Anakbayan is the comprehensive national democratic organization of the Filipino youth.
Comprehensive because it is open to all Filipino youths from the age of 13 to 35 years old who accept Anakbayan’s principles and program and is willing to contribute to advance them. It unites young workers, young farmers, students, out-of-school youth, young professionals, migrant youths,US-born etc. behind the struggle for genuine national independence and the realization of every Filipino’s democratic rights. At present, it has chapters in almost all regions in the country, as well as in several cities in the U.S and Japan.
National democratic because it seeks to continue the unfinished struggle of Andres Bonifacio and the Katipunan for a truly independent and democratic Philippines. Presently, the Philippines experiences national sovereignty in name only, and democratic rights are enjoyed by only a few.
It was founded on the 30th of November 1998, the birthday of Andres Bonifacio, as recognition of the role model he and the Katipunan serves for all Filipino youth.
Anakbayan’s popular PROGRAMME is TLEKS: Trabaho (Decent Jobs), Lupa (Land Reform), Edukasyon (Education for All), Karapatan (Civil and Political Rights), Serbisyong Panlipunan (Social Services).
In general, the youth are in the prime of their lives, healthy and fit, more open to new ideas, and more daring and ready to take risks. All of these are positive traits and makes the youth an important part of any movement for change. However, many youths are also indecisive, self-centered, individualistic, and unwilling to leave their comfort zones. These hinder the youth from participating to the fullest in the movement for change. For the youth to be successful agents of change, they must be willing to learn to work collectively with fellow youths and other sectors, and remold and unlearn their negative traits.
How does Anakbayan achieve what it is fighting for?
Arouse – By educating the youth and the largest number of Filipinos possible on their rights, and what we/they must do to be able to win those rights.
Organize – By combining together with other youths to form Anakbayan chapters in their schools, communities, and places of work, they can effectively reach out to more youths and Filipinos than they could usually do alone.
Mobilize – By pushing the largest number of youth and other Filipinos to take action on various campaigns, using various forms of action, from signature drives, holding forums, publishing their own newspapers, using the Internet, rallies, and even class boycotts and worker strikes.
What is PADEPA? PADEPA, or Pambansa Demokratikong Paaralan (National Democratic School), is Anakbayan’s very own ‘school’. Unlike your ordinary school, only relevant matters and topics are discussed in PADEPA: from current events to tools that will help the youth analyze and understand the world around him/her. Unlike your ordinary school, a PADEPA education is absolutely free, can be held anywhere, and classes are held whenever the students are available. Interested? Contact us now!:)
