Philippines: The Contradictions of the Duterte Regime (tags)
Based on a talk delivered at All Leaders Meeting of BMP-Sanlakas-PLM at Claret Parish Church on July 13, 2016.
Struggle for National Democracy (tags)
This book by Jose Maria Sison is a historical record of the legal struggle for national liberation and democracy against U.S. imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat capitalism in the 60s and early 70s. It was the principal legal study material in discussion groups and schools of national democracy which educated the youth cadres and militants from 1967 through the First Quarter Storm of 1970 to the declaration of martial law in 1972.
A Tribute to Filipino Labor Leader Romy Castillo (tags)
Who was labor leader Romy Castillo to this young activist?
BEAUTY QUEEN AND ACTIVIST MAITA GOMEZ, PASSES AWAY. (tags)
he Former beauty queen-turned-activist Maita Favis Gomez died on Thursday from a heart attack, a family source said. Gomez won the 1967 Miss Philippines beauty pageant and represented the country in the Miss World contest in the UK. She was also a model for local fashion designer Pitoy Moreno and was even compared to the British model Twiggy.. She was married to a top San Miguel Corporation executive. But even before the declaration of martial law, she was very active in women’s causes led by the group, MAKIBAKA who picketed beauty contests during he First Quarter Storm. (FQS)
Dark years of Marcos dictatorship ‘must not be forgotten’ – victims (tags)
PHILIPPINES. On the eve of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos' 93rd birth anniversary, Filipinos appear to be forgetting his legacy of abuse, victims of human rights violations during his long rule said on Friday.
BAYAN KO IS OF THE PEOPLE, NOT FOR THE AQUINOS (tags)
I was disturbed when I first heard the news article in TV Patrol World that featured the people’s song “ Bayan Ko” and how the report was so wrong and inaccurate. It wake me up to my full senses! The news feature said, “Bayan Ko” was a poem by Jose Corazon De Jesus and the lyrics was written during the Japanese occupation.” And then I got the shock of my life again, when in the newscast of the World Tonight, they repeated the same line in a different tune by saying that “the song was composed during the Japanese occupation.” I really wondered, how does the ABS-CBN does its research or their fact checked when they boast of good reporting? This is an outright error I cannot let pass.
COMMODORE RAMON ALCARAZ, THE ADMIRAL WHO NEVER WAS (tags)
The Kilusang Dekada 70 ( KD70) composed of First Quarter Storm and martial law activists based in the United States pays tribute to Philippine Navy Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, a martial law and anti-Marcos activist. He died June 25 in Orange County, Southern California. Commodore Alcaraz is a World War II veteran and a survivor of Bataan. He belonged to PMA class 1940 and commanded the fleet of PT boats of the fledgling Philippine Commonwealth Navy that was placed under the command of USAFFE when the whole Commonwealth army as conscripted in 1941.
Julius Fortuna, An FQS stalwart/ MDP Secretary General, Dies at 60 (tags)
The Kilusang Dekada 70 ( KD70) composed of First Quarter Storm and martial law activists based in the United States pays tribute to Julius Fortuna who passed away last Tuesday, June 23 in the Philippines. He succumbed on Tuesday morning to a massive heart attack at the Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City where he was rushed after complaining of difficulty in breathing. He would have turned 61 on July 30 this year. He was a member of the national council of the militant Kabataang Makabayan (KM) in the late ’60s and later served as secretary-general of the Movement for a Democratic Philippines, the coordinating body of radical groups that organized the massive demonstrations now collectively known as the First Quarter Storm of 1970.
FQS 39th Anniversary, Jan 30-31, 1970 (tags)
We the activist from the Kilusang Dekada 70 (KD70) remembers that thirty-nine years ago, on January 30-31, 1970, from the night of January 30 to the early morning of January 31, 1970 fought the Philippine police and army forces who attacked the progressive forces in what is now known in history as the Battle of Mendiola. Four activist were killed and more than 150 were wounded by gunfire and at least 600 others were arrested and jailed in the Camp Crame. Manila became a virtual military camp but the activist were not cowed and the series of mass actions were launched now collectively known as the First Quarter Storm of 1970.
