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“They thrive on generating fear within the community only to make way for their multi-billion endeavor. It shows how those in power, public and private sector, put a premium on profits while neglecting the fact that the residents have a legitimate basis for staying and then punishing them for it. Even if it costs the life of someone as innocent as an unborn child.”
"This is part of an all-out assault against the people to further their repressive chokehold on ordinary Filipinos.”
“The play aims to humanize the struggle of the urban poor. They do not just fight for the sake of resisting the police come demolition day.”
"I would have never been an activist if the government did not tear down our homes." -- Estrelieta Bagasbas, chairwoman of September 23 Movement
This is a story of young boys and girls and it begins in a room with a pastel green door and walls with hot air balloons, flowers and robots and a crawling pink crab.
“Why are you still fighting? There is nothing to fight for. You will all be demolished,” residents quoted a security guard who was threatening them.
“I thought that our struggle would end when we accepted the offer to relocate. But now I realized that it is not yet over.”
“We are here to show you that you are not alone in this violent and sad eviction. We will strive to do what we can for justice, for humaneness and for the fulfillment of God’s will to happen,” Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez said.
On Jan. 27, 2013 residents of North Triangle hurled stones and bottles at the demolition team to defend their homes from demolition due to the 11.3-meter road widening project along Agham Road. Photos by BART...
“The January 27 demolition of homes of the urban poor in the North Triangle was “the most overkill” in the number of police forces deployed, teargas fired and high-powered rifles displayed.” - CTUHR
“The new wave of demolitions along Agham Road in Sitio San Roque, Quezon City, wreaks of violence and wanton disrespect for basic human rights. From the looks of it, not even an iota of humanity was present during the demolition.” – Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon
“We are expecting that these attacks against the welfare of the urban poor would continue this 2014. But we will continue to push and fight for our rights, for our livelihood and for decent pay.”
“First they tried to get rid of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center. Now they want to get rid of plants and trees. What is next? Pushing for the transfer of government offices like the Philippine Science High School and the Office of the Ombudsman to make way for even more commercial expansion?” – Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate
“Aquino promised to provide us with decent shelter using billions of pesos from the Informal Settler Fund (ISF), but only provided us with far-flung relocation sites that lack basic social services and employment opportunities." – residents
The real disaster in our country is neither the flood-inducing typhoons that sink our cities under murky waters nor the earthquakes that crumble our homes. In the end, the real disaster here is the poverty that ruins lives.
“The houses look good. But we do not have livelihood there. We have electricity and water but we do not have money to pay our bills.” – Purita Dayao
Part Two: From danger zones to a death zone
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
The demolition team, accompanied by a large police contingent, arrived without any prior notice to preempt the preparations of the community to resist the demolition of their homes.
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
In 2011, rights group Karapatan - National Capital Region has monitored at least one case of demolition a month, which more or less translates to at least three families losing their homes everyday due to demolition.
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO Bulatlat.com MANILA -- Urban poor residents living along BIR road in Quezon City remain vigilant after a recent demolition threat in their community. "We were informed that a demolition team would arrive in our community (last Nov. 28) to...
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Video: Demolisyon