Filipino-American Leftist

[CommunistColby71]

Hello everyone,

I am a new member here. I hope to have great times here discussing politics and other random topics.

Thanks.

[Q]

Welcome

[thomasludd]

welcome to revleft.

[Lyev]

Lovely to meet you comrade.

[RedLaw]

A very warm welcome to you!

[revolution inaction]

hi welcome

[scarletghoul]

Maligayang pagdating, kasamang
A lot of us are interested in the situation in the Phillipines, its great to have you here

[thomasludd]

Maligayang pagdating, kasamang
A lot of us are interested in the situation in the Phillipines, its great to have you here

Really?

[Rjevan]

Hi, welcome!

[scarletghoul]

Really?

Yes. Well, mostly the Maoists are. We don't get a lot of news on it, but it's clearly a significant Protracted Peoples' War going on there

[thomasludd]

Yes. Well, mostly the Maoists are. We don't get a lot of news on it, but it's clearly a significant Protracted Peoples' War going on there

Well, VeganMarxist gives a lot of updates from the CPP-NPA-NDF site, but they are mostly press releases from them itself. Since he is already doing that, I should focus on updates that is not self released, like not so "good" news such as intra-factional conflicts, updates from rival groups (Maoist and non-Maoist) and tendencies, and the Philippine left/protest movement in general.

[#FF0000]

Welcome!

[scarletghoul]

Well, VeganMarxist gives a lot of updates from the CPP-NPA-NDF site, but they are mostly press releases from them itself. Since he is already doing that, I should focus on updates that is not self released, like not so "good" news such as intra-factional conflicts, updates from rival groups (Maoist and non-Maoist) and tendencies, and the Philippine left/protest movement in general.

This is true. Out of interest, what is your view on the NPA/CPP/NDF as a filipino Anarchist ? you should post more !

[thomasludd]

This is true. Out of interest, what is your view on the NPA/CPP/NDF as a filipino Anarchist ? you should post more !

I'm more of an "anarchist without adjectives", but i'm clearly anticap. I am non-sectarian, and open working with all lefty groups, but cautious enough to avoid some people and groups, or to just have a conditional working relationship.

In my experience with the CPP (well you'll relate to them through their front groups), they're quite a bit sectarian, compared to others, but it can be attributed to their size - anyone who's big enough to boss around can definitely boss around.

Here's some sort of intro on the Philippine Left configuration:

1. CPP-NPA-NDF - Marxist-Leninist-Maoist

unquestionably the largest. Has multiple front organizations carrying their line of national democracy. Headed by Joma Sison in the Netherlands. known as the Reaffirmists after the "great schism" of the early '90s.

in the late '90s there was a chunk of their armed group and mass base who split from the area of Central Luzon. They still adhere to Maoism, but reject the CPP leadership. I think they are named Marxist Leninist Party of the Philippines (MLPP)

recently, after while the national elections was ongoing, there is an ongoing factional conflict. I'll be posting the updates there soon, i am just organizing them. This faction is critical of the CPP leadership from the standpoint of being more authentically maoist (adherence to people's war and anti-parliamentarism).

2. Partido ng Manggagawang Pilipino (Filipino Workers Party)

a unified underground party from 3 different left blocs of the Rejectionists (those who dropped Maoism-Stalinism). I'm not sure as to what their program is now, but their members range from Leninists, Trots, and those awed by Chavez and the Latin american left. Their main peoples orgs are Sanlakas, and Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (Filipino Labor Solidarity), and the Partido Lakas ng Masa (Party of the masses power). A lot of them come from the group of slain leader Filemon "Popoy" Lagman, who presented the counter thesis against the CPP and MAoism in the 90's.

They had a recent split, where the partylist group Partido ng MAnggagawa (Labor Party) left to be on its own.

3. Akbayan

this is a multi-tendency legal party made up of democratic socialists (Bisig, Pandayan), left social democrats, some Rejectionists (Padayon), and independent socialists and left-liberals. Personalities include Walden Bello, Etta Rosales, Riza Hontiveros (almost won as a Senator recently), and Ric Reyes.

4. Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa- Mindanao (Revolutionary workers party)

this is another rejectionist group, mainly based in Mindanao island. I believe they are part of the 4th international.

5. Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa- Pilipinas (Revolutionary workers party)

another rejectionist group, they are mainly based in Visayas Region. They have an armed group, the Revolutionary Proletarian Army (RPA). They have most of the members of the notorious Alex Bongcayao Brigade urban hit squad.

6. Others

• International Communist Current -oh yes the Left Communists are here
• Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas - social-democratic and opportunist party who i think only has the name socialist but is unclear if they are third way or whatever
• Philippine Greens - i have yet to get an update from them
• The anarchists - we're not a homogeneous group. There is no established syndicalist, platformist, or communist group/federation. So far, the ones organized are various collectives working on ecological direct action, culture jamming, etc.

[thomasludd]

i am quite curious though of the allegiance of the OP. Care to share?

