GIANT QUILT FOR GIANT ANTI-GLORIA PROTEST ON SONA
News Release
21 July 2009
Reference: Emmi de Jesus, Secretary General, 371-2302 / 0917-3221203
GIANT QUILT FOR GIANT ANTI-GLORIA PROTEST ON SONA
In preparation for the State of the Nation Address on July 27, expected to draw in the biggest people’s protest action against constitutional assembly and charter change, the women’s group GABRIELA unfolded today the biggest anti-ConAss, anti-ChaCha and anti-Gloria quilt.
The quilt, measuring five meters by 12 meters, was created by women from various communities and organizations. “Our message is loud and clear: Enough of Gloria!” said Emmi de Jesus, secretary general of GABRIELA.
“We have had enough. Under the eight years of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Filipinas suffered unfathomable misery and violence. Livelihood opportunities narrowed even as prices of basic goods and services soared. Innumerable Filipinas who sought employment abroad came home exploited, abused or killed. Housing and health services were denied women and their families. Women and children were victims of the Arroyo government’s frenzied violations of human rights,” said De Jesus.
According to de Jesus, members of GABRIELA chapters in Metro Manila have been creating the quilts for a month now. “Women have toiled to create these quilts to signify not only our discontent but outright rage against Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Weaving together these cloths symbolize the unity of women from all walks of life and political groups against the anomalous ConAss and all maneuvers to extend Arroyo’s term including the imposition of martial law.?h
Most of the quilts from urban poor communities denounced the government’s failure in addressing the housing problem. One quilt from Tondo has the face of the president embroidered with garlic peels and the call “Aswang, umalis ka na d’yan!”
Other organizations who took part in the protest action are Ugnayan ng Kababaihan sa Pulitika, ISIS, Teresa Makabayan, Women’s Crisis Center, KASIBULAN (women artists group), Institute of Women’s Studies, Center for Women’s Resources, Lila Pilipina, Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concern, Children’s Rehabilitation Center and Gabriela Women’s Party.
Senator Pia Cayetano sent a streamer with the call “Pinays Ibasura ang Arroyo chacha.”
The activity is part of the “Pambansang Bigwas Laban sa ConAss”, a multi-sectoral campaign against Con-Ass and Cha-Cha expected to culminate on the supposed last State of the Nation Address of the president on July 27..
The women’s group said that they expect thousands of women will participate in the People’s SONA and in other protest actions before and after July 27.
“If Arroyo is hell-bent on extending her term, the Filipino people are more bound and determined to end her rule,” concluded de Jesus.###
GABRIELA Philippines 35 Sct. Delgado St, Brgy. Laging Handa Quezon City, 1103 Philippines TeleFax: (632) 374 44 23 E-mail: gabwomen@yahoo.com