FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–Domestic Workers Celebrate Victory in New York, Bill Ends a Legacy of Discrimination: Bay Area Nannies, Housecleaners and Caregivers Hope California will be next

San Francisco, CA–On Tuesday, August 31st, Housekeepers, nannies and caregivers celebrated the historic Domestic Workers Bill of Rights (A.1470B/S.2311E) bill signing in New York. This landmark legislation, the first of its kind in the nation, guarantees privately-employed nannies, housekeepers, and elderly caregivers in New York benefits such as paid leave, overtime and protection from discrimination (see NYTimes article here). Bay Area domestic workers support the New York bill and advocate for similar legislation in California. (more…)

JOIN THE DIGNITY CAMPAIGN for Real Immigration Reform

Over the last year a group of organizations and individuals have been meeting to affirm the need for an immigration reform bill based on human rights. This bill would include immediate legalization of the undocumented; de-criminalization of immigrants; equal rights; reunification of families; an end to temporary worker programs, and an end to trade and foreign policies that cause the dislocation of people. We seek meaningful immigration reform that is an alternative to the kind of proposals coming from Congress.

We are calling this effort the Dignity Campaign for Real Immigration Reform. What immigrants need are real solutions to the denial of migrants’ rights, to the economic and political forces that force migration, and to the economic crisis that affects working people in general. By developing this alternative we hope to raise our collective aspirations for immigration reform, rather than limit our political work to criticizing Congressional proposals that we know reflect corporate America’s need for exploitable labor. (more…)

Filipina care giver offers testimony on the abuse & lack of protections for domestic workers at California State Capitol Hearing

“Is $50 a day enough pay for me? I think the assemblyman can agree, it’s not.”

Because her compensation is so low, Emiliana Acopia continues to work multiple jobs to support her family here in the U.S. and the Philippines earning less than $50 a day to provide live-in care giving and domestic work for a family of 4 in San Leandro. At 77 years old, she still cannot afford to retire. (more…)

This year’s annual event honors the work and recent victories of youth and youth organizers who continue to build the Filipino American movement with new energy, resilience, and inspiring leadership.

Please join us Thursday, May 13th, 2010 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center located at 388 9th St. in historic Oakland Chinatown.

We will be honoring: Rachel Aceberos; Daniel Banatao; Eden Jequinto; Dexter Ligot-Gordon; and Armael Malinis

Performances by:  immij; Kasamas, Josef Anolin; Yaminah Lunar; Ervin Lopez and more!

MC: Jen Soriano

Tickets: General Admission $60/Youth (under 20) $20

Purchase tickets at: Brown Paper Tickets or by clicking here.

Sponsorships and advertisement space still available! Please contact Judith or Geraldine at (510) 465-9876. (Deadline for advertisements is April 23rd)

Title: Union City Filipino Health Survey Report Back
Location: St. Anne’s Church Hall, 32223 Cabello St. (at Dyer) Union City
Link out: Click here
Description: Open to the public.
Join Filipino Advocates for Justice and Asian Health Services to learn the results of an extensive health survey conducted on 300 Filipinos in Union City. Community members, survey respondents, health advocates, and policy makers are all encouraged to attend.
Light lunch (merienda) will be served. There will also be a raffle of an HD TV, Wii Fit Bundle and more. Contact Stephanie (510) 316-9982 or Chris (510) 487-8552.
Start Time: 13:30
Date: 2010-03-21
End Time: 15:30

March 5, 2010

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Contacts:              Stephanie (510) 316-9982 / filhealth [at] ahschc.org or

Chris (510) 487-8552 / ccara [at] filipinos4justice.org

FILIPINO HEALTH SURVEY REVEALS MULTIPLE CONCERNS
In 2009, Filipino Advocacy and Outreach (FAO) conducted a health survey of 300 Filipinos in Union City, CA, where Filipinos are 20% of the population.  The joint project of Asian Health Services and Filipino Advocates for Justice (formerly Filipinos for Affirmative Action) produced one of only a handful of comprehensive studies on the health disparities of the Filipino community.

Some of the findings are:

•  The rate of uninsured increased to 19% during the recession from a Filipino statewide average of 11%.

•  For most, English is a second language and there is strong evidence that interpreters are needed in medical settings.

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Census 2010 is EASY, IMPORTANT & SAFE

April 1st, 2010 is officially Census Day. This happens every ten years. On this day, the US Census Bureau attempts to count everyone in the United States in order to determine political representation, identify community needs, collect demographic information and allocate government funding. Census data is also used when planning for vital services such as senior programs, hospitals, schools, employment training centers and much more. Despite the importance of each person completing Census forms, many in our community remain uncounted. In fact, during the last Census in 2000 the Asian Pacific Islander population was greatly under-counted which resulted in an estimated $2.1 billion loss in federal funding in California.

Some of the main issues facing Filipino newcomers that can contribute to a Census undercount are: (more…)

Since 1973, Filipinos for Affirmative Action (FAA) has been an advocate for immigrant and civil rights. We have served the more vulnerable in the Filipino community by helping recent arrivals, youth and low wage workers navigate the challenges and hurdles of life in the U.S.

We are proud to unveil our new name, Filipino Advocates for Justice and to launch our new website. We feel that this new name better reflects our vision, mission and commitment to social justice for all and our continued service to the Filipino community.

Injustice Anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Read FAQs about what has changed.

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Filipino Seniors Forced to Work

Our great friend and long-time worker leader, Danilo Orcullo, died from heart complications on Monday October 26 after going into cardiac arrest on Sunday morning at Oakland Airport, where he worked for over 15 years. He was a father, grandfather, husband, friend, and a joker who improved lives with equal parts laughter and struggle.

Danilo fought tirelessly for the workers! An active union leader, Danilo defended workers’ rights to a union contract with UNITE HERE 2850 and was critical in leading his co-workers to win union recognition with SEIU 1877. As the Chair and founding member of the Peoples Association of Workers and Immigrants (PAWIS), Danilo was relentless in fighting discrimination against immigrant workers and supporting his co-workers to overcome their fears and act together to improve their situation.

(video courtesy of Balitang America, ABS-CBN Intl.) (more…)