(left to right): Evelyn Castillo and Dale Asis planting mangrove trees in Cebu, Philippines

Dale Asis (sitting, center) plants a mangrove tree with youth members of the Visayas Mindanao People's Resource Development Center (VMPRDC) looking on.

In  January 2012, the Bayanihan Foundation visited its partner, the Visayas Mindanao People’s Resource Development Center (VMPRDC), a grassroots community organization in Cebu, Philippines that helps local fisherfolk in protecting the fragile environment around the bay. James Castillo and the Bayanihan Foundation has supported the VMPRDC efforts in developing youth leadership and environmental sustainability.

In 2011, the foundation and James Castillo of Los Angeles, CA supported a series of youth leadership development workshops that led to the growth of their local youth group, Sining Dilaab Cultural Group.

During our visit last January 2012, I’ve met the Director, Normalyn Alonso and the youth leadership as well. I was pleasantly surprised of how well-developed the youth group has grown since its formation last year. I felt so proud that the Bayanihan Foundation’s small financial support have contributed to the growth of a thriving youth group that is aware and is protecting its fragile environment. The youth group also read an elaborate pledge and commitment to protect the environment. You can download their environmental pledge and commitment HERE.

Check out the extraordinary song and dance performance they have put together during our visit:

James Castillo recently created a short film promoting environmental conservation in the US, the Philippines and around the world:

Catalyst from iPic Theaters on Vimeo.

At the end of the visit, members of the Bayanihan Foundation and members of the Rotary Club of Chicago Far North planted mangrove trees for environmental restoration of the fragile environment in Cebu, Philippines. In 2012, the Bayanihan Foundation plans to plant 10,000 mangrove trees to help restore the fragile ecosystem.

Myrla Baldonado (far right standing) welcomes participants of the 'Pagbabalik' (Coming Home) workshop at the Clark Museum, Clark, Pampanga, Philippines

On January 21, 2012, the Bayanihan Foundation  welcomed its partners and guests to its second annual ‘Pagbabalik’ (Coming Home) workshop at the Clark Museum, Clark, Pampanga, Philippines. The foundation especially welcomed its partner Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Chicago Far North.

During the workshop, the foundation also announced its six, successful partnerships for 2011:

1. Video and report on unexploded  (UXO) ordnance in Clark and Subic highlighting the need to clean up the toxic wastes left behind from the former US bases in Clark and Subic.  The Alliance for Bases Clean Up, Pilipino Workers Center  (PWC) and the Philippine American Group for the Environment (PAGE) helped launch this education and outreach campaign (September 2011)

2. UXO and toxic waste victims cope and heal with Body Talk Access, in partnership with the Alliance for Bases Clean Up.  The foundation provided Body Talk Access, a simple set of energy-based techniques, to hundreds of toxic waste victims and helped them cope and heal

3.  Support for the creation of the United Philippine Amerasians (UPA), a grassroots group led and created by Filipino Amerasians. Their fathers are American military personnel and their mothers are assumed to be prostitutes; they’re America’s forgotten children. This organizing project was made in partnership with WeDpro and Buklod (July 2011)

4.  Iligan Water Wells and Library Book Drive, in partnership the Rotary Club of Chicago Far North, built two water wells and sent books for two school libraries in Iligan City (December 2011)

5. Eid Ul Fitr and Udhiya Celebrations and Peace Building with Filipino Muslims, in partnership with the Zakat Foundation of America and the Rotary Club of Iligan South, fed over 600 needy Filipino Muslim families and children in Iligan City (August and November 2011).  A peace building workshop among Filipino and Christian youth is also being planned (January 2012)

6. Youth educational trainings on environmental sustainability, in partnership with James Castillo and the Visayas Mindanao People’s Resource Center, provided training to hundreds of youth volunteers on environmental sustainability in Cebu (April 2011)

The Bayanihan Foundation is also exploring more partnerships including with Kanlungan in supporting returning migrant workers to the Philippines.

(from left to right): Dale Asis, Mryla Baldonado, Ramon Acoymo and Evelyn Castillo. Tenor Ramon Acoymo joined and serenaded the participants of the workshop.

During the workshop, Tenor Ramon Acoymo serenaded the participants of the workshop. Mr. Acoymo, a well-renowned tenor, also teaches at the University of the Philippines.

