Let's fight with a Filipino granny for her life and dignity

Dear all,
Let's do something to help Nanay Uday. (Mama Uday) Thanks a lot!



(Forwarded from Reggie Aquino)


From: Reggie Aquino
Date: Thu, Feb 25, 2010 at 3:19 PM
Subject: Nanay Uday

KAISAHAN, 24 February 2010


Earlier today, our office received two visitors. A couple. The man, is Melchor Pollas, dearly referred to by everyone in the CARP Extension campaign as Tatay Kurokoy. The woman is Zenaida Pollas or Nanay Uday to friends. They both hailed from Brgy. Talibayog in Calatagan, Batangas.

Two years ago, Nanay Uday was one of the valiant farmers who walked from Calatagan, Batangas to Manila to advocate for the passage of the CARP Extension with Reforms (CARPER), a bill that is now RA 9700. She was also active in their land case regarding the incursion of a mining company in their agricultural land. She braved the scorching sun, the truncheon wielding police and 2 months of camping outside the gates government agencies to peacefully petition government to hear their grievance.

Fast forward to today, Nanay Uday bravely fights another battle. She is struggling with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.I'm not very familiar with medical terminologies but when I read through her documents and clinical abstracts and repeatedly came across the words malignant mass and diffuse large-B Cell Lymphoma, I knew then that she was suffering from cancer.

This cancer has taken its toll on her. The mass which started from her nose, has now engulfed almost her entire face. The gentle features of this earth's steward was now lost in that huge lump of something unrecognizable and lamentable. As she was crying, only the flutter of her eyelashes revealed to me that was where her left eye used to be. Her right eye and nose were not visible anymore. On top of that, she has lost a lot of weight as eating is difficult. But when I talked to her, I sensed the same peace and quiet, the same resilience she demonstrated in fighting for social justice.

For the past 5 months, they have been coming back to two public hospitals here in Manila and they have only gotten as far as having the tests done. Meanwhile, the cancer is spreading, literally eating her up. She needs to undergo 9 chemotherapy sessions and if possible operation but the family is financially incapacitated to shoulder medical expenses. And the couple, both in their mid 60s are now unable to work and provide for expensive medical care. Their children shells out what little money they can spare, but they are also hard up.

The sight of Nanay Uday's condition wiped off the smile i was wearing all morning. The usual jovial KAISAHAN atmosphere turned grief stricken. My heart breaks to see Nanay Uday hide behind a towel, embarrassed by her condition. I wanted to tell her she has no reason to feel that way. That if there's anyone who should be ashamed it would have to be this government who steals from the country's coffers, fattening their pockets at the expense of quality health care for people like her.

It is bad enough that she is stricken by a disease that deprives her of living a life she deserves but it is however, criminal that she is robbed of her fighting chance because she is poor and the government that is supposed to provide quality health care continues to be unperturbed about the plight of millions upon millions of Nanay Udays in this country.

I would like to appeal to the people, if we could somehow help give her back that CHANCE, THAT CHANCE TO FIGHT CANCER WITH DIGNITY. Maybe you know of a doctor, a hospital, a politician, a philanthropist, a foundation who might be able to help her. Or maybe you can shell out whatever you can. Or maybe you have better ideas...like my friend Tomas (Step Juan) who's now on a Walking Expedition of the Country to raise awareness on Cancer.

I appeal to those whose lives have been particularly touched by these farmers...to our friends at OSCI, SLB, COSCA, Adamson boys, brothers, sisters, fathers, bishops, legislators, AR friends. To my mountaineer and patintero friends; high school, college and MA classmates; to friends from other countries, other political persuasions and religious beliefs...I'm knocking at your hearts...

Whatever help you can extend her will be greatly appreciated. Just send us at KAISAHAN a message and I will reply.

Thank you very much!

Reggie Aquino
Policy Advocacy Officer, KAISAHAN
aquirage@gmail.com


kind and friendly Nanay Uday


Nanay Uday is an active participant in Agrarian Reform movemnt.


