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PSNA Philippine Solidarity Network of Aotearoa |
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PSNA Philippine Solidarity Network of Aotearoa |
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Issue Number 24, August 2004
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Kapatiran Issue No. 24, August 2004 OBITUARY PSNA expresses our
condolences to Maxine Gay, for the death of her mother, Ngaire
Duggan, who died of a heart attack, in Timaru,
in July 2004. She was 82. Back in 2002, PSNA toured
Emilia Dapulang, a leader of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU -
May First Movement) trade union confederation. In her
capacities as both a longstanding PSNA member and a
national trade union leader, Maxine played a key role in
that tour. For several days she drove Emilia through the
North Island, meeting workers in factories, speaking at
public meetings and talking to the media. They were
accompanied by Ngaire, who was then 80. It might be
considered unusual by New Zealanders to take your Dear
Old Mum along on a political trip, but for Emilia this
was wonderful, and entirely the normal practice in
Philippine culture. She and Ngaire got on like a house on
fire, with the latter treating Emilia like another
daughter. They had a highly memorable few days and it
certainly wasn't all work. They squeezed in visits to
several tourist spots and provided Emilia with one of the
highlights of her life - her first ever experience with
snow (which Filipinos only know from Christmas cards, the
real thing doesn't exist in the tropical Philippines, not
even on the highest mountains), when they made a sidetrip
up to a skifield (Maxine and Emilia were definitely the
odd couple among the female skiers, with Maxine in a
skirt and Emilia a suit). |
