posted by Abi Kwok on August 13, 2008
MANILA, Philippines — Indigenous groups in the country are in decline because of the government’s alleged “militarist and aggressive economic policies,” a coalition of indigenous groups said on Wednesday.
Posted in News | Tagged: indigenous people, mining, protest | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Abi Kwok on August 13, 2008
This is very interesting. They also produce a TVC and radio ad for this. Heard they got help from big ad agencies. Will upload the videos in a while
***
Artists take stand on national issues
MANILA, Philippines — Civil society and activist groups will attempt to create a new world record for the largest voice choir on August 22 with “Truth Fest,” which seeks to expose the “untruths” in Philippine society and raise issues such as renewed calls for Charter change and the conflict in Mindanao.
Posted in News | Tagged: bienvenido lumbera, jun lozada, local artists, protest | Leave a Comment »
