Comprehensive Study Notes on the Buklod Organization and the History of Women in Olongapo City

Organizational Background and History of Bookload

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Vision, Mission, and Institutional Goals

• Vision Statement: A country characterized by justice and freedom from all forms of exploitation, abuse, and discrimination against women across economic, political, cultural, and gender spheres.

• Mission Statement: To change the situation of women, e9specifically focusing on victims of trafficking, prostitution, and gender-based violence. This mission is pursued through education, seminar training, and various advocacy programs.

• Primary Goals: To increase the interest and participation of women, including victims of prostitution and trafficking, in social and political life.

Programmatic Activities and Advocacy

• Community Outreach:

  • During the era of the military bases, the organization conducted bar visits $2$ times per week.

  • Home visits were conducted $2$ times per week.

  • Street outreach for freelance workers was conducted $1$ time per week.

• Membership Statistics: At the time of organization, Bookload had approximately $500$ members. Since the withdrawal of the military bases, membership has decreased to approximately $50$ women and their children. Currently, there are around $50$ bars operating in Olongapo City.

• Educational Initiatives: Focus is placed on rights awareness and health education for women working in bars.

• Direct Services:

  • School Assistance: The organization provides school materials for children of members to ensure they can graduate. This is not a full scholarship; mothers are encouraged to maintain responsibility for their children’s education.

  • Livelihood Training: Training includes sewing and soap making. The Department of Labor previously provided sewing machines. Recycled materials are often used in production. Products such as bags and wallets were historically sold to Guam University.

  • Relief Operations: Provision of relief goods, such as mats and food, during typhoons and floods. The office itself has been subject to flooding, recently remaining unusable for a period due to stagnant water.

• Networking and Legislative Lobbying: Bookload is an active member of several networks, including:

  • International Women’s Network Against Militarism.

  • Philippines Women Network on Peace and Security.

  • Philippines Against Child Trafficking (PACT).

  • Coalition Against Women Trafficking Asia Pacific.

  • Local Development Council and Local Child Protection in Olongapo.

• Legal Successes and Ordinances: The organization has helped lobby for laws including the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and the Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC). In Olongapo City, they have secured ordinances on anti-bullying and the Safe Space Act (anti-sexual abuse) and are currently lobbying for an anti-discrimination ordinance.

Impact of the U.S. Military Presence and Legal Agreements

• Base Withdrawal ($1991$ - $1992$): The military peace treaty was not signed in $1992$, and $12$ senators voted against the continuation of the bases. US military forces left the Philippines at that time.

• Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA): Established in $1998$, this agreement involves joint exercises between U.S. and Philippine military forces. Military personnel are allowed rest and recreation (R&R) periods during their exercises, which often last one week with exercises every three days and four days of recreation.

• Crimes and Human Rights Violations:

  • USS East/East SEC Incident ($2005$): A case where a woman was raped inside a van by a U.S. military man while five other American servicemen watched. The woman was trapped inside the vehicle during the assault.

  • Jennifer Laude Case ($2014$): A transgender woman was murdered in a hotel in Olongapo City. Bookload supported protests to hold the U.S. military accountable, though the VFA complicates domestic prosecution.

Personal Case Studies: Member Experiences

• Michelle Abanador: A single mother of $6$ children. She previously worked as a freelance waitress in bars but found the salary insufficient to support her family. After joining Bookload and attending empowerment seminars, she transitioned out of street work. She worked for $4$ years in housekeeping at Saint Jude Hospital and currently works as a housekeeper $3$ to $4$ times per week.

• Brenda Moreno: An Amerasian whose father was an American serviceman and mother was a Filipina bar worker. She was adopted at a young age and stopped her education after elementary school because her Form $137$ records were not transferable. She faced significant discrimination and teasing in Manila due to her appearance. She eventually returned to Olongapo, worked briefly in bars (including a disco for Black Americans), and joined Bookload as an organizer. Recently, she was diagnosed with endometrial or cervical cancer and underwent $6$ rounds of chemotherapy and $25$ radiation treatments.

Current Organizational Challenges and Sustainability

• Funding Shortages: Regular funding ended around $2015$. The organization currently operates on a volunteer basis with no regular external funding. COVID-19 significantly disrupted operations, and productivity in sewing has ceased due to broken machines that are too expensive to repair.

• Resource Management: For seminars, the organization currently requests venues from local government officials or the Barangay (where Alma works as a peace organizer). Food for seminars is sometimes donated by local politicians during election periods.

• Media Presence: The organization hosts a radio program every Sunday called "Voices of Women and Children" in Olongapo. The program is conducted entirely in Tagalog.

Questions & Discussion

• Student Introductions:

  • Jerry: Quarter Pinoy student at UCSD studying Pacific history.

  • Paul: UCSD student with family in the Philippines.

  • Evan: Second-year half-Korean student at UCSD.

  • Alina: UCSD student interested in underrepresented Pacific history.

  • Victoria: Final-year student with grandparents from Indonesia.

  • Darius: San Diego native interested in his grandparents' immigration history.

  • Kalia: Fourth-year student with family from Hawaii and Japan.

  • Giancarlo: Fourth-year history student from Los Angeles.

  • Mohammed: Rising third-year interested in Philippine history.

  • Trane: Fourth-year public health student currently in Vietnam.

  • Marisol: International business major interested in history.

• Inquiry on Donations: Students inquired regarding methods for financial contribution. The leadership confirmed that while regular funding is absent, they continue to seek small grants and rely on networking with friends for materials like school supplies for children.