It looked like just any ordinary school activity, a forum perhaps. People lined up to register for the event while those who were waiting mingled with attendees they knew. Others were doing last minute preparations for the activity. The lady at the registry asked people to sign the registration sheet, not with your name but one’s “pangalan sa pakikibaka” (nom de guerre), issued name tags, and kindly asked to surrender phones, tablets, and other similar devices before entering the hall.

Inside, three red flags were set up onstage—the flags of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the New People’s Army (NPA) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). Right at the presidential table was a fourth flag—red with a yellow triangle in the middle. Within the triangle is a hand holding a book. At the lower part of the flag, the word KAGUMA is written, which stands for Katipunan ng mga Gurong Makabayan (Alliance of Patriotic Teachers).

Sometime in October 2025, members of KAGUMA held their 4th National Congress with the theme “Sulong rebolusyonaryong kilusang guro! Magwasto! Magpalawak! Makibaka! Magtagumpay! Buong kakayahang isulong ang demokratikong rebolusyong bayan na may sosyalistang perspektiba!” (Carry forward the revolutionary teachers movement! Rectify! Expand! Struggle! Win! Advance the people’s democratic revolution with a socialist perspective!) Almost 80 members from various regions and schools were present.

Revolutionary teachers, educators

KAGUMA is an underground mass organization of revolutionary teachers, educators, and students of education allied with the NDFP. It traces its roots back in 1971 being a product of the resurgence of the mass movement during the First Quarter Storm (FQS). Since then teachers have helped in molding generations of revolutionary teachers and youth.

In his written message, Elias Dipasupil, secretary general of the NDFP reiterated the importance of teachers to shape the minds of the public. Citing point no. 9 of NDFP’s 12-point program i.e., Promote a national and progressive people’s culture, Dipasupil expounded:

Ang paggamit ng inyong propesyon para hubugin sa mga estudyante ang rebolusyonaryong diwa at aktitud para sa militanteng pakikibaka. Ang pagbaka sa historical distortion at kolonyalistang edukasyon, sa mga kurikulum na nagbibigay ng pinakamalaking halaga sa labor export. Ang paglaban sa imperyalistang opensibang kultural ng indibidwalismo na gustong hubugin ang mga kabataan na hiwalay sa isa’t isa at sa lipunan. Ang pagsusuri at paglalantad ng mga mapanghati, baluktot at kolonyalistang ideyang pinalalaganap sa eskwelahan para gawing masunurin, hindi-kritikal, at makasarili ang mga estudyante. Ang mga ideyang nagbabalat-kayong akademikong pag-unlad pero sa katunayan ay mga ni-rehash na rebisyunismo, misogyny, rasismo, at kolonyalismo.

Aside from Dipasupil, several other NDFP allied organizations sent their congratulatory and solidarity messages such as the Liga ng Agham para sa Bayan (LAB), Christians for National Liberation (CNL), Kabataang Makabayan (KM), and Marco Valbuena, Chief Information Officer of the CPP.

Valbuena said,“Through your perseverance, you inspire teachers to look beyond their current hardships and join the struggle of the broader masses for a complete transformation of the social order.”

Rectify, Expand, Struggle, Win

The congress tackled primarily the secretariat report covering the past 24 years since KAGUMA’s 3rd Congress. It was based on the results of a preliminary summing-up with the aim to enrich it further through the congress. Starting with a self-criticism, “mapagkumbabang pagpuna sa sarili sa pagbitiw sa batayang prinsipyo ng rebolusyonaryong orgnisasyon at ang mga pamamaraan isinagawa nitong mga nakalipas na taon” the report fleshed out its errors. It also presented the organization’s efforts to combat bureaucratism and empiricism among comrades and cadres in the conduct of its work and in the light of the ongoing rectification movement led by the CPP.

With self-criticism comes rectification. After identifying the errors, the congress discussed and approved its orientation, constitution, and three-year plan. KAGUMA presented a draft plan of action to the delegates for approval. The plan consisted of three major points of action:

1. Develop and invigorate the revolutionary work among teachers;
2. Isolate and overthrow the US-Marcos-Duterte Regime; and
3. Active participation in other forms of struggle to advance the People’s Democratic Revolution.

After a new set of officers was elected and took their oath of office, Guia Umili, the elected chairperson, lead the delegates in honoring the people’s martyrs. “They offered and gave their whole lives to the revolution. Let us salute our comrades in the countryside who carry on the highest form of struggle,” she addressed the membership.

The congress, said Valbuena is “undeniably historic—not only because it was convened after a long time but also because it marks the beginning of a new period of advancement for the revolutionary teachers’ movement.”

Umili also called on the congress delegates to put into practice the lessons drawn from the past. “May the link between our revolutionary theory and practice continue to grow stronger; may our documents and studies not become stagnant knowledge stored only in our minds but serve as guides for advancing our actions; and may our actions in turn elevate our revolutionary theory to a higher level.”

After singing the Internationale, the congress ended with thunderous chants: “Digmang Bayan, sagot sa kahirapan!” “Mabuhay ang Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas! Mabuhay ang NPA! Mabuhay ang NDFP! Mabuhay ang KAGUMA!” (Mia Andres)