(standing on the left) Alan Along of the Alliance for Bases Clean Up Philippines conducts BodyTalk Access on live TV at the Filipino Channel (October 2011)

Last October 2011, Alan Along of the Alliance for Bases Clean Up (ABC)  demonstrated Body Talk Access at a talk show program on The Filipino Channel, an international Filipino channel with over two million subscribers.  Body Talk Access, is a remarkable and simple set of energy-based techniques to make health maintenance and the management of daily health challenges accessible.  The Bayanihan Foundation is proud to partner with the Alliance for Bases Clean Up and sponsor  Body Talk Access programs that provide immediate help to victims of unexploded bombs (UXO) and toxic wastes in the former US military installations in Clark and Subic, Philippines.

Unfortunately, many UXO and toxic waste victims do not have access to basic healthcare.  So Body Talk Access provides them simple and effective ways to cope with their situation, relieve stress and provide them a healthcare alternative.  The Bayanihan Foundation and its partner, Alliance for Bases Clean Up sponsors Body Talk Access to hundreds of toxic waste victims in Clark and Subic.  At the same time, the foundation is also conducting an education and outreach campaign seeking fairness and justice from the US to accept responsibility for the toxic wastes they left behind at their former US military bases in the Philippines.

Myrla Baldonado, Organizing Director of the Bayanihan Foundation Worldwide (photo courtesy of John Gianvito of Vapor Trail film)

The Philippine Organizing Committee, including the Alliance for Bases Clean Up is planning the next BodyTalk and Access classes for January and February 2012. Myrla Baldonado, Organizing Director of the Bayanihan Foundation speaks about her personal experience about Body Talk Access:

In 2009,  I started looking for complementary and alternative healing modalities so that the affected communities could learn to cope with the impact of the toxic wastes left behind by the former US military bases in the Philippines.  This was after a decade of coordinating the campaign for bases clean-up in the Philippines as the Executive Director of the People’s Task Force for Bases Clean-up.  I used to raise funds to bring people to the government hospitals for treatment.  It was always frustrating because the resources that we have were so small compared to the major illnesses that many residents suffer as a result of toxic wastes left behind.  Moreover, I saw an increased dependency of many of the residents to both government and non-governmental agencies such as ours.

I was constantly  in search for a more effective treatment that the communities in Clark and Subic, Philippines could easily learn to help  them cope and heal.  I understood the seriousness of the environmental damage that the former US military installations left behind and its impact on the health of the residents that live nearby. It was almost unimaginable to solve the extensive environmental damage that the US have left behind. However, I continued to seek effective ways to help ease the burden and pain of the many residents affected by the toxic wastes.  Dr. Rosalie Bertell, a leading health researcher said,  “Communities can find ways to ease their burden which led us to seeking therapy for the cerebral palsied children.  But then again, we had to either bring the experts to the communities, or bring the people to the hospitals  and not develop the ways the communities to heal themselves.”

Then Dorothy Friesen, a Body Talk practitioner, invited me to learn about Body Talk Access. Dorothy was a long time friend and former missionary to the Philippines.   I found the technique to be very simple and easy to learn, although it took a lot of personal responsibility and will power to do it.

In 2009, Dorothy and I went to the Philippines and introduced Body Talk Access there.  We believed that it was going to be a great contribution to many poor communities in the Philippines  who cannot afford basic health care.  Dorothy was committed to share her skills; she helped nurture Body Talk Access in the Philippines.  Dorothy is Canadian but she is truly a Filipino at heart. She gave away scholarships to many victims of toxic wastes by teaching them Body Talk Access for free. We opened up clinics in the homes of the victims of toxic wastes. 

The results were amazing! I saw the immediate effect on my health, on my family and on my close friends to whom I practiced the Body Talk Access system.  By using the simple techniques, I helped a lot of people:

1) I helped my sister who was having a stroke and she wanted to be brought by an ambulance to the hospital.

2) I helped my niece who had car sickness.

3) I helped an elderly patient who was choking.

4) I helped a friend who was having a difficult pregnancy and helped her cope to deliver her twins safely.

5) I helped a friend and provided relief for her chronic migraine.

