The Philippine Support Group (PSG)

and the Anti-Dictatorship Movement in Winnipeg (1983 -1996)

Part 2

Levy Abad (April 24, 2016)

The task of a writer is to preserve the struggles of the past to shed light to the path that future generations will take.  Without this, we will have historical orphans who never know where they came from and thus, would be lost in their journey ahead. They will be a generation devoid of identity and easily duped into puppetry.  The struggle for freedom is the road where theories of empowerment and cultural identity are tested.

“In 1991, the Philippine Support Group or PSG, an activist organization in Winnipeg, founded in 1983 and whose aim is to help in the struggle against the Marcos Dictatorship, hosted the visit of the Congress for Agrarian Reform (CPAR). CPAR is a coalition of progressive NGOs from the Philippines whose main goal was to lobby for a genuine agrarian reform. The event was sponsored by the Aboriginal Cultural Centre and the Original Women’s Network“(Brief Historical Background of PSG).

“Since 1991- 1996, the organization had sponsored numerous educational development activities, which include film showing, forums on human rights, women’s rights, agrarian reform, urban poor, students and out of school youth, militarization, repression of indigenous people’s “(Brief Historical Background of PSG). “These activities had provided PSG with opportunity to with allies and other cause oriented organizations such as IDEA Centre, Ten Days For World Development, Anglican Church, United Church, MCIC, Phil Canada Human Resource Development-CIDA, Manitoba Eco Network, University of Manitoba- International Centre for Students, Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Original Women’s Network, Workers of Colour Support Network, etc“(Brief Historical Background of PSG). “PSG was also involved in numerous, relief and rehabilitation fund raising projects for victims of natural calamities and disasters in the Philippines“(Brief Historical Background of PSG).

In 1992, PSG hosted the conference on the ongoing peace process in the Philippines titled "After Two Decades Of War ..CAMPAIGN FOR A JUST AND LASTING PEACE IN THE PHILIPPINES" and in 1993, it also assisted in organizing and joining force with the Filipino Community in an Anti-Racism Rally /demonstration in front of the Superstore at McPhillips Street (1993, Spring of Resistance- The Struggle Against RACISM , Published in Ang Peryodiko, February 1-15, 2016 ). In this campaign, more or less, one thousand five hundred Filipinos and folks from different communities joined. Fred De Villa became the group`s spokesperson at that time.  PSG helped in the formation of the Filipino Coalition for Human Rights  (FilCOHR) in 1993,  whose leading officers were  Conrado “Popoy”  Gomez, Chair, and two more from the PSG as  Vice Chair and  Secretary /Treasurer (Draft History of Winnipeg Filipino Activist: L. Abad). These officers were elected in the thick of the campaign where about 200 people voted. It was also instrumental in the founding and establishment of the newspapers, Philippine Connection under Conrado “Popoy” Gomez, and later, Philippine Times, a Filipino community newspaper with progressive orientation.“ Orli Marcelino recalls that the first issue was finally released on April 1996.

 Riki Esguerra, a UP Professor and a victim of torture during the Dictatorship, mentions in one of his email that between 1993 and 1994, he visited Winnipeg as a speaker in the event, Ten (10) days for World Development organized by the Church. He remembers that, more or less 40, youth attended the event at St. Stephens United Church in Broadway. He added that he gave a simple short course on Philippine History and Fundamental Change.  Some of the youth who attended this forum eventually became active with Phil–Canada Human Resource Development or PCHRD. This is one of the two mechanisms of CIDA to respond to the crisis that the Aquino Regime inherited from the Dictatorship.

 Aside from campaigns against the dictatorship like education forums on Philippine History, struggle and issues, PSG also engaged in local social advocacy such as supporting campaign against the Maria Clara Beauty Pageant in 1994. This campaign was organized by women youth from the university, “objecting to the modelling of the Filipina in the image of Maria Clara, a submissive woman who was not involved in society or social issues” (email of Ted Alcuitas, January 1, 2016, 12:42 a.m.). PSG also did casework by helping newly arrived immigrants. The PSG was involved in campaigns focused on the consulate as a representative of the dictatorship. This was during the time of Consul Leovegildo Anolin who was eventually transferred.  I remember another activist priest, the late Rev. Fr. Greg Sevillo, poet and author, who told me that the consulate monitored activists during the time of President Marcos.  Rev Fr. Sevillo added that those where scary times.

 On Sunday March 4, 1984, Bishop Francisco F. Claver, SJ visited Winnipeg as part of his country tour on the invitation of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (email of Alcuitas, January 1, 2016, 12:42 a.m.) He discussed the situation in the old country and how the Basic Christian Communities organized by the church were being harassed. These communities were justice and peace based communities inspired by the social teachings of the Catholic Church. In this event he said, “Yes to revolution but no to violence” (Ted Alcuitas, New Silangan 1984), making clear his position on the dictatorship.   According to Orlando Marcelino who was an activist himself and who escaped the clutches of the dictatorship due to the dismal political situation in the old country,  the event was held at St. Edward`s Church and was well attended.  Ceasar and Eliza Tuazon Castro mentioned that, “his visit (Bishop Claver) with us in Winnipeg was all about telling the people how concerned and against he was to preach to the grassroots against Martial Law“(Remembering the Life and Works of Bishop Emeritus Francisco Claver).

In part one of the article, I have laid down the context of the growth of the Philippine Support Group as an activist organization supporting the struggle for the restoration of democracy in the Philippines. Part two further substantiates by adding some events that were organized by and in cooperation with organizations and individuals concerned with the old country. I am not able to mention some of the leaders in the article since they still suffer from the trauma of the period. One of the lead organizers of PSG told me that a lot of documents were lost through the years and he can only give me some information to provide an overview of the process of building up the movement.