By TAMA Na Coalition
Toronto, ON — Former Congressman and current Bayan Muna Chair Neri Colmenares will deliver the keynote address at the formal launch of the TAMA Na Coalition on Saturday, November 1, at the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Hall, 31 Wellesley Street East, Toronto.
TAMA Na—short for Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado—is a newly formed coalition of civil society groups and community leaders united against systemic corruption and abuse of power in the Philippines.
The event will begin at 5:00 PM and will feature a full program, including a keynote speech, an open question-and-answer portion, and cultural presentations. Media coverage is expected, with various outlets attending in their own capacities.
The coalition was first introduced during a Toronto event on October 6, when Santi Crisostomo, President of COURAGE, spoke at Asbury and West United Church on Bathurst Street.
and CEO of the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada, bestowed the organization’s official medal upon him in
honor of his contributions to social justice and human rights.
(Photo credit: Mila Garcia)
Colmenares, a respected human rights advocate and long-time critic of corruption and authoritarianism in the Philippines, remains a prominent figure among the Filipino diaspora in Canada. Since his last visit to Canada two years ago, he has continued to inspire pro-democracy movements both at home and abroad.
In recent social media statements, Colmenares criticized the Marcos administration and its ties with U.S. interests, which he blames for enabling systemic corruption. He also questioned the Independent Commission Infrastructure (ICI) for withholding the results of its inquiries into alleged misuse of public funds.
The launch of TAMA Na in Toronto is expected to energize various community organizations that have long expressed outrage over billions of pesos lost to corruption involving government officials, including members of Congress and the Senate.
The event follows similar efforts elsewhere in Canada. On September 21, BAYAN Vancouver held a press conference on anti-corruption, attended by multiple community groups. Other BAYAN Canada chapters are expected to follow suit in the coming weeks.
The November 1 launch is jointly organized by BAYAN Canada, Malaya Canada, and the TAMA Na Coalition.###