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Title: Anarchism in the Philippines Author: Mindsetbreaker Press Date: April 28, 2012 Language: en Topics: Philippines, Mindsetbreaker Press Source: https://uncomradelybehaviour.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/anarchism-in-the-philippines/
Much is made of the historical connections between anarchism and the
Philippines. Not least from the formidable work of Benedict Anderson and
his book Under Three Flags which documents the relationship between
anarchism and anti-colonialism filtered through the life and works of
Jose Rizal, one of the leading figures in the Filipino independence
struggle in what Anderson describes as “that dense intertwining of
anarchist internationalism and radical anti-colonialism”.
The political activist and novelist José Rizal, who was executed in 1896
by the Spanish authorities in the Philippines at the age of 35, along
with his contemporary, the pioneering folklorist, labour activist and
writer Isabelo de los Reyes were a major influence on anarchist ideas
being brought to the islands.
De los Reyes was imprisoned in Manila after the violent uprisings of
1896 and later deported to Spain where he was incarcerated, together
with Catalan anarchists, in the infamous Montjuic Castle prison in
Barcelona. It was there de los Reyes met and befriended the anarchist
Ramon Sempau. On his return to Manila in 1901, now under US occupation,
he brought with him books by Proudhon, Marx, Kropotkin, and Malatesta.
Shortly after, he organised print workers and successfully held strikes,
imbuing them with anarcho-syndicalist ideas that led to the creation of
the Union Obrera Democrática (UOD) in 1902. It was the first modern
trade union federation in the country and its founding congress adopted
the principles of two books – Life and Works of Karl Marx and Among
Farmers by Errico Malatesta, as the political foundation of the
movement. At its peak in 1903 the organisation counted with 150
affiliated unions, with around 150,000 members in eight provinces of
Luzon. After the UOD staged a massive demonstration, the civil governor
put them under police surveillance, branding them as “radicals,
subversives and anarchists”.
Since the publication of Under Three Flags in 2005 the Philippines has
seen an upsurge in anarchist activities. There are groups such as the As
A Whole collective, anarchists and artists who run an infoshop in Davao
City, Mindanao and activities involve holding rallies against corporate
exploitation and were part of a successful activist campaign that
resulted in a complete ban of aerial pesticide spraying on banana
plantations. The group also established a space called Saydee’s Kitchen,
from which they are offering free meals twice a week, feeding up to 100
youth and elderly.
But the latest anarchist project Mindsetbreaker Press and Distribution
who an underground anarchist publishing and distribution entity based in
the Philippines and are looking for support and solidarity in their
endeavours. We’ll let the Mindsetbreaker Press comrades tell you about
themselves:
Mindsetbreaker Press operationally started in early 2010 as an
individual project that focuses mainly on translating anarchist
literature (English text) into local languages that will be more
applicable and relevant to the rather complex scenario of political,
social and economic currents of the Philippines. As time goes on, the
press eventually grew in number after establishing personal
collaboration with some friends involved in the anarchist social network
and activism. The press is now run by four people specifically working
on publishing and distribution campaign besides other existing projects
being carried out by members.
Current members of the project were involved in different projects
before and presently, individually and collectively. Some run social
centre or infoshops, make zine and alternative publications, organizing
issue-base radical events and shows, protest and demonstrations,
leafleting for campaigns, opening free shop and free food on the
streets, forums, networking and hosting informational sites, working
with communities (farmers, fisher folks and indigenous people) fight
capitalist and state development intrusion (Mining, Freeport,
Agribusiness, etc.). These actions had been carried out independent from
state intervention, businesses, mainstream media, NGO’s and religious
institutions.
Since the country was colonized by western interests; for example 300
years of Spanish occupation, Japan invasion for a while and later
American influence, arguably, it might be simple enough to understand as
to why the archipelago had ultimately endure such complication that
result indifferences of perspectives, priorities and interests among its
own population. Moreover, it is a very poor country chained in debt;
persuaded within the mockery of mere survival. Poverty rate, famine and
corruption are visibly high. Likewise, conservatism and religious
influence (i.e. Catholicism) is not so new. So everyday repression by
the state (Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National
Police) is rampant targeting petty crimes, outcasts and insurgents in
the guise like ; covering terrorism images on the media or
straightforwardly branding innocent people to be involved in an
armed-party guerrilla groups (Maoist-left) to justify legal murder. In
general, some may have seen it as an unprecedented effect due to
economic constraints being pushed around and realistically being felt
everyday that leads to further injustice and abuse unbearable.
The aim of the project is to provide radical ideas on the streets and
universities particularly counter- informational and alternative
awareness that we feel rich in diversity and open for
arguments/discourse whilst give coherence to the practical situation of
the locality and time. This comes in paper form through republishing the
works of various radical authors we choose to and later hand it out to
people in massive amount. Furthermore, the main important goal of the
project besides re-publishing the works of various authors; is to
support local anarchist writers (individual and collective) who are
struggling to circulate their works to different sectors in
society;(i.e. students, farmers, indigenous people, fisher folks,
vendors, workers (employed or unemployed), squatters, women and men,
gays, lesbian,, youth, etc); not limited only to subculture and scenes.
