He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
John 15:2, NIV

On the 127th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine independence, we invite all people of faith, religious leaders, clergy, and lay to reflect deeply on the state of our nation’s sovereignty. While we recall the sacrifices and aspirations of our forebears, we are confronted with a sobering truth: The independence we commemorate today remains far from genuine and complete.

The Philippines is still bound by chains of semi-colonialism and semi-feudalism. Our nation’s sovereignty continues to be compromised by the enduring influence of foreign imperialism, particularly the United States, and by the domestic feudal structures that keep the Filipino people impoverished and oppressed. It is against this backdrop that we must ask ourselves—how can we achieve genuine independence and national liberation?

As Christians, we are called to live out the Gospel’s command for justice, peace, and liberation. Jesus’ mission was clear: “to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free” (Luke 4:18). His words mandate us, as followers, to confront the systemic oppression that continues to plague our people.

In this light, we turn our attention to the 12-point program of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP)—a program that charts the path toward true freedom and national sovereignty. These points provide a clear vision for a just and liberated Philippines, guided by the principles of democracy, social justice, and national unity. Among these points, the fifth point stands out as particularly critical: “Terminate all unequal relations with the United States and other foreign entities.”

For decades, the Philippines has been bound by treaties, agreements, and economic arrangements that favor foreign powers, particularly the United States. These unequal relations have kept our nation subservient to foreign interests, undermining our sovereignty and perpetuating the exploitation of our people and resources. From the continued presence of foreign military bases to the dominance of multinational corporations in our economy, our national interests have been sacrificed in favor of foreign domination. Most alarming and urgent today is the return and expansion of the US military presence in the country, with increased number of Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites and broader US military access to Philippine territories.

The recent Balikatan exercises displaced fishing communities and disrupted livelihood activities, with fishing bans imposed over coastal communities in Aparri and Zambales leaving fisherfolk with zero income while maritime strikes took place. The harmful water and air pollution that the full-blown military exercises were also condemned by local communities and environmentalists. This year’s exercises exhibited a full-battle showcase for the US war machine, staging the arena and positioning the Philippines at the frontlines of the imperialist war between US and China, not of our making. These also come with intensified militarization and repression in organized indigenous and farming communities, hidden by Humanitarian Civic Assistance programs, wherein the US military construct infrastructures, preposition goods, and embed EDCA sites. These are all efforts to normalize US military presence in the countryside and intensify “counterinsurgency” efforts against civilian communities.

This must end. True independence means ending these oppressive, unequal relationships and asserting our sovereignty in every aspect of our national life. It means rejecting foreign military interventions that pawns our country, communities, and people at the center of imperialist wars. It means rejecting economic control that hinder our growth and development. It means asserting our right to self-determination and charting our own course, free from external interference.

The NDFP’s 12-point program calls for a radical transformation of our society. It is a program not just of political change, but of deep moral and spiritual renewal. It advocates for land reform, social justice, national industrialization, and the eradication of poverty and oppression. These are not merely political ideals but deeply Christian values of justice, peace, and the dignity of every person. The people’s armed resistance remain to be the only viable path to genuine independence and national liberation. It is only through advancing the people’s war can communities defend their rights and free themselves from the pervasive social evils that encroaches imperialist control and aggression, local tyranny, and feudal exploitation: imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucrat capitalism.

As we commemorate this day of independence, let us remember that true freedom can only be achieved when we sever the ties of colonial exploitation and assert the full sovereignty of the Filipino people through the national democratic revolution with a socialist perspective. It is time for us to fight for a Philippines where the poor are no longer oppressed, where justice prevails, where democracy and sovereignty are enjoyed, and where every Filipino can live in peace and with dignity.

Reject US-Marcos II regime! Down with US imperialism!

Advance the national democratic revolution with a socialist perspective!