The UP Asian Center in partnership with the Philippines-Palestine Friendship Association (PPFA), will be holding "Viva Palestina! A Solidarity Event for Palestine" on 22 March 2026. The discussion and side events will be held from 1 - 5 PM, while the solidarity concert will be from 5 - 8 PM, PST (GMT+8), at the GT-Toyota Asian Center Auditorium. Tickets are priced at 150 Pesos, but donations more than the amount is welcome. Proceeds from the event will go toward supporting solidarity campaigns and initiatives for the Palestinian cause.
ABOUT THE EVENT
While October 2023 marked a decisive flashpoint that drew global attention back to Palestine, the crisis did not begin there. It is the outcome of decades of occupation, forced displacement, and systematic dispossession. The Al-Aqsa resistance emerged within this long struggle against entrenched military control and U.S.-backed Israeli aggression. By 2025, the siege on Gaza had escalated into a crisis of global proportions. Israel has used starvation as a weapon of war, the settler-violence and military raids in other occupied territories marks an unprecedented level of human suffering and mass civilian death. U.S. President Donald Trump’s so-called “Board of Peace,” composed of billionaires and technocrats, has proven to be more illegitimate after the recent inclusion of wanted war criminal Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Their proposed “master plan” advances glossy redevelopment schemes even as the territory itself is being systematically devastated. Israeli forces have continued bombing shelters, undermining ceasefire efforts and reinforcing the humanitarian catastrophe. Thousands have been killed, more than 80% of Gaza’s buildings have been damaged or destroyed, and hospitals, schools, and essential infrastructure lie in ruins.
Our own government is expanding its military and economic ties with Israel. Under Marcos Jr., the Philippines emerged one of the largest buyers of Israeli arms in the Asia-Pacific, with over USD 1.05 billion in imports —weaponry that is deployed domestically in counterinsurgency operations, militarizing and displacing local communities. Marcos was also invited by Donald Trump to join the “Board of Peace,” while plans for direct flights between Israel and Manila further cement these ties—all as destruction continues across Palestine. As a nation shaped by centuries of U.S. imperial domination, Filipino solidarity with Palestine must be stronger. We draw strength from the unyielding courage of the Palestinian people who refuse to be controlled or silenced.
The Philippines-Palestine Friendship Association (PPFA) is a network of Filipino organizations and individuals dedicated to building people-to-people solidarity with Palestine. Last year, we marked our 10th anniversary with the campaign “From the Philippines to Palestine: Fight for Freedom, End Genocide,” highlighting the shared struggles of Filipino and Palestinian peoples against U.S. imperialism and for national liberation. Through public awareness initiatives and collaboration with advocacy groups, peace organizations, and international networks, we strengthened unity and coordinated joint actions in support of both peoples’ struggles. We also commemorated the second anniversary of the October 7 Al-Aqsa Flood, mobilizing networks to resist Zionism and U.S. imperialism, and actively endorsed the International People’s Tribunal for Palestine, “Right to Resist: The Palestinian People vs. The Zionist Occupation and The U.S. Government,” held last November 22-23, 2025 in Barcelona.
As part of our ongoing months-long campaign, we are organizing Viva Palestina! A Solidarity Event for Palestine on March 22 (Sunday) aimed at broadening public participation through cultural exchange and connecting with diverse Filipino communities advocating for Palestine. The full-day event, venue to be announced, will begin with a discussion among students, youth, cultural groups, and community members from various universities and academic networks. The day will continue with workshops and side-events led by Filipino-Palestinian partners, Palestinian refugees, and advocacy organizations, and will conclude with an evening cultural program showcasing music, art, and performances as expressions of solidarity.
Target Audience
The event is open to everyone who stands for the Filipino and Palestinian peoples’ right to freedom, justice, and genuine peace. The range of participants may include:
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- Youth and students
- Academic community
- Cultural and advocacy groups
- Filipino-Palestinian communities
- Interfaith communities
- Sectoral groups
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