Youth group wants end of Duterte rule

Youth group wants end of Duterte rule

Anakbayan Canada and allies rally at PH Consulate in Toronto.

Anakbayan Canada 2nd National Congress

By Lea Luciano
The Philippine Reporter

Anakbayan Canada reached another milestone by celebrating its 2nd National Congress held in St. Vladimir’s Institute in Toronto last November 19-21, 2021.

In this three-day event, over 80 representatives from each chapter across the country and delegates from allied organizations gathered to celebrate Anakbayan’s achievements in mass organization, mobilization and education of the Filipino youth in the diaspora, and to unite against the macho-fascist Duterte regime.

(Photo: Lea Luciano)

The theme of this year’s congress, Abante kabataan! Bumangon at lumaban! (Advance, youth! Rise and fight) emphasizes the youth’s role in fighting against systemic corruption and national democracy. The congress addressed the three root problems plaguing the Filipino masses that have intensified under Duterte’s administration: U.S. imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucrat capitalism.

Jose Maria Sison, Founding Chairman of Kabataang Makabayan and Chairperson Emeritus of International League of People’s Struggle, emphasized the role of the Filipino youth as the forefront of the revolutionary movement.

“You must reaffirm and reinvigorate your key role as revolutionary youth in the service of the entire Filipino people and the proletariat as the leading class,” said Sison.

Sison calls on the youth to raise the level of struggle by applying all the theories and strategies learned through educational discussions and workshops, and to strengthen the mass movement to end Duterte’s reign of greed and terror.

“You are being challenged by the extreme conditions of oppression and exploitation being suffered by the Filipino people to rise up in their support and to carry out campaigns to provide moral and material assistance to their revolutionary struggle for national liberation and democracy in the Motherland.”

Anakbayan Philippines National Spokesperson Jeann Miranda spoke about the current social, economic, and political situation in the Philippines under Duterte’s rule.

“Our immediate political task of all the democratic forces in the Philippines is to hold [Duterte] accountable, to let him pay for his crimes against the Filipino masses, against the Filipino youth, against his exploitation and oppression.”

MEMBERS of Anakbayan Canada rally in front of the Philippine Consulate in Toronto on November 27, 2021.
(Photo: Lea Luciano)

Miranda highlighted Duterte’s crimes and negligence against the Filipino people throughout his presidency. Under his administration, the public health budget has been cut amidst the ongoing pandemic, healthcare workers and overseas Filipino workers received no support from the government, there has been an abuse of authority and militarization, extra-judicial killings, red-tagging of civilians, activists, youth leaders, journalists, and peasant farmers, and the intensified violation on human rights.

“There’s a need to hold Duterte accountable, the only way to do that is to oust him, is to not give him a graceful ending in the 2022 elections,” said Miranda.

“When Duterte’s reign ends, we want to push it further until the victory of the national democratic struggle.”

Miranda urges the Filipino-Canadian youth to intensify their organizing and mobilizing of its people in and out of the country.

“We, the Filipino youth, have nothing to be afraid of in taking part in the revolution. We should embody the revolutionary vigour of Bonifacio, of the Kabataang Makabayan. There is no stopping the revolution. That’s why we, the Filipino youth, as the generation or as the people who will inherit the world, we should fight and we should not stop until we reach the victory of the national democratic struggle.”

On the final day of the congress, members of Anakbayan Canada and its allied groups congregated outside of the Philippine Consulate for a mass mobilization calling for an end to political dynasties of Marcos-Duterte tandem in the upcoming Philippine election in 2022, the bloody regime of the dictatorial Duterte administration, state terror and fascism, and to expose the worsening social, economic and political crisis in the Philippines.

Anakbayan Canada also welcomed their newly-elected National Executive Committee to help their national campaigns and provide support for local chapters in organizing and mobilizing: Chairperson Myka Jaymalin of Anakbayan Toronto, Vice-Chairperson Alyssa Schenk of Anakbayan Ottawa, Finance Officer Rosie Lucente of Anakbayan Toronto, Propaganda Officer Miguel Maravilla of Anakbayan British Columbia, Secretary-General Isa Carlin of Sulong UBC.

“I believe in our movement, I believe in National Democracy, and I believe in the People’s Revolution,” said the newly-elected Secretary-General Isa Carlin.

“I am honoured to take part in this movement in a new light, in a new capacity and to work alongside such amazing and such skilled, such dedicated kasamas who are here for the movement and who are here to serve the people.”