May 1st, 2018 - Filipino workers, unite and build the people’s unity! Communist Party of the Philippines

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) joins the Filipino working class and the proletarian masses across the whole world in celebrating international Labor Day. Let us salute the heroes and martyrs of the working movement and be inspired their lives of selfless service of the people.
As we commemorate May 1, we have the great task of uniting the widest number of workers to advance economic struggles and fight the anti-worker and anti-people Duterte fascist regime. This year’s May 1 commemoration is made more significant by our celebrating a few days later, on May 5, the 200th birth anniversary of the greatest communist teacher Karl Marx.
Marx was the first to expound on the proletarian ideology. For more than a century and a half now, Marxism has guided the workers in their economic struggles and in advancing the revolutionary struggle to end the system of wage slavery. Marxism evolved into Marxism-Leninism-Maoism over the three phases of the epic struggle between capitalism and the proletarian revolution.

Let us recall the historic struggles around the world for the eight-hour workday, just wages, and the right to organize unions, to strike and others. Most importantly, let us commemorate the 1 00th anniversary of the Great Proletarian October Revolution in Russia which established the dictatorship of the proletariat and paved the way for seven decades of successful socialist revolutions and constructions in one-third of the entire world.
The bourgeoisie however defeated the proletariat and restored capitalism in Russia, China and other countries. The socialist revolution in the entire world has been set back. Nevertheless, its achievements in eliminating exploitation and social progress continue to inspire workers and the toiling masses to persevere along the revolutionary path. Worsening forms of capitalist exploitation under neo-liberalism only deepen their aspiration to see a resurgence of new democratic and socialist revolutions in the entire world.
In the Philippines, the working masses bear the brunt of the permanent crisis of the semi-colonial and semi-feudal system. Their conditions have rapidly worsened under Duterte. His declarations of being a “socialist” are hogwash. In truth, he is anti-worker and pro-capitalist. He keeps workers’ wages low to entice foreign investors. The NCR minimum wage (₱51 2 per day) for instance does not even cover half of what a family of six needs to live decently (₱1,1 71 per day). The unemployment crisis has further worsened with the massacre of over 630,000 jobs last year. Every day, thousands are still forced overseas to find work. He is amenable to extending the workday through the four-day workweek scheme. He neglects workers’ welfare and safety standards in the workplace. The police and military are used to suppress workers asserting their right to unionize and strike.
Under Duterte, workers have no other choice but to tread the path of militant struggle. Thousands of unions need to be reestablished. Democratic struggles must be ardently advanced. Workers’ struggles must be ignited in thousands of factories and other workplaces.
Our tasks in the current period are clear. Form the broadest unity among the Filipino working masses against the US-Duterte regime to fight its anti-worker and anti-people policies and programs. At the same time, lead in uniting the Filipino people to isolate, fight, and overthrow the US-Duterte regime—the number one enemy of the Filipino people.
Build the broadest unity of the working masses against the US-Duterte regime’s tyranny and terrorism. Unite with the peasant masses in the countryside in their anti-feudal struggles and in their fight against the fascist attacks in their communities. Publicize in the cities and urban centers the bombings, encroachment, torture, arrest and detention, theft, and other forms of harassment committed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) under Oplan Kapayapaan.
Join the Communist Party of the Philippines!
The communist party is our political party. It is united by Marxism-Leninism-Maoism, the ideology of the proletariat. It is the concentration of the class interest of workers. It illuminates the path of struggle to end the reign of the oppressing and exploiting classes and to build the political power of the proletariat.
Workers, take up arms and become Red commanders and fighters of the New People’s Army! The people’s army was established by the Party to wage armed struggle and smash the armed agents of the ruling state. The protracted people’s war is waged to gather strength in the countryside and surround the urban centers until it can overthrow the reactionary classes and establish democratic people’s power across the country.
The people’s democratic revolution has been advancing for fifty years now. The victories that it continues to accumulate give the Filipino people the hope that the complete victory needed to create a free and prosperous future will be achieved.
Long live the Filipino workers!
Commemorate the 200th birth anniversary of Karl Marx!
Uphold and champion Marxism-Leninism-Maoism!
Overthrow the US-Duterte regime!
Advance the people’s democratic revolution!
Long live the Communist Party of the Philippines
May 1, 2018