IMMIGRANT Filipinos and Filipino-Americans from many parts of the US celebrate Philippine Independence Day, as well as the success of the first Hakbang ng Maisug forum and peace rally in a two-day event in New York City.
Hakbang ng Maisug USA is an offshoot of the Hakbang ng Maisug Philippines, a new form of People’s Power Movement, which embraces peaceful protests as a means to express the need to refocus the priorities of the current administration, amid the looming war against China in relation to the issue of the South China Sea.
Hakbang ng Maisug is also aiming to redirect Philippine national resources, finances, and effort towards economic growth and development within the country, while maintaining peaceful relations with neighboring countries.
“I am here because I’m pro-Filipino. Ang China ay kapitbahay natin, meron tayong relasyong pakikipagkaibigan at komersyo sa kanila.”
“Sila, I think, is the second or the first now, biggest trading partner ng Pilipinas. Bakit tayo makikipag-away?”
“Hindi natin sinasabi na that we tolerate the transgressions committed by China, no. They’re not innocent; they should be made to account for the many transgressions that they have done and that they have committed.”
“Pero hindi sa pamamaraan ng digmaan, hindi sa pamamaraan ng giyera. Let me take you back a little, 80 years back, nung WWII: hindi pa tayo nakakaahon doon sa hirap, sa pasakit, sa destruction that, hanggang ngayon, mahirap pa rin ang Pilipinas. Hanggang ngayon, third world pa rin ang mahal nating Pilipinas,” stated Atty. Victor Rodriguez, Hakbang ng Maisug Philippines.
Honored guest speaker and Hakbang ng Maisug Philippines representative Atty. Vic Rodriguez in his special message on the first day of the forum shared its principles and calls for transparency, accountability, peace, security, and sovereignty.
“Now, what is this transparency, accountability, peace, security, and sovereignty? Kinakailangan malinaw sa atin, tayo ay nagsama-sama, nagbuklod-buklod ?? The Filipinos are not for sale. And we have to protect and defend our Constitution.”
“And again, together we say, we have to protect and defend our Constitution. Ang pagiging HNM, ang paghakbang ng Maisug ay hindi madali. Ito ay hindi simpleng kilusan. Ito po ay nagbubuwis tayo dito ng buhay sapagkat ‘yung mga issues na ating hinaharap at ‘yung mga tangka lamang na pagtigil sa ating pagpapahayag ng ating saloobin, these are covered by — and, in fact, guaranteed— under our Constitution: Yung ating freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, freedom of the press and freedom to peaceably assemble and petition the government for ?? of our grievances.”
“It is guaranteed under our Constitution and yet paulit-ulit-ulit-ulit nilang nilalabag sa pagpigil ng mga payapang pagkilos, payapang pagtitipon, at takot na takot sila na maiparating sa higit pang na maraming mga Pilipino ‘yung tunay na nangyayari sa loob ng bansa.”
“Ang ginagawa ng HNM ay within the framework of our Constitution. It is in consonance with our guaranteed right to speak freely and express our own views, whether it may be opposed to the views of those in the government.”
“Bago makalimutan ng mga nasa gobyerno, malinaw din sa ating Saligang Batas na sovereignty resides in the people, and all government authority emanates from them, emanates from you, and, collectively, emanates from us,” Rodriguez stressed.
The peace rallies are made possible by the Sara Duterte Supporters New York and Hakbang ng Maisug USA. Being away from our homeland will never deter our countrymen from expressing their cultural identities and embrace their heritage.
Hundreds of Filipinos and Filipino Americans the next day paraded the streets of Manhattan in light of the upcoming Philippine Independence Day celebration.
Hakbang ng Maisug USA supporters, wearing bright green shirts, brought placards expressing their sentiments on the current state of the nation.
“Napakapalad ninyo sapagkat dito ay malaya niyong nagagawa ‘yan at maipapahayag ang inyong saloobin.”