6) I helped myself walk properly again after suffering from a twisted knee and many more success stories that made me believe  the effectiveness  of Body Talk Access. 

I have testimonies from hundreds of people who have received the benefit of Body Talk Access, many of whom were workers at the former US military bases in the Philippines, including residents that lived nearby. The Alliance for Bases Clean Up now have a documented body of evidence that  the technique does work.

I’m impressed on how what the program have achieved in serving the communities of Clark and Subic, Philippines.  It opened up a whole new world of  hope for healing and empowerment for the communities affected by toxic wastes. 

In the beginning, a skeptical journalist thought that Body Talk Access was just another fad, another imported modality that does not deserve media coverage.   He was proven wrong.  In October 2011,  Alan Along, Alliance for Bases Clean Up community  organizer, appeared on local Philippine TV to explain the scientific basis of the technique  and demonstrated Body Talk to thousands of Filipino viewers in the Middle East, many of them overseas contract workers stationed there. Alan Along is also a Body Talk Access technician and aspiring Body Talk practitioner.

In 2012, I will be back in the Philippines to organize classes for Body Talk Access and Body Talk Fundamentals.  This time around,  I am going back as the Organizing Director of Bayanihan Foundation Worldwide. The foundation believes in the power of Filipinos abroad helping Filipinos at home.  My coming home and sharing Body Talk Access embodies that value. 

In 2012, Dorothy will be back with me to teach Body Talk access classes. Ben Manalo, a Filipino American, will also join us to teach Body Talk Fundamentals.  The courses will be offered  at greatly reduced prices so that more participants will learn a skill for a lifetime of healing.  Ben came with us in 2009 and he also gave free Body Talk sessions to workers of the former US military bases there who many were exposed to asbestos and other toxic wastes while working there.

After 20 years since the US military have left the Philippines, the toxic wastes left behind have not been cleared nor the US have acknowledged their responsibility of the environmental damage they left behind.  Despite of it all, I feel a great sense of relief that through Body Talk Access, I have made an impact in the lives of many Filipinos, especially those who worked and lived near the US former bases in the Philippines.

For more information about Body Talk Access in the Philippines, click HERE.

That question of choosing between giving locally or globally made me pause and reflect.  However, in the end, I decided that I do not have to choose. Choosing between giving locally or globally is a false dichotomy; it is an unrealistic division that reflects the orthodoxy of the last century. In the 21st century, Filipinos and many others that live in the diaspora lead their lives in a transnational and global context. You don’t have to make a choice – you can do both.

I would like to highlight one example of my recent participation with both the Rotary Club of Chicago Far North and the Rotary Club of Iligan South, Philippines. My fellow Rotarians demonstrated that you do not have to choose; you can help to do both.

(far right) Dale Asis serving food to the homeless on Thanksgiving Day Nov 24, 2011

In November 24, 2011, I volunteered with the Rotary Club of Chicago Far North and we served food at the People’s Church in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. Over 15 volunteers from two Rotary clubs served Thanksgiving meal to over 100 homeless men, women and children.

Boy tries out the new water well in Iligan City, Philippines, a project co-sponsored with the Rotary Club of Chicago Far North and the Rotary Club of Iligan South (November 2011)

Earlier in November 2011, the Rotary Club of Chicago Far North also celebrated its global giving when the two, new water wells it sponsored in Iligan City, Philippines were finally completed. This project was made possible in partnership with the Rotary Club of Iligan South. My fellow Rotarians in both clubs do not have to choose to give locally or globally. They instinctively did both.  In the 21st century, choosing to give only locally or globally is a false dichotomy.

In the 21st century, for most Americans Thanksgiving Day is a time to pause, reflect and give thanks for the wonderful bounties and blessings bestowed upon them. This is also a day to reunite with family and friends, to usher in the holiday season and stuff themselves with turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie.

(far right) Dale Asis serving food to the homeless on Thanksgiving Day Nov 24, 2011

This Thanksgiving holiday in 2011, I did something different. I served food to the homeless at a local shelter, People’s Church, in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. It’s hard to believe that there are people who are hungry and do not have a place to sleep in the US. There are about 5,170 people either staying in shelters or living on the streets in Chicago (Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness).

This Thanksgiving Day, I helped recruit volunteers from the Rotary clubs of Chicago Far North and Lakeview and we served food to the homeless. We served them a traditional meal of turkey, stuffing, cranberries and pumpkin pie.  The Rotary club of Chicago Far North has also partnered with the Bayanihan Foundation in several projects to help the indigent in Iligan City, Philippines.

Afterwards, I went to my Mom’s house and shared a Thanksgiving meal with my family. My Mom served both American traditional food of turkey, cranberries and pumpkin pie and Filipino traditional food of pancit (Filipino noodles) and adobo (marinated pork). I also have a lot to be thankful for but most of all, I was thankful that I was able to serve food to the homeless and help those who are in need, both locally and globally.

Mural portraying the toxic contamination left behind by the US former military bases in the Philippines (courtesy of Alliance for Bases Clean Up)

I present a compelling essay about the need to clean up the toxic wastes left behind by the former US bases in Clark and Subic, Philippines. Leading socio-economist Dr. Richard Williams wrote the following essay.  Dr. Williams is the founder and past president of Social and Economic Analysis Corporation, where he has conducted and supervised extensive research on the impacts of military spending on the local economic and social scene, including a study of alternate futures for the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant in Colorado.

Dr. Williams’ numerous publications include his most recent book, The Cooperative Solution: Toward a Just Economy, published by University Press of America, 2011.   He has traveled around the world studying alternative economic models for the elimination of poverty and increased local participation in economic and social welfare. Dr. Williams has also spoken about the need to clean up the toxic wastes left behind by the former US bases in the Philippines.

Leading socio-economist Dr. Richard Williams of Boulder, CO

LET’S CLEAN UP AFTER OURSELVES IN THE PHILIPPINES

“When I was in kindergarten I learned that if I created a mess, I was obligated to clean it up!  Whether or not there is a clear agreement in the unfair treaties with the Philippines that the US military was to clean up after itself, it seems self-evident that there is a moral—if not a legal—obligation to at least assist the Filipino people.”  Dr. Richard Williams

LET’S CLEAN UP AFTER OURSELVES IN THE PHILIPPINES

Since 1898 the US has dominated the lives of the Philippine people, as a source of new raw materials and as a source of a market for its manufactured goods.  In 1904 the US established the Subic Bay Naval Facility. This military base occupying a protected and deep natural bay somewhat larger than San Francisco Bay area covering 16,452 acres.  Strategically at the crossroads of Asia and the Pacific—between the Indian and Pacific Oceans–it quickly became a key staging area for the US naval traffic and the center of the US Seventh Fleet, having the capacity to project US naval power all over the world.

In 1945 Clark Air Base, at that time the largest US military base in the world was established.   It was in the center of a large and fertile agricultural plain on the island of Luzon.  The area of the air base was enough higher than the surrounding agricultural areas that all waste products tended to roll down onto family farms.

Early in the Second World War a thoroughly one-sided and unfair agreement was imposed upon the Philippine people. There was little provision for cleaning up the bases and no limit to the strength of military power to be hosted by the Philippines.  The agreement gave the US a 99-year rent-free contract to be used in any way the US military determined. The Philippine people had no choice but to enter into this unfair agreement and to maintain it well after being devastated during the war. A dominating US military presence was thus guaranteed and the destinies of the two countries intertwined.

From the 1950, the Cold War with the Soviet Union increased a sense of urgency, right or wrong, for the US to deepen its military presence in Asia, especially in the Philippines. The US therefore depended heavily upon Subic and Clark for its international military operations, and the pollution and health problems continued to mount at an even higher rate (Bloom, 1994; Isip, 1997; Mercado,2001).

Nature interrupted on June 12, 1991, when the nearby volcano, Pinatubo, erupted and forced immediate evacuation of both Subic and Clark, along with all the surrounding agricultural areas.  The whole area was inundated by several feet of silt. Later that year the Philippine Senate refused to renew the agreement with the US military bases.  That decision ended an almost century-long and largely unjust presence of the US on Philippine soil.  In answer to the ailing economy the Philippine government began redeveloping all the affected areas, forming them into “special economic zones.”  Put in place were a new international airport, modern industrial parks and tourist attractions.