ACTIVIST CONTINUE PROTESTS THROUGHOUT CHRISTMAS (tags)
Activists here continue their unrelenting advocacy in support of various causes and in protest of other issues even as the community savors Christmas and the advent of a new year. The Filipino Veterans Support Bill, or SB 3689, remains as the foremost concern of the Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV). Despite failing energy, living FilVets stay active on the road, making their presence felt in mass actions and community gatherings, and taking the opportunity to speak their minds. On December 8, JFAV announced the formation of a partner organization, the Association of Widows, Advocates and Relatives for Equality (Aware) at a meeting held at the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center (HPMC) here. In San Francisco, FilVets Gomer Bondad and Reggie Nacua, with activists Ago Pedalizo and Violy Reyes, discussed the seemingly unresolved impasse on the lump sum clause of SB 36879, now pending in the US Congress, at a community meeting held at the ABS-CBN studio in Redwood City last December 10
FREE RANDALL ECHANIS AND ALL POLITICAL DETAINEES! (tags)
The recent charades, so called arrest and hospital detention and then the eventual release of Jocjoc Bolante after he was deported back to Manila by US immigration authorities truly reflects the ills of a justice system under rule of the puppet US-Arroyo regime in the Philippines. The Kilusang Dekada 70 vehemently condemns the recent travesty of justice. We ask- why is it so easy for this government play charades and masquaredes in the Congress and in the courts than to listen to the cries for justice coming from victims of enforced disappearance, torture and unjust imprisonme
With heavy heart but with great resolve, we in the First Quarter Storm Network (FQSN) in the United States grieve the demise of one of our dear friend, comrade and mentor, Bayani Abadilla who passed away last May 14. I was honored to work with and spend time with Ka Bay during the tumultuous but outstanding time of the First Quarter Storm from 1970. Bay was so respected because he was a pioneer activist leader from MLQD since the 1960’s. One of the founders of the Samahan ng Bagong Kabataan (SBK) of MLQU, he led the students of the said university in uniting with the Muslim students against the policies of the administration and gathering the students against US imperialism and the puppet US-Marcos regime before and during the FQS.
FQSN-USA Statement on the 38th Anniversary of The First Quarter Storm (FQS) “Battle of Men (tags)
We the activist from the First Quarter Storm Network-USA remembers that thirty-eight years ago, on January 30-31, 1970 fought the Philippine police and army forces who attacked the progressive forces in what is now known in history as the Battle of Mendiola. Two years after, on September 21, 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial in the Philippines and plunged the country into 14 years of dictatorship and blatant fascism. Today, Philippine president Gloria Macapagal –Arroyo is trying to institute another kind of martial law, an undeclared martial law in the guise of fighting the “US war Against Terror”. FQS activist like Randall Echanis, Elizabeth Principe, Philip Limjoco, Leo Velasco and others were arrested without charges and held in jail. Militant activist who are serving the people are being thrown in jail and incarcerated.
FILIPINO EDUCATOR ASSAILS ARROYO DICTATORSHIP IN THE PHILIPPINES (tags)
World-renowned Filipino educator Dr. Francisco Nemenzo, former president of the University of the Philippines and head of the coalition, LABAN NG MASA, urges the formation of a revolutionary transitional government to replace the corrupt, brutal and illegitimate Arroyo regime backed by Bush neocons and predatory corporate elite. The following article provides a background to Dr. Nemenzo's principled critique of U.S.-Arroyo State terrorism.
TOOLKIT FOR DISMANTLING THE ARROYO KILLING MACHINE IN THE PHILIPPINES (tags)
On this May 14 election week, the brutal Arroyo regime in the Philippines backed by the Bush administration is facing the people's judgment for "crimes against humanity." This essay reflects on themes and issues surrounding the crisis of the neocolonial polity in the context of Bush's war of terror and barbaric, predatory globalized capital's assault on the peoples of the world.
Uphold the Militant and Revolutionary Tradition of the FQS, Remember Mendiola, 1970! (tags)
-MAKIBAKA, HUWAG MATAKOT! With these as the battle cry, on January 30 and 31, 1970, during the indignation marches and rallyist, angry students and youth defending themselves again from unprovoked attacks by the military and police as well as water-housing firemen stormed the gates of Malacanang. Using a captured fire engine, the rammed the gates and made it inside the compound of the palace.
Pesante-EFJP Los Angeles Remembers Mendiola Massacre (tags)
Filipinos and their solidarity allies militantly remembered the 20th year of the Mendiola Massacre of January 22, 1987, solemnly paid tribute to the 820 victims of political killings in the Philippines and reaffirmed their solidarity to the people’s struggle in the Philippines last night, January 22, 2007 at Remy’s on Temple Art Gallery in Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles.
