TWENTY THREE SOLID years of standing up for the rights of migrants and getting positive results really calls for a celebration! This was declared by Dolores Balladares-Pelaez when she delivered her message to more than 1000 migrant workers attending the anniversary.

The celebration held in Chater Road Central last May 18 was filled with fun and festivities contributed by more than 80 allied Filipino organizations as well as other nationalities. According to Pelaez, the victory of eleven organizations consisting the UNFARE (United Against Forced Remittance) that protested against Executive Order 857 in 1983 set the groundwork for the establishment of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong on May 12, 1985.

Now with a total membership of 25 organizations, UNIFIL has made its mark as the leading militant and progressive group that is always at the forefront of campaigns against government policies that exploit the OFWs their families.

UNIFIL was also instrumental in the formation of the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB). The AMCB consists of foreign workers from Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.

“The solidarity work of the UNIFIL will be merged with the much bigger International Migrants’ Alliance that will be held in HK next month,” she said. More encouragements and applause was given by Cynthia Abdon Tellez, the Chairperson of Gabriela Women’s Party Hong Kong when she delivered her message as the guest speaker of the anniversary.

She challenged the migrants to hold on to their victories and continue to strengthen the progressive migrant movement in Hong Kong. All these can be done through a sustained struggle to fight for their interest, their families and their countries.

Finally, UNIFIL chairperson Dolores Balladares Pelaez thanked all the organizations, individuals as well as the business sector that supported the alliance for it’s more than two decades of serving the migrants community.