By: Lean Redino “Ian” Porquia
One article is not enough for a 10-minute critique or a 2-page paper, much more a collection of articles. I hope I can give justice to Prof. Sison. Let me begin with the author’s preface and I quote “The book presents the people’s resistance on a global scale amidst the total bankruptcy of neoliberal economic policy, the ever worsening crisis of monopoly capitalism and the relentless wars of aggression unleashed by US imperialism and its NATO and Zionist subalterns” (Sison, J.M. Crisis Generates Resistance). Normally, it may sound intimidating for anyone who has lesser knowledge of global politics and the dynamics of monopoly capitalism. Well, let me put it simply – Prof. Sison always presents a situation-discussion like how every activist would start a meeting or setting up any plan-of-action (we all know the drill, International Sit, national sit, and the local sit).
Prof Sison cannot emphasize more than enough that the contradiction of the current economic crisis is boiled-down to the “Neo-liberal Globalization” policies of the rotten capitalist system – something that we need to look back from time-to-time to remind us of the basics, that is the importance of a progressive and dialectical understanding of society rather than dogmatic, idealistic, and detached from the basic mass. This serves as a reminder on the role of the intellectual peti-bourgeois to better explain the complexity and sophistication of social structures and the necessity to join the revolution.
Understanding Reform under the context of the People’s Revolution
One thing that is scattered across the book is the usage of Prof. Sison of the term “reform”, something that many of us would automatically identify with the revisionists and reformists. This is something that we need to contextualize on the basis that many of our legal struggles are within the framework of “reform”. Prof. Sison is very careful in using the term “reform”, always making sure that is within the framework of Marxist political economy – translated as: decent income, better working and living conditions, and availability of basic social services – with long term goal that will serve the people’s revolutionary movement.
So when we refer that most of our struggles are reforming the system, we pertain to the immediate effects of our protracted struggle for National Democracy. It is no surprise that an article dedicated to the famous catchphrase “makibaka, huwag matakot” has captured the continuing message of the struggling Filipino people, aspiring for National Democracy. Not only that, but it also illustrated in its radical evolution in various forms and today, we are the living examples of this continuing legacy. On hindsight, the book in itself is a tribute and a reminder to all activists that our struggle is a good fight.
In every article, you would appreciate the scientific approach of Prof. Sison in making readers understand the dialectics of every issue by pointing out the historical facts, and this would be incumbent upon every Marxist around the world to lay-down the basis of any assertion, propaganda, issue, opinion, and all these carry the banner of “mula sa masa, tungo sa masa”, like in his message on the celebration of the FQS movement on it third congress.
Further, you will find a distinct admiration for Prof. Sison on how he is always resolute in his analysis that the root-cause of all social issues is on the US-led policies of neo-liberal globalization – and the extent of his articulation that it made the week-long course of Lipunan at Rebolusyon Pilipino (LRP) so easy to understand. Bottomline, there is an emphasis on the necessity to arouse, organize and mobilize! We need to rally all struggling people of the world and the anti-imperialists movement in condemning the choreographed attack of the US Imperialist against all the peoples of the world!
The book also contains articles on the participation of the left to the “reformist” electoral system, in which Prof. Sison repeatedly points out that National Democratic Movement’s decision to participate in such process is timely, relevant, and necessary. Now that we are about to enter another “eleksyon-serye”, there’s no harm in reminding ourselves on the objectives why we participate in the electoral process in the first place. Prof. Sison pointed out:
“In my view, it is not possible to make fundamental changes of the ruling system through periodic elections under the rules set by the exploiting classes and their political agents. There are various forms of mass struggle for revolutionary change that can be carried out by the people. But the electoral form of mass struggle is important and necessary whenever it becomes possible for the patriotic and progressive forces to participate and forward basic reforms that respond to the immediate needs and demands of the people… There is no error of electoralism or parliamentarism when there is no foreclosing of other forms of strugglethat the people have sovereign right to adopt and wage” (Sison, J.M., Consolidate the People’s Gains in the Electoral Struggle)
So the message to all of us is clear, it is imperative that we win our “Fighter ng Bayan sa Senado” and all our partylists this coming election. The people’s campaigns on different issues must be highlighted and the electoral platform should be used in exposing the rottenness of the current system and that there is a better alternative, asking people to join the revolution!
The Tasks and Prospects of the Workers of the World
On a more grounded analysis, the book itself is instructive on how and what every sector of society should do on the important tasks in the frontlines of our everyday struggle. Prof. Sison’s message for every solidarity speeches, statements, interviews, and even on articles on different issues, there is a clear instruction on what are the tasks and prospects of every proletariat around the world should be and I took the liberty of summing it up into two general ideas:
1. Build a broad anti-imperialist united front of workers and unions that oppose monopoly capitalism – and take the most advanced from this united front and form them into a revolutionary party that will ensure the establishment of socialism
2. Build a revolutionary party of the working class that is grounded on ideological building, political strength, and organizational growth.
Our goals in waging different forms of struggle should not be confined within the boundaries of our community. Prof. Sison has never isolated that monopoly capitalism only targets a particular group of people. It is always on the context of international solidarity and that our role in building a revolutionary working-class party is aimed at defeating US Imperialism.
In ideological building, we are reminded of social investigation and class analysis as a tool in understanding the correct mass line. In building the working class politically, we have to arouse, organize, and mobilize. And in building our organizational strength, we follow the universal principles of democratic centralism and that we should always maintain our class character; something that we should all understand to better grasp the unique and dynamic character of waging a people’s revolution.
Our goals in waging different forms of struggle should not be confined within the boundaries of our community. Prof. Sison has never isolated that monopoly capitalism only targets a particular group of people. It is always on the context of international solidarity and that our role in building a revolutionary working-class party is aimed at defeating US Imperialism.
In ideological building, we are reminded of social investigation and class analysis as a tool in understanding the correct mass line. In building the working class politically, we have to arouse, organize, and mobilize. And in building our organizational strength, we follow the universal principles of democratic centralism and that we should always maintain our class character; something that we should all understand to better grasp the unique and dynamic character of waging a people’s revolution.
