"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.