At the same time the population was starting to suffer severe health problems from the toxic products at both bases left by the US. This failure to clean up, despite full knowledge of the environmental contamination that it had caused, left the Philippine people with still more suffering caused by the US occupation prior to the bases being turned over to the Philippine government (Mercado, 2001).

When I was in kindergarten I learned that if I created a mess, I was obligated to clean it up!   Whether or not there is a clear agreement in the unfair treaties with the Philippines that the US military was to clean up after itself, it seems self-evident that there is a moral—if not a legal—obligation to at least assist the Filipino people.  In the light of the US’s steady loss of its former high regard among our best friends in the world, it seems incumbent on us—for our own self-respect if nothing else—to begin repairing these relations.

Let us at least clean up after our largest bases in the Philippines, Subic and Clark.  Do it now and save the far higher costs in the future, avoid further damage to our relations with other nations, reduction of trade, and loss of our own economic security.

Richard C. Williams, Socio-economist

Boulder, CO 80301

REFERENCES

Bloom, P & AC, Emmanuel, G, Shettler, T.,  An Environmental and Health Impact Report on Known and Potential Contaminated Sites in the Philippines, US Working Group for Philippine Bases Clean-Up, 1994.

Isip, R,  “Subic Contamination More Serious than Clark’s”  Manila Chronicle, Sept. 28, 1997.

Mercado, JRR,  The Responsibility of the US Under International Law for the Legacy of the Toxic Waste at the Former US Bases in the Philippines, LLM Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2001.

(from (From left to right) A guide and Myrla Baldonado looking over Subic Bay, Philippines

16 concerned organizations in seven states around the US voice their support for the victims of toxic wastes left behind at the former US bases in Clark and Subic, Philippines.  In 1992, the US military completely withdrew from its military installations in the Philippines but left behind tremendous evidence of environmental hazards and toxic wastes.  The environmental damage is so extensive that if the US decides to clean up these former bases in accordance with US standards, the costs for the clean up and restoration could approach Superfund proportions, according to the US General Accounting Office.

Despite the Superfund proportions of the toxic wastes left behind, the US continues to deny responsibility based on the military bases agreement that it does not impose any well-defined environmental responsibility to clean up after its withdrawal.  The Bayanihan Foundation, its 16 new partners including the Alliance for Bases Clean Up (ABC), the Philippine American Group for the Environment (PAGE), the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) and many others are appealing to United States Congress for fairness and justice on this issue.

The 16 organizations plan to write letters of support to their US Representatives and Senators and appeal for justice and equity on behalf of the victims affected by toxic wastes left behind at Clark and Subic, Philippines. The 16 groups are as follows (in alphabetical order):

1. Bantay Pilipinas (Los Angeles, CA)
2. Carol Rose of Christian Peacemaker Teams (Chicago, IL)
3. Circa Pintig (Chicago, IL)
4. Committee on Pilipino Issues (CPI) (Chicago, IL)
5. Damayan Migrant Workers Association (New York, NY)
6. Echo Park Community Coalition (Los Angeles, CA)
7. Justice for Filipino American Veterans (Los Angeles, CA)
8. Latino Union (Chicago, IL)
9. Philippine American Group for the Environment (PAGE) (Los Angeles, CA)
10. Philippine Study Group of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN)
11. Pilipino Workers Center (Los Angeles, CA)
12. Reba Place Fellowship (Evanston, IL)
13. Dr. Richard Williams, socioeconomist (Boulder, CO)
14. Southwest Workers Union (San Antonio, TX)
15. Travel Light Productions (Boston, MA)
16. Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ (Chicago, IL).

These groups are in seven states: 1) California; 2) Colorado; 3) Illinois; 4) Massachusetts; 5) Minnesota; 6) New York; and 7) Texas.

I appeal to our US elected officials for fairness and justice on this almost forgotten issue. Beyond the legal agreements and international contracts, we all appeal to the United States’ basic sense of equity and fairness, to face its responsibility to clean up the unexploded ordnance and toxic wastes left behind.  I don’t think it’s fair and just for the United States to turn a blind eye and ignore its responsibility.

You could download the latest press release by clicking HERE.

