Communist Party of the Philippines

The ongoing peace negotiation between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has aroused a lot of curiosity about this organization. I have always thought that it is necessary to have a working knowledge of the history and principles of the CPP in order to truly appreciate contemporary Philippine history.

Here are some books that I would recommend for those who want to learn more about the CPP.

The COMMUNIST PARTY of the PHILIPPINES 1968-1993: A Story of its Theory and Practice by Kathleen Weekley, University of the Philippines Press 2001.

This book focuses on the origin of the present CPP. I recommend the book partly because Weekley is clearly sympathetic but, at the same time, attempts to be historically factual and neutral. In her acknowledgment she says:

“ Not all of those CPP cadres (former and continuing) who encouraged and assisted me will likely like what I have written, but I trust they will know that my version of the story of their struggle is presented in good faith, as a contribution to conversation about the endless struggle in human liberation. I learned much from all of them and hope that they may find the results of the collective effort in some way – even if it is only as an example of how an analyst can get everything wrong.”

The book is not just a history book but also analyzes the evolution of the CPP in terms of theory and practice. In her introduction, Weekley writes:

“This is a story about the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) which in the 16 years from its founding in 1968 until the end of the Marcos regime grew from a small number of intellectuals and a slightly larger armed group, into the biggest threat facing the Philippine state. It is one of the world’s tales of extraordinary determination and self-sacrifice of a group of people inspired by Marxist ideas to assert economic justice for the wealth-producers of the country against the powerful interests of wealth-appropriators.

It is also another familiar story of radicals in a (post) colonial state who sought to assert the nation’s right to genuine self determination against the interests of its (past) colonial master and who articulated that demand through a Marxist discourse...But when the Marcos dictatorship was finally overthrown, it was not the CPP’s doing. This study attempts to explain why this happened and how the CPP managed under post-Marcos political conditions with specific conditions, with specific reference to the role of theory in the fortunes and misfortunes of the Party.”

PHILIPPINE SOCIETY AND REVOLUTION, by Amado Guerrerro ( Jose Ma. Sison), originally published as a mimeograph, 1970.

This book was written by Jose Ma. Sison, founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Amado Guerrerro was his pen name. Here is the author’s Introduction to the book:

“ Philippine Society and Revolution is an attempt to present in a comprehensive way from the standpoint of Marxism-Leninism-Mao Tsetung Thought the main strands of Philippine history, the basic problem of the Filipino people, the prevailing structure and the strategy and tactics and class logic of the revolutionary solution – which is the people’s democratic revolution.

This book serves to explain why the Communist Party of the Philippines has been established to arouse and mobilize the broad masses of the people, chiefly the oppressed and exploited workers and peasants, against US imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism now regnant in the present semicolonial and semifeudal society...The author offers this book as a starting point for every patriot in the land to make further class analysis and social investigation as the basis for concrete and sustained revolutionary action.”

BROKERING A REVOLUTION: Cadres in a Philippine Insurgency, Edited by Rosanne Rutten, Ateneo de Manila University Press 2008.

This book is a collection of nine essays that focuses on CPP-NPA cadres in different regions and settings. In Chapter 1:  Introduction: Cadres in Action, Cadres in Context, Roseanne Rutten begins by pointing out that the oldest active revolutionary movement in Southeast Asia “...the CPP-NPA is certainly not a spent force after an almost four decade effort to capture state power – an insurgency that has so far, cost the lives of some forty thousand lives.”

In Chapter 2 Repression and the Making of Underground Resistance, Vincent Boudreau examines the process by which different undergrounds emerge and how state repression shapes that practice. He focuses on repression under the Marcos regime.

In Chapter 3, “Igorotism,” Rebellion, and Regional Autonomy in the Cordillera, Gerard Finin writes about the rift between highland and lowland cadres in the Cordillera. In Chapter 4, “ Mindanao Peoples Unite!” Failed Attempts at Muslim-Christian Unity, Tomas McKenna looks at various efforts by the National Democratic Front to find common cause with Muslim students and intellectuals in Mindanao.

In Chapter 5, Kahos Revisited: The Mindanao Commission and its Narrative of a Tragedy, Patricio Abinales writes about the purge of alleged government spies in Mindanao, that had such a traumatic impact on the Movement. In chapter 6, Development, Gender and the Revolution: Everyday Politics of Cordillera NGOs, Dorothea Hilhorst discusses how gender and development became contentious issues in the relationship between NGO workers and National Democratic leaders in the Cordillera region.

Chapters 7 and 8  discuss the NPA in Ifugao and Negros Occidental. In Chapter 9, Quimpo writes about CPP-NDF Members in Western Europe: Travails in International Relations Work.

The Communist Party of the Philippines was re-established on December 26, 1998. It continues to be a force in Philippine society.

Creative writing classes

a.) Young Writers’ Hangout for Kids and Teens: Nov. 5 and Nov. 19 (1:30 pm-3 pm)

b.) Feature Writing for Adults with Jo-Ann Q. Maglipon: Nov. 5 (1:30-5:30 pm)

Classes at Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street. For registration and fee details text 0917-6240196 or email [email protected].

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