http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?artic...bCategoryId=204
Pinoy immigrant seeks seat in European Parliament
By Artemio Dumlao Updated April 14, 2009 12:00 AM
BAGUIO CITY , Philippines – A Filipino is running for a seat in the European Parliament representing Britain in June.
Gene Alcantara, who has been a British national since 1992, said the government has pressured immigrants and it’s difficult for them to exercise their rights as citizens of Britain and Europe.
“In this difficult time of global recession, these have created a climate of fear and uncertainty among migrants, and resentment in the wider British community, instead of acceptance and integration,” he said.
In e-mail messages, Alcantara said ethnic minorities and immigrants have been made the scapegoat for a lot of ills in British society.
“I would stress the positive contribution of migrants to Britain, harness their energies, and work on building a more inclusive and fair society that does not discriminate or exclude those who have spent their lives serving the good of this country,” he said.
Alcantara claims the media has blamed immigrants for problems in housing, healthcare and social services, and accused them of taking jobs away from citizens.
“Our first major task is to urgently encourage Filipinos living in London who are now British citizens or European citizens to register with their local council as voters,” he said.
“The next challenge would be to get them all to turn out on polling day on 4th June 2009. Thirdly, we need to encourage them to vote for the right candidate.”
Filipinos in London have sufficient numbers to secure a seat if they and their relatives and friends participate in the elections, Alcantara said.
Around 29 percent of the seven million Londoners reportedly come from ethnic minorities, and its population is the most diverse in the UK.
An estimated 200,000 Filipinos live in the United Kingdom, about 60 percent of them based in the 70-plus boroughs/districts of London.
The population of London is now estimated to be 7.5 million and turn out for the UK in the last European elections in 2004 was 38.4 percent.
Alcantara ran for Westminster Council in 1998, and stood for Parliament in West Ham in 2005. In both cases he failed to get elected, but he felt he had raised awareness among immigrants to participate in the electoral process in Britain.
Born in the Philippines, Alcantara immigrated to Britain when he was 21.
Full Version: Pinoy immigrant seeks seat in European Parliament
QUOTE(dreiiftw @ Apr 13 2009, 07:58 PM) [snapback]4198630[/snapback]
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?artic...bCategoryId=204
Pinoy immigrant seeks seat in European Parliament
By Artemio Dumlao Updated April 14, 2009 12:00 AM
BAGUIO CITY , Philippines – A Filipino is running for a seat in the European Parliament representing Britain in June.
Gene Alcantara, who has been a British national since 1992, said the government has pressured immigrants and it’s difficult for them to exercise their rights as citizens of Britain and Europe.
“In this difficult time of global recession, these have created a climate of fear and uncertainty among migrants, and resentment in the wider British community, instead of acceptance and integration,” he said.
In e-mail messages, Alcantara said ethnic minorities and immigrants have been made the scapegoat for a lot of ills in British society.
“I would stress the positive contribution of migrants to Britain, harness their energies, and work on building a more inclusive and fair society that does not discriminate or exclude those who have spent their lives serving the good of this country,” he said.
Alcantara claims the media has blamed immigrants for problems in housing, healthcare and social services, and accused them of taking jobs away from citizens.
“Our first major task is to urgently encourage Filipinos living in London who are now British citizens or European citizens to register with their local council as voters,” he said.
“The next challenge would be to get them all to turn out on polling day on 4th June 2009. Thirdly, we need to encourage them to vote for the right candidate.”
Filipinos in London have sufficient numbers to secure a seat if they and their relatives and friends participate in the elections, Alcantara said.
Around 29 percent of the seven million Londoners reportedly come from ethnic minorities, and its population is the most diverse in the UK.
An estimated 200,000 Filipinos live in the United Kingdom, about 60 percent of them based in the 70-plus boroughs/districts of London.
The population of London is now estimated to be 7.5 million and turn out for the UK in the last European elections in 2004 was 38.4 percent.
Alcantara ran for Westminster Council in 1998, and stood for Parliament in West Ham in 2005. In both cases he failed to get elected, but he felt he had raised awareness among immigrants to participate in the electoral process in Britain.
Born in the Philippines, Alcantara immigrated to Britain when he was 21.
Pinoy immigrant seeks seat in European Parliament
By Artemio Dumlao Updated April 14, 2009 12:00 AM
BAGUIO CITY , Philippines – A Filipino is running for a seat in the European Parliament representing Britain in June.
Gene Alcantara, who has been a British national since 1992, said the government has pressured immigrants and it’s difficult for them to exercise their rights as citizens of Britain and Europe.
“In this difficult time of global recession, these have created a climate of fear and uncertainty among migrants, and resentment in the wider British community, instead of acceptance and integration,” he said.
In e-mail messages, Alcantara said ethnic minorities and immigrants have been made the scapegoat for a lot of ills in British society.
“I would stress the positive contribution of migrants to Britain, harness their energies, and work on building a more inclusive and fair society that does not discriminate or exclude those who have spent their lives serving the good of this country,” he said.
Alcantara claims the media has blamed immigrants for problems in housing, healthcare and social services, and accused them of taking jobs away from citizens.
“Our first major task is to urgently encourage Filipinos living in London who are now British citizens or European citizens to register with their local council as voters,” he said.
“The next challenge would be to get them all to turn out on polling day on 4th June 2009. Thirdly, we need to encourage them to vote for the right candidate.”
Filipinos in London have sufficient numbers to secure a seat if they and their relatives and friends participate in the elections, Alcantara said.
Around 29 percent of the seven million Londoners reportedly come from ethnic minorities, and its population is the most diverse in the UK.
An estimated 200,000 Filipinos live in the United Kingdom, about 60 percent of them based in the 70-plus boroughs/districts of London.
The population of London is now estimated to be 7.5 million and turn out for the UK in the last European elections in 2004 was 38.4 percent.
Alcantara ran for Westminster Council in 1998, and stood for Parliament in West Ham in 2005. In both cases he failed to get elected, but he felt he had raised awareness among immigrants to participate in the electoral process in Britain.
Born in the Philippines, Alcantara immigrated to Britain when he was 21.
good for him,they say that the money there is equivalent to 70-100 pesos.
QUOTE(dreiiftw @ Apr 13 2009, 05:58 PM) [snapback]4198630[/snapback]
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?artic...bCategoryId=204
Pinoy immigrant seeks seat in European Parliament
Pinoy immigrant seeks seat in European Parliament
Good for him
this is a tough call-- why I avoided to comment on this. so he's trying for European Parliament??
as for the Uk one-- am not surprised he didn't get in for East Ham.. as it's even hard for Indians & Africans to become an MP-- & their countries were former colonies. ah, the Brits don't easily give anything away.
Let us campaign for him!!!
QUOTE (alexandra @ Apr 21 2009, 08:34 PM) 
this is a tough call-- why I avoided to comment on this. so he's trying for European Parliament??
as for the Uk one-- am not surprised he didn't get in for East Ham.. as it's even hard for Indians & Africans to become an MP-- & their countries were former colonies. ah, the Brits don't easily give anything away.
as for the Uk one-- am not surprised he didn't get in for East Ham.. as it's even hard for Indians & Africans to become an MP-- & their countries were former colonies. ah, the Brits don't easily give anything away.
he is just a outsider not a european
I hope he succeeds this time....
Finally, someone to represent the immigrant minorities. The European Union has many immigrants, mostly of Asian stock. The Filipino guy will most definitely be a good candidate, and I don't think living it's all about the money.
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