Pesante-EFJP Los Angeles Remembers Mendiola Massacre 20th Year and Political Killing Vict (tags)
Filipinos and their solidarity allies militantly remembered the 20th year of the Mendiola Massacre of January 22, 1987, solemnly paid tribute to the 820 victims of political killings in the Philippines and reaffirmed their solidarity to the people’s struggle in the Philippines last night, January 22, 2001 at Remy’s on Temple Art Gallery in Historic Filipino town, Los Angeles. Scores of Filipino Americans and their solidarity allies held a 20-minute ecumenical service led by Rev. Frs. Joe Tronco, Dennis and Rene De Guzman. A 12-minute short film “ The Golf War” explaining the situation of the Philippine peasantry was also shown.
ON THE 143rd BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF ANDRES BONIFACIO AND THE 42nd ANNIVERSARY OF THE KM (tags)
Those of us who are from the Alliance for a Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines (AJLPP) 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.
Commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the October 24th Movement of 1966 (tags)
The First Quarter Storm Network-USA (FQSN) militantly commemorate the forty years anniversary of the October 24 Movement of 1966. We pay the highest homage to that movement participants living or departed that shook the foundations of the rotten and anti-people system in the Philippines that supported the US aggression in Vietnam and other parts of the world.
Pagpatay Kay Sotero Llamas, Kagagawan ng Rehimeng US-Arroyo-Pangkating Ermit (tags)
Pataksil na pinatay isang grupo ng mamamatay tao si si Sotero Llamas ng Bicol ng walang kalaban-laban. Isang malaking karuwagan na naman sa ngalan ng nagpapatuloy na kampanya ng terorismo ni Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ang itinalang krimen ng pangkating Ermita-Gonzales-Senga-Lumibao laban sa sambayanan..
Pesante-USA-- Pagpatay Kay Sotero Llamas, Kagagawan ng Rehimeng US-Arroyo- (tags)
Pataksil na pinatay isang grupo ng mamamatay tao si si Sotero Llamas ng Bicol ng walang kalaban-laban. Isang malaking karuwagan na naman sa ngalan ng nagpapatuloy na kampanya ng terorismo ni Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ang itinalang krimen ng pangkating Ermita-Gonzales-Senga-Lumibao laban sa sambayanan..
NDFP condemns cowardly murder of Ka Teroy Llamas (tags)
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) strongly condemned Monday the cowardly murder of Sotero "Ka Teroy" Llamas and the almost daily killings of leaders and members of the left movement, political party lists, the media and the church, which it said is perpetrated by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's deat squads. In a statement issued by Luis Jalandoni, chairperson of the negotiating panel of the NDFP, he stated that Ka Teroy served as adviser to the negotiating panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). As adviser to the NDFP, Ka Teroy was covered by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) signed by both the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines. As holder of JASIG, Ka Teroy should be protected by the JASIG.
PAHAYAG NG PESANTE-USA HINGGIL SA PAGPATAY KAY SOTERO LLAMAS (tags)
pinahayag ni Vener Malabanan ang pakikiramay ang Pesante-USA sa mga naulila at kaanak ni Ka Teroy. Bilang isang kasama sa First Quarter Storm (FQS) ng 1970 sa Bicol kasama nina Amor Espinas, Romulo at Ruben Jallores, Bodjie Jimenez, Francisco Portem, Cezar Gavanzo, Juan Escandor, Mayor Johnson So at iba ang martir ng kilusan, isa siya sa mga nagpundar ng kilusang magsasaka sa Bicol at nagsulong ng armadong pakikibaka sa matagal na panahon.Ngunit ang tao at ang bayan ngayon ay lumalaban. Ang pagpatay sa may 225 na aktibista mula noong 2005 ay mga baga sa apoy ng pakikibaka ng masa tungo sa ganap na kalayaan at demokrasya. Ibaling ang pamimighati sa rebolusyonaryong katatagan!
FILIPINOS IN THE U.S.A. AND AROUND THE WORLD: WHENCE AND WHITHER? (tags)
About ten million Filipinos are now scattered in the U.S. and around the world, chiefly as exploited migrant labor. Meanwhile, 85 million Filipinos--with the exception of a tiny privileged minority--are sufffering and resisting the current repressive regime in a rapidly deteriorating neocolonized social order. The Philippines has one of the most durable and vibrant revolutionary traditions in the whole world--the first Asian people to revolt against Western colonialism. 4.1 million Filipinos died opposing U.S. domination in the Filipino-American War at the turn of the last century. Today Filipinos are engaged in a popular democratic revolutionary process against U.S. imperialism and its local agents. Can overseas Filipinos contribute to the radical transformation of a world afflicted by the atrocities and terrors of global capitalism?