The Katipunan ng mga Gurong Makabayan (KAGUMA) joins the Filipino people in celebrating the 84th birthday today, February 8, of Prof. Jose Maria Sison. Fondly called by his comrades and friends as Ka Joma, Sison is the founding chairperson of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and stood as the great teacher and guide of the Philippine revolution.

Ka Joma may have passed away but his revolutionary spirit lives on in the Filipino people’s unwavering commitment to forward the national democratic revolution with a socialist perspective until final victory. On his birthday, the revolutionary educators, education students, and education workers under KAGUMA, along with other patriotic and progressive educators and academic workers, announce our resolve to carry out the Party’s Central Committee’s call for the organizing of a study movement centered on the writings and teachings of Ka Joma.

Applying the proletarian science of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism (MLM) to Philippine society, Ka Joma’s writings and teachings had been fundamental in analyzing its semi- feudal and semi-colonial condition and prescribing its revolutionary overthrow. The study of Ka Joma’s works is essential for any genuine endeavor to end exploitation and oppression and forward a socialist future.

The vigorous study of MLM was key to the achievements made by proletarian revolutionaries in the period of bitter struggle with the revisionists of the old Party that led to the reestablishment of the CPP in the 1960s and the period of the second great rectification movement in the 1990s that saw the repudiation of traitors to the revolutionary cause. Indeed, the review and study of revolutionary theory and principles was an essential component to the revitalization and resurgence of the revolutionary movement after periods of retreat and disorientation.

By raising the theoretical foundations and grasp of revolutionary activists of MLM theory and history, the study movement that we begin today helps in strengthening the resolve and militance of the revolutionary teachers movement and the Filipino people to resist and defeat the fascist attacks and state repression that continue to intensify today under the second Marcos regime.

On his birthday, the best gift we can bequeath Ka Joma is our firm resolve to return to his writings and teachings as part of the overall endeavor to advance the Philippine revolution as our contribution to the fruition of the World Proletarian revolution.

Ka Joma Lives!

Immortalize Ka Joma’s Legacy of MLM Teachings to Further Advance the People’s Democratic Revolution!

Long Live National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP)!

Resume Peace Talks! Delist Ka Joma and All NDFP Peace Negotiators and Consultants from Terrorist Listing!