A Tribute to Jose Maria Sison

Progressive Filipino-Canadians and organizations under the umbrella of the Congress of Progressive Filipino Canadians (CPFC), mourn for the Communist Party of the Philippines founder, Jose Maria Sison who passed away on December 16, 2022. Sison, the foremost leader of the Philippine national democratic revolution with a socialist perspective, died in the Netherlands where he lived in political exile with his partner Julie and their son. Sison’s revolutionary writings, political struggles and organizing work have been profoundly read and studied within the ranks of progressive Filipinos in Canada who strive to understand the nature of, and help build the struggle for genuine socialism in Canada, and be in solidarity with the Philippine revolutionary movement.

While Sison’s focus was to fight for the national and social liberation of the Filipino people against domestic feudal, reactionary forces, and global imperialism, internationalism is also a major focus of his work. He encouraged transnational Filipinos to prepare themselves to join the ranks of the revolutionaries in the Philippines but at the same time, emphasized that the most progressive among them study Marxism-Leninism and take appropriate interest in the revolutionary struggle in their host countries.

In a conference message to Filipino Canadian youth in 2007, he appreciated their comprehension of issues in Canada “pertaining to racism, the identity crisis, class domination and exploitation, and gender oppression.” He praised them for their openness to revolutionary changes in society and challenged them to fight for immediate reforms and revolutionary changes and become worthy successors in the struggle for national and social liberation. Many progressive Filipino-Canadians, especially among youth and women, have accepted these ideas and moved further to engage in helping build the socialist movement in Canada while in full solidarity with the struggle of the Filipino people for national and social liberation.

Even as we mourn this loss, Jose Maria Sison, his ideas, and his revolutionary works and accomplishments will endure as an inspiration for progressive Filipino-Canadians as they persist in helping build the socialist movement in Canada.

December 18, 2022

Congress of Progressive Filipino Canadians
National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada
Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance
SIKLAB

(Photo from Jose Maria Sison Facebook account)