Suffering Nanay Uday needs help to fight for her life and dignity

請幫助一位勇敢與病魔奮戰的菲律賓奶奶

Dear all,

我是方智勇，目前在菲律賓馬尼拉的NGO (Focus on the Global South)實習，昨天，一封轉寄信讓原本心情愉快的我陷入了憂愁。有一位今年六十幾歲的農民奶奶Zenaida Pollas目前正受到「非何杰金氏淋巴瘤」﹙non-Hodgkin's lymphoma﹚的摧殘，佔據她大半個臉的巨大腫瘤已經奪走了左眼的視力，因為臉的嚴重變形使得她難以進食，原本消瘦的身形變得更加單薄。Zenaida Pollasc和丈夫Melchor Pollas都是來自鄉下的農民，即使生活困苦，仍長期投入農業改革運動，與其他仍受到貪腐政府和大地主壓迫的農民站在一起，為農民的生存權和尊嚴奮鬥。由於Zenaida Pollas的積極貢獻以及和藹可親的人格特質，大家總是親暱地稱呼她 Nanay Uday-烏 黛媽媽。如今烏黛媽媽病倒了，原本開朗輕切的面容如今遮蔽在毛巾後面，顯得憔悴窘迫。她不需要為自己變形的面容感到窘困，該覺得丟臉的是貪腐的政府，不但 沒有提供全民均可負擔的醫療服務，還因為與大地主、跨國礦業公司官商勾結，將農民逼上絕路。各位朋友，菲律賓離我們其實很近，烏黛媽媽就像是台灣農村裡堅 毅善良溫暖的老奶奶一樣。希望我們能幫助她，一起勇敢尊嚴地對抗病魔。如果有任何朋友能幫助，不管是醫療還是捐款，請跟我連絡。以下轉寄一封來自菲律賓農 民運動組織KAISAHAN的求助信。謝謝你們耐心閱讀。祝 平安！

From: Reggie Aquino <aquirage@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Feb 25, 2010 at 3:19 PM
Subject: Nanay Uday

KAISAHAN, 24 February 2010


Earlier today, our office received two visitors. A couple. The man, is Melchor Pollas, dearly referred to by everyone in the CARP Extension campaign as Tatay Kurokoy. The woman is Zenaida Pollas or Nanay Uday to friends. They both hailed from Brgy. Talibayog in Calatagan, Batangas.

Two years ago, Nanay Uday was one of the valiant farmers who walked from Calatagan, Batangas to Manila to advocate for the passage of the CARP Extension with Reforms (CARPER), a bill that is now RA 9700. She was also active in their land case regarding the incursion of a mining company in their agricultural land. She braved the scorching sun, the truncheon wielding police and 2 months of camping outside the gates government agencies to peacefully petition government to hear their grievance.

Fast forward to today, Nanay Uday bravely fights another battle. She is struggling with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.I'm not very familiar with medical terminologies but when I read through her documents and clinical abstracts and repeatedly came across the words malignant mass and diffuse large-B Cell Lymphoma, I knew then that she was suffering from cancer.

This cancer has taken its toll on her. The mass which started from her nose, has now engulfed almost her entire face. The gentle features of this earth's steward was now lost in that huge lump of something unrecognizable and lamentable. As she was crying, only the flutter of her eyelashes revealed to me that was where her left eye used to be. Her right eye and nose were not visible anymore. On top of that, she has lost a lot of weight as eating is difficult. But when I talked to her, I sensed the same peace and quiet, the same resilience she demonstrated in fighting for social justice.

For the past 5 months, they have been coming back to two public hospitals here in Manila and they have only gotten as far as having the tests done. Meanwhile, the cancer is spreading, literally eating her up. She needs to undergo 9 chemotherapy sessions and if possible operation but the family is financially incapacitated to shoulder medical expenses. And the couple, both in their mid 60s are now unable to work and provide for expensive medical care. Their children shells out what little money they can spare, but they are also hard up.

The sight of Nanay Uday's condition wiped off the smile i was wearing all morning. The usual jovial KAISAHAN atmosphere turned grief stricken. My heart breaks to see Nanay Uday hide behind a towel, embarrassed by her condition. I wanted to tell her she has no reason to feel that way. That if there's anyone who should be ashamed it would have to be this government who steals from the country's coffers, fattening their pockets at the expense of quality health care for people like her.

