Militants celebrate Women's Day with protest march

MANILA, Philippines - Women workers and members of the urban poor led by the Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) celebrated the International Women’s Day Saturday with a demonstration denouncing alleged corruption in the government. “We want the text of the RP-China exploration agreement to be revealed so that truth about GMA's sell out of our motherland for millions of pieces of silver can be exposed. Women have no future under this corrupt government but we will not settle for just a lesser evil," said Judy Ann Miranda, secretary-general of PM. Miranda was referring to the reported deal between the Philippine government and China on the joint exploration of the contested Spratly Islands. Bringing along with them placards shaped as flowers and colorful replicas of newborn babies and toddlers, the contingent of women workers from the National Capital Region and Cavite province assembled Saturday morning along España Blvd in Manila. The group later marched to the overpass and joined the main program in front of the University of Sto. Thomas. The women workers sang their own rendition of a novelty song patterned after a popular commercial with the title "Makulay ang buhay kung may pagbabagong tunay!" To complement this, they also held a cook-fest with the theme "Kababaihan ginisa mix! Kababaihan nagkaisa na, Gloria iginisa." Malacañang, on the other hand, was quick to reply. In an interview in government-run dzRB radio, Deputy Presidential Spokesman Lorelei Fajardo told the women’s groups to watch their language and be good examples to their children instead than participate in anti-government rallies. “Sama maging mahinahon sila. Ang nana yang sinusundan sa bahay. Dapat maging maingat tayo dahil tinitignan tayo ng ating mga anak. (They should be more discerning and calm. They must remember that as mothers they are being looked up to by their children.) We serve as role model to our children," Fajardo said. - GMANews.TV