Holland-Based Filipinos Launch Book on EDSA 2

"Their experience in other countries has politicized many overseas Filipino workers enough for them to be even more committed to the country of their birth. Filipinos share with migrants of other cultures the horizon and mind-expanding possibilities exile makes available and from which perspective events at home can be analyzed. Among worker and migrant groups from every country, a militant wing, whom the pain of exile has led to a radical critique of society, has inevitably arisen.”

By D. L. Mondelo 
Political Correspondent for Europe
Bulatlat.com

AMSTERDAM - Filipinos in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands, were among the most active among overseas Filipinos during the campaign to oust the corrupt and anti-people Estrada government.

Like their compatriots back home, they made known their sentiments on what is happening in their homeland in many creative ways. They held prayers, forums, signature-gathering, pickets, delegations, exchanged email messages with friends and relatives in the Philippines and abroad, and followed closely the developments and the build-up of "people power" via the Internet during that crucial period leading to Estrada's ouster in January 2001.

To contribute to the initiative to preserve and propagate the lessons and ideals of that upheaval which came to be popularly called "EDSA 2," Filipinos in the Netherlands launched a book here April 5 titled "Tayo Na Sa EDSA" (Let's Go to EDSA). The book is a collection of perspectives, stories, statements, emails, poetry and humor on that political episode.

Unlike earlier books on "people power," however, "Tayo Na sa EDSA" presents EDSA 2 not only from the progressive point of view but also from the perspective of Filipinos in the Netherlands and other countries.

In the introduction to the book, Dean Luis Teodoro of the U.P. College of Mass Communications and Today columnist, said: "Unbeknownst to political scientists, however, the mass exodus of Filipinos to foreign climes due to the permanent incapacity of Philippine governments from Marcos to Arroyo's to solve the employment crisis was rapidly creating a politically conscious and critical community."

"Their experience in other countries has politicized many overseas Filipino workers enough for them to be even more committed to the country of their birth. Filipinos share with migrants of other cultures the horizon and mind-expanding possibilities exile makes available and from which perspective events at home can be analyzed. Among worker and migrant groups from every country, a militant wing, whom the pain of exile has led to a radical critique of society, has inevitably arisen," Dean Teodoro stressed.

At the launching, Grace Punongbayan of Migrante Europe, which published the book, and a contributor in the book, acknowledged all the convenors of the Estrada Resign Network-Netherlands (ERN-NL). She also presented a complimentary copy to Melinda Brugman of the Komitee BEU, one of the convening organizations of the ERN-NL.

Rio Mondelo, who works as communications officer of MIGRANTE Europe and editor of "Tayo Na sa EDSA," read Dean Teodoro's introduction to the book.

Joel Vega, former reporter with the Saudi Gazette, a fellow in the 1990 U.P. Likhaan and presently editor of a food magazine in the Netherlands, read his and Dr. Joi Barrios' poems that are included in the book.

To cap the book launching, Rev. Cesar Taguba of the Ecumenical Ministry for Filipinos Abroad and one of the book's contributors, urged Filipinos in the Netherlands to continue the militant advocacy of a good, corrupt-free and pro-people government by actively participating in the electoral process in 2004.

Overseas Filipinos, including those in Europe, would be allowed to vote in the national elections next year after the passage of the Absentee Voting Bill. Reverend Taguba said participation of overseas Filipinos in the electoral process in 2004 would include monitoring the registration of voters and the election results, conducting information and education campaigns among Filipinos abroad on political candidates and the burning issues in the Philippines and the issues of migrant Filipinos, including putting up a candidate for the party-list that would represent the voice of the overseas Filipino in the Philippine congress.

The Philippine-based contributors in the book include: Tony Tujan Jr. of IBON Foundation, Judge Romeo Capulong of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia  and Public Interest Law Center; Dr. Carol Araullo of Plunderwatch and BAYAN; Teddy Casino, secretary general of BAYAN; Dr. Joi Barrios of CONTEND; and playwright Bonifacio Ilagan. The Europe-based contributors include: Punongbayan, Mondelo, Maitet Ledesma of Pinay sa Holland-Gabriela, Reverend Taguba, Joel Vega, NDFP chief international representative Luis Jalandoni and NDFP political consultant Prof. Jose Maria Sison.

A Philippine launching of the book is scheduled to be held soon under the auspices of Migrante International and Bulatlat.com. Copies of the book are available at Bulatlat.com in Quezon City, Philippines. Bulatlat.com 

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