KARL MARX TUESDAYS

PART I 

BOURGEOIS AND THE PROLETARIANS

By: Mark Cua

"The History of all the hitherto existing Society is the history of Class Struggles. 

Freeman and Slaves, Patrician and Plebian, Lord and Surf, Datu and Timawa, Guildmaster and Journeyman, in a word Oppressor and Oppressed. Stood on constant opposition to one another carried an uninterrupted now hidden, now open fight, a fight that each time ended, either in a revolutionary reconstitution of society at large or in common ruin of the contending classes."

-Communist Manifesto

(Philippine Chapter)

Philippine History has a long history since time reminisince. From the Pre Spanish Period to the modern times, there are countless fights between Opressor and Oppressed. 

PRE SPANISH COLONIAL TIMES

In the Pre Spanish Period, The ruling classes are called Rajahs, Datus, and Sultan. The People are subdivided into two the freeman and the Timawas (Slaves). In tagalog it is called "Alipin". During the Spanish Era, the Spaniards used the encomienda system to keep lands and enslave the Filipinos. Spaniards are considered landlords and the Filipinos are workers or farmers working for them. They are treated unequal. 

Alipins or Slaves are treated as under class and have no rights. Only Rajahs, Datus, and Sultans have the priviledge to enjoy the fruits and labour of the workers and farmers of those times. The Absolute power of the Datus are often times abused thus leaving the Alipin Saguiguilid and Timawas as working carabaos for the Datus. 

SPANISH COLONIAL TIMES

Since the Arrival of the Spaniards in the Philippines, the conquistadores of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi became landlords as payment for their services to the Spanish Crown. They took hundreds of Filipino natives and slaves into their encomienda or farms as slaved labourers. 

The Spaniards ruled the Philippines for more than 333 years. for 3 centuries this system lead to the abuse and unequal treatment of the Spaniards to the Filipino Natives and Illustrados. Spanish Officials who committed the crimes and abuses are not punished and stayed in power. 

Throughout Philippine History, there are number of uprisings against the Spaniards but they were countless times oppressed because of traitors and turn coats. But in 1896, under the leadership of Gat Andres Bonifacio the revolution of the Proletariats and the common masses toppled down the Spanish Crown in the Philippines. 

AMERICAN COLONIAL TIMES

After the defeat of the Spaniards, the Americans entered the Philippines and started to mock the Commonwealth Government. Although during the early 20th Century it is a colony of United States, United States set unfair and unequal laws for its colonies. The fight between the Filipino Patriots and the American ruling class is also in constant fight with each other. 

There are numerous unequal laws made and implemented by United States in the Philippines. How they treated Filipinos in terms of Education and Social treatments. They treated the Filipinos 2nd Class Citizens. 

American Officers and Colonial Officials have the priviledge to use the resources while Americans never allowed the Filipinos to enjoy the fruit of their labour. Taxes on lands are so high many Filipino common masses went from poor to poorer.

The Americans abandoned the Filipinos When the Japanese Imperial Army invaded the Philippines. it can be considered oppression. After so many people died in the side of the Filipinos and Filipina women are raped by the Japanese intruders, the Americans came with ease because the hard fight was fought by the Filipinos. The easy fight was done by the Filipino HUKBALAHAPS (Hukbong Sandatahan Laban sa Hapon). 

The Cowardice of the Americans after it was bombed and defeated by the Japanese Imperial Force in the Philippines. They retreated and Commonwealth President Manuel L Quezon and Manuel Roxas abandoned the Filipinos instead of staying in the Philippines fighting with them. The Mockery and abuse of the Americans to the Filipinos is indeed evident and considered Oppression.

How many Filipinas are already raped? How many Filipino and liberation fighters are already wounded and killed?

OLD PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC

During the time of the New Republic, The promises of good life was neglected by the Philippine Democratic Party. Although Philippines was declared independent from the United States but through Colonial Mentality it is reliant to the United States. You can see from the influence of the Americans in the Philippine Democratic Government. 

Officials only became active during election period but after that they became pigs in their throne. Even if they committed a crime they are not punished and Justice is denied. Sometimes delayed intentionally. 

NEW MODERN TIMES

Up to now, you can evidently see the same Opressor and Oppressed are in the Philippine Democratic Society. 

How many Senators and Congressmen are punished for their crimes against the People? Are there soldiers are punished for their abuse and purging of Political enemies? Are there an effective Social Justice when someone is killed or being killed? Where did you see Policemen just stay in their precincts and flirt with women while the people outside is at the mercy of these outlaws and lawless elements? Each year there are at least thousands of crimes including petty crimes all over the Philippines. 

There are many more cases similar to these happening within the Justice System of the Philippine Democratic Government. 

Justice is indeed selective and biased. A Democratic Government like this is indeed not a good government. The Continuous fight between Oppressed (The People) and Oppressor (Philippine Democratic Government) is indeed very evident in the daily life living under the Democratic System.