Other than that, we pick up few titles written by local comrades we knew
and one local writer is currently involved on the project. We hope to
establish venues and deepen our understanding about anarchist ideas;
hopes, dreams and its practicality not remote only to several people,
individual and groups but different sectors of society currently
struggling everyday living. This includes us, ourselves not above anyone
else.
Few of the local titles cover history and politics about the Philippines
base on contemporary anarchist perspectives.
By distributing large amount of anarchist literature on the streets and
universities on regular basis is seen as first time in history in the
Philippines since obtaining money for print-out is sometimes difficult.
Anti-authoritarian ideas never reaches many people of different sectors
who are working hard everyday .Basic needs like food on the table are
oftentimes the utmost concern for everyone. The present economy will
never be useful only usher death and destruction. Every valuable
resource that provides life is plundered; monopolized by capital through
trade agreements.
After republishing the English version of What is Anarchist Communism,
our plan is to circulate the paper to several universities throughout
Manila. These are four different universities such as Polytechnic
University of the Philippines (PUP), University of the Philippines (UP)
and other progressive schools like Ateneo de Manila and Technological
University of the Philippines (TUP). PUP and UP are quiet better known
for many years as to having authoritarian leftist concentration;
organising to manufacture students into blind submission and
authoritarian ideology (Marxist and Maoist). This is always dangerous
and absurd aiming to overthrow the existing state to grab power in the
guise of proletarian management, sovereignty and nationalism to rule
people.
“The National Democratic Front (NDF) became the most influential bloc
within the Philippine left during the Marcos years. It was directly
influenced by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), reinforced
by its growing armed group (The New People’s Army) that was able to form
battalions in many strategic regions in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The
radicalism displayed by the organizations initiated by the CPP attracted
many sectors, primarily the youth”- Gasera Journal
We tend to hand out 1000 copies of published material each university in
the hope for students to self-organize themselves and take action
against all forms of authority; most especially freshman youth and
secondary years were authoritarian left organisers masked in disguised
in order to capture their mind. We also hear that there are some
organizers enrolled there not by studying but organizing students into
such ideological lines.
In addition, we’d begun translating the Alexander Berkman into Tagalog.
This is the usual language in the archipelago where many people could
able to understand or speak. The tagalog version of Berkman are intended
for people who are not comfortable with English most especially large
sectors of society mostly the poor and marginalize class..
Next, besides re-publishing foreign literatures, we are very motivated
to produce our own local materials and support local writers’ base on
personal consent before carrying out their works under our project, as
an underground anarchist publishing and distribution entity. There are 7
titles finally approved after meeting with people and local writers we
knew, one is actually now a member of the project and is a regular
voluntary writer.
The few titles being approved includes Gasera Journal (collection of
local anarchist writings about history and politics in the Philippines,
Indokumentado #1(autonomous ideas, experiences, activism and movement in
the archipelago) Anarki: Akin ang buhay ko, Sosyal si Simo at si
Sima(anarcho-syndicalist perspective) , Archipelagic Confederation :
Alternative political structure beyond representation and state
politics, Punkista zine (punk subculture and political) and
Mindsetbreaker zine(documentation of different social and ecological
struggles, campaigns and actions in the Philippines). Other than that,
we will do info tour in different schools along with the titles we carry
as the main topic aim to open up discussions and discourses.
As a publishing and distribution entity, we mobilize and publicize
literatures through organizing forums and discourses about every topic
we carry like history, politics, and anarchism etc. initially aimed at
schools. Creating awareness events and literature tables.
We want the project to become long term as possible that will be more
specific on publishing and distribution campaign. There is other related
stuff we want to work on besides publishing the entire Berkman book like
doing info tour in different universities along with the literatures we
carry as main topic to discuss about, most especially local writings;
essays and articles. Besides, we want to encourage local writers to keep
doing what they are doing, even most people sometimes entrapped with the
bitterness of time available due to economic conditions.
As an underground press, we are here to openly reach different people
and stand our ground not only limited to subculture and scenes. And
ultimately become a worthwhile initiative to keep projects running and
contribute services to other people, so they can start one; themselves.
This might reflect not only limited to ideas but action and building
solidarity.
We believe that every issue that affect our lives are interconnected; be
it social or ecological catastrophes we have seen today, small scale or
large, society or individual. It does not come from us but manifests
through domineering hierarchical structures and centralized order;
maintained by the state and religion, morality; the spectre of
capitalism aimed towards greed and profit and was organized founded and
carried out from the ashes of ruthless terror and bloodshed many
centuries had passed by that we blindly inherited today.
We believe no borders and wilfully continue fighting against it until
it’s destruction alongside with sexism, homophobia, racism and other
forms of oppression that was created and needs to be challenged. This
might come outside our inner conventional wants and desires that we are
dealing with everyday to cope up with our ability to interact within
society or the question on how we are brought to; by combating such
convention inside ourselves.
Mindsetbreaker Press and Distribution
Email: mindsetbreakerpress@riseup.net
Address: 157 Ilaya E.Mendoza St.
Buting Pasig City
Philippines 1600
mindsetbreakerpress.blogspot.it
For more information on Saydee’s Kitchen initiative: