The following article is reprinted from the Mar. 7, 2007 edition of Ang Bayan, the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines. (link to original article)

On the occasion of the 99th International Women's Day
Celebrate the victories of the Philippine women's movement!

Filipino women are celebrating this year significant victories in the advancement of their welfare and interests. Thousands of women are expected to take to the streets in various parts of the country to highlight these victories and affirm their determination to continue their struggle despite the US-Arroyo regime's unabated campaign of repression.

Makibaka (Makabayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan) spokesperson Ka Aleta Alvino said it is but right to celebrate the victories of the women's movement against the US-Arroyo regime's pro-imperialist, exploitative, repressive and antipeople policies. Ka Aleta emphasized the large-scale participation of women in the fight against the regime's push for charter change, the dismissal of impeachment charges against Arroyo and many more.

The women's movement showed strength and determination despite the unparalled hardship and suffering brought upon them and their families by the Arroyo regime's all-out war, fascist killings and terrorism.

Ka Aleta condemned the Arroyo regime's unabated violence against women. Since 2001, 83 women, mostly from various women's organizations, have been killed.

Twenty women were killed last year. Fifty four of those killed were children. Meanwhile, 33 women are among the 150 desaparecidos. There are hundreds of mothers who have lost their children, wives who have lost husbands, and children who have lost fathers and brothers.

Women are among those who lead the organization of victims' relatives who are determined to make the US-Arroyo regime pay for its crimes. They have bravely defended human rights, exposed the regime's crimes and called out for justice.

Ka Aleta added that the Arroyo regime is indiscriminate in its oppression of women and the rest of the Filipino people. She noted that even the women's sectoral representative in Congress was seriously harassed. In February 2006, Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza, along with five other progressive party representatives was charged with rebellion. Maza and the rest had to reside for two months inside the Batasan Complex to evade arrest. Despite this, the people's representatives did not back down. Ka Aleta praised Maza for defying Malacañang's dictate to remain in the Batasan Complex when she traveled to the Senate to witness the signing of a bill she sponsored. Not long afterwards, the state had no choice but to release the "Batasan 5."

Ka Aleta considers as a major victory for Filipino women the conviction in a local court of the American soldier who raped "Nicole." Women's organizations stood by Nicole during her fight for justice, defended her from attacks against her credibility and from the Arroyo regime's attempts to discredit her if not bribe her and her family. With the help of her supporters, Nicole remained absolutely steadfast. Her victory was celebrated by women and the entire nation. Nicole, her family, lawyers and supporters are determined to continue with the fight after the US and the Arroyo regime disregarded the sentence imposed by the court.

Nicole's victory is a small part of a bigger challenge--for women and the entire nation--to resist the Visiting Forces Agreement, US military intervention in the country and unequal relations between US imperialism and the Philippines. Ka Aleta said these are just a few of the many victories won by the women's movement in the past year. They show women's determination and militancy in advancing the interest and welfare of the nation. Local and national demands and standpoints aired by women can no longer be simply ignored. Their strength reflects the growing role of women, especially the women proletariat, in the nation's politics, culture and economy.