With highest revolutionary spirit and optimism, Kabataang Makabayan (KM)-Central Negros raises its fist as the organization celebrate its 60th year since its founding, and of being at the forefront in the advancement of the national democratic revolution alongside the exploited and oppressed masses. Likewise, we commemorate the day of Andres Bonifacio, who fought bravely against the Spanish colonizers and led the 1896 revolution.

Several contributions of KM cannot be overlooked, most especially here in Negros Island. Prior to the deployment of Red fighters in the island, it was the youth coming from this revolutionary organization, who had conducted social investigation and analysis as preparation of the targeted area for a guerrilla zone. Not to mention, many Negrosanon youth realized that the only path towards genuine liberation and social justice is through armed struggle. During the peak of the Marcos Sr. dictatorship, the organization undeniably took roots among the Negrosanon youth and mobilized thousands for the end of its tyrannical reign. Today, the revolutionary youth of KM reaffirms the historical direction we continue to take.

As we are confronted by imperialism, bureaucrat capitalism, and feudalism which birthed and maintain the semicolonial and semifeudal system, the youth sector incessantly suffer in a dire situation akin to that of the toiling and working masses.

Both in the countryside and cities, numerous youth are forced to work in a very young age to provide for their family. They engage in child labor in exchange of pressed down wages. Neoliberal policies on social services, especially cutbacks on public education budgets and subsidies violate the youth’s basic right to education. The colonial, commercialized, and repressive orientation of education in the Philippines mold the youth into the very people servile to the US Imperialism. Additionally, with the increasing militarization of communities, the youth has been vulnerable to the attacks instigated by the reactionary government through their killing machine, the AFP and PNP.

In the spirit of Bonifacio Day, we continue the legacy of the martyrs who were once youth and full of revolutionary courage, vitality, and keenness. It is but just to tread the same uncompromising road of resistance taken by the late Gat Andres Bonifacio and of Ericson “Ka Fredo” Acosta, who sacrificed his life on this same day 2 years ago, as economic and political crisis besets the country.

To completely change this crisis-ridden system, it is necessary that a bigger number of youth rally thousands of Negrosanon youth. Thus, we are determined to make triple efforts in arousing, organizing, and mobilizing our ranks to strengthen and ensure that the revolutionary movement will have successors that will endure the next decades. We will carry the revolution forward guided by the memory and teachings of our martyred comrades.