“Kami sa Pilipinas…ay hindi nakakaranas ng right to peaceably assemble. ‘Yung aming right for freedom of expression ay sinisikil. Ang aming karapatang magpahayag, ang payapang magtipon-tipon, at tawagin ang atensyon ng pamahalaan ay hindi namin nagagawa sapagkat kami ay pinipigilan, kami ay pinagbabawalan sa isang sagradong karapatan na may garantiya sa ating sariling Saligang Batas.”
“This is my first time to join the parade here in America, in New York in celebration of our Independence Day. Unfortunately, we do not feel the same back home because, ‘yun nga, nakasikil ‘yung ating karapatan na malayang makapagpahayag at hindi kami pinahihintulutan magkaroon ng malayang pagtitipon at kung ano-anong dahilan — hinaharangan ng mga heavy equipment, hinaharangan ng mga dump trucks — talagang pinipigilan na mailahad ‘yung totoong sentimiento ng mga Pilipino doon sa maling patakaran at pagmamalabis ng pamahalaan,” Rodriguez expressed.
Rev. Arnedo Valera, President of Sara, Duterte Supporters of New York, pushes for peace, unity, and action not just for leaders, but for each Filipino who truly loves their beloved country.
“Mahalaga ito dahil ang lahat ng dumalo rito ay pinakita nila at binigyan ng mas malalim na kahulugan ang selebrasyon ng Philippines Independence Day dahil nakikita naman natin ‘yung national situation sa ating bansa, na kung saan ay alam natin na ang kultura ng Pilipino, ang relihiyon ng Pilipino ay nakaugat sa kapayapaan at hindi sa digmaan.”
“At dito sa ating participation sa ating Philippine Independence Day celebration, pinakita natin na kailangang patuloy tayong mamulat, patuloy tayong ma-educate, mag-organize, at magmobilisa dahil bahagi tayo ng pambansang kilusan ng HNM Philippines na kung saan at itinutulak natin ang kalinawan, kapayapaan, pananagutan, seguridad, at soberenya.”
“Hinihikayat natin ang mga Filipino Americans na mag-involve tayo dahil hindi niyo naisipan lang ‘yung ating hinaharap, ‘yung ating future. ‘Yung mga anak natin, ‘yung next generation, pag-usapan natin at bigyan natin ng tunay na kapayapaan at tunay na kalayaan ang ating bansa, dahil tayo ngayon ay humaharap sa bingit ng digmaan na hindi naman natin dapat pasukin, dahil ang dapat nating pagtuunang-pansin ay mga batayang prinsipyo at batayang pangangailangan ng sambayanan ng Pilipino: usaping pagkain…ilaw…kuryente…trabaho…economic securities. Iyan ang ating dapat ipaglaban,” according to Rev. Arnedo Valera, President, Sara Duterte Supporters of New York.
Hakbang ng Maisug’s next step is to continue reaching out to establish more international branches. Maisug recently expanded in Hong Kong and Spain, and will soon land in Japan.
And fortunately, the Filipinos who are residing outside of the Philippines and other OFWs have responded and continuously responding and they’re organizing to become part of HNM International.
“I think lalo silang makukumbinse at lalo silang kumbinsido na kinakailangan na rin silang i-organisa sa kung saang panig man sila naroroon at ipunin ‘yung mga Pilipino, at sabayan tayong kumilos at magpahayag ng ating mga sentimiento at saloobin sa gobyerno.”
“At maraming iba pa kung saan-saang panig ng mundo ay iikot ang HNM nang sa ganoon ay maipahatid natin sa higit na nakararaming nating kababayan ang totoong kalagayan sa Pilipinas.”
“’Wag tayong mapagod sa ating pagmamahal at pagmamalasakit sa ating bansa, sa ating mga kapwa Pilipino. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas, mabuhay ang Pilipino!” Rodriguez added.
Hakbang ng Maisug is looking forward to further educate OFWs and organize more peaceful rallies, as it is within their constitutional right to know the current state of the nation and let their voices be heard no matter where they are.