(left to right) Myrla Baldonado answers questions from Jonathan Laxamana of the Chicago Filipino American Film Festival during the film screening of "Left By The Ship" (November 6, 2011)

(from left to right): Will Dix, Dwight Okita and Sionie Sales watched the film screening of "Left By The Ship" (November 6, 2011)

1. Film screening of “Left By The Ship” in Chicago, IL.  On November 6, 2011, the Bayanihan Foundation co-sponsored the film screening and Midwest première of the award-winning film “Left By The Ship“.  The film featured the plight suffered by many Filipino Amerasians, often discriminated by the color of their skin and the stigma of their birth.  They are the sons and daughters of Filipina women (often though not always impoverished prostitutes) and American military service personnel stationed at the former US military bases in the Philippines.

The audience applauded after the film screening and many stayed afterwards for the brief question & answer (Q & A) session.  Mark your calendar and watch the film at your local US Public Broadcasting Television (PBS) station in May 2012.

Filipino Muslim children enjoying feast during Eid al-Adha celebration in Iligan, Mindanao, Philippines, sponsored by the Zakat Foundation of America (2010 )

2. Eid al-Adha or Feast of Sacrifice celebration with Filipino Muslims in Iligan City, Philippines. On November 6, 2011, the Bayanihan Foundation has partnered again with the Zakat Foundation of America to feed over 300 Filipino Muslim families, women and children to celebrate Eid al-Adha or Feast of the Sacrifice.  This holy celebration honors Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. This celebration is a special treat; many of them could not afford meat everyday, a luxury food item for many of the indigent Filipino Muslim families served.

What’s memorable about these celebrations is that Filipino Christians from the Rotary Club of Iligan South volunteer to help serve the meals, hopefully building on the goodwill among the Filipino Christians and Muslims that often live side by side in Iligan City.

3. Announcement of organizations supporting the education and outreach  to clean up the toxic wastes left behind at the former US bases in the Philippines.  On November 11, 2011, the Bayanihan Foundation will announce a list of organizations that would help in getting the word out about the need to clean up the toxic wastes left behind at Clark and Subic, Philippines.

"Left By The Ship" award-winning film about Filipino Amerasians, America's Forgotten Children

You are invited to watch the award-winning documentary, “Left By The Ship” by Italian filmmakers Emma Rossi Landi and Alberto Vendemmiati.  The Bayanihan Foundation is helping promote the film both in Chicago and in New York. The foundation’s Organizing Director, Myrla Baldonado, will be answering questions after the film showing in Chicago.

Left by the Ship follows the lives of four Filipino Amerasians as they struggle with prejudice, family problems and identity related issues, trying to overcome a past they are in no way responsible for. It tells the story of Robert, JR, Charlene and Margarita who are Amerasians: the sons and daughters of Filipina women (often though not always impoverished prostitutes) and American military service personnel stationed at the former US military bases in the Philippines.

In 1992, when the military bases closed, thousands of Amerasian children were left behind. Unlike Amerasian children from other countries (like Vietnam, Korea, Thailand or Laos)  Filipino Amerasians were never recognized by the US government.  Why? There is no official explanation, but many say that it is because the Philippines was not a war zone and Filipino Amerasians are better off then their Vietnamese, Korean or Thai counterparts.

However, Filipino Amerasians continue to suffer tremendous racial discrimination and persecution, especially the sons and daughters of African-American descent.  Many live in poverty; they’re America’s forgotten children.  Many of these children suffer the accident of their birth. The Bayanihan Foundation has supported increasing the capacity building and leadership development of Filipino Amerasians including supporting the creation of the United Philippine Amerasians, a group created, organized and led by Filipino Amerasians.

SCREENING TIMES AND INFO:

Chicago Filipino Film Festival 

Sunday, November 6, 2:00 PM at The Portage Theater, 4050 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago IL

Buy your movie tickets online HERE

Manhattan International Film Festival

Saturday, November 12 9:25 PM at Quad Cinemas 34 W 13th, NY, NY 10011

Buy your movie tickets online HERE

*Winner Cinema Doc Prize, Festival dei Popoli 2010

Mark your calendar!  In May 2012, “Left By The Ship” will be airing at your local TV Public Broadcasting Station (PBS) “INDEPENDENT LENS” program in the US.

