Various revolutionary organizations in the National Capital Region (NCR) launched a lightning rally on March 25 at Recto Avenue, Manila to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the New People’s Army (NPA). The action was led by the National Democratic Front (NDF)-NCR, participated in mainly by members of Kabataang Makabayan (KM) and Artists and Writers of the People (Armas).

They paid tribute to the 55 years of the armed struggle of the NPA, under the leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), in the face of repeated attempts to crush it through a now intensified counterinsurgency campaign of the reactionary regime. The groups said the NPA is the only weapon of the people and the main solution to the worsening crisis in the semicolonial and semifeudal system.

“The people of the National Capital Region deeply feel the oppressed living conditions of workers due to low wages, contractualization and high inflation, the unattainable right to education for all young people and the continued harassment of urban poor communities and eviction from their homes,” the NDF-NCR stated.

These reasons and conditions drive all sectors of society—workers, youth, women and the urban poor—to participate in the armed struggle of the people’s army to achieve social justice and national sovereignty, according to the groups.

The NDF-NCR also emphasized in its speech the need to “sum up experiences in all fronts” of the practice in the region in relation to the call of the Central Committee of the CPP on December 26, 2023 to launch a rectification movement.

“Re-study and practice our rectification movement. Use the teachings and principles of the Party as a guide to get rid of the contradictions and weaknesses in the advancement of the revolution. Strengthen the commitment of every worker and youth to uphold Marxism-Leninism-Maoism and basic principles of the Party,” said to the group.

According to them, armed struggle should be promoted and advanced in every corner of the region as the main form of struggle and make the people embrace it.

They also honored in the rally the martyrs of the Philippine revolution including Ka Jose Maria Sison, founding chairman of the Party, martyrs during martial law, and fallen Red fighters in recent years. They urged the people to follow the footsteps of the revolutionary martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the national and democratic aspirations of the people.