"2022: Hopefully a serious year to address immediate problems"

"2022: Hopefully a serious year to address immediate problems"

(A New Year's Message) 

For sure everyone is still hoping for a peaceful and prosperous new year this 2022. 

For all despite this pandemic situation and most countries either getting vaccines to that of preparing for another variant, this third year of COVID19 shows that the people, although still hoping to return to their normal lives prior to the pandemic, rather end accept that there’s a need for sacrifice, to be flexible in everything just to sustain life.

To be honest, this third year of COVID19 so long as having “for the sake of” policies to prevail will always end susceptible to discontent as any other controversial policies. Since last 2020, people endure checkpoints, long queues for measly subsidies, even seeing community pantries harassed same as those who criticise government responses towards this pandemic. Even listening to a president who rather use the nighttime talk to voice out his personal rants instead of addressing problems and offer suggestions along with his “task force”, what more of having his “task force” composed of retired military men- thinking they’re the “best” people to lead COVID19 response.

But regardless of these challenges, the people still cling to the hope that this situation will suffice. As most end inoculated by the first two vaccine shots and bolstered by another, this note would say that in this 2022 hopefully everyone is prepared in their daily tasks, face new challenges, endure new risks and sacrifices. This year also marks the time people will vote for new leaders, who, as in the past, will promise heaven on earth yet they still swore at the order people strongly detested due to its corrupted and oppressive nature. However, this doesn't mean people will just stop from electing good ones who did their assignments well in ensuring the people with good roads to better access to health and social services with no names written, rather than for the sake of getting votes by bragging each project as theirs. 

To cut this note short, this writer ought to say that from these situations should be a time for the folk to realise there’s a need for sound changes, ranging from addressing the issues surrounding this pandemic to that of really building a better nation and its future yet to come. For sure everyone, in celebrating this occasion and yet enduring this situation would say that hopefully this 2022 really meant a chance to recover from this, and not some mere show off pride nor creating half-hearted agendas that obviously meant to "shut people up" especially in these times of catastrophe and crisis. 

"Of following his example by any means, than he be treated as an empty pride"

"Of following his example by any means,
than he be treated as an empty pride"

(A Rizal Day message)

At first, this note would say that Rizal's fine qualities continues to be an example of a man worthy of emulation. With his bravery and patriotism, Rizal seriously showed his love of country as he furthering the cause of freedom and the dignity and welfare of his countrymen.

Rizal had great aspirations for his country despite marred by his personal challenges. The experience of his family created an influence in his works "Noli me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo", that end almost serving as "bibles" to further the cause of the Filipino against oppression. And like his Insular and Peninsular predecessors who desired for radical changes, his works ignited a stronger sense of Nationalism and a revolution that even today continues to resonate. 

For sure the current administration would again churn some thought that Rizal will "inspire people to meet the trying challenges of today", but not surprised that the same administration fails to fulfill the message Rizal left to his people- that of ensuring its well being with Education and Labour being valued as such, worse, to see them as tyrants forcing people to live in a life of ignorance. “Our liberty will not be secured at the sword's point... We must secure it by making ourselves worthy of it. And when the people reach that height, God will provide a weapon, the idols will be shattered, tyranny will crumble like a house of cards, and liberty will shine out like the first dawn.” (from "El Filibusterismo").

Hopefully, Rizal shouldn't be reduced to some kind of a venerated being whose message being mouthed time and again as some empty pride people watched it on TV. But instead, urging people to be follow his example by any means: of seeking truth from facts, of learning while working, of being selfless in its dedication to service as a  Human and a Filipino.

"When a regime betrays the folk in order to rule them"

"When a regime betrays the folk in order to rule them"

Contrary to what they present themselves would say that their actions kept their hands soiled and bloodied. Corruption charges, rising debt, and looking after their interests at the expense of the nation would say that this outweighs their so-called "achievements" focusing much on their "legacy-building" than that of "public service." Nothing is so unworthy as a nation as allowing itself to be administered by an irresponsible clique of fools whose "change" as nothing but changing faces and phrases. The essence continues to be the same obviously- the way murderous thugs able to circumvent the law, what more justified by the system's controversial decrees just to defend a rotten order.

With this situation the folk, particularly that of the worker in the city and the peasant from the countryside suffer from worsening forms of exploitation and repression. The order and its apologists may deny this bullshitry with paper "reforms" to that of half-hearted projects. But crisis prevail as the country, like all others remains in deep mess: reeling from last 2020's global recession following supply disruptions due to COVID19 pandemic, what more of its economic lockdowns and production slowdowns. The toiling masses felt badly its effect as widespread retrenchments and layoffs, debts, and burdensome taxes along with rising costs of commodities and services resorting to unrest. Again, the order may "trying their best" to "suffice the problem" with subsidies to that of lockdowns and limits in movement. Worse, the COVID19 pandemic became an opportunity by the order to impose laws that stifle the right to dissent particularly that of the Anti-Terrorism Act and the recent arrests, killings, and harassments using the law.

It is not surprising this kind of situation, that like its predecessors, the Duterte administration has pulled the nation down to bullshitry just like his message. For folks are too tired to hear his rants and threats, this gaslighting regime doesn't matter how many innocent nor unjustly accused people being killed in the name of "war against drugs" or "war against the insurgents", if not driven into squalor with rising debt in the name of "development". Who among these apologists has any conception of the dimensions of shame that will befall the country when one day the veil has removed and thus exposing the most horrible of crimes through and through? So much for their obsession with that distorted "law and order" and "development" made these things happen- with apologists claiming "change has come" by claiming extrajudicial killings as "justice" and debt-driven development as "progress."

But the fact is, it didn't change at all as Duterte himself, the once self-proclaimed "socialist" last 2016 retains same old neoliberal policies as his predecessors do: that further deepened the backward, agrarian, semifeudal economy dependent on imported consumer and capital goods; and leaning towards resource extraction, production of semiprocessed products, and cheap labour, what more it is reinforced by his orderism that involves the use of the police and the armed forces, and supported by his legislators and the courts, all in stomping dissent whether using the "pandemic" or "anti-terrorism" as its alibis. The militarization of civilian functions with active and retired military generals played an expanded political role in defining state policies and programs, running the bureaucracy, and controlling resources and programs of state agencies along with corrupt government officials Duterte chose to defend with, as well as the trampling of "checks and balances" and parliamentary procedures that shows how the regime as firmly defending its interests regardless of various charges be it corruption to that of state terror.  

Perhaps, it becomes believable, that one must betray a people in order to rule it. Duterte betrayed people's hopes and aspirations just to keep firm in his and the entire order's interests. Whereas he claimed to be against oligarchs, the latter still continues to prevail in economic spheres especially those who side with Duterte and his neoliberal economic agenda. Duterte detested the Lopezes yes, yet mum towards the Ayalas and nods towards Ramon Ang and the Floirendos. Isn't it that ridiculous that since his apologists claiming to be against the oligarchs, then why on earth that once self-proclaimed "socialist" shook hands and leaving them unhampered? Or just because one is criticising his politics especially that of the Drug War and his myriad of rants? Again he cursed oligarchs two and fro for the country's poverty, yet like his predecessors he further liberalized trade and investment to the detriment of local business, workers and agricultural producers. He ordered the liberalization of rice and pork imports, implemented tax cuts for big corporations, buried the country deep in mountains of debt, entered onerous and anomalous infrastructure contracts, imposed additional taxes on the people, caused the depression of wages and allowed large-scale land-use conversions.

Even in foreign relations where he once claiming to be for an "independent foreign policy" turns out to be a ruse, as he shamelessly surrendered the country’s sovereignty to China by allowing it to reclaim land, build military facilities, and deploy its naval and air forces in areas within the Philippines’ territorial waters and exclusive economic zone- all despite being an appendage of United States Imperialism, perpetuating its hegemony primarily by controlling, continuing indoctrination, training, financing and provision of weapons of the armed forces, as well as maintaining its decades-old agreements. His refusal to assert and defend the country’s rights under the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS) and under the 2016 judgement of the International Arbitral Tribunal in favor of the Philippines against China showed how he shamelessly give up sovereignty in favour of consolidating interests- with China using economic assistance and partnerships, bribery, even donations of vaccines to undermine people's will in favour of the regime's. 

