Kabataang Makabayan

Not to be confused with the Kabataan partylist or the Makabayan coalition.

Kabataang Makabayan ("Patriotic Youth"), also known by the acronym KM, is an underground communist youth organization in the Philippines which was active from 1964^[2] to 1975.^[3] It was banned by the Philippine government in 1972 when then-President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law, and was driven underground.^[4][5] It was dissolved in 1975 along with other National Democratic mass organizations, as part of the National Democratic movement's change of strategy against the Marcos regime.^[3] Revived within the Manila-Rizal area in 1977 and later nationally in 1984,^[6] the organization continues to exist.^[2]

Kabataang Makabayan
The official logo of KM as defined in their Constitution
Also known as	KM
Foundation	November 30, 1964 (1964-11-30)[1]
Country	Philippines
Allegiance	Communist Party of the Philippines
Motives	Support the national democratic revolution in the Philippines
Newspaper	Kalayaan
Ideology	Communism National Democracy Marxism-Leninism-Maoism
Status	Active
Part of	National Democratic Front of the Philippines

History

Kabataang Makabayan originated from the Students' Cultural Association of UP (SCAUP) in the University of the Philippines and was initially organized as the youth arm of the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas-1930 by José María Sison, Ernesto Macahiya, Nilo Tayag, and others.^[7][8][9] Sison envisioned the youth group as revolutionaries who would establish a country led by the working class instead of oligarchic politicians. It was established on November 30, 1964, Bonifacio Day, to emphasize continuity with Andrés Bonifacio's 1896 Philippine Revolution.^[2] Nacionalista Senator Lorenzo Tañada gave the closing speech at the KM's first national congress and was both a consultant and honorary member.^[9]

When Sison re-established the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in 1968 as a consequence of the First Great Rectification Movement, the New People's Army (NPA) was organized as its military wing; Kabataang Makabayan then became the CPP's youth arm.^[1] It was also one of the groups that established the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.^[2]

First Quarter Storm

Main article: First Quarter Storm

Kabataang Makabayan was at the forefront of the First Quarter Storm, a period of civic unrest consisting of violent demonstrations, protests, and marches against the government of then-President Ferdinand Marcos from January to March 1970. The protests and subsequent violence they inspired collectively became one major factor that led to Marcos’ declaration of Martial Law in late September 1972.^[1]

Philippine government estimates place Kabataang Makabayan membership at 10,000–30,000 during its peak.^[10][11]

See also

• National Democratic Front of the Philippines
• Diliman Commune
• Malayang Pagkakaisa ng Kabataang Pilipino
• Malayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan
• Student Movement Philippines (1965–1972)

External links

• Kabataang Makabayan calls on the youth to join the armed struggle
• Kabataang Makabayan commemorate 51st founding anniversary in Davao City

References

1. Pastor, Cristina DC (November 14, 2014). "Kabataang Makabayan as the proverbial Boomer at 50: Are its ideals still relevant?". Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
2. Palatino, Mong (August 5, 2015). "What Millennials Should Know About the Kabataang Makabayan". Manila Today. Archived from the original on April 22, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
3. Santos, Soliman Jr. "Samahang Demokratiko ng Kabataan: some basic information - Europe Solidaire Sans Frontières". www.europe-solidaire.org. Archived from the original on 2020-07-31. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
4. Espada, Dennis (November 23, 2014). "Activists share brief recollections on Kabataang Makabayan". Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
5. Espejo, Edwin G. (March 6, 2008). "COMMENTARY: Springing back to life: The Student Protest Movement". MindaNews. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
6. Castro, Nestor (2012-01-01). "Ang Muling Pagtatatag sa Kabataang Makabayan, 1984". Archived from the original on 2023-08-27. Retrieved 2024-01-05. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
7. Strauss, Julia C.; O'Brien, Donal Cruise (2007). Staging Politics: Power and Performance in Asia and Africa. I.B. Tauris. p. 220. ISBN 978-1-84511-367-4. Archived from the original on 2024-01-05. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
8. Timberman, David G. (1991). A Changeless Land: Continuity and Change in Philippine Politics. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. p. 60. ISBN 9813035862. Archived from the original on 2024-01-05. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
9. "Kabataang Makabayan Handbook 1964 (First National Congress, 30 Nov 1964)". Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
10. "APPENDIX: A History of the Philippine Political Protest". Government of the Philippines. Archived from the original on April 3, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
11. "Proclamation No. 1081, s. 1972". Government of the Philippines. 21 September 1972. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2017.