In the thick of the social turmoil brought about by the pandemic and amidst the exacerbating attacks of the fascist US-Duterte regime against the progressive and revolutionary forces in the Philippines and abroad, the People’s War in our motherland is aflame!

Be it abroad or back home, the Filipino people and the peace-loving citizens of the Western countries show their support, love, and respect to the New People’s Army. For over five decades, the NPA stands in defense of the Filipino people and the country’s national sovereignty. It is already etched in history as one of the longest running communist insurgencies in the world – and rightfully so.

As young Filipinos abroad, we are in the most favorable position to have critical analyses of the concrete condition of the Philippine society and the impact of imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucrat capitalism to the Filipino migrants. While indeed we live in far more decent homes, eat far more decent meals, receive far more decent opportunities, the gigantic disparity between our host country and motherland opens our eyes to the just necessity of having a New People’s Army under the leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

We bear witness to the ineptitude of the governments and their overseas representation, in particular, the Philippine government. The embassies and consulates abandoned the Filipino migrant workers – with no compensation or aid to the undocumented and the unemployed, they left our kababayans to look after one another. Rather than providing solutions, they go after the progressive forces who protest against their abandonment and inutility. The activists and revolutionary forces in Europe were harassed and put under surveillance by the embassies; directly attacked by the NTF-ELCAC. Recently, Facebook pages of PNP and AFP intelligence usually based in France, Germany, and Italy were seen. They conduct seminars, teachings against the communist movement, and meetings. In London, the progressive organizations reported that comics and brochures against communism and progressive forces were left at the doorsteps of the embassy. Looks like they have unlimited resources for their failure of an anti-communist insurgency but nada to support the Filipino people.

The wide-range unemployment in the Philippines continues to contribute to the burden of the Overseas Filipino Workers. The OFWs are left alone to provide for their families. The stupidity of the quarantine restrictions adds to the frustration, depression, and stress of the migrants. Deprived of their only relaxation and being with their family back home.

Abusing the disruption of life’s normalcy due to the pandemic. The Duterte administration intensifies the difficulties of Filipino students and educators through the blended learning system, distance learning, and even online learning. This newly devised system is not only unplanned and poorly executed but it does not correlate to the reality of the Filipino families as a large number possess no gadgets or are unable to afford electricity or internet. Expecting too much while giving so little is one of the fundamentals of our society. Thousands of Filipino scholars have left the country already, even before the pandemic, and thousands more will leave once travel restrictions are lifted. Our society champions the murdering of our dreams. Without the right opportunity to study and practice their field, the scholars opt to slave under foreign educational institutions. No matter how patriotic they are, no matter how much they love to dedicate their strength, knowledge, and talent to our motherland, our social condition forces them to be the new shapes of milking-cows. As long as there are remittances, as long as there are dollars coming in, the government couldn’t care less if we run out of intellectuals.

And Duterte is Philippine’s very own Count Dracula. No amount of blood can quench his thirst and no pile of bodies can satiate his hunger for relentless killings. What Count Dracula’s swamp of crocodiles around his castle is, is to Duterte his AFP-PNP and NTF-ELCAC surrounding his Malacañang fortress. His agenda to pulverize the revolutionary movement through black propaganda, fake surrenders, and even rampant brutal killings are failing. After all, Kabataang Makabayan – Europa and COMPATRIOTS – Europe were built. Duterte makes it easy for the revolutionary forces to popularize the program of the National Democratic Front. The relevance of the teachings of Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Vladimir Lenin, and Mao Zedong are easier to grasp than ever before – the system of monopoly capitalism is rotten to its core, and anything rotten is bound to crumble.

Duterte can only try to crush the revolutionaries but all his efforts will be in vain. It is nature’s dialectics that there will be a struggle between the two existing classes until such time that the oppressing class will be defeated and replaced by a classless society. The mass murders, mass arrests, raids, red-tagging and terrorist-tagging will only speed up the revolutionary victory of the Filipino people. In the past months, we witnessed the unmerciful and guiltless murders by this regime. As recently as Sunday, March 28, Ka Dandy Miguel of Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa ng Timog Katagalugan (PAMANTIK – KMU) was martyred by this regime. The masses call for the revolutionary army to retaliate, and retaliate hard, and those who can join – Duterte can only be certain that they will join the armed revolution in defense of their lives and communities.

Kabataang Makabayan – Europa salutes the New People’s Army on its 52nd anniversary. We cherish and take pride in our people’s army as the first and last defense of the Filipino masses. While the high-ranking officials of the state forces sit comfortably behind their swivel chairs, receiving a salary of thousands simply by commanding their lower ranks and offering their lives to a low-cost war; the commanders and officials of the NPA are in the forefront of the war zone, leading their armies to assault, facing death head-on while assuring the safety of their platoons. All the while committed to serving the people through medical missions, literacy and numeracy programs, helping in the household chores, and production in farmlands.

In truth, the government of Duterte fears the NPA. They master the art of guerilla warfare. Their only compensation is the safety and wellbeing of the Filipino people. It is the love and support of the masses that stands as the People’s Army’s defense against the enemy. No amount of advanced weaponry and military intelligence will ever defeat them. Why else would this regime resort to assaulting the non-combatants and activists in the urban areas; accusing them of being NPA and armed to the teeth?

As young revolutionaries abroad, it is our utmost duty to spread the revolutionary ideas and principles amongst our fellow Filipinos and young revolutionaries of our respective host countries.

Our generation will not live to see our victory, but rest assured that we have contributed to its path.

Amid the uncertainty, lurking fear, and even comfort brought by our lives here in Europe we must decide to take the highest form of struggle and join our kababayans in the countryside. The semi-colonial and semi-feudal system has taken away everything from us. Our right to live in our motherland, our right to education and living wages, even our identity – to struggle is all that is left to us. Be not afraid to take the difficult path to liberation. Be not afraid of difficulties, sufferings, and challenges, let us not be restricted by the comfort of our rooms, computers, or phones. And whenever fear visits us, let us remember that only by being selfless can we become fearless. Draw inspiration from the People’s Army and the masses.

On the 52nd anniversary of the New People’s Army, Kabataang Makabayan – Europa vows that the young revolutionary forces abroad will go back home to live with the workers and peasantry. This government forced us to leave in millions — and in millions we shall soon return to join the New People’s Army. We, the youth in Europe knows that peace will only be achieved through a just war led by the Communist Party of the Philippines.

We salute our revolutionary martyrs who selflessly give their lives for the revolutionary cost! We salute the New People’s Army! We salute the youth who shall continue and advance the People’s War!

KABATAAN AT MIGRANTE, MAKIPAMUHAY SA MASANG API! PAGLINGKURAN ANG SAMBAYANAN! SUMAPI SA BAGONG HUKBONG BAYAN!