Take the Road to Revolution
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement on the occasion of International Women’s Day, March 8, 2008. The statement was issued by Makibaka, a revolutionary women’s organization and allied organization of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
Take the Road to Revolution
8 March 2008
No other woman in the nation’s history has earned the ire of the Filipino people than Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. No, this has nothing to do with gender. But yes, it has everything to do with her corruption, her cheating, her lies, her killings that have marked her years in power.
Arroyo has surpassed the sins of past administrations. For all of these, not even Imelda Romualdez-Marcos has earned the distinction of being called “evil” during her time. The evil one is one hell of a kind.
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, March 8, Filipino women from all walks of life and from all parts of the world have vowed to turn out in great numbers to join tens of thousands who want Arroyo out of Malacanang Palace. The controversial ZTE-NBN deal is just the last straw. Scams, kickbacks and payoffs have piled up pointing not just to the President’s men but to her husband and herself as well. Daily, doubts about the morality and legitimacy of the regime are rousing the nation’s anger. Nothing that Arroyo can do can stem the tide of protests leading to her ouster, except perhaps the use of extreme military force.
But make no mistake about this. Every day that this regime stays in power brings the women of the Philippines closer to the path of armed revolution. Increasingly, women have seen through the guiles, the scams and the fascism of the regimes’ and Arroyo’s. Inevitably the ranks of the New People’s Army have increased with the participation of women.
The revolutionary movement in the cities has swelled with more women, overtly and covertly, forming organizations, launching protest actions, educating and mobilizing, supporting armed partisans, doing intelligence work, comforting sick or wounded comrades in battle, and sending material support to the red guerillas in the countryside. The more Arroyo holds on to power, the more it stokes the fire of revolution.
Bringing down Arroyo’s regime is a matter of survival for women and their families. Under this regime all talks about women’s empowerment or advancement is a sham. One look at the country’s poverty, unemployment, mass migration and violence against women belies all claims by the regime to women’s liberation.
On this day, March 8, 2008, MAKIBAKA calls on the women of the Philippines: take the road to revolution! Women can be free when the nation is free. The overthrow of the Arroyo regime is one important step in that direction. Stand shoulder-to-shoulder with men, and free this nation from the shackle of corruption, tyranny, repression. In the heroic tradition of Gabriela Silang, Tandang Sora and Lorena Barros, help bring forth a people’s democratic government committed to public welfare, peace and prosperity.
The road to revolution is long and winding. But every step taken in the struggle against a corrupt and tyrannical regime weakens the reactionary system. The force of change gains ground and the people ultimately, will triumph in the end. And the women, with a voice and strength more forceful than before, shall push for their liberation with even more vigor.
The future looks brighter for women but dimmer and dimmest for this regime.
Overthrow the Arroyo Regime!
Advance the National Democratic Revolution!
Onward to Women’s Liberation!
MAKIBAKA – NDFP
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