Like Rizal who symbolized the First Propaganda movement, Andres Bonifacio’s involvement was the catalyst for a new movement that radicalized the Philippine political landscape at the time in a bid for genuine freedom and democracy. He symbolized a people awakened and ready to fight against tyranny, repression and exploitation.

Now, various social movements, people’s organizations and sectors are coming together to renew the challenge made by Bonifacio to all those who have love for country or ‘pagmamahal sa bayan’.

Led by Solidarity of Unions for a New Government (SULONG), Kilusang Mangingisda (KM), Magkaisa Junk JPEPA, Citizens’ Council for Human Rights (CCHR), Stop the New Round Coalition (SNR), Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) and Laban ng Masa (LnM), thousands of workers, peasants, fisherfolks, women, youth and other sectors would troop to Mehan Garden tomorrow, Bonifacio Day, to protest the worsening economic and political repression and call for social change rather than charter change.

The country remains in the hands of a corrupt, fake and rabidly fascist regime who continues to sell the future of every man, woman and child in this country out to imperialist globalization—deregulation, privatization and liberalization.

Her regime has shown no signs of departing from the path of decades of mendicancy and subservience to US interests and policies. Measures like the Visiting Forces Agreement and the Mutual Logistic Support Arrangement undermines our sovereignty and makes a mockery of our national patrimony.

No wonder that justice for the Subic Rape victim, Nicole, is nonexistent if left in the hands of a pro-US lackey like DOJ Secretary Raul Gonzales.

GMA is the epitome of a scourge. Her policies exacerbate poverty resulting in oil hikes, privatized utilities while sources of employment are few and unable to feed one’s family. Like previous elite governments, the GMA regime is a traitor, a MAKAPILI.

This regime has no qualms in selling en masse our countrymen to the world, regardless of the risk to life and limb, as long as the Dollars, Yen, Euros, Pounds keep on coming to breathe a semblance of life into a fundamentally flawed economy.

The Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement or JPEPA is classic example. Hastily negotiated under complete secrecy, the treaty, when ratified, will turn the country into Japan’s dumping ground for hazardous and toxic wastes in exchange for the entry of a small number of nurses and caregivers, who would be paid lower rates while they are learning the Japanese language. Worst, the Philippines stand to lose its policy space in using trade and investment for development purposes. In short, it will consign the country to underdevelopment.

Keenly aware of the people’s discontent, the GMA regime launched a class war to systematically neutralize any form of dissent. Its perceived enemies are harassed, jailed, rendered missing or are killed. Rule of law is no longer the case, but impunity and lawlessness.

This state of affairs can no longer be resolved by reforms or rhetoric perpetuated by the elite such as moves to amend the Charter. What is needed is to completely overhaul the system that is rotten, flawed and spells misery for the majority.

Let us continue the path towards freedom and democracy join us on November 30.

Solidarity of Unions for a New Government (SULONG), Kilusang Mangingisda (KM), Magkaisa Junk JPEPA, Citizens’ Council for Human Rights (CCHR), Stop the New Round Coalition (SNR), Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) and Laban ng Masa (LnM)