Communiqué
Organized by Philippine Women’s Centre of BC-Young Women’s Committee
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Vancouver Community College, Vancouver, BC

Communiqué of: “Kabataang Babae Sulong Para sa Kinabukasan - Young Filipino Women Struggle Forward for our Future”

June 14, 2008

On Saturday, June 14, 2008 The Philippine Women Centre of BC- Young Women’s Committee (PWC-BC) held a conference -- the first of its kind, --  under the theme : “Kabataang Babae Sulong Para sa Kinabukasan - Young Filipino Women Struggle Forward for our Future.”  It was an all day event that included over 30 women of all ages, from first and second generation Filipinas, to live-in caregivers to students; from young mothers to young professionals.  Everyone shared their stories, which brought laughter, tears, and a united sense of struggle, as the young participants confronted the often silenced issues of women in the community.

The day started off with a cultural performance from Carlie David of Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada/ The Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance (UKPC/FCYA) who danced to “Pilipino sa Ibayong Dagat”, depicting the migration and displacement of overseas Filipinos.

Ning Alcuitas-Imperial, Chairperson of The National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada, (NAPWC) presented the keynote address, a theoretical analysis and a personal sharing.  Unraveling the roots of Filipino women’s oppression from the advent of Spanish colonialism to the present export of Filipino women around the world, the keynote address spoke of the politicization of Filipino women and the current Filipino women’s movement.  A member of PWC-BC since 1994, Alcuitas-Imperial is also a founding alumni member of UKPC, an experience she shared as integral to understanding her struggles growing up as a Filipino-Canadian to the raising of her consciousness of women’s issues and her continuing involvement within the community.

Following the keynote was Charlene Sayo, a founding member of UKPC/FCYA and current member of PWC-BC.  Sayo gave a brief, but detailed history of the Philippine Women Centre that focused on the historical and current situation of young Filipino women.  Moreover, the presentation included the contribution and role of young Filipino women for the advancement and development of the community.  Such examples, Sayo noted, were the discussions and focus groups initiated from PWC’s Women’s Studies Course, the formation of the Young Women’s Committee and the organization of the conference. 

The testimonials began with PWC-BC Board Member Denise Valdecantos, sharing her life as a second generation Filipino woman, growing up in Canada, facing family separation for nine years and not understanding her roots.   While working for a local NGO in 2002, she was offered a six-month Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) internship to work with prostituted women in the Red Light District in the Philippines.  It was during her internship that Valdecantos realized that temporary, short term solutions often formulated and implemented by NGO’s could not resolve the gross exploitation the prostituted women she worked with faced on a daily basis.  Participation in a genuine Filipino women’s organization was where she needed to be so as to be able to do more for her community, both in the Philippines and in Canada.  Shortly after her return to Vancouver, Valdecantos became more involved with UKPC/FCYA and PWC-BC where her feminism diverted sharply from the position of “charity” and futility to understanding the concrete basis of women’s oppression towards genuine liberation.

Ayex Bathan from UKPC/FCYA shared her struggles as a young adult and the economic difficulties her family faced.  Being the eldest daughter, she was forced to be the third parent to her four younger siblings while her parents worked various dead-end, low-paying jobs.  She expressed her childhood being cut short amidst the process of financial and family breakdown.  Her cousins’ influence on her and their involvement at the Kalayaan Centre rapidly integrated her in UKPC/FCYA and the PWC-BC.  Bathan’s relatively new but comprehensive participation with community organizations enabled her to make sense of her family’s situation and the working class conditions she and many other members of the community must endure.

The experience of overcoming internalized hatred and reconciling the conflicting standards of beauty was shared by Maria Christina Panis.  Her many “light bulb moments” throughout her university years in regards to understanding society was deepened when she attended an anti-racism conference and was immediately hooked with social activism.  Her participation in progressive organizations gave her the tools to understand the roots of her family’s migration, her internalized alienation and gave her the confidence to accept her physical self and her identity as a Filipina-Canadian.    

Closing the testimonials was Niki Silva who gave an animated yet earnest account of the quick changeover from activist novice to young working-class activist mother.  Motherhood has deepened her resolve to eradicate the anti-woman and anti-mother programs such as Live-In Caregiver Program.  Adding to the bumpy ride was Silva’s wrestle with identity crisis, racism and religion, an issue she has been able to settle by learning that all-seemingly conservative institutions have progressive sides especially when the institutions serve the interests of the community.  
 
After lunch, the participants were divided into two workshops with the objective:”to deepen our understanding of the issues faced by young Filipino women through sharing our concrete experiences and formulating actions to strengthen our community.” The cross-cultural and cross-generational make-up of the workshops provided comprehensive historical summations of the young women’s experiences and insight on current issues of young women.  For many of the participants, it was their first time opening up about their experiences as young Filipino-Canadian women.  It was also an opportunity for the delegates to raise questions and concerns about the community and the situation overall.  Moreover, the workshops provided the conditions for the participants to learn about the sharpest commonalities and unities they shared despite the differences in age, education, place of birth and experiences.

The report back session of the workshops revealed overlapping issues discussed in both groups.  These major issues included racism, identity crises, gender oppression, sexual abuse, violence, generation gap, challenging family dynamics, deskilling, lack of access to education, unsatisfactory employment and recognition of educational credentials.  The problems discussed generated short and long-term solutions in the local, national and international levels.  Among the calls were to further educate ourselves and our community about the root causes of our marginalized situation, to expand our networking and outreach base, further mainstream our campaigns (such as Scrap the LCP and the Purple Rose Campaign) and to organized larger gatherings with sister organizations and other like-minded individuals and supporters across Canada.  

The conference concluded with an intimate yet ruckus solidarity night at the Kalayaan Centre.  The participants, supporters, community organizations and even partners of the young women recited poems, sung songs (originals and covers), performed skits and delivered messages of solidarity.  The evening ended with a militant rendition of ”Kababaihan, Gumising Ka!” (Women, wake up!) which challenges women to struggle and unite in service of the people.

The conference demonstrated the importance of this gathering and the urgency to further the work and empowerment of young Filipino women.  Moreover, the urgency of the situation of the community and especially of its women was matched by the excitement of all the delegates.  Much needs to be done towards the empowerment and full participation of young Filipino women in society, and these young women are ready to take on this responsibility. #

For photos of the conference, please visit: http://kalayaancentre.net/assets/images/photos/2008/14june08_youngfilwomen_conf.htm

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