Outside, more than 130 Filipino protesters, mostly youth from a nearby college and high school, condemned the growing U.S. military intervention in the Philippines, including the sending of 23 U.S. military advisers to the country.

"Ushering in the U.S. military will again bring more violence to the Philippines along with prostitution and more toxic wastes," Rhonda Lee Ramiro, chair of the Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines, told KRON TV news. Members of nine organizations that formed the Bay Area Filipino Coalition for Global Justice, Not War, participated in the action.

"As the U.S. war on terrorism continues, so will the militarization of our country," said Kawal Ulandy, a youth organizer with Filipinos for Affirmative Action. Among the signs carried by the pickets were, "Defend Filipino Sovereignty!" and "U.S. bases = Terrorism in the Philippines!" Several speakers at the action pointed to the history of Washington's wars--from Vietnam to Central America and Iraq--as evidence that U.S. imperialism is the number one terrorist in the world. In addition to denouncing the U.S. bombing of Afghanistan, speakers explained that working people in the country face poverty, hunger, joblessness, lack of medical attention, and brutal repression of national minorities and Muslims.

President Arroyo is scheduled to meet with U.S. president George Bush this week. Topping the list of subjects to be discussed is increased military aid to the Philippines. "This international coalition against terrorism will enable cooperation not only in fighting terrorists in Afghanistan but also...in the Philippines," Arroyo said in a recent interview. Tipping her hat to the deep-going economic crisis in the Philippines, Arroyo stated, "While evil is the source of terrorism, evil can find its allies among the very poor."

"We need to modernize and better equip our military," Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes added.

Washington's long history of military intervention in the Philippines, includes maintaining two huge bases in the country until 1992. It backed the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled the archipelago with an iron grip from 1965-86 that featured eight years of martial law. Rising protests against the Marcos regime also led to growing opposition to Washington's military bases there.  
 
 
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