Need not to explain further, but the regime, what more of its standard bearer betrayed the folk that one after another gradually opened their eyes and regret their impression- and thus becomes believable rather than "unbelievable" to see this kind of situation, that of a tyrant claiming to be making changes, when in fact consolidates interests both old and new. 

Now the apologists of the regime would churn two and fro their statements defending their leader and his policies, but hopefully the folk realise that they had enough of  being under "political bondage" the way they had enough of Duterte's lewd jokes that insulted the honour of the Filipina.  

"Love over Tyranny, Hope over Catastrophe"

"Love over Tyranny, Hope over Catastrophe"

Despite the recent tragic events, people have never lost hope in having a good life from the precarious situation ever experienced. 

Be it from the recent typhoon to that of political fiascos happening in the country, the concerned is greatly reminded of the words "peace on earth and goodwill to all men". And this is not possible until humanity is cleansed of its mode of living and mutual mistrust is remedied. After all, faith in the divine providence is itself real as it manifested in various forms- especially to those who truly felt his love, power, glory. 

For sure the present order would share that same statement time and again, but for sure this is all but politicking especially in a time people are still getting concerned on controversial issues, what more of incompetent and tyrannical rulers justifying their soiled or bloodied actions as "public service". Sorry but does their call for unity in this spirit of Christmas truly matters about unity? That they wish joy in a time should be concerning about the plight of many? Or just urging to submit into their whims being tyrants look after their own interests? Sorry to vent out knowing that these people trying to be "leaders" treat constituents as that of the feudal times- as subjects. For sure Christ himself, the "star" of this occasion, doesn't want tyranny to prevail, and urges every faithful not just to "bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34).

Sorry for the thought but to be honest, when people wish for peace and goodwill, that peace and goodwill comes with justice, even it requires taking arms. They are all willing to unite, but not because of some tyrant's message, but of themselves driven by their faith, their hope, and love as a nation and as a Christian. They are all willing to partake even their lives to a cause they see as just, especially in these times of trouble. 

But regardless of these events, this note wishes that in this season of Christ's birth may he the sun of justice shine upon everyone's heart as he guide us towards salvation. True that these past events created an obstacle in everyone's lives, but despite these, this occasion isn't all about giving, sharing, feasting, nor seeing messages from tyrants trying to be "holier than thou" on everyone, but rather continue to embody the Christian spirit: that of loving one's neighbour. 

After Odette: Providing relief aid? Or plain patronage?

After Odette: Providing relief aid? Or plain patronage?

(thoughts after Typhoon Odette
and how the current administration and its politicians
still treats disaster relief and assistance as such)

At first, note expresses sympathies to the victims of Typhoon Odette last December 16 to 22 that swept communities in Eastern, Central, and Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao regions, and in Palawan.

According to reports, it stated that at its peak, Odette had maximum sustained winds of 195 km/h. Signal No. 4 and was the highest wind signal raised during the onslaught of the typhoon, which destroyed thousands of homes, agricultural fields, fishing boats, and other sources of livelihood. Worse, its destruction has worsened their grave socioeconomic conditions and will surely aggravates further poverty and hunger. 

In response, politicians from various groups, civil society, to international aid agencies are carrying out relief and rehabilitation efforts in the wake of widespread destruction brought by the typhoon. Countries like Japan announced it would offer disaster relief assistance through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), while the United States offered PhP10 million ($200,000) in immediate assistance would also be provided to communities affected by Typhoon Odette. 

But like any other catastrophe, politicians came into the scene making assistance in various forms: ranging from Leni Robredo’s immediate disaster response to that of her rival, Bongbong Marcos providing money to local governments whose communities affected by the Typhoon. Ironically, these politicians happened to be running for the presidency in 2022, which reminds of Typhoon Ondoy in 2009. And both Odette and Ondoy happened months before the contested national elections. 

And since politicians are using this tragedy in seeking support from desperate masses, not surprising that they will spend every peso in distorting charity all in enticing people to vote for them, regardless of their political colour. Days ago, President Duterte declared regions affected under “state of calamity” while claiming about depleted funds. Bah humbug! Why on earth he said so while the detested Robredo immediately did her part in helping providing relief? The latter has made people willing to help as opposed to the former who’s worth lambasting. Also not surprising that people will still cry this as “politically-tainted” no matter apologists trying not to associate their actions with “dirty politics”. 

To be honest, some may be true to their heart in being charitable; but as some engaging in partisan politics and using the idea of helping as some kind of political patronage and vote-seeking then it really distorts the essence of helping people especially those whose hunger pangs, chill, and desperate cry for help resorts to illegal means local government units feared about. Worse, the government talks much about resilience as these typhoons, like earthquakes or volcanic eruptions happen. Is “resilience” should be treated as a showcase of national pride? This reminds of crime syndicates using beggars to beg for money if that’s the case! And no wonder why preparedness is not seriously being discussed if not half-heartedly done, for it hinders politically-laced “relief” if not using a catastrophe to fill their pockets with money from foreign aid! 

But regardless of these situations, this Typhoon and its tragic results should be a time for unity and cooperation. For sure the government would again use that kind of word, but these realities has really urge all walks of life to unite, help, and recover, rebuild lost communities, livelihoods, and even lives and sanity. For sure politics continues to reek this matter time and again, but hopefully, what people needs is a real relief that truly helps and not some form of patronage politics. 

NATIONAL BOLSHEVISM FOR DUMMIES (THE BEST OF...)

NATIONAL BOLSHEVISM FOR DUMMIES
(THE BEST OF...)

by Andrew Plugac

With footnotes from Kat Ulrike

1. National Bolshevism is Anti-Capitalism

May Vladimir Ilyich Lenin forgive me for this, but the most important question of any revolution is the question of the means of production. the Russian National-Bolsheviks advocate the abolition of the institution of private property and the socialization of the means of production. The nationalization of large industries, for the implementation of the principles of social justice, freedom and equality, and the construction of a social system that embodies these principles and is known as socialism.

As you know, we live in a world of victorious capitalism. The consequences of Russia's integration into the world economic system as a new source of raw materials and a market occurred in 1991 and still ongoing, visible to the naked eye: the demographic decline, the successive destruction of fundamental and applied scientific developments, the drop in the level of education, quality of health care, real incomes of the population, a steady decline in living standards, degradation of the real sector of the economy that is associated with the steady policy of de-industrialization, a monstrous social stratification, in which the share of the 1% of richest Russians account for almost 80 percent of all personal assets in Russia, pervasive corruption, offshoring of the Russian capital, exceeding foreign exchange reserves of the country, the artificial devaluation of the national currency, increasing from year to year "brain drain" to more prosperous countries, the honorable First place in Europe in male mortality, and environmental problems in various regions of the country and, ultimately, the degeneration of the Russian ethnos, throughout Russian history were state -. Total economic, social, technological and cultural degradation. The uniqueness of Russian history lies in the fact that over the past century we have managed to build both socialist and capitalist societies and have the opportunity to compare their advantages and disadvantages. and it seems to me that the results of the capitalist experiment, which has lasted for almost thirty years, in comparison with the results of the socialist experiment (which, of course, had its shortcomings and shortcomings, which must be taken into account in the new version of the socialist structure of society) speak only in favor of the latter.

Whereas capitalism is killing Russia. socialism will bring Russia back to life.

2. National Bolshevism is Anti-Globalization

The triumphant march of capitalism goes hand in hand with the hegemony and economic, cultural and military expansion of Western civilization. The geopolitical dominance of the West has been growing over the past five centuries or so, and has undergone several phases of development: from its origins in the bowels of the Italian city-states, through the expansionist trade policies of the United Netherlands Provinces, through the colonial policies of the British Empire, and finally through the hegemony of the United States of America. The collapse of the Soviet Union, which for many decades remained an alternative for Third World countries that did not want to be drawn into the world capitalist system on the periphery, and served as a guarantor of the bipolar model of the world order, became a catalyst for accelerating the fifth phase of development, called globalization. Now nothing prevented the planetary spread of a single model of the Western bourgeois-democratic, liberal society, that is, the society of merchants, which Western civilization proclaimed the universal ideal for all human communities without exception.

