Reproduction and distribution of Ang Bayan: Combining mass movement and modern technology
Experiences with regard to how comrades value Ang Bayan (AB), and how they deliver, reproduce and distribute it were shared with AB in recent interviews conducted in a number regions. From their accounts, it was noted that comrades, the masses as well as allies warmly support AB. In general, AB is actively reproduced, distributed and used as study material. Nonetheless, the task of reproducing and distributing AB can be further improved if certain problems that need to be resolved are confronted. With the objective of drawing lessons, AB recounts the experiences of various organs and units in this regard.
Speedy release and distribution of AB using the internet. Recently, AB has been coming out more promptly and more frequently to enable the Party to exercise its political leadership amid the rapid pace of events in society and the revolution. Towards this end, AB has effectively employed the internet so that AB issues and other revolutionary propaganda could be readily downloaded anywhere in the country or the world where internet access is available.
The majority of regions and leading organs and even some committees and staffs on the provincial and guerrilla front levels already have the capability to get their own copies of AB from the internet. They are able to instantly reproduce and distribute AB to other units. Only a few continue to rely on the clandestine communication lines of the Party for their copies of AB. Even among them, the thrust is to raise, up to the guerrilla front level, the ability of forces and units to use the internet prudently and safely.
Different means of reproducing AB. The printing of AB and other revolutionary propaganda is done in various ways based on the capability, resources and situation of Party units, the people's army and mass organizations. Comrades and the masses are able to combine the use of modern means for faster, high quality and mass reproduction and the launching of a mass movement to ensure that AB could be reproduced in a reliable, secure and simple way even by a small unit on the most basic level. AB is reproduced by means of v-type, mimeographing machine, photocopier, computer printer and offset printing machines and digital duplicators (better known as Riso).
In Bicol, although there are some units that employ advanced means of printing, the v-type method and the mimeographing machine are the primary means of reproducing AB, Silyab (the regional revolutionary mass newspaper) and other revolutionary propaganda. The device for v-type printing is made up of a piece of silk screen stretched across a wooden rectangular frame. Ink is manually spread and squeegeed across a piece of stencil attached to the silk screen, and onto a piece of paper attached to the other side of the screen. Because most NPA units in the region have the capacity and resources for this system, the task of reproduction is effectively and quickly carried out by the organization's rank and file. They are thus able to print a sufficient number of copies for the Party, NPA units and organized masses.
The masses' active participation is the key in the reproduction of AB and other revolutionary propaganda using this method. Cooperation between the people's army and the masses is commonplace in the various stages of reproducing written propaganda. This ranges from the procurement of supplies, the actual printing via v-type, provision of security while printing, up to the distribution of the printed material to comrades and the people's army, the masses and allies. Teachers, professionals and others who live in the countryside but work in offices play a big role in purchasing paper, stencils and ink and in borrowing mimeographing machines from schools.
In other regions, AB and other revolutionary reading materials are reproduced in commercial offset printing presses owned by allies or run by organized workers. In one region, comrades maintain a network of printing presses, alternately utilizing each part of the network. By means of this system, reproduction is speedier and the quality and readability of copies is ensured. Several regions now also use digital duplicators.
In the urban centers of most regions, the use of mimeographing machines, photocopiers and computer printers is also common. There are some who use offset printers and digital duplicators for mass production. Revolutionary reading materials are also being reproduced by individual Party members, allies and friends in their offices or schools using photocopiers or computer printers. These are distributed individually to friends, classmates or fellow office workers.
Speedy distribution of AB copies in gurrilla zones. Through a broad and dynamic mass movement, one region was able to achieve a breakthrough in solving the problem of slow and centralized distribution of AB copies and its local revolutionary newspaper to the basic levels of the Party, the people's army and the organized masses. Copies from the printing press are brought to designated drop points. From there, mass activists are responsibile for the entire process of ensuring that thousands of copies of revolutionary publications are safely and swiftly packed into parcels, transported and distributed to all Party units, the people's army in the provinces, guerrilla fronts and sections and to the revolutionary mass organizations in their respective barrios. Even the delivery of copies to allies and the mass media are shouldered by mass activists. Many drivers and conductors of public utility vehicles are also relied upon to secure, transport and deliver these packages. The entire process of distribution is completed within three days.
It is important for various regions to study this experience in order to see how it can be implemented based on their specific conditions.
AB as study material. AB is warmly welcomed as an important tool in studying the analysis and standpoint of the Party on burning issues and as a guide to action for comrades and the revolutionary masses.
The formal study of entire issues or selected articles of AB is a regular activity among army units. AB serves as an instrument for the consolidation of the Party down to the basic levels. Because it now comes out more frequently (monthly), AB is now better able to help readers monitor and analyze issues and political developments in the country as well as world events. "We strongly feel the Party's leadership in the revolution and the mass movement, and this serves as a guide for comrades," said other comrades.
Comrades also pointed out that its more pleasing presentation has livened up and made AB easier to read. As an example, they cited the shorter articles and sentences and the illustrative and delightful drawings.
In the Ilocos-Cordillera region, AB is also used as material for comrades' literacy lessons. Pupils are asked to pick out an article, and the latter is used for literacy exercises. Drawings are used by instructors as visual aids in other educational activities.
In the same region, territorial organs always make sure that teachers in their areas as well as in nearby places are given copies of AB. Teachers use AB as reference material. Copies of AB can also often be seen in the libraries of some schools.
Propagating the contents of AB trough the local radio stations and local newspapers. In Cagayan Valley, some articles of AB have been broadcast in their entirety by certain radio stations that have access to a wide area of Northern Luzon and even nationwide. For example, a local radio station featured AB's special issue published in July on the punitive action conducted on the fascist Col. Rodolfo Aguinaldo. The entire issue was serialized by Bombo Radyo and broadcast by all of its stations nationwide.
Aside from this, two local newspapers publish from time to time entire AB articles as well as statements from other national and regional organs of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
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