Hundreds from various revolutionary groups launched a lightning rally in Divisoria, Manila on April 29, carrying flags of the National Democratic Front (NDF) and its allied organizations to celebrate the NDFP anniversary. Their call: “Armed revolution is the true solution!” The NDFP commemorated its 52nd anniversary on April 24.

The NDF is the revolutionary united front organization of the Filipino people fighting for national freedom and democratic rights. It currently has 18 allied organizations representing peasants, workers, women, youth, church people, teachers, scientists, indigenous peoples, and other sectors.

It aims to develop and unite all progressive classes, sectors, and forces in the Filipino people’s struggle to end the rule of US imperialism and its local allies–the big landlords and compradors–and achieve national and social liberation.

“Let us exalt and celebrate the NDF’s achievements and victories in uniting the Filipino people for over five decades,” NDF secretary general Elias Dipasupil stated.

Dipasupil said the NDFP serves as a united front organization to the revolutionary armed struggle. “While recognizing the importance of other forms of struggle, the NDFP upholds the primacy of armed struggle to dismantle the rotten semicolonial and semifeudal system while gradually and steadily creating the new system through the development of the revolutionary organs of power in the countryside,” he said.

Since its formation on April 24, 1973, NDF’s allied organizations have not only provided political, material, and technical support to the New People’s Army (NPA) but also sent members to be Red fighters, many of whom became commanders. The people’s army advances the armed struggle, implements agrarian revolution, and builds mass bases toward establishing organs of political power–the seeds of a democratic people’s government.

While continuing the struggle, these organs of political power at various levels implement components of the NDF’s 12-point program, such as the minimum program for land reform, health and education services, environmental protection, justice systems, and others.

The NDF represents the country’s organs of political power in establishing proto-diplomatic relations with states and international agencies, as well as in peace talks with the reactionary government of the Republic of the Philippines.

Dipasupil stressed that in light of these tasks, the NDFP must “establish, expand, and strengthen revolutionary mass organizations both in the cities and in the countryside.” The NDF, following the call of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the framework of the rectification movement, pushes to revitalize and boost underground revolutionary organizations nationwide.

He added that mass organizations are indispensable amid the current global and national crisis to advance the Filipino people’s struggle against oppression and exploitation and to build a society that serves their interests.

Various organizations from regional to national levels, as well as overseas parties, extended greetings for the NDF’s anniversary.

These include the CPP, NPA, NDF chapters in Southern Tagalog and Ilocos, NDF-International, League of Scientists for the People, Patriotic Movement of New Women, Kabataang Makabayan and KM-Southern Tagalog, Compatriots, and the National Peasants’ Association.

The NDF also received greetings from Friends of the Filipino People in Struggles (FFPS) and its chapters and organizations. FFPS held activities and gatherings in various countries on April 26 as part of the celebration. The TKP-ML International Bureau also sent its greetings.

The NDF is determined to strengthen further in the coming years to continuously advance and contribute to the democratic people’s revolution. Dipasupil stated, “We have much more to do in the face of the current crisis.”

He outlined the NDF’s immediate tasks and those of its allied organizations. Their calls include: 1) promote and support revolutionary armed struggle in rural areas; 2) launch and sustain the Cherish the People’s Army campaign, including recruiting Red fighters for the NPA; 3) educate, organize, and recruit advanced sections of the masses to establish and rebuild underground movements and revolutionary mass organizations; and 4) propagate the NDFP’s 12-point program.

“The Filipino people deserves nothing but freedom from oppression and exploitation. They deserve a just, humane and progressive society and a government that truly serves their dreams and aspirations. And the only means to achieve this is to advance the national democratic revolution to victory,” he concluded.