Inviting women to come to this forum co-sponsored by BabaLa!:

photo courtesy of www.arkibongbayan.org

Babae Laban sa Katiwalian or BabaLa!, a recently formed alliance of women for truth and accountability, and GABRIELA joined today’s inter-faith rally in Makati and announced that the next big rally of women against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be on March 8, International Women’s Day.

“We call on women from all walks of life- women nurturers who refuse to yield to a culture of lies and corruption perpetrated by the current leadership in the country - to celebrate women’s unity on March 8 International Women’s Day. On March 8, let the women’s unity ring of our determined fight for truth and accountability,” said actor/writer Bibeth Orteza, convenor of BabaLa!, who spoke during the program in Makati this afternoon.

Together with Orteza at the inter-faith rally today are fellow BabaLa convenors Marietta Goco, Amina Rasul, Rev. Sol Villalon, Gabriela Reps. Liza Maza and Luz Ilagan, UP Student Council officer Vanessa Faye Bomibol, and Gabriela Secretary General Emmi de Jesus.

According to de Jesus, they expect about 10,000 women to join the March 8 women’s action which will assemble at Welcome, Rotonda in Quezon and proceed to Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila for the program. Also among the convenors of BabaLa! are former senator Leticia Shahani, Marichu Maceda, Atty. Evalyn Ursua, Atty. Claire Padilla, Atty. Alnie Foja, Dean Connie Paz and Dr. Rose Torres-Yu of University of the Philippines in Diliman.

In the Statement of Unity, BabaLa! said that “(A)s women who have consistently and proudly held the role of safeguarding the formation and upholding of positive values in society, we cannot helplessly stand back and allow Mrs. Arroyo’s morally bankrupt leadership to cast away our future as a nation. We cannot allow a presidency that has survived through cheating, lying, stealing and killing.”

“We join the Filipino people in saying that there is nowhere for Mrs. Arroyo to go but out. Together, we aspire for a future where leaders are true models of good governance and accountability to the people. We are determined to succeed in our united fight to remove her from office now.”

On March 5, BabaLa! will also hold a “Women’s Warning Walk” in Quezon City. ###

References:

Bibeth Orteza, BabaLa!Convenor

Emmi de Jesus, Gabriela Secretary General