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 1st
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 2nd
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 1st
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.
