21 November 2022
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Warm greetings from Church people-Workers Solidarity (CWS)!
CWS is a decade-old non-profit, ecumenical organization in support of workers’ rights and welfare. Workers are among the hardest hit by the worsening economic crisis exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and neoliberal policies that depress wages, destroy unions and attack workers. Our support has been carried out through our various programs including Education and Formation, Campaign and Advocacy, Welfare and Support Services and Networking. We are present in key cities in Metro Manila and in the Visayas.
As the year ends, CWS has endeavored to continue serving workers and farmworkers through four major activities this December:
CWS-National Capital Region Assembly on December 5
CWS-NCR will convene workers and church people to revive the NCR arm of CWS which was first launched on March 17, 2012. An expected 200 participants, mainly workers from key cities in NCR, as well as advocates from the church sector, are expected to attend. This assembly is timely because of the dehumanizing situation of the workers and their families.
Himamaylan, Negros Occidental Mercy Mission, December 14
Himamaylan has been under intense militarization since October, owing to state forces occupying, hamletting, and indiscriminately bombing rural communities under the guise of counter-insurgency programs. Farmers and farmworkers are slowly going back to their communities but face dire economic difficulties as their homes, crops, and animals have been destroyed. Reports state that they are under virtual military lockdowns and thus need support to allow for the entry of essentials such as food, medicine, and others.
CWS will be part of this endeavor together with other church people and faith-based organizations in Negros.
Paskuhan Para sa Manggagawa at ang kanilang Pamilya, December 26
Paskuhan para sa Manggagawa is a CWS Christmas activity for workers and their family. This year CWS plans to provide educational materials and toys to three hundred (300) children of workers in the communities under the parishes of San Pancracio in Grace Park, Kalookan City and Risen Christ in Balut, Tondo Manila, as well as workers of Regent Food Corporation in Pasig City who are on strike.
Once a week Kapihan/ Talakayan sa hanay ng Manggawa ng Tondo which will start in November 25, 2022
This activity is designed to reach out to the workers in Tondo specifically those working in Manila North Harbor Center which is composed of 16 piers and an international port and South Pier Harbor Center. All of these are owned by big tycoon billionaires, Ramon Ang and Enrique Razon. Low wages, contractualization and inhuman working conditions are some of the issues that should be addressed during the discussions.
This will be done every 7:30 am which is the time they are going home from work. This will be done in a parish near their workplace.
This Advent Season, we seek your generosity and kindness to bring simple cheers to our sister and brother workers who ironically, create the world’s wealth but are among those with least in life. Your support in the form of goods, toys, and financial resources will go a long way for any of these activities. These will surely bring happiness and smiles to the children of the workers.
You can send your donations through the BPI Kamuning Savings Bank account name Churchpeople-Workers Solidarity, Inc. and account # 3143-4239-39. Kindly advise us if you have deposited your donation so we can gladly acknowledge your support. For donations in kind such as educational toys and other gifts and items for the children, you can indicate the address where we can pick up the said items or you can bring these to this address, Bukal Center, ICM District House, 61, Banawe Street, 1114 Quezon City.
Attached herewith is the proposed budget for each activity. For more information, please contact the CWS Secretariat, Tony Balbin through email churchfortheworkers@gmail.com and mobile number 0942.198.6383.
Thank you so much and we are hoping for your kind response. May this Season of Advent bring hope, peace, love and joy to our people.
| Fr. Noel Gatchalian, SVD Convenor, CWS –NCR | Sr. Ma. Liza Ruedas, DC Convenor, CWS –NCR |
| Sr. Lydia Lascano, ICM Treasurer- CWS National |
Endorsed by:
