Ted Alcuitas and The August Twenty One Movement (ATOM) in Winnipeg (1983-1988)

Published in Ang Peryodiko (OPINION) - March 1-15, 2016

In the struggle against the dictatorship, theory without practice is basically empty. It can be likened to faith without love in the church. Without leaders who are willing to sacrifice resources, time and life for a cause, any liberating idea becomes futile.

Based on my research (1983 to ‘88) and most especially after the assassination of Benigno Aquino in August 21, 1983, Teodoro “Ted” Alcuitas played a significant role in the struggle against the dictatorship in Winnipeg.  He was the publisher of Silangan, Winnipeg’s only newspaper in the mid ‘70s to 1982. He also pioneered Kalayaan newspaper in 1984. Back in the early ‘80s, he told CBC that “there is a need for an alternative press in Winnipeg to counter the allegedly pro- Marcos government leanings of the existing Filipino Media.” He was known to be a member of the Philippine Support Group (PSG), another activist organization, but according to him, he was not formally affiliated as such. He also told me that he is basically a church activist.

In one of our phone conversations, Ted shared that Fr. Sam Argenziano was a big help in organizing ATOM events when he was still a priest at St. Edward’s Church. I, myself, have listened to Fr. Sam deliver a sermon and he is really awesome.  He is faithful to the radical teachings of the Gospels and the social teachings of the Church on the preferential option for the poor. I remember him delivering a liberating sermon back when Migrante (A Filipino Migrant organization that can trace its roots to PSG) was fundraising for the Three Amigos Campaign in 2011.

Courtesy of PhilippineCanadianNews.com

Some Breakfast Club pundits say that Ted Alcuitas is a person that you can count on when it comes to mobilization. Ted Alcuitas provided mass leadership when most were intimidated and scared. He will gather no matter how small the number was, even if it was only his family.  He reckons, “the thing that brought him into the movement was the assassination of Benigno Aquino and that the organization that they formed was named ATOM – Winnipeg,” which, to their surprise, was used later on in the home front as the name of the national movement that was part of the toppling of the dictatorship. Ted added that he heard about the assassination over his car radio on his way to Middlechurch, Manitoba for the St. Edward`s Parish picnic. Upon his return to Winnipeg, he called Dante Buenaventura of Magdaragat Dance Theatre to propose organizing an anti-Marcos group and that he should lead it. He said that Dante declined and insisted that he (Ted) instead lead it. Ted initially had second thoughts since he was still publishing Silangan and could not be writing about himself in covering the events (Alcuitas, History of the August 21 Movement (ATOM) of Winnipeg-Draft).

Writing about this article took me back in time in 1983, the time that I first joined a rally in a spontaneous manner when the assassination of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino happened. I was also part of the funeral rally for Ninoy Aquino where thousands of banners of ATOM were waved by activists. Aside from the marchers, the sidewalks were filled with symphatizers, angry and chanting “Down with the Dictatorship!” From the Philippines to the diaspora, the struggle was raging back in the days.  I was drawn into the struggle during the same time as Ted Alcuitas and others were involved in the struggle here in Winnipeg.

Ted Alcuitas, the founding chair of ATOM, recalls he can count some of the courageous people who joined him in the activities of ATOM and they were Arturo (Chair of Atom 1987) and Purita Dizon, Monina and Al Relano, Pablo and Rose Jalalla, Efren and Nimfa Arbilo, Dinah Penaflorida, Bert and Gloria Penaflorida, Jimmy and Luisa Pagsuyuin, Steve and Betty Tuazon. He noted that they barely reached twenty people, mostly comprised of the individuals mentioned and their families. They were the few who dared to raise the Banner for Democracy. “Everybody was freaking scared,” he said, but when the EDSA Revolution happened, suddenly, everybody wants to be the star and be close to some of the national leaders who came to Winnipeg to visit. ATOM basically was under the leadership of Ted Alcuitas. The contribution of this organization in raising the consciousness of the community and the standard of patriotism and democracy in the diaspora must not be forgotten.

Ted Alcuitas and The August Twenty One Movement in Winnipeg (1983-1988) (Part 2)

In one article sent by Ted Alcuitas titled, Winnipeggers Remember (EDSA) Revolution with Mass, Dinner, it was mentioned that “since its formation, ATOM not only led the anti-Marcos struggle but also initiated several fundraising projects in aid of the poor in the Philippines. It was the only group in the country to respond to the starvation in Negros province with its Alay Negros campaign. It continues to raise funds for projects in the Philippines, including AKAP, a Primary Health & TB Control Program.”

Pioneer activists in the community informed me that prior and during the EDSA revolution, they were endlessly organizing events and mobilizing people to be aware of the issues. When the home front was in upheaval, those who were here were in a state of agitation.  According to the article of Ted Alcuitas, History of the August Twenty One Movement of Winnipeg (ATOM) - Draft, some of the events that they have mainly organized were the following:

1.   September 21, 1983, Demonstration at the Philippine Consulate at the Royal Trust Bldg on 330

      St., St. Mary’s Avenue.  Forty persons attended this meeting.

