The Liga ng Agham para sa Bayan (LAB, League of Scientists for the People) celebrated its 49th anniversary in December 2024. In a secret gathering in the National Capital Region, around 50 members came together to celebrate both their anniversary and the 56th anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

They reflected on and celebrated the various achievements of its chapters and the challenges faced in 2024, especially during the first year of the rectification movement. The LAB also honored all revolutionary martyrs from the science and technology sector who gave their lives to the people and the revolution.

“Notable are achievements in the campaigns, the resurgence of organizing among the basic masses, and greater support for the New People’s Army (NPA)”, according to the report of Agham Bayan, the publication of LAB. Despite these, LAB declared that it still needs to overcome a lot more weaknesses including conservatism in recruiting new members.

The editorial of Agham Bayan stated “it should be clear to us, as revolutionaries, that our main goal in launching the campaign is to respond to the interests of the masses and multiply and strengthen our revolutionary forces.” The LAB said that this 2025 it will continue to uphold its duties to help advance and strengthen the Philippine revolution.

The LAB added that their experiences showed them that it is possible for a scientist to fulfill the revolutionary duty to promote the national-democratic revolution with a socialist perspective, from laboratories and classrooms in the cities, to the armed struggle in the countryside.

“Revolutionary scientists, engineers, professionals, and students will continue the rectification movement to achieve further victories,” it said. The LAB will also prepare for its golden anniversary in December.

Biologist in the people’s army

Ka Jerry is among the revolutionary scientists who responded to the call to integrate with the NPA. He joined a unit of the people’s army in Luzon. “For me as a biologist, being a Red fighter is a great opportunity to deepen our knowledge of our country’s biodiversity,” he narrated.

Where they stay and what they eat, Red fighters are every day immersed in nature. Units of the NPA typically stay in forests and mountains. Sometimes in plains. Although the conditions of forests, mountains, and plains vary, in all instances Red fighters are virtually “field researchers” as they mingle with nature.

He said, “in our daily activities in the unit, we see various species—plants, fungi, insects, birds, and more.” The unit also often sees endemic or native plants or animals like jade vines, corpse flowers, hornbills, and many others. “Many times the unit went to places yet visited by scientists, or anyone—who knows, we might discover new species in these places.”

Knowledge about biodiversity also helps with the nutritional needs of the people’s army and the masses. “We benefit from different species in production work. Especially in dire situations in areas far from the community, the biodiverse forest is a reliable source of food,” he recounted. The NPA unit also implements policies prohibiting the hunting of endangered species.

“There is much to learn and discover about our country’s biodiversity in the context of our participation in the revolutionary struggle for the Filipino people,” he said. Ka Jerry added that this wealth also reminds him why it is necessary to participate in the people’s war—to protect the environment and the people against the plunder of imperialists and local ruling classes.