The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, People’s Patriotic Movement, and Bayan Muna invite us to “Panata ng Bayan,” an indoor Rally & Cultural Program with Vice President Teofisto Guingona, former Senator Wigberto Tañada, and other patriotic leaders on July 4, 2003, 10:00 am-12:00 noon, at Colegio de San Juan de Letran Gym in Intramuros, Manila.

This year, there are two reasons why we should take July 4, now called Philippine-American Friendship Day, as an occasion to highlight our patriotism and the Filipino people’s national democratic aspirations.

One, the boundless and shameless puppetry to the U.S. that has especially afflicted those in the top echelons of society. We are apalled by the mindless support for the U.S. “war vs. terror” and the attempts to justify imperialist wars of aggression and armed intervention against sovereign states, most especially the surrender of Philippine sovereignty to the U.S. in exchange for military and economic assistance.

Two, the tactical issue of charter change by means of a constituent assembly has been exposed by no less than Vice President Teofisto Guingona as a scheme to allow foreign monopolists to plunder our economy and patrimony to the hilt, with “parliament” as the willing tool. This is the 21st century version of Parity Rights.

Thus, July 4 would be a fitting day to air our concern about the cavalier attitude towards national sovereignty and a day to rededicate ourselves to the nationalist cause by rejecting Cha-cha/Con-Ass, Balikatan 03-1, and such agreements like the VFA, MLSA and the recently-signed ICC Immunity for US troops.

Main speakers:

Why commemorate July 4, 2003?
Raymond Palatino, President, National Union of Students of the Philippines

How special is special? RP-US relations from the standpoint of history
Prof. Emmanuel Yap, People’s Patriotic Movement

How globalization has destroyed the Philippine economy
Sen. Wigberto Tañada, Fair Trade Alliance

The return of the US bases: VFA, MLSA, Balikatan and other agreements
Rep. Apolinario Lozada, Chairperson, House Comm. on Foreign Relations

Surrogate armies and puppet regimes: the Philippines and the US-led war on terror
Dr. Carol Pagaduan-Araullo, Bayan

Cha-cha and other threats to national sovereignty and the national patrimony
Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Jr.

Towards an independent foreign policy
Rep. Crispin Beltran, Bayan Muna

Panata ng Bayan
Prof. Bienvenido Lumbera and other personalities

With performances from the CCP, Dulaang UP and other cultural groups

For information and confirmation, please call Butch, Cha or Juli at telephone numbers 9225211 or 4359151.

(Note: Info copied from the invitation sent by Mong Palatino of NUSP.)