“She ultimately chose to travel to the Philippines to volunteer with marginalized communities because she was so moved by the plight of migrant workers and understood that to truly understand and solve this, the answers are in the Philippines itself.”
TORONTO – Filipino-American activist Christina Pasion together with Indigenous Mangyan-Buhid community organizer Binay Serrano were arrested on July 30 in barangay San Isidro, Cabuyao City. According to human rights group Karapatan Southern Tagalog, police and military forces intruded early in the morning while the two were undergoing medical treatment. Authorities claimed both to have links with the New People’s Army (NPA).
In an interview, Jom Dolor, vice chairperson of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-USA, emphasized Pasion’s dedication to serving the Filipino masses. “She ultimately chose to travel to the Philippines to volunteer with marginalized communities because she was so moved by the plight of migrant workers and understood that to truly understand and solve this, the answers are in the Philippines itself,” Dolor told Bulatlat.
Born and raised in Maryland USA to Filipino migrant healthcare worker parents, Pasion grew up with a strong sense of social justice. Her family and friends described her as a role model and a protective ate or older sister to her siblings.
She is also a caring daughter and a loving wife. Pasion met her lifelong partner as a freshman in high school, and their love blossomed and deepened as they gave back to the community together. They love cooking for their friends and family.
Dedicating her life for the poor and oppressed
An artist and activist, Pasion initially aspired to become a public defender and studied public defense as a pre-law course. She became politicized with the death of Eric Garner and the anti-police brutality protests in the United States.
This has prompted Pasion to become involved with local anti-racist and anti-police brutality organizations. She later worked as a paralegal for a firm representing clients seeking workers’ compensation, but over time saw the limits of the system. During the 2022 Philippine elections, she reconnected with her Filipino roots, learning more about the history and legacy of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte.
Pasion became more involved with the Filipino community through learning about the conditions of Filipino J-1 visa teachers experiencing workplace violations, hardship, and predatory recruitment practices. During U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term, she also helped launch the campaign to defend Filipino seafarers experiencing harassment, detention, and deportation at the Port of Baltimore by the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
She is described as a “people person, approachable and easily gains the trust of people and they can let their guard down and feel at ease around her because of her sincerity.”
“She has a great sense of humor and she lights up every room she enters. She loves to cook, and she is an artist, and always wants art to reflect the lives and conditions of ordinary Filipinos and Filipino-Americans,” Dolor added.
According to Migrante USA, farmers, Indigenous Peoples, and activists in the Southern Tagalog region have for decades been regularly targeted, harassed, and even killed for defending their land against corporations seeking to seize it for profit. The migrant rights group highlighted that it is “precisely these very conditions of repression and oppression that force millions to go abroad for survival in search of a better life.”
The group said these conditions are among the reasons why millions of Filipinos leave the country. Pasion’s story is rooted in these very conditions, and her decision to return home to serve the people is not a crime.
In a statement, Migrante USA commended Pasion for her “steadfast commitment to go back home and serve those most marginalized, working alongside others to improve the conditions that are at the root of why so many of us are overseas.”
U.S. progressive groups called for the immediate release of Pasion and Serrano, and freedom from any form of torture, harassment, and any violation of their human rights. (AMU, RVO)
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