Ideally, the Philippines is a democratic country with people who believe in equality, due process, freedom, privacy, consent and dissent, toleration, and the common good. People who believe in democracy so adamantly fight for it for the world. Such is the advocacy of the Anakpawis partylist.

Formed to amplify the voice of the Filipino people, Anakpawis has been upholding their mission and addressing problems that threaten our democracy’s very existence.

How the Group Came to Be

Inspired by the contribution of the Katipunan ng mga Anakpawis organization of 1929 in Philippine national history, Anakpawis was formed on January 23, 2002 as a national political body that represents the marginalized sectors of workers, peasants, fisherfolk, minority groups, and urban and rural poor.

Mission

Ever since the group’s inception, Anakpawis has been upholding, promoting, and advancing their patriotic and democratic goals, which is to provide a face and voice to the underprivileged people of the country. The political party has represented this portion of the population, expressing their unity and aspiration for social transformation, justice, and equality.

In addition, Anakpawis believes that those who labor and shed sweat (so to speak) to create the nation’s wealth should have a prominent role in society and shaping the country’s direction. Therefore, they should have a significant role in the decision making process in the country’s cultural, economic, and political aspects.

Program of Action

In line with their beliefs, Anakpawis supports a range of ideas that may be too broad. Nonetheless, the group has identified specific goals they wish to accomplish, which includes:

-Promoting independent social and economic development through comprehensive programs that focus on genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization;
-Fostering and defending the people’s inherent rights of having beneficial work with just wages and humane working conditions, as well as the right to self-organization;
-Endorsing the working class’ right to own and till land, as well as promoting the campaign for food self-sufficiency and self-government;
-Upholding the right of fisherfolks to use marine and inland fishery resources and areas;
-Asserting the right of people to have decent and adequate living spaces and livelihood, as well as protecting them from any form of eviction and displacement;
-Supporting an advanced and technological progressive culture that liberates people from backward, feudal, colonial, and exploitative traditions. Related to this is the promotion of the birthright of having free education;
-Removing all the things that hamper the full participation of women in the workplace and decision making processes, as well as protecting children from child labor and other forms of abuse and exploitation;
-Creating solidarity and cooperation among workers, peasants’ organization, and other progressive parties;
-Assuring that minority groups like the Bangsa Moro and Cordillera have the right to self-determination and involvement in all matters that directly affect them;
-Defending the people’s right to sovereignty and freedom from foreign interference, domination, and control.

Politics of the Masses

Overall, Anakpawis supports the “Politics of the Masses.” The group aims to save and preserve democracy so that the pleas of the deprived are heard. With their offices set up in 15 regions all over the country, this political body continues to gain ground and reach out to far flung communities and farmlands.

-by Gillian Abonitalla-
(Photo taken from kilusangmayouno.org)