BOLOGNA, Italy – The Filipino community in Italy organized a candle lighting activity to demand among others, justice for the massacre that claimed the lives of at least 57 people in Maguindanao.
The “Fiaccolata” ceremony was attended by about 200 people of various nationalities. The Filipinos and Italians were joined by people from Morocco, Romania, Bosnia, Bangladesh, Chile, and Germany.
The event held at the old Piazza del Nettuno in Piazza Maggiore, Bologna, also called for an end to the killings of journalists and activists in the Philippines and genuine and long lasting peace in Mindanao.
Around 30 journalists, civilians, lawyers and members of a political clan were among those killed in the massacre last November 23 in Maguindanao.
It was the first time that the Filipino community in Bologna led and organized a public mass action. Although held a day earlier, it was also intended to be part of the International Day Against Impunity on December 9.
Among the speakers at the peaceful and solemn rally were University Professors Gianni Sofri and Giulio Soravia; Gerardo Bombonato, president of the Association of Journalists in the Italian Region of Emilia-Romagna; Leonardo Barcelo and Bouchaib Kaline, both officials of the city and province of Bologna, respectively.
The Filipino community was represented by Adelle Ignacio, Councilor of the Province of Bologna and one of the lead organizers; Jose Avenido, president of the Federation of Filipino Associations of Bologna (FedFab) and Edwin Biglas of Migrante Sectoral Party.
At the start of the program, a child sang “One Little Candle” while candles were being lit in the Piazza. After the song, the names of the 30 journalists killed in the massacre were read.
Ignacio read the statement of the organizers saying that the activity was symbolic.
“We should not remain silent in the face of such atrocities. In one of the darkest period of our history, we light the candles as a condemnation of the violence and our desire for justice and long-lasting peace,” Ignacio said.
Sofri, an Italian professor of history explained the context surrounding the massacre for the benefit of the non-Filipino community in the crowd. He also observed how the incident gathered little attention from the European media. He said the event is one way of increasing the European's awareness of such issues.
Bombonato, representing the journalists in the region, said he usually does not go to such rallies, especially to participate because his job is to cover these events. However, what happened in the Philippines was deeply moving and he decided to join.
He said journalists are also under attack in Italy for exposing the truth, mainly scandals involving the Mafia, and he also read a poem about why people should stand up against the violation of our basic freedoms.
Excerpts from the statements of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, translated in Italian, were also read.
Kaline, a Moroccan immigrant, said that it is important as a member of the larger community of nations, to express their solidarity to the people facing such atrocities and condemn the perpetrators.
Barcelo, originally from Chile, who sought asylum in Italy after the Pinochet coup, shared his country's experience under fascist rule and the need to fight tyranny together.
During the program, many Italians who were just passing by the Fiaccolata, most of whom were doing their early Christmas shopping, stopped and listened.
The Fiaccolata also enjoyed the broad support of political, religious and regional organizations in Bologna. Among them were the Forum Immigrazione of the Partido Democratico (PD); CGIL, an institution for worker's rights; Migrante Sectoral Party; the Council of Foreigners in the Province of Bologna; El Shaddai; El Elohim; FedFab; Lafa, an organization of Laguna residents; Lampada Milan; Kakampi; Guardians; Christian Joint Fellowship; Liwanag; Flussi; and San Pedronians.
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