GABNET/MA-AL LAUNCHES D4D CAMPAIGN; CALLS FOR SUPPORT OF LIZA MAZA FOR THE PHILIPPINE SENATE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2009
Jollene Levid, Gabnet Secretary-General
secgen@gabnet.org
Tel: 323-356-4748

On this day, June 12, 2009, a hundred and eleven years since Filipino revolutionaries overthrew the Spanish colonial and feudal yoke over the Philippine territory, society and governance, Gabnet of the Mariposa Alliance calls for the eradication of the remnant feudal paradigm within which marriage operates in the archipelago.

In response to a long-held and articulated grievance by Filipina women, Gabnet launches today the Dollar for Divorce (D4D) campaign, as a means of helping the Filipina place the most fundamental of her relationships on a rational basis. The ability to end a partnership is also a means to resolve such issues as child support, welfare and care. These are vital to Filipinas who have managed to build new lives in the lands to which, ironically, they have been thrown by the Philippine government?s labor export policy.

The ending of marriages was a recognized and accepted solution in pre-Hispanic Philippine society. It is ironic that while divorce is recognized in Spain itself and the rest of the Hispanic world, the Philippines remains, along with Malta, as the last hold-out to the delusion of ?till-death-do-us-part.?

It is not only ironic but insulting to the Filipina that this concept should prevail, even as they are being exported to over 200 countries, in separations of five, ten, fifteen years from their families, particularly their children.

Corollary to the D4D campaign, Gabnet is calling for support for the senatorial candidacy of GWP Congresswoman Liza Maza. Author of the only extant Divorce Bill in the Philippines, Congresswoman Maza has had the courage to confront head-on the feudal chains that continue to oppress and exploit women, as well as the commercialization of women that imperialist globalization has brought to the country.

Supporting the candidacy of Congresswoman Maza to the Philippine Senate would be a victory for the women of the Philippines. During her three terms in Congress, Ms. Maza worked on an endless number of pro-women bills, including co-authoring the Anti-Violence in Women and Children Act, and supporting the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003. Ms. Maza has played a pivotal role in reflecting in law the issues of women on the Philippine and their vision for themselves and their country. It would be in the best interest of the women to have her serve as their representative in the Senate.

The D4D campaign will consist of public events and discussions on the issue toward movement building within the Filipino-American community which continues to have strong ties with the Philippine national society.

Those interested in joining both the Dollar for Divorce (D4D) campaign and the Support Liza Maza for Senate drive should contact Jollene Levid, Gabnet Secretary-General at secgen@gabnet.org or dollar4divorce@gabnet.org.