Read the Filmmakers’ interviews HERE 

FOLLOW Left By The Ship ON FACEBOOK:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Left-By-The-Ship-documentary/161245143887302

or Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/LEFTBYTHESHIP

or by email: info@leftbytheship.com

Dorothy Friesen, author of Critical Choices

In 1988, Dorothy Friesen wrote an illuminating book on Philippine development, “Critical Choices: A Journey with the Filipino People.”  Ms. Friesen was the founder and Director of Synapses, an organization that links domestic and international issues; she was also the co-director of the Mennonite Central Committee in the Philippines. Dorothy is a Body Talk System Practitioner.

"Critical Choices: A Journey with the Filipino People" by Dorothy Friesen BOOK COVER (1988 edition)

In this book, “Critical Choices” part travelogue, part personal odyssey, part economic and social analysis, Dorothy outlined challenges of the Philippines and the important steps that the country need to tackle to get out of its crisis of poverty.  She vividly described her experience living in the Philippines as she offered reflection on and analysis of the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos and Corazon Aquino. But most of all, Dorothy outlined some clear steps to alleviate poverty in the Philippines.

In 2011, I found the book illuminating and relevant as when it was originally published. However, I felt a tinge of sadness that not much has changed in twenty-two years; Dorothy’s insights and suggestions were ignored.

So I would like to outlined seven political and social analysis that Dorothy Friesen recommended in her book that unfortunately remains unfulfilled twenty-two years later:

1. In 1988, income inequality in the Philippines remains high. The inequity in land ownership and the resulting poverty of rural Filipinos form the basis for agrarian unrest and discontent (Friesen, page 31).

In 2011, income inequality in the Philippines remains high. The poorest 20 per cent of the population account for only 5 per cent of total income or consumption; about 44 per cent or over 40 million Filipinos are living on less than US$2 a day (Philippine profile: Australian government 2011).

2. In 1988, Dorothy warned that deepening class divisions could lead to greater rifts in Filipino society (Friesen, page 261).

In 2011, deep divisions of rich and poor continue to exist. The percentage of the population living below $1.25 a day was 23 per cent or around 20 million people (Philippine profile: Australian government 2011).

3.In 1988, the Philippines pay 32.6 percent of its budget to pay its external debts. Dorothy commented that this is a prescription for trouble if a country uses most of its hard-earned currency to pay for foreign debt.

In 2011, the Philippines still pays 31.8 percent of its budget to pay for external debts (Wikipedia 2011).

4. In 1988, genuine land reform needs to be implemented (Friesen, page 43).

In 2011, land reform did not provide social equity that everyone hoped for. In fact, it exacerbated social inequality through distorted land markets, land rental restrictions, and decreased landowner ability and willingness to rent out the land. All these impediments may have reduced access to land for most of the landless farmers (Bello, The Political Economy of Permanent Crisis in the Philippines: page 82).

5. In 1988, US multinational corporations like Castle & Cooke continued to dominate agricultural exports including bananas and pineapples. Friesen argued that 87 cents of every dollar returns to the US as profits through liberal capital remittance scheme and just continues to exacerbate local poverty (Friesen, page 62).

In 2011, US multinational corporations continue to dominate the agricultural export market. Key foreign markets to Philippine exports including bananas and exports remain closed to Philippine local companies, as the US continue to support double standards as requiring more safety standards or applying more tariffs or invoking other requirements for sanitation and disease control (Bello, pages 148-149).

6. In 1988, ownership of capital, technical knowledge and know-how are centered around US and international business partners. The Philippines’ only matchstick company was bought from a Swedish company and its imports 100% of all the equipment and spare parts from the earlier, European owner (Friesen, page 66).

In 2011, the Philippines’ only matchstick company has updated its machinery but purchased it again from Europe and probably continues to import all the equipment and spare parts from the European manufacturer (Phimco Industries website).

7. In 1988, continued US military presence in the Philippines could be destabilizing to the country (Friesen, page 160).

In 2011, 500 US troops remain in Mindanao, Philippines to train Filipino soldiers in counter terrorism; there were no signs of any timetable for withdrawal (China News Daily July 2010).

Will it take another twenty-two years before someone paid attention to the suggestions that Dorothy Friesen wrote about? I hope not.