In two days time an elderly couple will leave a suburb of Auckland, to return home to their country the Philippines. For a short time they have stayed with whanau, and enjoyed the birth of their first born mokopuna.

In returning they will leave whanau and a new network of friends gravely concerned for their lives. The fears are well founded as the man is a union leader, a person who has worked and lived amongst the poor of his country and province, for over 30 years.

They will take the 11 hour trip home with the knowledge that just two days ago another of his colleagues was shot and now added to a list of over 800 people they call 'salvaged' - a person from the community kidnapped, tortured and murdered for organising against poverty, for challenging the US backed puppet regime of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

When asked 'Why go home when you can become a refugee here?'



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