FILIPINOS SPEAK OUT AGAINST CORRUPTION
By Niko Cababa
As Filipinos back home hav begun to recover and rebu that was destroyed by rece typhoons, our kababayan in Long Beach have stepped u collecting donations, packi balikbayan boxes, and host fundraising activities
Kabataan Alliance in the L Beach area partnered with Filipino Students in Health Filipino Artists Kollective, SULONG Westside, and Anakbayan Long Beach to host a kamayan dinner and raised over $2,000 for typhoon relief. The Pilipino American Coalition (PAC) at CSULB collected about 400 canned food donations to be sent directly to typhoon survivors All proceeds and boxes are directed through the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), a volunteer-led nonprofit that has been serving communities for over 20 years to provide disaster relief, medical missions, and volunteer opportunities. NAFCON also hosted a screening of Unlad Lubog, a film by medical mission participants highlighting community relief efforts in the Bulacan province heavily hit by typhoons every season
In celebration of working-class hero, Andres Bonifacio Day on November 30, we are reminded of our rich legacy of resistance against corruption and injustice
Our history teaches us that we cannot fight a corrupt government without national unity and people power. The intensifying floods and corruption in the Philippines have led to nearly 300 deaths and over 3 million displaced. While Marcos Jr and his administration live lavish lifestyles, over 10,000 Filipinos leave the country everyday to find work abroad Support for Marcos Jr has fallen to 21% as of November, his lowest approval rating yet, as each day exposes him as the biggest kurakot nepo baby of all.
Meanwhile, every week there is a growing protest movement with thousands in the streets calling for justice and accountability in the Philippines. The Filipino people are truly fed up with a rotten system that only protects the rich and wealthy, and leaves behind workers and their families. The hard earned money of our kababayan sending money back home to the Philippines will continue to be pocketed by the trapos (traditional politicians) and Marcos administration unless we unite to fight back against corruption Through the spirit of bayanihan, we are showing our collective efforts will persevere.
Above: Kabataan Alliance South Bay host Long Beach Kamayan Dinner Fundraiser
Send Donations to: tinyurl.com/nafcondisasterresponse
Venmo: @nafcon-sc
Zelle: 840-245-7033
For check donations, make payable to: Filipino Migrant Center P O Box 9086, Long Beach, CA 90810 For more info: nafconusa.org
Email: sc@nafconusa.org
We started the KABABAYAN Community Project that evolved into the Westside Long Beach Street Safety Campaign to address the issues most important to the community.
Members of GABRIELA South Bay, Philippine U.S. Solidarity Organization, Anakbayan Long Beach, SULONG Westside, and Filipino Migrant Center reached out to community members to identify the dangerous pedestrian and driving conditions on Santa Fe Ave and nearby streets
Sign & share the petition with 2 friends
Post the petition on social media
Share your story: Why you care about this issue? (Written, Video, Photo)
Create art or poster to promote campaign
Host a coffee meeting with neighbors on issue
Attend future City Council Meeting
Celebrate with us at Dec 13 Xmas Party
Donate to the campaign
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Filipino Caregivers launch their own organization: BANTAY Caregivers Network
By Emmanuel Ronquillo
On November 26th, 2025, eight workers celebrated their completion of the Filipino Migrant Center Workers Program by hosting a Thanksgiving potluck dinner, “Caresgiving,” where they announced the founding of a new caregivers’ organization Over thirty people attended the celebration, including local Westside community members, family, and friends, who all came together for a lovely evening full of joy, cuisine, and karaoke.
Attendees brought a delicious buffet of food, from Filipino classics like pancit and pinakbet to holiday staples like mashed potatoes and pie. Throughout the evening, the workers program participants shared testimonies about what they learned in the past two months and inspiring other caregivers to take action to create positive change for caregivers and other domestic workers
"I've learned so many things -- one of which is the right to minimum wage of domestic workers regardless of immigration status," Over the course of five sessions, workers gathered together, shared challenges in their work lives, and learned about their labor rights. Local organizations such as Migrante South Bay and Gabriela South Bay attended and shared educational workshops on the history of Filipino migrant workers organizing together, and the importance of uniting through campaigns to fight against exploitative conditions such as the national Justice for Filipino Caregivers Campaign.
The workers program participated in the launch of the national campaign, uniting with people across the United States to express their desire for fair and livable working conditions for Filipino caregivers and to demand that the Philippine and US governments hold employers accountable for their exploitation of migrant workers After learning that even undocumented workers have the same labor protections under California law, the program participants showed immense support for the campaign and its goals
Continued on page 7
Above: Graduates of FMC’s Workers Program hold their certificates at celebration and launch BANTAY CARE Network: Bantay Alaga Network for Tulong at Yakap
- Clara Santos
- Clara Santos, Filipino caregiver Westside LB
While detained at the Northwest Detention Center, his health conditions worsened. He was repeatedly denied adequate medical attention, and as a result, Sorio had to have part of his foot amputated. Despite his fragile medical condition, he was cleared by ICE to travel and was placed on a flight to be deported to the Philippines on December 7th.
