SC Justice Quisumbing to Speak
at FFW 54th Anniversary Fete

Supreme Court Associate Justice Leonardo A.
Quisumbing will be the guest of honor during the
54th anniversary celebration of the Federation of
Free Workers (FFW). The country’s largest
independent labor federation, FFW shall celebrate
its founding anniversary today at the Occupational
Safety and Health Center, North Avenue, Quezon
City.

Before being appointed to the High Court, Justice
Quisumbing served as Labor and Employment
Secretary in the early 90’s, where he met the
leaders of FFW.

To kick off the celebration, the FFW will hold a
motorcade starting at 8:00 am at the Liwasang
Bonifacio in Manila, traversing Espana, Quezon
Avenue, EDSA, and North Avenue. A mass will be
held when the motorcade reaches the OSHC with
Rev.
Fr. Catalino Arevalo, SJ as celebrant.

The celebration focuses on the theme: “Continuing
to Empower the Filipino Worker as a Trade Union
Social Movement” and serves to launch the yearlong
activity that will culminate with the celebration
of the federation’s 55th Anniversary in 2005.

“As highlight of the celebration, the FFW will
confer to its Founder and President Emeritus Juan
C. Tan the Free Workers Most Outstanding
International Trade Union Leadership Award,” Atty.
Allan Montano, FFW National Vice President and
chair of the Anniversary Committee announced.

FFW National President and former labor sector
representative in Congress Ramon J. Jabar, will
receive the Outstanding National Trade Union
Award, while Grace Savella, president of the
Central Philippine University Rank and File Labor
Union and FFW Vice President for the Visayas, will
be recognized with the Outstanding Trade Union
Leadership
Award.

Established on June 19, 1950 in Manila by Tan and
Fr. Walter Hogan, a Jesuit priest from the Ateneo
de Manila University, the FFW has grown nationwide
and has a membership of 100,000 from the various
local unions, trade federations and basic sectoral
organizations.

The FFW is affiliated with the Brotherhood of
Asian Trade Unionists (BATU) where Tan has served
as president since the 60’s; and with the World
Confederation of Labor (WCL). Mr. Tan is the only
Filipino to have served as General Secretary of
the WCL and held the position for three terms.

June 25, 2004