The Philippine
Support Group (PSG)
and the
Anti-Dictatorship Movement in Winnipeg (1983 -1996)
Levy Abad (December 20, 2015)
The Diversity Times, April 2016, Vol.5 No. 4, www.tkoreatimes.com
It is interesting to note that Dante
Buenaventura, who arrived in Winnipeg in 1974; a member of the Kabataang Makabayan (Patriotic Youth),
and at the same time an active member of the Teatro Kamanyang (Incense) of the Philippine College of Commerce
(PCC) back in the 70’s, would initiate organizing cultural events with anti
–dictatorship content. His leadership in
this area will create the situation and provide essential link with what he
started culturally in 1976 and the birth of PSG as an open anti- dictatorship
political organization in the diaspora (Dante Buenaventura (1974 to 1988) and
Filipino Cultural Activism, The Diversity Times, February 2016, p. 10, Vol 5,
No.2).
Philippine Support Group started
in 1983 and lasted up to 1996 when it was transformed into
Kilusan ng Manggagawang Pilipino (KAMPI). This organization was formed to
support the anti-dictatorship struggle in the Philippines. Based on the
document, Brief Historical Background
of the PSG, during the height of
Marcos dictatorship, the PSG put together numerous forums and workshops on social
justice, human rights and democracy. PSG was also instrumental in the formation
of GRASSROOTS Women of Manitoba (GWM), an anti-imperialist women’s collective
(2002). GWM, whose leading organizer was Elisa Buenaventura - a PSG Women’s
Desk member and Program Coordinator in 1992, was also a member organization of
the International League of People’s Struggle (ILPS) (Elisa Buenaventura: The
Birth of Grassroots Women, Draft by Levy Abad, February 11,2016 ).
From 1986 to 1993, speakers, such as Butch Aquino, Heherson Alvarez
(leaders who were opposed to the Dictatorship) and other Filipino exiles to the
United States, were invited.
1984 November 9 to 10- Philippine
Connections, A Conference on the Philippines: “Seeking Justice for the
Philippines and Filipinos in Canada.” This was the first major
undertaking of the PSG. It was held at
the Young United Church. Some of the main speakers were Heherson Alvarez, Dulce
Hernando, Ruben Cusipag, Cecila Kosol and Cleto Buduhan.
These two events will define the
direction and development of the PSG in the years to come. The first one was an
attempt at political consolidation and the second one will be through cultural
propaganda. In the area of cultural organizing, Dante Buenaventura, the founder
of Magdaragat, must not be forgotten. He started cultural organizing since 1976
and was part of the leading core of PSG. Even Ted Alcuitas asked him to be the
chair of the August Twenty One Movement. (Ted Alcuitas and The August Twenty
One Movement (ATOM) in Winnipeg (1983-1988), Ang Peryodiko. March 1 to 15, 2016). This demonstrates his maturity
in building unity among groups in the community. He is responsible for
mobilizing Magdaragat for consciousness
raising events/ fundraisers in support of the struggle against the
dictatorship, a clear demonstration of his political conviction. Furthermore, it affirms his background as a
product of the First Quarter Storm of the 1970s (Source: PSG accounts).
The year 1983 was the formative period for the
PSG. PSG helped out with other activist organization, most especially, ATOM in
some of its campaigns. According to PSG accounts, ATOM was more mature when it
comes to mobilization that the former always ends up supporting it. 1991 was a
turning point for PSG. During this time, PSG can already arouse, organize and
mobilize with quality as an organization and lead in the community in matters
of social justice.
In part two of this article, I
will discuss how the PSG grew and the bigger role it played in the local
diaspora advocacy for nationalism and democracy in the Philippines, international
solidarity and human rights.