2.  August 21, 1984, Protest Rally Marks 1^st Anniversary of Aquino Slay.  Members of ATOM

     Winnipeg participated in a protest rally in front of the Philippine Consulate General’s Office at St. Mary’s where members stage a re-enactment of the shooting of Mr. Aquino by Military.

3.   November 21, 1983, a slide presentation on “Hamletting.” Hamletting is when the soldiers of the dictatorship drive out the peasants living in a given area and relocate them to deprive the insurgents of a base of support.

4.  1984, Ted Alcuitas was elected as Chairperson of ATOM-Winnipeg

5.   Coffin carrying rally disrupts opening of the Philippine Week in Winnipeg June 11, 1984. One of the signs carried by Ted Alcuitas says, SHAME ON YOU Mayor NORRIE Aligning Yourself with the MARCOS Dictatorship!”

6. January 23, 1984, “Aquino Assassination on Videotape” “Tribute to a Hero” A two hour videotape presentation of the assassination will be shown on Sunday, January 22, 1984 at St. Edwards Church,12:00 noon. Sponsored by August 21 Movement.

7.  Visit of Agapito “Butz” Aquino way back in December 9, 1984 that happened at St. Edward’s Church, where according to Ted Alcuitas, more or less 500 to 700 Filipinos attended (Winnipeg Sun, December 9, 1984).

       - December 84- St. Ignatius, St. Norbert and Holy Cross held a Christmas Card Writing campaign for the political prisoners in the Philippines as part of the Action Program for the Development and Peace

8. Martyr’s Day, a Mass for Justice and Peace in the Philippines, Commemorating the 2^nd Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Benigno Ninoy Aquino, Wednesday, August 21, 1985.

9.   Visit of Dr. Mita Pardo de Tavera of AKAP

10. December 8, 1985, Alay Negros Relief Fundraiser, St. Edward’s Church. Magdaragat will perform, Neil Cruz, Edgar Padilla, Evangeline Egonia, Karilagan Dance Troupe, Sikaran School of Martial Arts, Filipino Seniors Rondalia

11. Demonstration at the International Inn to protest the planned installation of Honorary Consul Dr. Roland Guzman.

12.  Cooperated in the visit of PETA’S Panata sa Kalayaan.

13. People Power 1^st Anniversary Celebration, dubbed as the People’s Mass at St. Edward’s    Church, 818 Arlington Street on February 25, 1987.

14. 1987, September 21 to 32, The Philippine Printmakers Show

15. 1988 June 21 to 22- Jaime Cardinal Sin visits Winnipeg under the Winnipeg Filipino Project (WFP). WFP was institutionalized at the initiative of Cardinal George Flahiff. He assigned Fr. Joseph Godbout to organize a group that will focus on the growing Filipino community. Jaime Tadeo, a peasant leader in the Philippines, also visited Winnipeg around this year.

16. Alay Kapwa Concert (April 1992, Mosaik,Ted Alcuitas)

17. ”Bayan Ko,” award winning movie returns to Winnipeg, Saturday, November 2 and Sunday, November 3, (Late 80’s). Bayan ko (My Country) is a movie directed by the activist director Lino Brocka and was considered by the dictatorship as a subversive film.

I asked Ted Alcuitas for a message to the youth about the relevance of activism and here is a simple quote from him, “The spirit of activism should always be nurtured and promoted in the community for it is through it that we can give vent or articulate our grievances or demands. It doesn’t matter if the issue is about politics or racism or discrimination, we need activists to arouse our community. Of course, it can take different forms- in militant ways like demonstration or through media strategies-i.e., letters to the editor, media boycott (which I did with the Winnipeg Sun for their racist treatment of Filipinos), civil disobedience, etc.  Because without it, we, as a community, oftentimes cannot move our agenda forward if we don’t show some militancy. For the youth, do not be afraid to show your opinion through rallies, etc. because it is through participation in the public forum that you can test the limits of your efforts. “ He added, “Participate in marches addressing Climate Change,  Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Truth and Reconciliation and show solidarity with other causes and not only your own.”

These activists in the community back in 1983 to 1988, who stood up against the dictatorship are commendable. They told me that they felt scared even here in Winnipeg. Rumors abound that there were spies watching dissenters.

 To date, February 2016, the organizations that I have mentioned here: Philippine Support Group (PSG) and August Twenty One Movement (ATOM) no longer exist formally.  Back in the 90’s, Ted Alcuitas, the founder of ATOM, moved to Vancouver and continued on as an activist. The PSG, by 1996, will be transformed into KAMPI or Kilusan ng Manggagawang Pilipino, which will affiliate itself with Migrante- Canada. Migrante is a national organization of migrants fighting for social justice in the Philippines and the rights and welfare of migrant workers in the diaspora.

 Activists are unsung heroes for they silently toil organizing resistance against the forces of authoritarianism. They endure hardship and intrigues, knowing that what they are doing is for the greater good.  They are also aware of the protracted nature of the struggle that it does not end with a regime change.  They are totally aware that until there is a profound change in the system, that is the feudal system prevailing in the old country, the state of being pre-industrial and agricultural, the struggle will continue. Hence, I salute all those who devote their time and effort for caring for the motherland, whether in the area of struggle for a change in policy, calamity or change in the system while in the diaspora.

Note: This Article is part 3 and 4 of a longer article titled Filipino Activism in Winnipeg.