Filipino women forge strength and unity in GABRIELA

Filipino women forge strength and unity in GABRIELA

From left: Roumela Soribelo, International Solidarity Officer; Ethel Tungohan, Education Officer; Claire Provido, Sociology-Cultural officer; Petronila Cleto, Secretary-General; Elvie Saing, Vice Chair; Cynthia Palmaria, Chair; Jess Santos, Finance Officer

Filipino women are finding strength, unity, and support under
GABRIELA-Ontario, which had its general assembly at the Wellesley Community Centre on February 25, 2012.

Under the theme, “Forging the Unity and Power of Women to Create Better Social, Economic and Political Conditions,” about thirty women gathered at the St. James Town centre. A major item on the agenda was the vote for this year’s executive committee. They will lead campaigns on issues such as violence against women and changes to the Live-in Caregiver Program.

“One of the greatest strengths of GABRIELA is to let women know that they are not alone in their struggle,” said the new chairperson, Cynthia Palmaria in an interview. “Whatever it is that we’re facing, we’ll be facing it together.”

The voting of the executive committee was full of laughs, cheers, and was an open, supportive and largely non-competitive process. Often, when a woman was nominated by their peers, they humbly said, “Decline, po,” to make way for the nominations of previous executive members.

But at other times, they made sure new roles were sought. One reluctant nominee, Claire Provido, was ushered into being the Socio-Cultural Officer. After a round of encouragement, Paulina Corpuz, who was officiating, joked, “and by peer pressure she is nominated!” Provido was quickly elected.

Cynthia Palmaria and Jess Santos

“GABRIELA is like family for me,” said member Pinky Paglingayen in an interview. She has only one aunt and one cousin in Canada. Paglingayen came to Canada under the caregiver program and after a few days, she found out that she had no employer, even though she paid $3,000 to get here.

“Since I struggled with my employers, the founding members of GABRIELA helped me in terms of finding resources because I had problems with immigration, labour and health care… They actually solved the problems I had before. So that’s why I can say that they were family because they were always there for me.”

“I was able to go back to school and I’m a permanent resident now,” Paglingayen said. The group also helped her access a government grant.

Paglingayen describes GABRIELA as a group of militant women helping other women to develop their skills and knowledge of issues back home.

In the Philippines, GABRIELA is “the largest, most militant, progressive women’s organization,” said keynote speaker Connie Sorio of the International Migrants’ Alliance and KAIROS in an interview.

Sorio suggests one way that women can help with the struggles back home is to be true to the experiences here. In many cases, women working in vulnerable situations paint a better picture than in reality and their relatives think that life here is rosy. “Instead of being part of the struggle against the ills of Philippine society, the relatives think that the solution is escaping here,” she said.

Petronila Cleto was elected as the secretary general after earlier giving a history of GABRIELA-Ontario since it began in 2008. Elvie Saing was elected as the vice-chairperson. Ethel Tungohan was elected as the education officer. Jess Santos was elected to the role of finance officer and Romela Soribelo was elected to be the international solidarity officer. Following the election, the women took an oath led by Maru Maesa.

Photos: Joseph Smooke