The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, People’s
Patriotic Movement, and Bayan Muna invite us to "Panata ng Bayan,"
an indoor Rally & Cultural Program with Vice President Teofisto
Guingona, former Senator Wigberto Tañada, and other patriotic
leaders on July 4, 2003, 10:00 am-12:00 noon, at the Letran Gym in
Intramuros, Manila.
This year, there are two reasons why we should take July 4, now called
Philippine-American Friendship Day,” as an occasion to highlight
our patriotism and the Filipino people’s national democratic
aspirations.
One, the boundless and shameless puppetry to the US that has especially
afflicted those in the top echelons of society. We are apalled by
the mindless support for the U.S. “war vs. terror” and the
attempts to justify imperialist wars of aggression and armed intervention
against sovereign states, most especially the surrender of Philippine
sovereignty to the U.S. in exchange for military and economic assistance.
Two, the tactical issue of charter change by means of a constituent
assembly has been exposed by no less than Vice President Teofisto
Guingona as a scheme to allow foreign monopolists to plunder our economy
and patrimony to the hilt, with “parliament” as the willing
tool. This is the 21st century version of Parity Rights.
Thus, July 4 would be a fitting day to air our concern about the
cavalier attitude towards national sovereignty and a day to rededicate
ourselves to the nationalist cause by rejecting Cha-cha/Con-Ass, Balikatan
03-1, and such agreements like the VFA, MLSA and the recently-signed
ICC Immunity for US troops.
Main speakers:
Why commemorate July 4, 2003?
Raymond Palatino, President, National Union of Students of the Philippines
How special is special? RP-US relations from the standpoint of history
Prof. Emmanuel Yap, People’s Patriotic Movement
How globalization has destroyed the Philippine economy
Sen. Wigberto Tañada, Fair Trade Alliance
The return of the US bases: VFA, MLSA, Balikatan and other agreements
Rep. Apolinario Lozada, Chairperson, House Comm. on Foreign Relations
Surrogate armies and puppet regimes: the Philippines and the US-led
war on terror
Dr. Carol Pagaduan-Araullo, Bayan
Cha-cha and other threats to national sovereignty and the national
patrimony
Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Jr.
Towards an independent foreign policy
Rep. Crispin Beltran, Bayan Muna
Panata ng Bayan
Prof. Bienvenido Lumbera and other personalities
With performances from the CCP, Dulaang UP and other cultural groups
For information and confirmation, please call Butch, Cha or Juli
at telephone numbers 9225211 or 4359151.
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