PRESS STATEMENT
November 30, 2006

ON THE 143rd BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF ANDRES BONIFACIO AND THE 42nd ANNIVERSARY OF THE KABATAANG MAKABAYAN (KM)

Those of us who are from the Alliance for a Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines (AJLPP) we are especially proud to celebrate the 143rd birth anniversary of the great Supremo (Supreme Leader) Andres Bonifacio, the founder of the Katipunan, which ended over 300 years of Spanish colonial rule over the Philippines.

On November 30, 1964, on his very 101st birthday, the organization of the Kabataang Makabayan (KM – Patriotic Youth), meanwhile, was founded. Subsequently, various other youth-student organizations and those in the community, such as the Samahang Demokratiko ng Kabataan (SDK), Katipunan ng Kabataang Demokratiko (KKD), Samahang Molabe (SM), Kamanyang and others, were also founded in different parts of the Philippines.

Since then, the course of Philippine history changed. Small mass actions gradually became bigger and more resonant mobilizations from October 24, 1966 to the first half of 1969 when the teachers’ strike first ignited up to the large-scale student strike which rocked the entire Philippines when the First Quarter Storm broke loose in January 1970.

It served as the Second Propaganda Movement assuming the form of a cultural revolution which rocked the reactionary system to the core. The slogans, “To Rebel Is Justified,” “Serve the People,” “People’s War Is the Answer to Martial Law,” and “The Clamor of the People – Revolution!” reverberated in all parts of the archipelago and became a clarion call to all of the people to oppose the oppressive system.

The state also responded decisively and with cruelty. It declared martial law in September 1972 and destroyed the democratic institutions that U.S. imperialism had erstwhile boasted of and sought to bring the Philippines back to the Spanish colonial period, the time of the cruel caciques and harsh masters.

However, the nascent dictatorship only lasted 14 years until it was ousted by a people’s uprising amidst the burgeoning armed struggle and mass struggle since 1972.

Thus, the revolution that Andres Bonifacio fought for is alive and well. Until today, the Filipino people continue to struggle for national freedom and democracy in the Philippines. They continue to struggle even as they are abroad and especially from within the belly of the U.S. imperialist beast.
Struggle within the Belly of the Imperialist Beast

Right after martial law, the Filipino students in UCLA formed Samahang Pilipino and Kababayan in UC Irvine in 1972. From then on other Filipino youth organizations were formed to fight and struggle for the interests of the Filipino American community, the student and youth.

From 1993, they advocated and struggled for Philippine Studies and the rights and welfare as well as the democratic interests of Filipino World War II veterans and against systemic racism like the struggle for affirmative action. Until these organizations remains the largest Filipino student organizations in the United States.

On Novermber 30, 1999, the Kabataang maka-Bayan(Pro People Youth) was formed ina Los Angeles . They continue to be one of the leaders in the anti-imperialist anti war movement and anti imperialist globalization from the “Battle of Seattle” to the the biggest anti war waves from March 2003. On their 7th year, we congratulate the KmB for their victories and expect more greater victories despite difficulties in the coming years!

Since Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed power, she had cause the death of more than 791 activists in the Philippines in a “reign of fascist terror.” This is for her mad frenzy to perpetuate herself in power like dictator Marcos. But eventually, she will fail in her schemes.

More than 30,000 Filipino patriots gave their lives during the Spanish reign of terror during the Philippine revolution from August 1896 to December 1898. The Americans killed more than 1.5 million Filipinos during the Filipino-American war from 1899 to 1916. The Filipinos lost more than 2 million people during the Second World War but like a phoenix they emerged from the ashes fo the anti-fascist war. Their fighting spirit and glorious sacrifices prevailed.

On the 143rd anniversary of Andres Bonifacio, in the name of all of those who sacrificed their lives, their limbs and gave their all for the people, we pledged to continue the unfineished revolution and free the Filipino people from the shackles of US imperialism, local feudalism and bureucrat capitalism.

Long Live Gat. Andres Bonifacio!

Onward and Fulfill the Unfinished Revolution of 1896!

AJLPP Political Secretariat
Bay Area, CA

November 30, 2006