Is it worth reminding how this geopolitical defeat affected the fate of Russia? The weakening of foreign policy influence in Africa, Latin America, the Far East and Western Europe; the termination of the Warsaw Pact and the liquidation of the socialist camp, which was a colossal blow to the closest zone of strategic defense of the USSR; civil wars throughout the post-Soviet space; the complete failure of national interests; the surrender of strategic positions; the actual establishment of external control over Russia; implementation of destructive economic reforms, which resulted in the impoverishment of the population and the artificial creation of a layer of the super-rich, integrated into the global transnational financial elite; destruction of the entire social infrastructure.

Throughout its history, Russia has repeatedly faced external aggression from the West, whether it is the army of Napoleon's two hundred languages, the military intervention of the Entente countries or the war of annihilation with Hitler's Germany. And the continued expansion of NATO to the East after 1991, despite all the fabulous and humiliating concessions of the political leadership of our country, tells us that the West is not in a hurry to accept Russia and the former Soviet republics into the family of" civilized " peoples. Like the majority of the world's population, the West needs us exclusively as a source of raw materials and a market, as an oil and gas pipeline, which is managed by several clans of the Comprador bourgeois elite, all of whose interests and money are concentrated in the West.

Therefore, Russian national Bolsheviks stand for an independent foreign policy; for the weakening of the hegemony of the West; for the national liberation struggle of the oppressed nations of the periphery and the Third World against globalization and neoliberal economic policies imposed on them by Western civilization; for a multipolar world in which existing nations and civilizations can freely choose their own path of development; for the preservation of traditional society and traditional values and respect for the national cultural and historical appearance of each civilization, nation and nationality existing on the planet; for the class struggle against the comprador bourgeois elite in the associated countries; for the elimination of transnational oligarchic groups, in the hands of which are the main financial, information, political, scientific, military, etc. resources of the planet. In a unipolar world ruled by the international elite of the "golden billion", the Russian people, like many others, have no place. Therefore, the unipolar world must be destroyed in its current form.

3. National Bolshevism is Anti-Liberalism

If the two main enemies of the Russian national Bolshevik are capitalism and the hegemony of Western civilization, then in modern Russian political discourse, its main opponents are Russian liberals. It is they who have historically become apologists for the capitalist path of development, entering "the family of civilized peoples", returning "to the pillar road of civilization", perceiving the history of their native country as a kind of annoying misunderstanding. It was liberal ideas that became the virus, the terrible bacillus that infected the Russian people and brought our country to its current state.

In politics, liberalism means declaring the highest value of the individual, taken in isolation from any form of collective identity. liberals proclaim freedom from: the state, from religious, class, ethnic, racial and even gender identities, i.e. from everything that can allegedly restrict the freedom of a given individual. In other words, liberalism is an ideology of dehumanizing," getting rid " of everything that makes a person human.

In economics, liberalism means the principles of a free market, the withdrawal of the state from the economic sphere, laissez-faire (free competition, non-interference in the economy, neoganichennoy freedom of enterprise) and free trade (free trade). Russian people had to see firsthand how the invisible hand of the market, praised by liberals, develops into a quite obvious and obvious cookie.

in international relations, liberalism presupposes the export of democracy as the main content of foreign policy, i.e., the extension of the norms of political liberalism to all countries. We have already had the opportunity to see all the charms of exporting democracy on the example of our own country and neighboring Yugoslavia, and even now we are watching how civilians of the Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics are dying under the humanitarian bombs of a country that has made its "European choice".

Therefore, we will not be deceived by modern Russian liberals who are trying to convince us that some "wrong" capitalism has been built in Russia. we've heard and seen it all before. liberalism as a system of political and economic views justifies the further dismemberment and murder of our country and our people. If liberalism is a destructive ideology, then national Bolshevism is a creative ideology, oriented to the benefit of its own people and state.

4. National Bolshevism is Natonalism

The subject of national-bolshevik ideology is the Russian nation. Russian Russian National Bolshevik's priority is the well-being of this nation, the well-being of the majority of the Russian people. This is its fundamental divergence from the liberal ideology, which puts the interests of the individual or individual minorities at the forefront.

But do we have anything to criticize the domestic nationalists for? Definitely. In our opinion, all domestic nationalists are revisionists of the nationalist idea. Because all the theoretical constructions of all our homegrown nationalists who advocate the preservation of the principles of capitalist economy, free enterprise," sacred " private property and natural hierarchy are based on a single and very dubious postulate: the need for a nationally oriented bourgeoisie. Where our nationalists, if I may say so, are going to take these abstract bourgeoisie, is categorically unclear. Apparently, they are going to grow them in a test tube with the help of genetic engineering, otherwise it is absolutely unclear why the domestic capitalist will suddenly decide that national interests are more important than his personal financial interests. Maybe he will be forced to do this by the state? Well, the modern Russian corrupt state itself is a tool in the hands of the ruling class.

Therefore, the Russian Bolsheviks are in favor of national-oriented socialism. Only the socialization of the means of production, only the nationalization of large industries, only the destruction of the institution of private property, only the principles of real, not formal equality, real, not formal democratization of society can fully ensure the well-being and comprehensive development of both the individual and the entire nation as a whole.

5. National Bolshevism is Left-Wing Nationalism

The reader is entitled to ask here: if the National Bolsheviks are so "drowning" for socialism, then how do they differ from the modern leftists? After all, leftists are also in favor of class struggle against globalization and private ownership of the means of production: are national balls any different from them? Yes, I will answer. Although the left-wing ideas are certainly close to the Russian National Bolsheviks, we are at the same time opposed to the extremes of the left-wing idea. This extreme is called left-wing internationalism, left-wing cosmopolitanism, or, if you like, class national nihilism.

National nihilism is not a new phenomenon in Russian history. It was embodied in the screams of awe about Russia, which, in the opinion of this distinguished philosopher, "is intended only to show the world how not to live", and the image of Smerdyakov, described by Dostoevsky in the novel "the Brothers Karamazov": "In the twelfth year Russia was on the great invasion of the French Emperor Napoleon the first, father of the current, and well, if only we then conquered those same French people: clever nation would have conquered a very stupid one and annexed. There would even be quite different orders, sir."

But there was a period in our history when national nihilism was presented almost as a state ideology. This period is approximately from the beginning of the 20s of the last century to the middle of the 30s. Russian Russian historians of the so-called school of Academician M. N. Pokrovsky (until 1940, Moscow University even bore his name), ignoring even Lenin's indication of the presence of two patriotisms in Russian history, questioned the very concepts of "Russia", "patriotism", and "Russian history". Patriotism, in their opinion, was "one of the whales of the petty-bourgeois worldview."

The turn from this obscurantism occurred in the early 1930s, when the country's leadership, fully aware that the coming world war could not be avoided and that a world socialist revolution was not expected in the near future, made it clear to the radical internationalists that it was time to stop dreaming of a "zemsharny republic of Soviets" and start building socialism in one country.

This "national-Bolshevik bias" (as some Trotskyists called it) in the policy of the Soviet government ended in the defeat of the Pokrovsky school and various Trotskyist-Bukharin organizations, which were eager to throw the Russian people into the crucible of the world revolution. National Bolshevism defeated national nihilism inside, rebuffed the West outside, and for a long time became the guarantor of a bipolar world and alternative ways of development.

What conclusion can be drawn from this historical excursion? "leftist internationalism", "leftist cosmopolitanism" in its extreme manifestations turns into national nihilism. In fact, "orthodox Marxists" are a kind of globalists on the contrary: they also claim that their ideology is universal, they also run around with the idea of progress, except that in the end they have capitalism magically turn into socialism. In other words, "left-wing" cosmopolitans are agents of the interests of Western hegemony to the same extent as domestic liberals. Therefore, the Russian National Bolsheviks emphasize the left-patriotic orientation. Russian National Bolsheviks are in favor of building socialism in a single country. In our view, Russia, in full agreement with Comrade Stalin's minted NB formula, should be "national in form and socialist in content."

***

(From Andrew Plugac: often our subscribers and sympathizers have a rather vague idea of the essence of national Bolshevism. In the article offered to the reader, the author quite successfully tried to state the essence of our ideology.)