It is bad enough that she is stricken by a disease that deprives her of living a life she deserves but it is however, criminal that she is robbed of her fighting chance because she is poor and the government that is supposed to provide quality health care continues to be unperturbed about the plight of millions upon millions of Nanay Udays in this country.

I would like to appeal to the people, if we could somehow help give her back that CHANCE, THAT CHANCE TO FIGHT CANCER WITH DIGNITY. Maybe you know of a doctor, a hospital, a politician, a philanthropist, a foundation who might be able to help her. Or maybe you can shell out whatever you can. Or maybe you have better ideas...like my friend Tomas (Step Juan) who's now on a Walking Expedition of the Country to raise awareness on Cancer.

I appeal to those whose lives have been particularly touched by these farmers...to our friends at OSCI, SLB, COSCA, Adamson boys, brothers, sisters, fathers, bishops, legislators, AR friends. To my mountaineer and patintero friends; high school, college and MA classmates; to friends from other countries, other political persuasions and religious beliefs...I'm knocking at your hearts...

Whatever help you can extend her will be greatly appreciated. Just send us at KAISAHAN a message and I will reply.

Thank you very much!

Reggie Aquino
Policy Advocacy Officer, KAISAHAN
aquirage@gmail.com

慈祥和藹的烏黛媽媽


烏黛媽媽的身影總是出現在爭取農民權益的活動中


正與病魔搏鬥的烏黛媽媽

"Formosa Betrayed"-Message from Producer Will Tiao

(The article is from the Formosa Betrayed website mailing list, to sign up, please go to Formosa Betrayed. )

Dear Fellow Taiwanese and Friends,

First, thank you for signing up for our mailing list! We hope to use this to connect with our fans around the world.

This coming weekend, February 26-28, a new movie about Taiwan will be coming to theaters. Formosa Betrayed is the first American film to ever deal with US-Taiwan relations and explore the issues of democracy, identity, and justice during the White Terror period in Taiwan. The movie was largely funded by Taiwanese all over the United States and Canada, who invested over $6 million into the film. This makes Formosa Betrayed one of the largest pro-Taiwan projects ever funded by the overseas Taiwanese community. Most of these investors are not wealthy -- they are people like yourselves -- hard working individuals who came to America to provide a better life for their children.

I am one of those children.

My parents are from Kaohsiung, Taiwan. While growing up, they taught me to call myself "Taiwanese," not "Chinese". This caused them much hardship, which included being put on a blacklist. Some of their friends had worse things happen to them. In some cases, people were killed.

The Taiwanese people have suffered at the hands of many over the last century, but these stories have rarely been told or heard. As a second generation Taiwanese American, I feel it is my duty to educate my generation, as well as the world, about the struggles and suffering of the Taiwanese. We cannot allow our country's history and our people's hardships to be forgotten. Once that happens, it only becomes a matter of time before it is repeated. This is precisely why I spent the last five years of my life working on Formosa Betrayed.

As the turbulent reaction to President Obama's recent arms sale to Taiwan shows, US-China-Taiwan relations are still a hot button topic that is greeted by fleeting interest, faint support, or --worst of all-- indifference by the American media. I am hoping the release of Formosa Betrayed will help spur greater awareness and wider discussion about these important matters in the United States and abroad. The Taiwanese people deserve to have an equal voice in affairs related to our country's future. We cannot sit quietly and allow others to decide our fate. This is why I am urging you to see Formosa Betrayed with your children, family and friends. Not only will this movie educate our youth about our country's embattled legacy, it will instill in them a sense of pride in their heritage and identity as Taiwanese. Additionally, your support of this film will tell the world that the Taiwanese people have a voice and we are demanding to be heard. No one else is going to do this for us. We must do this ourselves and we must do this now.

A Mandarin version of this letter is attached below along with a new flier with up-to-date theater locations.

Thank you for your time and interest. GO TAIWAN!!!!!

