Solidarity Message to the Founding Assembly of Anakbayan-Melbourne Mr. Jun Tellez Representative to the Global Council for Asia Pacific and the Middle East MIGRANTE International On behalf of the member organizations of MIGRANTE International in the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions, I convey my warmest greetings of solidarity and congratulations to the young people here today for the founding assembly of Anakbayan Melbourne. Your presence in this gathering makes us in the progressive migrant movement feel even more hopeful and positive for the future. The young people are indeed rising up and taking up the challenge to take part in the struggle of the people! As Filipino youth and students in a foreign land, you have been witnesses to the travails of our people forced to migrate due to extreme poverty, displacement and political repression in our country. You are witnesses to how your parents and loved ones face exploitative policies and practices in Australia such as the Visa 457. You are also witnesses to how hopes of going back to our homeland dim as the past and current governments continue to ignore people’s demands for a free, just, progressive and peaceful Philippines. But you were not only witnesses. You yourselves are victims of the vicious labour export program of the Philippine government. You yourselves face discrimination in the Australian society. Whatever are the impacts of the policies of the governments of the Philippines and Australia to your parents are, you also feel them as well. With the founding of Anakbayan Melbourne, you have decided to act on the grave condition that faces our people in Australia and in our homeland. Your organization bears the badge of a name that is rich in meaning and history. You are the sons and daughters of the people. You are inheritors of our people’s struggles to be genuinely free from the clutches of foreign dictates that have maintained our economic, political, social and cultural setup subservient to the interest of others. You are inheritors of the dreams of Filipino workers, peasants and other oppressed classes and sectors of our nation for a truly democratic society. Since its founding more than a decade ago, Anakbayan in the Philippines, has made it mark as the foremost national democratic organization of students and youth. Countless young women and men from schools, factories, farms and urban poor communities have dedicated their time, and even life, to serve our people from the cities to the country sides. I am confident that Anakbayan Melbourne will live up to its name and history. With commitment and perseverance, Anakbayan Melbourne can further expand to reach out and rally more students, youth and children of migrant workers against the prevailing social ills in
the Philippines. You can also use your skills and opportunities to echo the issues of Filipinos to the people in Australia and generate a wider solidarity support. You can be an example to the youth and students of Australia of the involvement of young people on issues that impact people and youth – of whatever colour – in Australia. We look forward to the strengthening of Anakbayan Melbourne as you actively take part in the progressive Filipino migrant’s movement and our people’s movement for genuine and lasting social change. The future is bright and our people are hopeful. We look forward to the vigorous participation of the youth under Anakbayan Melbourne in the realization of our dream for a homeland where we all have a chance to live a decent and humane life. Mabuhay ang Anakbayan Melbourne!