By Malaya Canada
Malaya Canada, in collaboration with Bayan Canada, hosted an online fundraising Christmas concert entitled Pamaskong Handog 2024 on December 10, coinciding with the observance of International Human Rights Day, to benefit political prisoners and their families.
The online concert, now in its third year, included over fifteen local and Philippine-based artists and musicians throughout the two-hour program.
Louie Jalandoni and Coni Ledesma of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) conveyed a recorded message for the event, reiterating their demand for the unconditional release of all political prisoners in the Philippines, which Jalandoni indicated exceeds 800, distributed across various detention centres and correctional facilities across the Philippines.
delivered a recorded message for the event, reiterating their demand for the unconditional release
of all political prisoners in the Philippines, which Jalandoni stated exceeds 800, dispersed among
various detention centers and correctional facilities throughout the country. (Photo: Bayan Canada)
Jalandoni shared that the youngest political prisoner is four-year-old Baby Marx Cairo, who was abducted by the military when he was two months old in 2021.The military have denied the grandparents custody of Baby Marx and have used Baby Marx as a hostage to force his parents, both with the NPA, to surrender. Early this year, Baby Marx’s mother was killed in battle in Negros Occidental.
The other baby in detention is Baby Emmanuel Echanis who was two months old when his mother Amanda Echanis was arrested in December 2020. Both mother and child remain in detention at the Cagayan City Jail.
The virtual Christmas event sought to raise funds for political prisoners, particularly for their families, as articulated in the opening remarks by Malaya Canada spokesperson Marissa Corpus.
Coni Ledesma noted that the fundraising drive by Malaya and Bayan Canada is vital, as it helps provide financial support to the political prisoners and their families to acquire necessities, food, supplies, and other indispensable items they are unable to buy. Ledesma also asserted that the Pamaskong Handog online performance highlighted the importance of demonstrating compassion and respect for political prisoners, “who are not forgotten” but reside in the hearts of empathetic Filipinos, thereby offering “hope and uplifting their morale.”
The concert was an opportunity to raise awareness of the human rights situation in the Philippines, especially the plight of political prisoners who are unjustly detained on trumped-up charges.National Artist for Broadcast and Film Ricky Lee issued a brief statement highlighting the importance of the online concert in motivating Filipinos to support their fellow countrymen.
Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay expressed the gratitude of political prisoners for the compassion and support of fellow citizens abroad. Hustisya spokesperson Orly Marcellana asserted that the concert truly encourages and uplifts the spirits of political prisoners and their families.
Bibeth Orteza, the current chair of the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP), articulated enduring optimism for this Christmas within the existing political conditions in the Philippines. Orteza remarked that the performance intrinsically represents a dream that may unite Filipinos, even while they are abroad.
FIdes Lim, spokesperson of KAPATID, the organization of relatives and friends of political prisoners, and wife of detained Vicente Ladlad, shared KAPATID’s Dec 10 visit to the Supreme Court to push for the promulgation of the Writ of Kalayaan, a legal mechanism to secure the humanitarian release of political prisoners, like the sick and elderly political prisoners. Early this year, Gerardo de la Pena, the oldest political prisoner, was released in June this year, thanks to KAPATID’s strong lobbying efforts.
“Canada holds a special place in my heart,” Fides said in closing, “as the first solidarity network that helped KAPATID when it reactivated in 2019. Please know that every donation is spent for political prisoners to help them survive one of the most cruel prison systems in the whole world.”
Notable musicians and artists from Toronto who performed at the event included the Philippine Chorale Society of Mississauga (PCSM), Josie de Leon, Ang Bandang Uppercase, Daniel Ramjatan, Naoto Tsujita, Lilac Caña, Annie Batungbacal, Lorraine Lissen, Nobel Queaño, Bayani Llagas, Kent and Lani Lardizabal, Performativo Manila, Karl Ramirez, Levy Abad Jr., Al Alquinto, Tony de Jesus, Nickzar Aguirre, Lyn Plaza, Ricky Esguerra, and Lara Maestro, who presented the song and video “Walang Hanggan,” which concluded the evening concert.
Luthfi Marwadi from the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines-Canada, Montreal City Councilor Stephanie Valenzuela, and Earl Dacara, President of the Bicol Community Canada Association (BCCA), were prominent local leaders who provided motivating speeches.
In their concluding remarks, Bayan chairperson Wilma Delo and former political detainee Chris Sorio and Secretary General of Migrante Canada emphasized the necessity for the release of all political prisoners in the Philippines.
Olivia Camacho, a Malaya convenor based in Toronto and the emcee for the online concert, conveyed appreciation to all donors and performers, and extended an invitation to another Pamaskong Handog next year. ###