All the best,

Will Tiao

President, Formosa Films

Producer, Formosa Betrayed

"被出賣的台灣"(Formosa Betrayed)-來自製片人刁毓能(Will Tiao)的訊息

(原文轉自"被出賣的台灣"網站群組信)

親愛的台灣鄉親︰

本週末，也就是2月26日到28日，一部關於台灣的新電影就要在美國的戲院上映了。「被出賣的
台灣」(Formosa Betrayed )是美國電影界破天荒第一部講述美台關係，並探討台灣追求民主，
及白色恐怖時期的公平正義等議題的電影。這部電影的資金大部份募集自全美國和加拿大的台
灣人，他們總共投資了超過六百萬美元來支持這部電影的製作與拍攝。「被出賣的台灣」
(Formosa Betrayed )這部電影是海外台灣人挺台灣的籌資計劃中數一數二的壯舉。這些投資人
就像你們一樣，大部份是為了讓下一代有更好的生活而來到美國打拼。

我也是來美國打拼的台美人第一代的孩子。

我的父母來自台灣高雄。在我的成長過程中，他們教導我稱自己是「台灣人」而不是「中國人」。
他們的台灣人意識讓他們備嘗苦辛，包括成為被禁止回故鄉台灣的黑名單人物。更有一些他們
的朋友遭遇更慘痛的對待，甚至喪失了生命。

台灣人在上一個世紀迭遭苦難，但是這些斑斑血淚卻很少被傳述或聽聞。身為台美人第二代，
我深覺有責任教育我們這一代，更要告訴世間的人們有關台灣人掙扎奮鬥的歷史和他們遭受的
苦難。我們不能讓我們母國的歷史和國人的苦難被漠視、忘懷。如果忘記這一段斑斑血淚史，
未來必然還會重蹈覆轍。這正是我過去五年來致力於製作拍攝「被出賣的台灣」(Formosa
Betrayed) 的原動力。

最近由於歐巴馬總統批准對台軍售而引發北京的強烈反應，顯示美國-中國-台灣的關係仍是一個
燙手的議題，卻總是被一筆帶過或虛飾的支持表態；最糟的是，美國媒體也漠不關心。我殷盼
「被出賣的台灣」(Formosa Betrayed) 電影的上映，能幫忙針對這些重要的議題，在美國和
國際社會激起較大的關注和更廣泛的討論。在台灣前途這個議題上，台灣人理應有公平的發聲
權利。我們絕不能呆坐噤聲而讓別人決定我們的命運。正因為如此，我強烈呼籲您和您的子女、
家人及朋友一起去觀賞「被出賣的台灣」(Formosa Betrayed )。這部影片不但能夠教育年輕
一代了解我們母國所面對的荊棘，更能灌輸他們認同自己是台灣人並以台灣人傳統為傲。而且，
您們對這部影片的支持也等於告訴全世界，台灣人有話要說，台灣人要求他們的聲音被聽見！
沒有別人會替我們做這些事，我們必需自己動起來，而且我們必需現在就開始行動。

謝謝您的關切和支持。台灣加油！！

敬祝大安

刁毓能 (Will Tiao) 敬上
福爾摩莎電影公司(Formosa Films)總裁
「被出賣的台灣」(Formosa Betrayed) 製片人

誰知道明天世界還是否存在？

對於未來不確定性的篤定，讓他堅定地相信人生唯有存在當下才有意義。但這並不表示他不在乎未來。他曾經想像著有朝一日自己將有機會離開自己出生長大的國家，去看看外面的世界。這樣的動機一但得到出口，便一發不可收拾，如今他生活在他造訪的第十九個國家。曾經他問母親如果有機會出國，最想到哪個國家。母親回答說歐洲國家，如果沒辦法，日本也很好。他一直將母親的心願僅記在心，他告訴自己他將帶著母親走遍他去過的十四個歐洲國家。回到當下，他並沒有能力達成母親的心願，也無法滿足父親期望他賺大錢孝順父母的期待。他不著急，他讓情勢領著他前進，他專注在此刻他所能努力的，他相信一點一滴的成就累積終將達成所有他摯愛親友的想望。他的想法看似過度樂觀，但他怎能不樂觀？對於一個相信未來充滿不確定性的人來說，唯有樂觀看待當下，才能使自己生存。