Malayang Pagkakaisa ng Kabataang Pilipino

Malayang Pagkakaisa ng Kabataang Pilipino (Tagalog, "Free Union of Filipino Youth"), abbreviated MPKP was a youth organization in the Philippines. It was the youth and student wing of the pro-Soviet Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas-1930 (PKP).[1] MPKP was founded on November 30, 1967, as the PKP broke its links with the Kabataang Makabayan ("Patriotic Youth").[2][3] Whilst the KM developed a Maoist orientation under the leadership of Jose Maria Sison, the MPKP argued that protracted revolutionary war was not feasible considering the geography of the Philippines (a scattered archipelago, not bordering any socialist state).[4] Some six hundred delegates took part in the founding congress of MPKP, held in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija.[3] The leading group of MPKP had belonged to the KM in Central Luzon.[3] Francisco Nemenzo Jr. was amongst the founders of MPKP.[5] As of 1970, MPKP was estimated to have some 5,000 members, predominately young peasants and rural workers.[6] MPKP published Struggle as its organ.[7]

Malayang Pagkakaisa ng Kabataang Pilipino
Founded	November 30, 1967
Ideology	Communism Marxism–Leninism
Mother party	Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas-1930

MPKP participated in the Movement for a Democratic Philippines (MDP), a coalition of student movements born out of the protests against the 1969 elections.[8][9] Ruben Torres, a lawyer who graduated from the University of the Philippines in 1966, was the president of MPKP in 1970.[10][11]

MPKP was banned in 1972, as martial law was declared.[12] As of that year, the estimated MPKP membership stood at around 10,000.[13]

Imprisoned MPKP members were offered amnesty through Presidential Decree No. 571-A, which was signed on November 22, 1974 (this included amnesty for the PKP and related organizations).[14]

See also

• Kabataang Makabayan
• Student Movement in the Philippines (1965–1972)

References

1. Barbara Gaerlan (1998). The Politics and Pedagogy of Language Use at the University of the Philippines: The History of English as the Medium of Instruction and the Challenge Mounted by Filipino. University of California, Los Angeles. p. 226.
2. Benigno S. Aquino; Simeon G. Del Rosario (1977). Surfacing the Underground, Part II: The Involvements of Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. with 29 Perpetuated Testimonies Appended. Manlapaz Pub. p. 67.
3. Samantha Christiansen; Zachary A. Scarlett (2013). The Third World in the Global 1960s. Berghahn Books. p. 203. ISBN 978-0-85745-573-4.
4. Philippines Free Press. 64 (14 ed.). Free Press. April 1971. p. 7.
5. Pacific Research & World Empire Telegram. 1–6. Pacific Studies Center. 1969.
6. Blackburn, Robin. Rebirth of the Filipino Revolution
7. William J. Pomeroy (1974). American Made Tragedy: Neo Colonialism and Dictatorship in the Philippines. International Publishers Company, Incorporated. p. 182. ISBN 978-0-7178-0360-6.
8. Earl Browder; Herbert Aptheker; Gus Hall (1972). Political Affairs. 51. New Century Publishers. p. 31.
9. Solidarity. 7. Solidaridad Publishing House. 1972. p. 61.
10. Philippine Weekly Economic Review. 18. Philippine Association. 1970. p. 163.
11. Nick Joaquin (2003). A Kadre's Road to Damascus: The Ruben Torres Story. Milflores Pub. p. 75. ISBN 978-971-828-018-8.
12. IISG. Anna Liza (Neng) Magno Papers 1965-2012
13. United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Foreign Relations; James G. Lowenstein; Richard M. Moose (1973). Korea and the Philippines: November 1972: A Staff Report. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 30.
14. Myrna S. Feliciano (1975). Subject Guide to Presidential Decrees and Other Presidential Issuances (from the Proclamation of Martial Law Up to June 1975). U.P. Law Center. p. 64.