ONE WITH THE WORKERS' STRUGGLE

The victory of the nation's workers in the passing of the P125/day across-the-board nationwide "increase" of private employees and P3000/month for government employees did not come without determination that it can only be won through struggle.

It was 1999 when Hon. Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran started a legeslative battle in congress when he authored the said bill. It is sad that only in 2006, after seven years of waiting and struggling to advance the worker's struggle for an "increase"(since these amounts only puts the wages at the level of the minimun daily cost-of-living and not more than what workers need) in wage that it succeeded.

An overwhelming vote 0f 151-0 showed how much Ka Bel and other progressive Party List representatives from Bayan-Muna and Gabriela made other legislators understand the need for such.

We are also proud to say that we have contributed to such success. The IFI as an institution has stood-up for its heritage of protecting the workers-the sector which gave birth to her in their quest for a truly nationalist church. There has been no Labor Day that IFI is not present with the workers marching in the streets and no peasant-workers' struggle that it has not shown her solidarity.

Yet, there is not enough reasons to rejoice since the systematic oppression of workers has not ended.

The GMA regime is still guilty for the widespread denial of workers' rights of a secure tenure, of just wages and benefits, of organization through a union and even of life. GMA must still answer for the death of labor-advocates like our very own Rev. Fr. Tadena and The Most Rev. Ramento and other church-workers, journalists, youth, lawyers, human rights activists and other sectors supporting the workers' cause.

The IFI must be at the forefront of the struggles of the labor sector and work with other sectors in our quest for a society where a just and lasting peace and abundance exists.


Pro Deo et Patria!

FAILURE OF AN EVIL PLOT

GMAs allies in congress have failed in their plot to change the charter by mere tyranny of numbers.

Amidst more important issues affecting the lives of their countrymen, administration congressmen tried to assert their ammendments of the constitution through an illegal declaration of congress into a constituent assembly by not involving the senate in the decision-making. A break in the usual way of how things are done in congress.

It is for the legal minds to argue about the validity of such act, true, yet the motive of deceit is not arguable. It is not difficult for anyone to logically see the interests behind, it is very very obvious. It seems that our politicians have grown shameless and we, passive.

Let us thank the Lord for gracing us with people who serve us through their involvement in the issues. Their determination to journey with us in struggling to attain a society with justice, peace and prosperity has again exposed the threats to our people's welfare. A lot of sectors were awakened with how rotten the currents ruling system is, serving only the elites and creating more poor, oppressed, deprived and marginalized people of God. This issue has amassed people with diverse interests into forging alliance with one goal to defend the people's right.

Withouth fear from physical harm, these great mean and women (including some IFI members) stormed congress and stopped the illegal assembly from even starting. They are great examples for us to immitate.

I invite the mass membership of the youth of the Diocese of Southern Mindanao to initiate forums to enlighten all sectors of the church regarding this immoral and self-serving act.

Killing of Bp. Ramento

The killing of Bp. Ramento right in his own convent is proof that we in the church are not spared from the series of political killings that has happened since GMA came into power.

It is a fact that death and disappearance of journalists, activitists, community organizers, church workers and even ordinary citizens, known critics of the GMA regime, has again happened like that of the time when Marcos declared martial law.
The number of people who disappeared, tortured and killed have broken the martial law record several times fold. There are now 800 victims and the regime has not done any concrete measures to stop it.

Witnesses and survivors themselves reported that perpe trators are known personnel of the AFP and PNP.

It is easy to conclude that in such, the only motive of such inhum an acts must come from the one which victims hav e fought against-the fake, the US-puppet GMA regime!

Web Launch

The Aglipayan Youth Forum is a youth-led discussion group of current socio-political and economic issues confronting the Filipino people. It is an expression of the deepening commitment of the Youth of Iglesia Filipina Independiente to serve God and country!