Ka Joma's daring, vision and trust in
the masses have borne rich fruit. Despite massive attacks by the US-Marcos
regime and succeeding reactionary governments, the CPP has grown to 150,000
members; the NPA now operates in more than 110 guerrilla fronts in 71 out of a
total 81 provinces.
MEDIA RELEASENDFP International Information Office
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
10 February 2014
Friends around the world toast Joma's 55 years of service to Philippine revolution
A day after his
75th birthday on 8 February 2014, Prof. Jose Maria Sison – or Ka
Joma to friends and comrades – was feted by Filipino and European friends
and comrades as he celebrated his 55 years of service to the Filipino people, at
the Mirror Centre in Amsterdam. Friends from the Philippines and other parts of
the world sent congratulatory messages and video presentations.
The celebration was
highlighted by the launching of Prof. Sison's latest book of selected writings,
Building Strength Through Struggle, and the launching of a campaign to
revitalize the Center for Social Studies, a school for students and
practitioners of social change. The afternoon program was accentuated by various
heartwarming cultural performances, such as readings and musical renditions of
his poems, chants and dances of his recent speeches, showing of music videos
like “Pulang Saludo, Ka Joma” (Red Salute, Comrade Joma!), and surprise numbers
from his family.
In his introductory
speech, Luis G. Jalandoni, NDFP Chief International Representative and longtime
comrade to Prof. Sison, related how Joma began to be active in the movement for
national democracy in the Philippines in the late 1950s, up to his continuing
political life while abroad.
“Together with 12 young
revolutionary colleagues,” Jalandoni explained, “Ka Joma founded the Communist
Party of the Philippines on 26 December 1968. He led the formation of the New
People's Army on 29 March 1969, with only nine automatic rifles and 26 inferior
firearms against the US-backed Marcos regime. He co-founded the National
Democratic Front of the Philippines in 1973.”
Jalandoni stressed, “Ka
Joma's daring, vision and trust in the masses have borne rich fruit. Despite
massive attacks by the US-Marcos regime and succeeding reactionary governments,
the CPP has grown to 150,000 party members throughout the country. The New
People's Army operates in more than 110 guerrilla fronts in 71 out of a total 81
provinces.
“Organs of democratic
power, alternative people's governments,” he explained, “carry out land reform,
health, education, and cultural programs.”
Julie de Lima-Sison
introduced the campaign to revitalize and expand the work of the Center for
Social Studies. “The CSS,” she said, “was formed in 1991 as a center for
research and training of activists in order to counter the ideological,
political, economic, cultural and military offensives of the US, its allies, and
its puppets.”
She continued, “We
propose that a campaign be undertaken to raise financial and other resources for
the purpose of revitalizing and expanding the work of the CSS.”
According to de
Lima-Sison, the resources raised through the campaign will be used for
undertaking social research; increasing the number of interactive conferences
and seminars among activists from various countries; producing audiovisual
materials in aid of mass education and organizing; and for Prof. Sison's staff
support.
In brief remarks
launching his latest book, Building Strength Through Struggle, Joma
expressed his happiness and satisfaction. He explained that the book “extends,
reinforces and further develops the principles, policies and major lines of
action for carrying out the people's democratic revolution, as put forward by
the earlier two books in the series, Foundation for Resuming the Philippine
Revolution and Defeating Revisionism, Reformism and Opportunism.”
This latest book, he
said, “Includes the major documents of the Central Committee of the Communist
Party of the Philippines which I drafted, and the major articles that I wrote
under the nom de guerre Amado Guerrero, from the formal declaration of
martial law on 21 September 1972 to my capture on 10 November 1977.”
Joma emphasized that it
is necessary to read and study all the contents of Building Strength Through
Struggle in order to understand why and how the people's democratic
revolution had led to the overthrow of the Marcos fascist dictatorship; how it
has continued to fight and win victories against the pseudo-democratic regimes;
how it has frustrated subjectivist and opportunist trends; and how it has
excelled as a torch bearer of armed revolution led by the proletariat, amidst
the dominance of neocolonialism in the underdeveloped countries, the full
restoration of capitalism in former revisionist-ruled countries, and the
neoliberal plunder and aggression of the imperialist powers worldwide.
“The CPP, NPA, NDFP, and
the people's democratic revolution in the Philippines enjoy the respect,
appreciation and support of the world anti-imperialist movement and the
international communist movement. This book Building Strength through
Struggle illumines the path to understanding the fact,” Joma stressed.
Congratulatory messages
came from all over the world, including Uruguay, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, USA and
Canada; Spain, Italy, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, UK,
Russia, and Ukraine; Turkey, Korea, Japan, Hongkong, Australia, New Zealand, and
the Philippines. Excerpts of some messages were read during the program.
Several of the most-loved
poems of Joma were sung and recited during the program, including Sometimes
the Heart Yearns for Mangoes, The Forest is Still Enchanted, Rose
for a Waking Woman, A Cool Breeze, Bartolina Muli, Mga
Yugto ng Buhay Ko, Monsters in the Market, Across the Blue
Waters, Inquisition, Cry for Freedom, and The Guerrilla is
Like a Poet.
A simple dinner prepared
by Filipinos living in the Netherlands was served for all the guests. Admirers
and well-wishers queued to have their copies of Joma's books signed, while
cultural performances continued in the background.
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