This note, made by Plugac, tried to explain about "National Bolshevism" from the view of a Russian "NazBol". Just like any other explanations about this kind of political idea, National Bolshevism tends to combine ideas from both left and right, that of nationalism and their study of Marxism-Leninism. However, some NazBol groups tend to deemphasise aspects of Marxism especially that of Class Struggle, let alone they're inspired by the Soviet Union and that of Stalin and his "socialism in one country." May sound strange and contradictory to some but "National Bolshevism" has been used to describe a struggle for communism that's based upon distinct national characteristics and circumstances, if not having sought a dictatorship of the proletariat which would harness nationalism.

But as an observer, nationalism alone nowadays is not enough in a time struggles becoming social in character.  Nationalists, let alone radical ones, rather chose to limit their nationalisms to that of cultural ones while praising neoliberal capitalism regardless of its effects. These "nationalists" would wave their flags, use the national tongue, anything to promote "love of country" but they are way far from the people they call "folk" or "kin" except that during election periods. But regardless of denials, this "national question" is still relevant for as long as a great majority is still excluded from the political process; the only question is where it will be shaped knowing that and a great majority is still excluded and their political formations squashed by the order such as those claiming to be "for the country." 
And contrary to those who deny the idea of nationalism, that according to Roman Rozdolsky: "When the Manifesto says that the workers 'have no country', this refers to the bourgeois national state, not to nationality in the ethnical sense." Even Anton Pannekoek, known for being against Lenin, and Russian monarchists Nicholas Ustrialov and Vasilii Shulgin pointed out in 1920 that Russians first "nationalized" communism.

To cut the note short, the dictatorship of the proletariat is both national and international. National Liberation Movements are themselves struggles of both national and class nature-for those who fought for the self-determination of nations didn't just simply limit to that of reviving their nations, but also to overturn class structures that oppresses them. Anyway, to use Soekarno's quote: 

“Internationalism cannot flower if it is not rooted in the soil of nationalism, and nationalism cannot flower if it does not grow in the garden of internationalism.”

"Watered-down or not, that 'law' doesn't stop the fight"

"Watered-down or not, that 'law' doesn't stop the fight"

by Kat Ulrike

It is not surprising that the decision of the supreme court about the constitutionality of the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act remains upheld. 

Even if some of its provisions been voided, the law itself continues to embolden thugs in uniform to pursue its repressive action “all in the name of national security” and “anti-terrorism” against those who simply voice frankly their dissent if not demanding a radical, patriotic alternative to an unjust order and its policy. For even now, labour unions, peasant groups, youth and student organisations, even churchpeople, and other concerned members of the civil society have been targeted for armed suppression. 

And regardless of the court’s decision, this doesn’t stop state-led abuses but rather become even more rampant. The so-called "National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict" or its earlier police operations "Tokhang" and "Double Barrel" created a license for those thugs in uniform to besmirch someone’s reputation, harass, or kill those who stood against their way. For sure the apologists of the order are either rejoicing about the court’s approval, albeit with amendments and pretending they’re respecting the decision; if not disagreeing the decision thinking the need to control or restrict civil rights as necessary for order- and this was shown by one military official who wanted to regulate social media using the law as its basis. 

Again this is unsurprising for as any other attempt to stifle people’s dissent, the order stokes the culture of impunity whether the law retains its entirety or after the court’s decision to remove “some of its unjust provisions”. After all, it is the same alibi why community pantries been harassed, if not personalities being slandered, tagged as “terrorists”, or killed all because of some dissenting belief. In the provinces, those who criticize that controversial law, have unjustly imprisoned while being served by the police with search warrants many of which were issued by judges in Metro Manila, what more supported by planted evidence, or simply killed on a formulaic narrative of ‘nanlaban’ (resisting arrest).

But regardless of this, neither the watered-down nonsense as ordered by the court nor the agency that's brought out of that "law" will stop people from seeking truth from facts, expose the repressive and unjust order and its authorities, and to assert just, radical, and meaningful changes by any means necessary. 

When indiscriminate bombing breeds resistance: Thoughts after the recent bombing in Iloilo

When indiscriminate bombing breeds resistance:
Thoughts after the recent bombing in Iloilo

By Kat Ulrike

The recent bombing in Iloilo has showed how the order disregards agreements in favor of “restoring order”. 

By depending on mere suspicion of a rebel base in the mountains, the military’s aerial bombing action last Wednesday early morning in Barangay Alimodias, Miag-ao, Iloilo, shook peaceful communities; what more giving the license for the these armed thugs to massacre people and claim “everything as under control”. 

According to the reports from PRWC’s Marco Valbuena, this did happen as while most people were still asleep, two FA-50 jet fighters flew over Barangay Alimodias and dropped two 500-lb bombs on the nearby mountains, around one and a half kilometer from the civilian communities. This was soon followed by artillery shelling which fired at least eight rounds in the same direction.

“The heavy bombs were so powerful that it left a crater 15 feet deep and 20 feet wide. The bombs violently shook the ground that was felt by residents in nearby communities. People in the communities were struck with fear and traumatized by the aerial bombardment.” Valbuena further said in its statement.

On the other hand, the Military claims that eight rebels were killed after bombing the said “encampment”, that the bombings “disrupted the plenum” and its “plan for a major offensive”. From their very statement, also said that their actions showed the “lethal, efficient, and effective combination of timely and good intelligence with intensified military operations”.

This may sound bullshit especially that while claiming their bombing as just, civilians residing in those communities were affected by the shook of the bombings if not reporting cases of deaths brought by this scenario. Also to think that as apologists of the order would cling to its anticommunist/antiterrorist narrative, this doesn’t stop the concerned from thinking that human rights violations in those affected communities occur; especially when soldiers claiming to be “they are doing their job” showing further its obvious excesses. Not even surprising that in line with its orderist mindset, these apologists, just like that of the military, wants to impose a news blackout to control the flow of information so that those fit into the military narrative will pass as acceptable by many such as that of supposed eight rebels killed in an armed encounter and its encampment overran by the hands of the military.

To cut this note short, dropping 500lb bombs is a clear violation of international humanitarian law and the articles of war. As any other action the order did, this and other incidents constitutes serious war crimes that for sure either they deny it and passing blame to the enemy; or that of justifying it and claiming they’re doing their job as soldiers- even it left craters 15 feet deep and 20 feet wide, with folks striking with fear and trauma, forcing themselves to cower and “surrender” to the military. 

But will the concerned folks simply sit down and accept the order's narrative and its apologists? The way folks strongly disagree the Anti-Terror Act and the creation of the NTFELCAC then clearly this action doesn’t lead to a just and lasting peace as the order wished for. Not surprising if more will dare to resist than that of the narrative of fear and surrender to authority no matter they’re repressive. 

"Continuing the Supremo's legacy of unwavering Nationalism"

"Continuing the Supremo's legacy of unwavering Nationalism"

(A message for Bonifacio day)

This note firmly join the Filipino people in commemorating one of the country's national heroes, Gat Andres "Maypagasa" Bonifacio, whose life and that of his Katipunan reflects the dreams and aspirations of the Filipino masses in its quest for National and Social liberation. 

Bonifacio's quest for freedom was not a typical civic affair. Like Mao Zedong and his actions in China, or that of Ho Chi Minh and his Vietnam's journey to liberation, his revolution was not a dinner party nor an embroidery session. And for sure everyone would even disagree the Supremo's direction, dismissing it as "hopeless" and "costly", no matter how it was driven altogether by the reality of Filipino society that's marred by repression, the emancipating influence of western liberal thought with its "liberty, equality, and fraternity", and the aspirations of the common folk ranging from civil rights to the basic right to land and sustenance.

The latter aspiration was of course, closer to the common folk as they themselves endure hunger and deprivation than that of the ilustrado and the principalia that some mock their plight. After all, does the word "freedom" and "rights" fill a hungry stomach? Yes, these common folk did fought under these ideals, but their desire to till in their own land, and to live with dignity forced them to take the bolo.

And to think that Bonifacio tried to indigenise the ideas of "liberty, equality, and fraternity" such as that of his "Haring Bayan" as referring to a "Republic", this did appealed further to the common folk who had enough of repression, injustice, and disenfranchisement brought by the Spanish-led order and its minions. Through his Katipunan, his works like "Pagibig sa Tinubuang Bayan", "Ang Dapat Mabatid ng mga Tagalog" and others upheld the aspirations of the Filipino working class, peasants and other democratic classes- even at the expense of those who initially supported him, only to choose looking after their own interests than that of their homeland. That until today the oppression, intrusion of foreign interests continue making a society stuck in its/ ever-continuing past. Like Bonifacio, those who criticise against the order are being labeled as "terrorist" the way the supremo was labeled as a traitor, filibuster, heretic, and various words trying to discredit him and his struggle.

