Marking the 158th Bonifacio Day, the Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women urged Filipinos to honor and live the legacy of Gat Andres Bonifacio who valiantly fought for our independence during the Spanish colonization. The group said that Filipinos should assert their basic rights to land, livelihood and independence and choose leaders who would genuinely serve the interests of farmers, peasant women, fisher folk, workers, urban poor and the toiling masses.
“Mahigit isang siglo mula nang ipanganak si Bonifacio, nahaharap pa rin tayo sa isyu ng kawalan at pangangamkam ng lupa ng mga magsasaka, kawalan ng nakabubuhay na sahod, paglabag sa ating mga karapatan at pagyurak sa ating pambansang soberanya,” Amihan and Anakpawis Partylist secretary general Cathy Estavillo said.
“Ang tumitinding kahirapan at pandarahas na nararanasan natin sa ilalim ng rehimeng Duterte ang nagsasabi na hanggang ngayon, napapanahon pa rin ang ating mga panawagan para sa kabuhayan, karapatan at kalayaan. Hanggang ngayon, mahigpit ang pangangailangan para magmulat, mag-organisa at magpakilos sa hanay ng mga magsasaka, manggagawa, kababaihan at iba pang sektor na inaapi at pinagsasamantalahan,” Estavillo added.
“The Filipino people are already fed-up with Duterte’s criminal negligence and fascist attacks. We have seen enough of the political circus of the Duterte and Marcos camp. We must be vigilant against political maneuvers and ensure a clean and honest election. We will intensify our campaign so that no Marcos and Duterte will hold power beyond 2022,” Estavillo exclaimed.
“One of the lessons we can learn from Bonifacio and the Katipunan is that resistance is a product of oppression and exploitation. The unity of the poor and marginalized sectors can overthrow the ruling elite and can push for significant political and economic reforms that would benefit the majority of the population,” Estavillo ended. ###
