Today marks the 158th birth anniversary of Filipino revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio, who led the oppressed and exploited masses in waging armed resistance to drive away the Spanish colonizers. Bonifacio upheld the aspirations of the working class, peasants and other democratic classes. He was imbued by the progressive bourgeois democratic spirit of the French revolution demanding “liberty, equality, fraternity.”
We also celebrate today the 57th anniversary of the Kabataang Makabayan (KM), the mass organization of patriotic youth, the most resilient organization allied with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). Throughout its history, the KM has served as a trusted partner of the CPP in arousing, organizing and mobilizing the youth and serving as a deep pool for training and recruiting communist cadres. Let us extol the thousands of young patriots and communists from the ranks of KM who became commanders and fighters of the New People’s Army (NPA), as well as key cadres of the Party leading mass struggles and other key tasks in waging the people’s democratic revolution.
The Filipino youth must recall the life and sacrifices of Andres Bonifacio and emulate his boundless love for the motherland. They must be inspired by his bravery and themselves draw the courage to fight for freedom and all that is just.
Remembering Bonifacio and upholding his life of resistance remains relevant as the country remains under US-dominated neocolonial state ruled by the new illustrados and national traitors. As Bonifacio fought those who betrayed the Filipino people’s cause for freedom, so do the current generation of young Filipinos must fight those who bow to the interests of multinational corporations and banks and foreign imperialist powers and their militaries.
It is also exceedingly important for Filipinos, especially the youth, to draw inspiration from the memory of Bonifacio as they wage a fight to end the corrupt and repressive and vicious tyranny of the Dutertes and other icons of fascism. The vast majority of the people are subjected to state terrorism and violence in a vain attempt to quell their clamor for land, jobs and social justice.
As shown by Bonifacio’s life of resistance, the struggle for freedom and democracy is filled with sacrifices and hardships. Today, those who fight for the cause of national freedom and social justice face the same dangers to life and liberty. They must draw strength from the people and be inspired by the heroism of Andres Bonifacio and generations of heroes and martyrs who gave all their lives in service of the people.
PRWC Newsroom 