At the same time the order, as trying to be as patriotic especially when their statements praising him, claiming his day to be "an auspicious occasion to reflect on his legacy" to that of  encouraging all walks of life to love and fight for the country". Indeed, such statements truly encourage the people to become patriotic like the Supremo and his folk, overcoming their weaknesses as they jump into the abyss. But, this doesn't deny the fact that the order's self-interest runs contrary to the Supremo's message of serving the people wholeheartedly; that the legacy of being subservient to foreign interest and local tyranny while "claiming to be they're for democracy" doesn't stop the folk from igniting the spark for real, meaningful change even at the expense of their lives. 

Perhaps, amidst the pandemic and the still prevailing socioeconomic crisis, of reprisals by the order and its apologists, the Great Plebeian's legacy, just like other heroes will always be a rallying light that will guide the folk. His passionate nationalistic spirit has inspired the youth and the oppressed in its quest for social emancipation, steeled every mind and sinew with the fiery love of country that makes as one people willing to advance an aspiration and to upheld justice and liberty. 

"When 'Red' is more than just commemorating, but also dedicating lives"

"When 'Red' is more than just commemorating, but also dedicating lives"

(Thoughts after "Red Wednesday") 

Churches in the Philippines "turned red" as Catholics honoured persecuted Christians and those who offered lives for the faith. 

Popularly known as "Red Wednesday", this campaign Initiated by the Papal Charity "Aid to the Church in Need", and approved by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines in remembrance of and as a day for prayer for persecuted Christians, as well as to encourage Christians to stand up for religious freedom and their faith. 

However, this occasion also end reinterpreted by some as a political gimmick as they failed to understand the significance of the occasion, with Red as its featured colour- especially as the 2022 elections draw near- with some aspirants also use the colour in their campaigns and sorties as part of their branding, like those of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and of Leody de Guzman. 

Perhaps the event is all but misunderstood by many especially when everyone saw various colours used in political campaigns. And to think that "red" has been synonymous to the Marcoses, there are those who reinterpret the occasion as the church supporting the late dictator's son who's running for the presidency. What a coping mechanism then. 

But again in one twitter post, Fr. Fiel Pareja said that "red is the symbol of blood of killed Christians, and not of its killers." (roughly translated from Filipino).

Indeed. But since Fr. Pareja said those words that red is not the colour of its persecutors, isn't it that also political and not merely spiritual? "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church", tis reminds of "the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants". But since fools like those complaining online think that "Red Wednesday" as all but a political gimmick just like how they enjoy reading fake quotes supporting their idol, then how about the much traditional Gaudete and Laerete Sundays? This did require the colour pink and blue in their vestments, so does these also meant supporting Robredo and Domagoso because of those colours also synonymous with themselves and their campaigns? How stupid their interpretations isn't they. But to think that this occasion is political, then yes, it is a political not just a spiritual sentiment- for red signifies the blood of the martyrs whose call was simple: the right to worship Christ as their lord and saviour in a time everyone was worshipping the god-emperor or the gods like "Vulcan" or "Jupiter". Yes, it was a political sentiment that out of their belief in Christ meant death, and their lives a sacrifice the way Christ sacrificed himself in the Calvary being accused that of disorder against both the empire and its vassal king, if not against the faith he saw as corrupted

This may sound controversial as any other event tainted by politics, that even the most religious would madly disagree on it that the occasion was also political; but the reality that those who cling to their belief that "faith, hope, and love" is also a political sentiment then why deny it? It is the same bible that says "Faith without Action is Dead", what more that it is the same bible that Christ didn't came in peace but a sword. After all, those who belief in the afterlife is also driven by the fact that they had enough of ever-present repression and injustice. That those who follow Christ wasn't just driven by "going to heaven and be happy", but preparing to face the consequence especially in serving God's people irrespective of their belief even at the expense of their lives. 

And it is the duty of a Christian to rise up and assert what is right and just the way it clings to its belief and its vision of a society where faith, hope, and love reigns. Pardon for the thought but since there are those fools cried "red" as political as the other colours, and this religious occasion didn't escape the heckling, then expect those to see this "red Wednesday" not as to commemorate the martyrs who died for their faith, but also to dedicate lives in helping the repressed and persecuted- and that includes the will to resist. 
After all, here are those who are deeply religious, but their religious conviction made them to "rebel" against the system that even their church is also affected!  

"The Quest to Conquer the state amidst catastrophe and crisis"

"The Quest to Conquer the state amidst catastrophe and crisis"

by Kat Ulrike

At first, this note bid greetings in commemoration of the Great October Socialist Revolution. 

This revolution, led by Vladimir Lenin, was considered a major turning point in world history. For this broke through the yoke of tsarist repression, established the first state of the dictatorship of the proletariat in the world and opened a new era of struggle by the working class. This kind did shocked the world as the proletariat didn't simply change the leadership nor the form of government but rather dismantle the old order in favour of a new society- driven by the cause of the emancipation of humanity.

And it is still remains significant in today's modern world. In its 104th year, the working folk continues to engage in the struggle despite the fall of the Soviet Union decades ago, as well as the changing direction of China into a capitalist state pretending to be "socialist". Facing the challenge brought by capitalist neoliberalism as well as the crisis brought by the COVID19 pandemic, these hindrances doesn't stop the working folk from asserting its just calls and its advancement. 

For sure the prevailing order will continue to parrot the rhetoric that socialism failed, that there is no alternative to capitalism, that neoliberalism brought development, and others reality showeth its contrary. The more they deny the struggle the more it continues as poverty, disenfranchisement, injustice remains. China's capitalist venture showed a monstrous betrayal of the revolution started by Mao Zedong as well as that of the October Revolution. They claimed China as moving towards socialism, and yet poverty especially in the countryside remains the country's major issue to be addressed, but instead like the Soviet people in the past, came under the rule of a new privileged bourgeois stratum as what really happened.

And to think that this October Revolution has awakened the working class and opened up wide possibilities for the emancipation against imperialism, this brought fear to the existing orders that even today's 21st century continues to resonate. After all, Lenin's action justifiably carried out with greater determination and much more rapidly, boldly and successfully, and, from the point of view of its effect on the masses, much more widely and deeply, than the French Revolution or the Paris Commune of the past. This was no ordinary change of government structure nor change of leaders, but that of dismantlement of the social order the laboring masses saw as oppressive and unjust. 

***

For the developing and the underdeveloped countries, the October Revolution became an inspiration to rise up against imperialism both the lord and its vassals. Regardless of the imperialists' attempts to cower them with fear or coercing them with false hopes, the October Revolution and its succeeding revolutions like the Chinese and the Indochinese revolutions has shaken imperialism with struggles for national independence and social liberation, as the laboring masses takes the lead of its quest for freedom- that even the imperialist themselves notice the growing power of the working class taking the lead in its struggle and thus trying to control with that of carrot and stick moves. But will the colonies and semicolonies content with decades, if not centuries-old oppression that hinders development? No! Whereas they desire liberation from colonialism, so is also the desire to liberate from domestic exploitation under imperialism- and countries like China during Mao, Vietnam under Ho, showed that their revolution, like that of 1917 wasn't like the liberation movements of the slaves nor the uprisings of the serfs. This was no driven by mere idealism but that of the realities of poverty, injustice, and vassalage of their countries to imperialism. After all, what Stalin said: The proletariat cannot emancipate itself unless it emancipates the oppressed peoples.

