Group: No to Balikatan in Clark, Floridablanca

ANGELES CITY — A farmers group has opposed the Balikatan military exercises between the United States and Philippines, particularly those to be conducted in Clark and Floridablanca.
The Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson (Farmers’ Alliance in Central Luzon) or AMGL said the military exercises would also be held in Subic in Zambales; Crow Valley in Camp O’Donnel in Capas, Tarlac; and Fort Magsaysay in Laur, Nueva Ecija.
AMGL members joined the protest caravan led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) against the Visiting Forces Agreement and Balikatan military exercises. The caravan, coming from Manila, proceeded to Basa Air Base and Clark.
“The areas of Balikatan exercises are usually where farmers, fisherfolk and indigenous people get their livelihood. During these dangerous exercises, they are banned from attending to their crops or fishing at the seas, thus, it affects their livelihood,” said Joseph Canlas, AMGL chairman.
The group said military reservations such as of Clark Airbase in Pampanga, Crow Valley in Tarlac and Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija include lands that are being cultivated by farmers and indigenous Aetas, while the bay area in Zambales near Subic and San Antonio town are usual fishing grounds to communities along the bay.
“The Balikatan exercises treat farmers and fisherfolk as mere pests as they are totally driven off their lands. Their rights to livelihood are totally trampled upon. We totally condemn this recurring incident,” Canlas said.
Canlas said the Clark reservation covers 59,600 hectares, while Crow Valley covers 17,814 hectares. Moreover, the Fort Magsaysay military reservation covers 35,000 hectares reaching the Pacific Ocean, including the Sierra Madre mountain ranges and 12 kilometers of coastline.
In Crow Valley, the group said an Aeta community who had ancestral claim was displaced when the Department of National Defense (DND) rejected it. The American forces from Combat Logistics Battalion 3 recently constructed Camp Palacio in Crow Valley, equipped with fiber optics technology for communication.
AMGL said farmers in the region, as well as the country’s citizen have no benefit from the Balikatan exercises and VFA that led to it.
The group said its objectives are to secure its base in Southeast Asia to exploit untapped resources such as oil and natural gas, guard against China and North Korea and to use the country as its base to launch wars of aggression.
Aside from establishing its geo-political base in Southeast Asia, AMGL said the exercise aims to threaten the resurging movement of farmers in the region.
The group added that the Aquino government plans to convert major areas of Central Luzon into industrial and commercial hubs that would evidently displace many farmers. It is initiated by the implementation of Metro Luzon Urban Beltway (MLUB) and North Luzon Agri-Business Quadrangle that included the construction of North Luzon Expressway (NLEx), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx), Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx), Central Luzon Expressway (CLEx) and North Luzon East Expressway (NLEx East).
“Aside from these highway projects, president Aquino is also promoting mining that seriously damages the environment, displaces farmers and plunders our natural resources,” Canlas said.
AMGL said the Aquino government had lined up anti-farmer and anti-people policies and programs that would undoubtedly drive the region’s people to resist and protest, thus the former is using the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), Balikatan military exercises and its counter-insurgency program Oplan Bayanihan to thwart the looming unrest.
“President Aquino is a traitor to the people of Central Luzon and the country. He has sold the future of our children and of the next generation. The peasantry and the people of the region should join the nationwide call to junk the VFA and Balikatan,” Canlas said.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2012/04/17/group-no-balikatan-clark-floridablanca-216602
Wine is becoming increasingly popular in Manila and other cities in the Philippines. Wine lovers in Manila travel to the north to visit Clark, Pampanga to shop for good and rate vintage wines at good duty-free prices. The most frequently visited liquor shop in Manila and wine shop in Pampanga is Clark Wine Center. This highly recommended wine shop located outside Manila near Angeles City, Pampanga in North Luzon is known for offering a great selection of fine vintage wine that is good quality and good value for money also.

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Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

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Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
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Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
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Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

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