Pandayan is a political organization founded in 1986 from a tradition of community organizing, a critique of traditional social democracy, fascism and totalitarianism, and the unfinished 1896 Philippine revolution against colonialism. In this presentaion, I would try to clarify the following:

Political economy. An analysis of the framework of capitalism, continuing feudalism or unequal ownership of land, the backward national economy, poverty and inequality, and the relation of the ruling classes and international capitalist system.

Vision or program. The character of the full democratic socialist program that will develop into a full people’s socialism. Social ownership of the means of production and exchange; workers’ control and management of factories whenever and wherever it can be implemented; a socialist market economy; coordination of workers’ control and management of the mechanisms of centralized economic planning through direct and indirect methods.

In brief, our political program seek to establish a popular and democratic government that will swiftly respond to the needs of the communities and encourage the participation of all citizens. It will be decentralized so it can respond to the needs and aspirations of different regions. It will respect the following principles: pluralism, civil liberties and human rights, free and regular elections, full participation of men and women in decision-making and leadership, and significant representation of the masses in all government levels.

The socio-cultural program of Filipino socialism espouses a national culture that is consistent with scientific methodology, pro-masses, popular, and authentically humanist. Broad mass associations and their democratic, creative and conscious activities are pillars of a democratic socialist society. Relevant and affordable education for democracy, equality of men and women, and the enrichment of our native languages. So as to establish democratic socialism, we shall implement a program of Filipino social democracy. Filipino because its aim is to end imperialism so that the Filipino people can enjoy genuine independence and political and cultural self-determination. Social because it encourages mutual help toward progress and equal sharing of the fruits of national development. In this way, we can end local feudalism and capitalism. Democratic because it struggles against fascism and other forms of totalitarianism and pursues the establishment of a society where every citizen enjoys equal rights and the power to make decisions regarding social issues.

Economic program. Pandayan stands for nationalist industrialization, maintenance of relations with the international economic system, sound financial and fiscal policies, development that acknowledges and considers the need to protect the environment, genuine agrarian reform and progress in the countryside, and trade union democracy.

Political program. We strive for genuine sovereignty, political democracy, national defense, and the right to self-determination Filipino Muslims and other indigenous peoples.

Socio-cultural program. We demand for social service, health services, urban land reform and housing, and education. The rights of women are included because they are considered as part of the program.

What are the principles hat will guide the struggle and consolidate a socialist Philippines?

We stand for trust in and reliance on the power of the basic masses. We stand for people’s free participation through their organizations and movements and coordinated actions. We stand for the formation of and participation in coalitions that will serve the interest of the masses. We stand for genuine new politics in a pluralist society, for nationalism and anti-imperialism. We stand for the active pursuit of international solidarity; for militant, mass-oriented, creative, and peaceful struggles; against any form of exploitation, violence and injustice, especially when these add to the sufferings of the basic masses.

The strategy of Pandayan consists in the establishment of alternative centers of power and democracy. We classify forms of struggle into the following:

• extra-parliamentary struggles that include raising the consciousness and struggle of the masses and the formation of their sectoral and territorial organizations.
• parliamentary struggles consisting of electoral struggles and work in the bureaucracy.

We view electoral and parliamentary struggles, and work in the bureaucracy as vehicles of formal democracy where the basic masses can express their demands. Pandayan is a political organization with no armed component.

Our slogan: there is no genuine democracy without genuine socialism, and no genuine socialism without genuine democracy!