Real power is the people

By Victoria Patria

THE main lesson being taught and inculcated by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) among us cadres from the youth and students sector/ YS or the so-called 'petty-bourgeois class'  about the historical value and significance of the First Quarter Storm or FQS of the 70, is that: "there is no such thing as STUDENT POWER."

The youth and students, only by themselves, can not win a social revolution, no matter how strong the YS movement may develop at any stage of social and liberation movements.

The real POWER is the PEOPLE -- especially the workers and the peasantry. They are the real principal motive forces of any social revolution, and so therefore, the historical mission of the youth and students, including other intellectual and professional sectors, is to concretely link their sectoral struggle into the dynamic and broader mass struggles and mass movement of the basic sectors of the working class and the toiling masses. It would be an illusion and imprint of class arrogance on the part of the youth and students to believe that they alone possess the myth of 'Youth - Student Power'...

First lesson po ito sa aming pag-aaral ng: STAND FOR NATIONALISM and DEMOCRACY, na naunang inilathala ni Joma bago lumabas ang kaniyang Philippine Society and Revolution.

Looking back on my part, 32 years ago, First Quarter din po ng 1988 ng ma recruit ako as a CPP youth and student organizer. But 32 years today, I found my real purpose and meaning for my life -- that I can still SERVE THE PEOPLE even if I don't join the armed revolution that aims to overthrow our democratically established government and our democratic way of life.

This is the most important lesson that I learned: that no matter how imperfect this government and system that we have today, still, communism can not be a substitute nor a panacea for all of these imperfections. We can still attain reforms and changes without bloodshed and terrorism... And we can still work with our people for real peace and prosperity without destroying our basic foundation in our society -- our family.

(Victoria Patria is national coordinator of Sentrong Alyansa ng mga Mamamayan Para Sa Bayan [SAMBAYANAN])