For as in the past, the imperialists still looked upon the underdeveloped and developing countries as the basis of their prosperity. Be it because of its natural resources or its labour power, the imperialists, both west and from the east itself have never ceased to think of the third world whether to extract its wealth, needing obedient young lads, or to dump them with its surpluses. People accept this kind of truth although dangled by first-world consumerism, would also tend to deny this. How come? They would insist that it is imperialism that brought development, modernity, everything what a "developed" country can offer- especially in downplaying a growing social movement that's opposed imperialist domination and local subservience to the latter's wishes. They would claim every produce is a product of imperialism, even brands they enjoy is also a product of imperialism, even the skyscraper, the modernity people enjoy in general is a product of imperialism. Yes indeed- with labels like "Made in the USA" or Made in China", but the question is, did these people who downplay patriotic alternatives also offer a sound, "based" alternative to dependency? Most likely can't as they're contented, if not happy to see a "borderless" world ruled under "free market" rules. The words Fukuyama described as "end of history" turns out to be another phase for both patriots and globalists alike: the former with its struggle for survival and revival, the latter with its ever-prevailing dominance despite decline- with words like "freedom", "liberty", "democracy", all reduced to just totem poles trying to appease an ever-growing social hatred like what happened in 1917. 

As of today, this part of history has continued to be a major factor in shaping the aspirations of the labouring folk- that even those from the right did recognise how the power of the laborer can create changes in the society, only to find them as a rival. In a writeup entitled "Lenin's Italian understanding" published in 1931 at the "La Conquista del Estado", Mussolini's Fascism tried to be like Lenin, as it said:

"The Duce is a peasant and a worker, whose deep obsession is not Bonaparte (bourgeois myth), but Lenin (worker myth)..."Fascism" is the only policy that has openly tried to follow more closely the Bolshevik method, the dictatorial leadership of the Russian proletariat."

And yet that once member of the Socialist Party rather chose to collaborate with the old order he detested, only to regret during his desperate days at Salo. Again, he tried to be like Lenin, or even Stalin, even applied a former communist to make Fascism "progressive" in everyone's eyes. But, did he succeed? Not even, but rather only to end hanging upsidedown by the folk who had enough of his frustration- if not seeing how that fascism was all about, that of oligarch and state power intertwined pointing against the labouring folk in the name of bastardised 'nationalism'. Sometimes it was quite wondering why on earth Mussolini, while trying to be like Lenin chose to compromise his supposed "radical" beliefs by collaborating with the system he detests? Was it in the name of national interest even at the expense of the struggling proletariat and the peasantry? It made Mussolini more of an orderist as Dollfuss, Szalasi, Franco, Hitler, or any leader who trying to be as progressive, if not revolutionary as their rivals- that made radicals within the ranks like Rossoni seriously express concern if not criticism after principles gone compromised.

***

Sorry to cite "La Conquista del Estado", but noticing its earlier articles as trying to be revolutionary, would think that the situation was ripe for the oppressed folks to stand up and fight just like in 1917. Of course, there were those who truly recognise the struggle and therefore wanting to transform it into a revolutionary moment; while on the other other hand, there are those who rather diffuse it from the start all in the name of peace and order. In today's setting the order tried its best to diffuse the growing sentiment by trying to compromise that of the people's want with that of their interests, treating "reforms" and "programs" of various sorts primarily to continue being obedient and "satisfied young lads" if not threatening them with the big stick. 

At first would say that "nothing's wrong" with reforms or the programs involving it, but for the order these meant to shut people up from complaining further. Agrarian Reform in the Philippines for instance, it wasn't meant to resolve the peasant question and promote justice for these hardworking farmers and their communities, let alone trying to avert a growing dissent in the countryside. Housing, which is meant a human right, is itself treated as a propaganda feat especially for politicians hungry for "legacy" despite being substandardly built. Politicians even promised wages be increased to the workers, or controlling prices of commodities, and yet mum as they faced a group composed of big businesses in it, even promising less taxes to these fatcats while burdening the folk with rising costs of commodities and services! Is this the reform being brought about by the order? This note certainly doubt their thought especially when first and foremost sworn to upheld the system people detests. 

Perhaps as time goes by the folk will never stop in its desire to "conquer the state". The difficulties are indeed immense, but everyone is accustomed to grapple with immense difficulties. That even this pandemic caused by COVID19, imperialists trying to maintain their foothold as they're the ones having the capacity to produce medicines, especially that of vaccines the world greatly needs. They use "Vaccine Diplomacy" to strengthen regional ties and enhance their own power and global status, and countries like the United States and China are using Vaccines and "altruism" as cynical ploys for diplomatic advantage. Meanwhile, vassal countries are using the pandemic to impose draconian laws, of treating the situation as that of their repressive orderism with checkpoints and curfews than that of ensuring people's health and well-being by providing immediate, necessary support for the health care system. The folk, just like in the pre-pandemic periods faced retrenchment if not unemployment, low wages and paycuts, rising costs of commodities and services, and even insufficient support by the government! This catastrophe brought by COVID19 as well as other existing matters under neoliberal capitalism would say that this create situations that provokes popular discontent as in the past, and the order itself already felt the tremors that neither carrot nor stick will resolve the problem. Will the folk just get content on this catastrophe brought by the pandemic? Not even, as they had enough of tyrants imposing lockdowns nor curfews; nor despots imposing paycuts, retrenchments, and rising costs of commodities and services; but again, everytime is accustomed to grapple with immense difficulties with the tendency of having the will to resist the order's wishes. 

Again, the order still felt the tremor left by 1917 and other revolutions of the past. And in this catastrophe it is expected to see them "trying their best" to control the situation, especially when the people really had enough of the bullshit and willing to "conquer the state" to dismantle it. As what Lenin said in 1921: No matter at what cost, no matter how severe the hardships of the transition period may be—despite disaster, famine and ruin—we shall not flinch; we shall triumphantly carry our cause to its goal.

Remembering October 1917, Rekindling its struggle!

Remembering October 1917, Rekindling its struggle!

by Kat Ulrike

At first, on the occasion of the 104th anniversary of the October Revolution, this note bid greetings. 

For many years ago, this revolution initiated a new epoch in world history. It did really shook the world, for unlike revolutions of the past that simply change leaders, this revolution was an out and out dismantlement of an antiquated social order, all driven by the people whose dream of building a society in which there would be no exploitation of man by man. This may sound strange to some and fear provoking to most as existing orders around the world felt the tremor of people's action, proving that without those who hinder, the people are completely capable of building a free society both under their mind and sinew, blood and sweat. 

In those past years the Soviet people have traveled a hard road. They were surrounded by enemies inside and out, trying by many means to destroy the worker's republic; factories encountering problems, farms having low output of produce, but in the end thoroughly smashed its attacks while at the same time building further its productive bases by organising further workers and farmers. It did surprised its rival neighbours too, that with its economic plans brought new factories, power plants, dams, farms, to that of airplanes, automobiles, housing projects, at a speed of which the capitalist countries are incapable and inspires the labouring folks of various countries to stand up and fight against its oppressive systems and its upholders. Such wonders has changed the Soviet Union from being a relatively backward both economically and technically into one of the world's first-class industrial powers. 

And regardless of criticism and attacks by various means, the soviet people continue to defend, while at the same time forge, plough, build as its living standards rising. The scale of educational, scientific, and cultural development also surpasses as that of its neighbours as well, with its first atomic power station, jet planes, rocket-powered defence systems, to that of its space program with its satellites paving way to space exploration led by Gagarin, Tereshkova, and its cosmonauts. From these contributions did surprised the capitalist west that compels the United States and Europe to take seriously its own programs. But for the Soviets, this was more than just a contribution of the Soviet people themselves but of the proletariat around the world in its struggle against the reactionary bourgeoisie. The revolutionary spirit started in 1917 has contributed various wonders that for its rivals a threat to their interest. Even those from the right recognise the power of the proletariat that they tried to create theirs yet can't surpass. Hitler, Mussolini, tried to make war against Stalin but the latter, looking back at the past, chose to resist regardless of being surrounded and almost beaten. In his speech last 1941, he said:

"There were times when our country was in a still more difficult position. Remember the year 1918, when we celebrated the first anniversary of the October Revolution. Three-quarters of our country was at that time in the hands of foreign interventionists. The Ukraine, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Urals, Siberia and the Far East were temporarily lost to us. We had no allies, we had no Red Army—we had only just begun to create it; there was a shortage of food, of armaments, of clothing for the Army. Fourteen states were pressing against our country. But we did not become despondent, we did not lose heart. In the fire of war we forged the Red Army and converted our country into a military camp. The spirit of the great Lenin animated us at that time for the war against the interventionists. And what happened? We routed the interventionists, recovered all our lost territory, and achieved victory."

