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
The growing array of hotel resort accommodation, recreation and entertainment facilities, places to unwind and relax, fine dining and family restaurants, bars and pubs makes it increasing easy for tourists and visitors from Manila to spend quality time in a place of leisure in Clark, Pampanga.

To many visitors from Manila, a place of leisure or a good hotel or resort in Pampanga must be located in a city that is safe, clean and not so noisy. Convenience and accessibility are important considerations in choosing a holiday destination in Philippines. Clark Freeport is probably the easiest tourist destination to reach from Manila. Clark also has its own international airport with dozens of daily flights connecting Clark directly with Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Bangkok, Malaysia and South Korea. Clark is home to some of the best golf courses in Pampanga. Although golf continues to be one of the reasons why visitors from Manila travel to Pampanga, residents of Angeles City, Subic and Bulacan travel to Clark not just to play golf in one of the best golf courses in Pampanga but also to relax and unwind in the best resort in Philippines.

Hotels, resorts, vacation rentals, fine dining and family restaurants, bars and pubs, entertainment, nightlife, place of leisure, sports and recreation facilities in Clark and Angeles Pampanga are showcased for the convenience of visitors planning a getaway from Manila or a weekend out of town to relax and unwind in a clean and safe city.

Spa is not the only way to unwind for people who are stressed out by Manila traffic and noise pollution.

Clearwater Resort & Country Club offers several styles of accommodation from US$65 up inclusive of breakfast for two at the beautiful Breakfast Garden Restaurant overlooking the large Clearwater lake and beach. This is a good rendition of the lifestyle that the Americans left behind after they left the Clark Airbase. A good short description of this lifestyle is suburban laid-back slow-paced clean living, very suitable for tourists and guests looking for a way to unwind from the stress of living in Manila.

In a city like Manila, most residents rely on visits to spa and beauty parlor to unwind and relax. But with a short getaway to Angeles City Clark Pampanga one can de-stress by enjoying beautiful outdoor amenities of this beach resort, savoring what nature can offer.

For reservations, comments and inquiries,

Clearwater Resort & Country Club
Creekside Road corner of Centennial Road,
Central Business District, Clark Freeport Zone,
Pampanga, Philippines 2023

Tel: (045)599-5949 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177

Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay

http://www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Email: Inquiry@ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Getting to this hotel in Clark Philippines
After entering Clark Freeport from Subic, Manila, Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along Clark’s main highway MA Roxas, passing Clark’s largest wine shop called Clark Wine Center on your right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, you will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on your right just 200m down. Traffic in Clark Philippines is light so it should be quite easy for get to this hotel in Clark Philippines.

For inquiries and bookings, click here to contact Clearwater Resort now

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

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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. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
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Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

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