'Magnificent 12' to be feted on 20th year of Senate rejection of US bases

Nationalist organizations and activist individuals will mark the 20th anniversary of the Philippine Senate's vote rejecting the RP-US Military Bases Treaty on September 16 at Club Filipino in Greenhills. Dubbed "Kasarinlan Ipaglaban!", the activity is being organized by the Jose W. Diokno Foundation, the Lorenzo Tañada Foundation and the Constantino Foundation, together with various peoples organizations. The three foundations earlier organized the "Kasarinlan Bike Ride," where 100 cyclists successfully toured almost 190 kilometers from Manila to Clark to Subic during the weekend. The bike ride ended with a prayer and a pledge by the cyclists to keep alive the memory of the decades-long struggle to boot out the US military bases, which culminated in the September 16, 1991 senate vote. The Club Filipino gathering expects the participation of over 200 guests, including members of the Magnificent 12, the senators who thumbed down a proposed treaty between the Philippines and the US which would have indefinitely extended American control over facilities such as the Subic Naval Base. Then a mayor of Makati, Vice President Jejomar Binay has confirmed his participation on Friday. Binay remains an active member of the progressive group of lawyers called Mabini, which includes ex-senator Rene Saguisag, one of the Magnificent 12. "We intend to honor with this event not just the 12 senators but the sacrifice and struggle as well of countless nationalist individuals and groups across generations. They stood on the frontline to assert the nation's dignity and interest," said Renato Constantino, Jr. of the Constantino Foundation. "New threats loom in the horizon yet the issue of national sovereignty appears to have receded from the public's eye. With this event, we hope once more to renew national memory, which is a prerequisite to informed debate and participation," Constantino said. Excerpts from the speeches delivered by the Magnificent 12 will be read during the event as the former senators are called to the podium and share a few words. Anti-bases songs will also be played while films made about the issue are shown on a widescreen. (Press Release)