Those words would say that the revolutionary able to defend their struggle so as to invoke it over and over. They will fight so is to forge, they will resist so is to plough the field, they will withstand any attack so is to learn and become better especially in times enemies trying to undermine efforts in building the socialist homeland. However, amongst the ranks there are those who stand in its way, of being interest-driven that corrupts the fabric of the homeland, hearing words like wrecking, sabotage, to that of revisionism? Such problems did really hinder, and even make a homeland stagnant, decline, and eventually dissolve as what happened in 1992. Quite saddening isn't it? But while those who upheld the prevailing social order under capitalism rejoice and claim that there lies the "end of history" in which western-style "democracy" triumphs with its consumerism and the likes, will the working people just stay put, forget, and move on? No! For from these folk they looked at the Soviet Union as a homeland that brought immense developments like what said earlier, regardless of the problems, crises, and catastrophes that did they encounter. True that there are those who will disown the legacy all because of its mistakes and shortcomings most of which exaggerated by its enemies, but the fact that this socialist homeland did shook the world, then not surprising that those who carried the flames will again provoke another as to create a new path towards socialism like what happened 104 years ago. 

Again, the Soviet Union and the eastern bloc was dissolved years past, that China or Vietnam faced revisionism, and other socialist countries that out of pragmatism forced to adopt the diktat of the market. But, regardless of these, this doesn't stop the folk around the world to demand the future, that their revolutionary energy, diligence, innovation, and deep patriotism and internationalism will realise what the aspirations of those pasts set forth in the future, of rectifying its errors, reaffirm principles, and to move forward. 

"When book censors using dialogue to justify their impunity"

"When book censors using dialogue with the university
 to justify their impunity"

(Or: "thoughts after the recent dialogue between NTF-ELCAC
and the UP Visayas administration")

This note expresses concern as recent news about  the University of the Philippines- Visayas (UPV) administration was hosting a dialogue with the regional branch of the National Task-Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) through NICA Regional Director Ana Liza Umpar at the university’s Miag-ao campus last October 29, 2021. This dialogue, made days after an earlier statement "not handing over books" to the NTF-ELCAC, justified the talks as an "opportunity to exchange ideas and promote freedom of expression."

Quite reasonable at first for UPV Chancellor Clement Camposano to justify such words, as he hosted the NTF-ELCAC "in the spirit of dialogue." However, knowing the nature of the group as known for its rabid anti-leftist sentiment, it is not surprising that they take the talks as an opportunity to defend their idol not just from the left but also from the opposition in general in the face of controversies surrounding him; if not asking the UP administration to retract from its initial statement.

And in speaking of universities "handing over their books" to the NTF-ELCAC, one university in Cordillera justified this as their "moral consciousness not to allow youth to be engrained with peace-detrimental ideologies", if not in Aklan that "academic freedom as always subject to control and supervision by the state." Ridiculous isn't it- especially that they claim to be uphelding academic freedom and democracy while condoning book censorship under the Duterte administration, which he compared to state forces repressing feelings and ideas that are not acceptable to those in power. But administrators in UP Visayas will say that they allow them "in the spirit of academic freedom" to come and make their stand even most would describe that dialogue as a retreat from its initial statement, no matter how it tries to maintain some critical stance over the matter. 

Worse, to hear a statement from the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education J. Prospero de Vera III telling that "It would be best for the Chancellor of UP Diliman and their officials to be more prudent, circumspect, respectful, and discerning in issuing statement especially involving the exercise of academic freedom of other higher education institutions." Sorry for his thought but by telling UP Diliman officials "should respect how other higher education institutions run their campuses amid the decision to remove 'subversive' from their libraries" he seems to be condoning witch hunts and book burnings reminiscent of Nazi Germany to that of the former "Committee on Un-Filipino Activities" that targeted professionals especially in the academe. Will the Philippines' premier "national university" simply sit down and relax for this? After books, what's next? The persons who happened to be against Duterte and his camarilla within the academe? It did happen during the time of Prof. Ricardo Pascual in the mid-50s, and this may also happen in the present. 

So much for claiming to be they're defending democracy from the scourge of subversion, when in fact these orderists produced subversives in various forms. If not for the pandemic hard protests would happen anytime in the streets of Metro Manila all because of an incompetent boss-chief who tolerated corruption and impunity while claiming about "order" and "integrity". Of course, that boss and his apologists will use the subversion or rebellion card to justify their actions, including that of confiscating "subversive books" and claiming "they're saving children from the clutches of subversion and rebellion" despite horrid realities forced the poor and the young to fight and take arms in various forms.
And wouldn't be surprised that just "to clarify it all", that the vague term 'State Colleges and Universities' may end be replaced by a much clearer term: "Government-Owned and Controlled Higher Education Institutions" straight from the orderist's mouth, making it frank that those who studied in government-paid schools should be at the service of those who run the state's affairs, with academic freedom as any other constitutional right be controlled and regulated by authorities even it appears to be repressive.

"Of 'Goons' rather than 'Ghosts': Halloween over Manila"

"Of 'Goons' rather than 'Ghosts': Halloween over Manila"

As the night grows near over 'tis I recall dear

The time old folks remember the day both liked and feared

Calling upon the ancestors whose stories told

That end as legends old books as called

Strange as one may think as the bonfire lit

Followed by spells, incantations for this sacred meet

O'er the sacred fire, feast and celebrate

The new dawn as everyone awaits

With kids enjoying sweets after trick or treats

And jack o' lanterns glowing outside after a backyard feat

The moon glows so full as the owls hoot

If not seeing trees bearing ripening fruit

The magic of love resonates as couples together

Once creating sparks now casts a single power

Triumphs over fear and that of sorrow

As from this eve make way to a once-tomorrow

However the actual horror is not of ghosts

But rather of the order and its ghastly hosts

Exploiting thy home and those of the others

Reminiscent of nightmares that our sleeps bother

The attack dogs in uniforms and thieves in garb

Hamletted our villages with walls barb'd

The nation at hell- for sure the order can't tell

For it's hidden behind the beauty steered by their spell

If not the thieves this time in suit
Stealing every fruit, work, and leaving us like shit
Distorting the law by circumventing the article
To justify their trick as if making them unstoppable
As if they're concerned when in fact they are not
Even invoking the almighty even their hearts rot
Especially in facing the folk this time had enough of their spell
As their hearts hardened wiling to rebel

Quite true those horrors as seen in the newspapers

All made by ghouls whose reality they're attack dogs of the order

Some years ago we heard news about a young lad Kian

Who died accused of a crime, shot as he ran

Followed by another- this time about collateral damages

Justified by those uniformed living garbage

If not in the countryside whose just calls end silenced

By the bullets, and statements of the order's violence

But I know that the curse goons presented cannot last

For the folk now risen wanted to break the enforced past

Neither "hell" nor their "heaven" will vanquish the oppressed

Folks had enough of being subjugated, minds repressed

Expect fire and blood to exorcise the nation's soul

As the folk uprise till the rotten order’s fall

Like the old who said "there be dragons"

Yes, but this time of armed masses with cannons!

Pardon if my poem sounds political

Despite celebrating the day that's macabre and mystical

Especially as the moon shines so bright

Shattering the darkness that made the day blight

Perhaps the anger of the folk is what the order feared

Especially after decades being repressed, subjugated, or sneered

Not surprised as they all rise with torches, pitchforks, guns

Willing to burn tyrants at the stake till their souls gone!

No matter what most belittle this

Some if not few would surely miss

For on this day lies joy, and strength renew

'gainst the times of disquiet quite so true

I hope folks who passed, fallen guide my way

In every trials set day by day

For through their wisdom it gives enough light

In a time when darkness prevails, and tyrants fright.

“Still, the ghosts of victims kept haunting him”

“Still, the ghosts of victims kept haunting him”

Regardless of what his apologists deny or justify the result of his actions, particularly that of harassments, threats, and killings, it seems that the "change" that once promised in 2016 is but of blood and bullets. 