[thomasludd]

I forgot, there's still remnants of the old party, the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP-1930), mainly in central Luzon. Historically, hey are the first communist party established.

[scarletghoul]

I'm more of an "anarchist without adjectives", but i'm clearly anticap. I am non-sectarian, and open working with all lefty groups, but cautious enough to avoid some people and groups, or to just have a conditional working relationship.

In my experience with the CPP (well you'll relate to them through their front groups), they're quite a bit sectarian, compared to others, but it can be attributed to their size - anyone who's big enough to boss around can definitely boss around.

Here's some sort of intro on the Philippine Left configuration:

1. CPP-NPA-NDF - Marxist-Leninist-Maoist

unquestionably the largest. Has multiple front organizations carrying their line of national democracy. Headed by Joma Sison in the Netherlands. known as the Reaffirmists after the "great schism" of the early '90s.

in the late '90s there was a chunk of their armed group and mass base who split from the area of Central Luzon. They still adhere to Maoism, but reject the CPP leadership. I think they are named Marxist Leninist Party of the Philippines (MLPP)

recently, after while the national elections was ongoing, there is an ongoing factional conflict. I'll be posting the updates there soon, i am just organizing them. This faction is critical of the CPP leadership from the standpoint of being more authentically maoist (adherence to people's war and anti-parliamentarism).

2. Partido ng Manggagawang Pilipino (Filipino Workers Party)

a unified underground party from 3 different left blocs of the Rejectionists (those who dropped Maoism-Stalinism). I'm not sure as to what their program is now, but their members range from Leninists, Trots, and those awed by Chavez and the Latin american left. Their main peoples orgs are Sanlakas, and Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (Filipino Labor Solidarity), and the Partido Lakas ng Masa (Party of the masses power). A lot of them come from the group of slain leader Filemon "Popoy" Lagman, who presented the counter thesis against the CPP and MAoism in the 90's.

They had a recent split, where the partylist group Partido ng MAnggagawa (Labor Party) left to be on its own.

3. Akbayan

this is a multi-tendency legal party made up of democratic socialists (Bisig, Pandayan), left social democrats, some Rejectionists (Padayon), and independent socialists and left-liberals. Personalities include Walden Bello, Etta Rosales, Riza Hontiveros (almost won as a Senator recently), and Ric Reyes.

4. Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa- Mindanao (Revolutionary workers party)

this is another rejectionist group, mainly based in Mindanao island. I believe they are part of the 4th international.

5. Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa- Pilipinas (Revolutionary workers party)

another rejectionist group, they are mainly based in Visayas Region. They have an armed group, the Revolutionary Proletarian Army (RPA). They have most of the members of the notorious Alex Bongcayao Brigade urban hit squad.

6. Others

• International Communist Current -oh yes the Left Communists are here
• Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas - social-democratic and opportunist party who i think only has the name socialist but is unclear if they are third way or whatever
• Philippine Greens - i have yet to get an update from them
• The anarchists - we're not a homogeneous group. There is no established syndicalist, platformist, or communist group/federation. So far, the ones organized are various collectives working on ecological direct action, culture jamming, etc.

Thanks, this is really interesting. I know an ICC Filipino who was in the NPA for 20 years, he;s very good to talk to. Certainly the most sense-making left communist I know..

What is Popoy Lagman's main differance with the CPP ?

I haven't heard of the MLPP before. Where are they active? Do you know any websites related to them ?

Thanks

[thomasludd]

Thanks, this is really interesting. I know an ICC Filipino who was in the NPA for 20 years, he;s very good to talk to. Certainly the most sense-making left communist I know..

Would that be "internasyonalismo"?

What is Popoy Lagman's main differance with the CPP ?

Popoy Lagman made these:

• Counter-Thesis 1 (PSR: A Semi-feudal Alibi for Protracted War, PPDR: Class Line vs. Mass Line and PPW: A New-Type Revolution of the Wrong Type)
• Counter-Thesis 2 (On the Reorientation of the Party Work and the Reorganization of the Party Machinery).

I'll get a copy from my Popoyish "friends" so revleft comrades can read. I just hope they still have digital copies of these.

Basically, Popoy rejected the PPW strategy for a more worker-centered focus in organizing (which he did with BMP). He didn't say he's a Trot though, but more of a Leninist but anti-Stalinist.

A fundamental issue on theory was the mode of production. CPP and Maoists hold on the the semi-feudal, semi-colonial position. The rejectionists, namely Popoy claimed it as backward capitalist.

I haven't heard of the MLPP before. Where are they active? Do you know any websites related to them ?

They are active in Central Luzon. they have an armed group, the Rebolusyonaryong Hukbong Bayan (Revolutionary People's Army). They also have mass organizations. They are less sectarian than the CPP, and sometimes work in alliances with the non-Maoists.

[thomasludd]

Scarletghoul, i posted a new thread on the split im pertaining to

revleft.com
/vb/philippines-cpp-npa-t136567/index.html?p=1766808#post1766808