Community organizations such as Tanggol Migrante held rallies at the home of Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez in Washington DC and the San Francisco Consulate, demanding support for Sorio and intervention The Department of Foreign Affairs did not intervene
Community members, faith leaders, lawyers, and healthcare workers across the country ramped up efforts to bring attention to Sorio’s condition and appealed to Philippine Airlines to assess his ability to travel until the last minute Politicians, including Seattle’s mayor-elect, made statements in support of halting the deportation.
Sorio was pulled from the flight after he was assessed as unfit to fly by the airlines, and he returned to the Northwest Detention Center. Community groups celebrate the victory while continuing to advocate for a stop to ICE medical neglect, the Philippine government to intervene to stop the deportation, and accountability
Ano Sa Tingin Mo? Noche Buena
Top: A community member’s Nativity scene
Last week, Trade Secretary Cristine Roque said a family of four or less can have a simple Noche Buena meal with just 500 pesos based on the price guide of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the Philippines
Lawmakers, celebrities, community groups, and even chefs are weighing in, calling the idea insensitive and out of touch with the everyday realities of Filipinos
The announcement has sparked Noche Buena challenges online as people try to create traditional Noche Buena meals within the 500 peso budget ($8 USD)
Ano sa tingin mo?
Sapat ba ang 500 pesos para sa Noche Buena?
FINDING THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS HOW FILIPINOS CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS AWAY FROM HOME
By Cass Hervas
Beach 29 years ago in 1996, leaving her family in Iloilo fo better life in the States.
Hervas recalled her favorite memories of Christmas back home. She reminisced about her childhood watching carolers, listening to the amazing singers spread the spirit of Christmas through the streets of her hometown. She looked back on Jose Mari Chan’s “Christmas In Our Hearts” as one of her favorite songs of the season
One of her fondest memories was of the Simbang Gabi novenas Hervas believed that “after completing the 9 days all your wishes would come true ” She adored walking home, passing by all the food stalls selling Christmas delicacies like putobumbong and looking at all the decorations around the neighborhood Hervas said that “even the malls were decorated and the churches were beautiful ”
When she became a nurse and began her life in the U S , she stated that “obviously you’re on your own and you miss your family” It was tough celebrating Christmas during her first year away from home But the spirit of Christmas eventually came through Hervas found community in Long Beach and celebrated with her “adopted family” in an evening filled with people, food, and laughs shared over games. Like many migrants, finding community in a new place is essential to having a strong support system and ties back to their homelands. Now that she has her own family, Hervas spends Christmas with her husband and three children. She finds joy in putting up decorations, reminding her of the festive
lights back home, and filling her own home with the spirit of Christmas. Hervas stated that the holiday “is not about receiving but the giving” and shares the joy of “making other people happy.”
Hervas' own reflections and journey remind us that the holidays can be a joyful time for some as well as a season of loneliness or longing for migrants separated from their families Building a strong Filipino community this holiday season is one way to both celebrate cultural traditions while creating a sense of togetherness and home, especially for the many migrant workers away from their own families.
Top Description: Dolores Hervas and her husband
Mom’s Arroz Valenciana R
By Cass Herva
INGREDIENTS:
4 cups of glutinous rice
BANTAY CAREGIVERS
1/2 lb of chicken boneless legs, cut in 1/2 inches
1/2 lb pork with skin, cut in 1/2 inches
4 pieces Chinese sausage, slice diagonal/round
1 pack of mixed vegetables (frozen)
1 can whole kernel corn
10 garlic cloves
1 onion salt & pepper (to your own taste)
1 tbsp turmeric powder
1/2 cups raisins (if you want)
2 cubes chicken bouillon
4 cups water or chicken broth
DIRECTIONS:
1. Wash the rice two times, drain water and add turmeric, set aside.
2 Sauté garlic and onion, add Chinese sausage and cook for 5 min, add pork until brown, add chicken and cook until brown, simmer for 20 min
3. Add vegetables, corn, and raisins simmer for about 5 min. Add salt and pepper to taste.
4. In a rice cooker add 4 cups of water or broth into the rice and mix the other ingredients, feel free to add a bit more salt to your taste Set the rice cooker to cook
Justice for Filipino Caregivers campaign, the program participants decided to create a local organization to give caregivers a way to connect with and support other caregivers. Santos, one of the founding members, explained that "we decided to start BANTAY Care to craft a caregivercentered Filipino organization With core values of genuine concern and empathy And most especially, protect the rights and welfare of all caregivers."
BANTAY Care is open to all Filipino caregivers who agree with the organization’s mission to “support caregivers through training, advocacy, and emotional support to empower caregivers with the skills, tools, and community they need to deliver safe, compassionate, and high-quality care while fighting against their exploitation ”
“Caresgiving” attendees shared tremendous support and congratulations for the new organization, celebrating alongside the workers in an evening full of good company, good food, and good karaoke
*Pseudonyms have been used to protect the identity of some of the workers
If you are interested in supporting caregivers in their fight for fair wages and treatment, join the Justice for Filipino Caregivers Campaign.
If you are a Filipino caregiver, join the BANTAY CAREGIVERS Network.
For more information about BANTAY Care, contact: (562) 270-5476
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