New Filipino socialist online magazine launched!

Partido Lakas ng Masa has launched Ang Masa online. It is the online version of the party's periodical of the same name. The website is www.angmasa.com.

The thing looks neat. But what's more significant is that it's one of the few non-ND magazines of the Left available online. Earlier, the Center for Peoples Media was also launched, providing multi-sectoral grassroots struggles coverage in the Philippines.

Philippine Left publication: Ang Masa by PLM

The socialist Partido Lakas ng Masa just released a recent publication here. The paper can be downloaded here. Ric Reyes writes about the death of land reform in the last article.

PLM Manila Socialism Conference 2016

PLM is holding its annual socialism conference. Original link is here.

Manila Socialism Conference, November 29, UP Solair, QC

An educational conference for socialists in the Philippines, a response to a so-called "socialist president" in Malacanang, and today, a tribute to a real revolutionary socialist leader who united Cuba and socialists the world over in continuing and rebuilding socialism in the 21st century.

A discussion among socialists: How will a socialist government look like if it takes power in the Philippines today?
-- Its independent, anti-imperialist foreign policy
-- Its agrarian policy
-- Its human rights and peace and order policies
-- Its industrialization and labor policies
-- Other major aspects of its governmental platform
-- Its environment policy
-- In the light of youth and students increasing participation in today's rallies, there will also be a discussion on the prospects of youth upsurge today, the pertinent issues and strategies.
There will be speakers and panelists on the above listed topics.
The Socialism Conference is a yearly event organized by PLM (Partido Lakas ng Masa). The Manila Socialism Conference starts at 9:00 am and ends at 5:30 pm.

http://www.masa.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=431

REPOST: On the Extra-Judicial Killings: The Matobato confessions confirm the failure of the entire trapo system

On the Extra-Judicial Killings

Written by Partido Lakas ng Masa

Saturday, 17 September 2016 21:08

The Matobato confessions confirm the failure of the entire trapo system By Sonny Melencio The statements of operative Edgar Matobato during the Senate hearings on extra-judicial killings have confirmed the existence of the Davao Death Squad (DDS) which we know have existed for a long time now. According to Matobato, the killings have been going on since 1988 starting with the Cory administration through to FVR's, Erap's, GMA's, Noynoy's, up until now. This means that all these administrations must be held accountable. They all have blood on their hands. The statements also expose the connivance of the police and government forces in perpetrating the killings. We also know that this connivance has been established in the operation of the illegal drug trade itself. As to how the killings could remain unabated all through the years has to be explained not only by the Duterte government but also by the previous ones. The previous administrations have known what was happening in Davao all along, but they chose to ignore it. Some administrations even consorted with the drug lords and syndicates, until the drug issue became so significant that it catapulted Rodrigo Duterte to power. The killings have become almost nationwide. Now its becoming clearer that these mass killings are in fact systemic. It's part and parcel of the system of trapo politics and elite rule in the country. Davao is not the only case. There have been similar killings in Negros (Escalante), Isabela, Maguindanao and elsewhere. It might not have the same intensity and publicity as in Davao, but it points to the capacity of the ruling individuals in power to form their own death squads, bodyguards and goons to do their bidding. We have a term to describe this localized phenomenon, that is warlordism, reminiscent of an era when the landowning class in their fiefdom ruled through terror and violence. We have to assess and therefore question the direction of the Senate hearings in this context. The hearings have degenerated into a jockeying of opposing factions within the ruling class in order to score points and advance their own agenda. This makes the Senate hearings an exercise in futility, as they are not meant to resolve the problem of the killings, but to lay the blame solely with the present administration. The motive is therefore suspect. The question is posed: Why didn't the elite factions which were previously in government, not so long ago, use their power to stop the killings? Let's not fool ourselves. There has been an increasing polarization of forces within the ruling class. Even if the Liberal Party is in disarray, with a majority of its members having joined the Duterte faction, they are still powerful enough to destabilize the Duterte regime. Yes, there is a Plan B, as there is a Plan A, or even a Plan C that are a part of this faction's maneouvers to control power. But where are the masses and the poor in all these designs? Our interests are not represented in any of these maneouvers. While they quarrel in the halls of the Congress, we continue to be the casualties of their system -- oppressed, exploited and even killed in the streets. The solution is not to replace Duterte with another trapo via plans engineered by any of the elite factions. We must not be trapped into aligning ourselves with any of the factions. The masses must organize and mobilize for their own agenda and interests. This is the only way that we can protect our communities and win genuine peace and security. The unity of the Left and progressive forces is crucial to achieving this.#

REPOST: PLM statement on 'state of lawlessness'

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Thousands protest planned Marcos burial in the Libingan ng mga Bayani

Around 5,000 people (not "hundreds" as the network GMA reported) under a rainy Sunday morning attended a protest gathering against the planned burial of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes' Cemetery) next month.

The mobilization, which organizers called a "Citizens' Assembly," is the first major protest act against a decision being pushed by President Rodrigo Duterte. However, the event did not tackle human rights issues, but stuck with the Marcos burial problem.

The protesters, mostly wearing white, did not leave their places in front of the giant Lapu-Lapu monument despite brief moments of heavy downpour. The program began at around 9:30 and lasted for two hours.

The protesters listened as guest speakers narrated first-hand stories of torture they experienced under the Marcos regime. The speakers -- artists, economists, activists, academics, politicians -- debunked common misconceptions such as the supposed "Golden Years" experienced during the Marcos era, which they said is not supported by the facts. They said burying Marcos at the Libingan would send the "wrong message" about what the Marcos era was all about.

The atmosphere was marked by simplicity as people listened to speeches, with the occasional cheering and jeering as speakers asked the crowd whether they thought Marcos was indeed a "hero." Older folks also relived their times as activists during the Martial Law years.

Some of the speakers were Walden Bello, Joel Lamangan, Riza Hontiveros-Baraquel, Teddy Baguilat, Aida Santos, Leila de Lima and former Senator Wigberto Tanada.

Among the leftist organizations present that brought contingents were Sanlakas and Partido Lakas ng Masa. The mobilization was initiated by the Coalition Against the Marcos Burial in Libingan Ng Mga Bayani.

Partido Lakas ng Masa's primer on socialism

Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM) has a primer on Socialism. Check it out!