For many years past since "democracy" was restored in the country, the Duterte administration has left a legacy that outweighs those of his achievements: that of his drug war, his "war on terror", and that of his half-hearted response to this COVID19 pandemic. This may sound "political" especially when the folk are deeply affected by these problems, what more on the treatment brought by the state: that of fear than of hope, especially those who had enough of the cycle of poverty be it those from the shantytown to that of the countryside enslaved by local rural despotism. What more with the coming into effect of various unjust actions like "Tokhang" or "Double Barrel", to that of a controversial anti-terror law and the formation of a "task force" against the growing left-wing movement; and all these has brought back ghosts of Ferdinand Marcos' martial law (1972-81), especially when dissent was punished and silenced by force.

From these situations it wouldn't be surprised that this may continue. Especially when there's failure to strengthen democratic and republican traditions in the country, and with elected leaders with its allies as shamelessly transgressing justice and the rule of law as it tilts balance of power all to favor those from the executive branch. 

And in the case of Duterte, his apologists even justify it by claiming "they are for human lives", that his actions as a necessary measure, that "fear" is necessary to create order, or worse, provoking threats on those who disagree with their idol's view of "justice." They would even downplay innocents killed by the order, if not sharing the same thought of Dela Rosa that "shit happens" when it comes to operations against crime. "Human Rights"? It becomes a taboo issue for them if not claiming it as "coddling rebels and drug addicts" alike.
And to claim they're for human lives? Bullshit!  Even Duterte himself orders Dela Rosa to blame him for the drug war that caused both innocent and those falsely accused. Will people just accept it? Unless that person is a remorseless fanatic, expect the concerned seriously disagree that kind of narrative the administration is peddling to the folk. 

To cut this thought short, regardless of what apologists may insist, the ghosts of his victims continue to haunt him and even his camarilla. Not surprising especially that as calls for investigations resonate, Duterte's silence over the issue is itself an acquiescence of ICC's Bensouda's urging guised as self-denial if not remorseless over his actions. And since that the country has a "functioning judicial system and a vibrant democracy", then ask those who were imprisoned or killed due to false charges brought by some overzealous policemen claiming to be "for order and the rule of law" even it becomes contrary to it; what more of the arrests led by some judge who issues warrants simply because they are "subversives" in the eyes of the present administration and thus requires some basis to justify it no matter it is trumped-up nor its evidences as planted to justify further. 

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Pardon if the title tends to be of a ghoulish nature, but for those victims of extrajudicial killings, of collateral damages, of falsely accused, and being planted by some "evidences", such actions created ghosts that haunts a regime that uses "justice" in its distorted form for their own interests. 

"All for Land, Bread, and Justice!"

"All for Land, Bread, and Justice!"

It is not surprising that while the government recognises highest poverty incidence in poor-stricken farmers and fisherfolks, they downplay if not deny the cry of these toiling masses but instead silencing them.

In fact, for many years, Filipino farmers considered October as "peasant month", with protests culminating every 21st, this event marks the recognition of farmers who also serves as the backbone of the National Economy. 

However, despite recognising by succeeding administrations the hard work of the Filipino farmer, most remain landless. Its agrarian reform programs all from past to present failed to address landlessness but rather facilitated the reconcentration of agricultural land to landlords in connivance with corrupt bureaucrats and even multinational agribusiness conglomerates, what more reclassifying if not changing crops from local needs to that of what international market demands. 

What more that in this COVID19 pandemic, this time demanding for greater subsidy and necessary support for as these farmers, fisherfolks, and their families have been also affected by this pandemic problem, coupled by limited movement  and even harassment by authorities, hence hindering their work. 

And now as these peasant folks marching towards Mendiola, all despite seeing riot police and other security forces with high-powered firearms waiting for them, these peasant folks still continue to demand for land, bread, and justice.

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Also within this peasant month includes an international event. That last October 16 this event commemorated the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and is known as the "World Food Day", with people around the world come together declaring their commitment to eradicate hunger in lifetime. "Because when it comes to hunger, the only acceptable number in the world is zero" as what the statement goes.
Quite optimistic as the world promises to eradicate hunger- all despite the problems hindering food security and sovereignty ranging from unjust policies to that of climate change. But in case of the Filipinos, the right for food, like the right for livelihood, seems to be not prioritised by the order, if not making everyone concerned thinking "should food be meant to sustain the nation or by simply exporting it?" Pardon for the thought especially when big agribusiness conglomerates produce food meant for export like pineapples to that of sugar, while smallholders burdened with taxes, rent,  while having low income brought by the government's reliance on foodstuff importation. Isn't it that ridiculous that the order promises to eradicate hunger, yet those who create food rather treated as showoffs.

In fact, few days ago, this writer read an article that Agriculture Secretary William Dar underscores the importance of growing, sustaining, and nourishing together especially that of the poor being the most vulnerable sector towards hunger and malnutrition. He even announced that a new program on food was approved by the Inter Agency Task Force Against COVID19 to address issues related to the hunger problem. Even mentioned that he has already instructed the re-alignment of programs under the National Rice Program and the Philippine Rice Research Center to address the emerging rice requirement of the people. 
But from his message he emphasized that importation will be a last resort to support the department’s goal of achieving food sufficiency level for all commodities- way contrary that of the administration's action via the rice tariffication law that flooded cheap imported rice making farmers earning low income! What a contradiction as a concerned would say, especially that farmers and fisherfolks affected by this liberalisation protested against the laws that hinders self-sufficiency, food security, and sovereignty.

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Ironically, farmers and fisherfolks did vote for Duterte being a provinceman and thus likely to address their concerns; last 2016 he appointed Rafael Mariano as Agrarian Reform Secretary, whose serious approach to Agrarian Reform earned support from the peasants and created ire from the landlords who, in connivance with bureaucrats, ousted him along with other concerned members of the cabinet. It is not surprising, for the fact that agrarian reform in the Philippines was driven by the thought of shutting the poor folk up from expressing dissent; and still these folks continue to march and express their grievances as these rural despots consolidating their interests becoming agrarian reform that of a ruse. For Duterte's followers would say "he tries to make his best" in addressing the peasant problem, that he ordered the current secretary to "implement agrarian reform" and that includes "going down to meet the farmers." But sadly, he's the same Duterte who rather support the landlord, the agribusiness conglomerate, and the scrupulous trader as laws like the Rice Tariffication Law and other decrees calling for low tariffs on meat and fish will not bring down the prices of rice and other foodstuffs but also endanger the country’s food security.

And to think that the agrarian reform under Duterte exists, then how come in Central Luzon alone, thousands of hectares of land are converted to pave way for Duterte’s Build, Build, Build projects, mining operations, and other so-called development projects. The Aerotropolis project of San Miguel affected fisherfolks as their source of livelihood end to be filled with earth for an airport! Worse, to hear reports like landgrabbing and land-use conversion all in the name of "development" that's brought under the current administration? Not surprising that these farmers who once snared by Duterte's message end realised he's same as that of his predecessors: that they use agrarian reform to silence than to empower the farmer and its community. 

And in speaking of "silencing", it is the same Duterte whose counterinsurgency programs sow fear and terror, especially with that of successive and rampant killings of peasants, forced and fake surrenders, illegal arrests and imprisonment of leaders and members of peasant organizations and bombing of communities. And these justified under  Memorandum Order No. 32 in Negros Island, Samar and Bicol together with Executive Order No. 70 (establishing the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict or NTF-ELCAC).

From their actions, what more of its justifications would say that the administration's treatment of dissent especially from the toiling masses is that of a crime against the state, and the action taken justifies the thought that his attack dogs also serve as protector and goons of the ruling order: that of despotic landlords, compradores, and bureaucrats who use state terror to justify landgrabbing to that of development aggression. Apologists would still strongly deny this as they instead insist those who killed as either rebels themselves, being killed by the rebels, or worse, collateral damage. 

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Perhaps, no matter how the order downplays the plight of Filipino farmers and fisherfolks or gaslights them because of their just calls, these affected folks will never yield to their whims. True it may be that the order recognises poverty incidence in poor-stricken farmers and fisherfolks, but since policies continue to wallow the toiling masses to its poverty, then it's bullshit. No wonder right was Amihan's Zenaida Soriano, from a 2018 peasant month article by Bulatlat that "President Rodrigo Duterte has no agrarian reform agenda" since the last reform program bill from the past administration was expired, and yet "Land distribution won't stop" as what authorities trying to insist, only rather end bent its objectives in favour of those trying to upheld their interests, what more that other laws are trying to deprive their livelihood, and in extension, the nation's food security and sovereignty.