National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) allied organizations held a lightning rally in Metro Manila on March 23 to mark the New People’s Army (NPA) anniversary. The NPA will celebrate its 57th anniversary on March 29.

More than 200 individuals marched along España Boulevard from Padre Noval Street to Morayta, where they held a short program. The participants included the Kabataang Makabayan (KM, or Patriotic Youth), Katipunan ng mga Gurong Makabayan (Kaguma, or Alliance of Patriotic Teachers), Revolutionary Council of Trade Unions (RCTU), Compatriots, Liga ng Agham para sa Bayan (LAB, or League of Scientists for the People), Artista at Manunulat ng Sambayanan (Armas, or People’s Artists and Writers), and Cordillera People’s Democratic Front (CPDF).

They paid tribute to the NPA and all its Red commanders and fighters for their continued perseverance in advancing the people’s war to free the Filipino people from the scourge of US imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucrat-capitalism. The people’s war in the Philippines becomes even more significant amid the intensifying aggression and war-mongering of US imperialism in various parts of the world, the groups declared.

“Your courage and steadfastness in 57 years of service to the people are beyond measure,” RCTU spokesperson Ka Patria Librata said. She said the RCTU and the Filipino masses have every reason to honor all the fallen martyrs and heroes of the army who gave their lives for the revolutionary cause of the workers and the toiling masses.

“In collusion with the Marcos regime, US imperialism is the main obstacle to the country’s development and the cause of the suffering of Filipino workers and people,” she declared. The deepening crisis more urgently compels workers like her and the Filipino masses to support and join the people’s war, strengthen the NPA, and advance the revolutionary struggle, Librata added.

She called on all workers and the Filipino masses to transform their outrage into organized and revolutionary resistance. “Only our participation in the people’s democratic revolution, primarily through the armed struggle, can end the rule of US imperialism and the Marcos regime,” she said.

The NPA was founded on March 29, 1969. It serves as the principal armed force of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and of the Filipino people in waging revolution. The NPA is primarily a fighting force and at the same time a force for propaganda, mass organizing, and production.