By GENEVIEVE CANTOR and LITO RULONA Correspondents A WOMEN’S rights group is set to stage a rally today in opposition to moves to make the old city airport as a site for a US military facility allowed under the Enhance Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca). The group Gabriela said it would be staging the rally and other activities across the region on the occasion of 105th year celebration of the International Women’s Day today, and the rest of the Women’s Month. With the theme “Kababaihan Maghiusa, Batukan ang Pag-Abuso,” Gabriela’s demonstration would highlight the protest against the Edca and the use of the Lumbia airport as a site for an American military facility, said Rhodora Bulosan, the group’s spokesperson for northern Mindanao. Bulosan said the protest is a continuation of the “One Billion Rising” campaign against violence against women and children that started in Feb. 14. “We should learn from our past. Our city does not deserve a repeat of what happened because of the Subic bases. Prostitution and abuses were rampant then, and the US enjoyed tax holidays, and impunity over cases of rights violations. They even left us toxic materials and abandoned around 60,000 ‘Amerasians,’” said Bulosan. The “Amerasians,” she said, were merely seen as “fruits of prostitution and illegitimate affairs.” Bulosan said Gabriela also fears that allowing the US to set up military facilities here would expose the city to higher risks of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV-AIDS. Gabriela is also set to hold a public forum on the “continuing and systemic abuses” committed against women, subsidy for poor farmers suffering due to EL Nino, livelihood, access to health and services, the plight of vendors at Cogon and Carmen markets, and other social issues that affect women and children. At 2 pm today, the group would march from Press Freedom Monument at the capitol grounds to Divisoria. Bulosan said similar protest actions would be held in Valencia City and Malaybalay City in Bukidnon, Gingoog City, and Iligan City. “We are the Gabriela Silang of our times. Patriotic women and the people should continue the fight against foreign domination. We are calling on the people of Cagayan de Oro to live out the spirit exemplified by our local heroes like Gen. Nicolas Capistrano, Capt. Vicente Roa, Capt. Apolinar Velez and the likes who valiantly fought against American occupation in Mindanao. If only our heroes are alive today, they will also say no to Edca, and fight for national sovereignty and genuine independence,” Bulosan said.