KARL MARX TUESDAYS

PART I

BOURGEOISIE AND THE PROLETARIAT

By: Mark Cua

"The Modern Bourgeoios Society that has sprouted from the ruins of feudal society had not done away with class antagonism. It had established new classes, new conditions of oppression, new forms of struggle in place of the old ones. 

Our epoch, the epoch of the bourgeoiose possesses however distinctive feature, it only simplified the class antagonisms. Society as a whole is more and more Splitting up into two great hostile classes directly facing each other-Bourgeoisie and Proletariat."

-Manifesto of the Communist

(Philippine Chapter)

Where did the Modern Bourgeoios come from? Had they done away the class antagonisms in Society?

The answer is that the modern Bourgeioise comes from the old Spanish Illustrados and Spanish Mestizas and Mestizos. Since Spain had ruled the Philippines for more than 333 years, they established an encomienda system which gives land to the officials and conquistadores who help the crown conquer the Philippines Islands. 

But the bad side of the encomienda system was the unequal rights and unequal treatment of the Filipinos by the Spaniards and the Spanish Friars. So After the successful revolution of 1892, Emilio Aguindaldo out of wishing to control the power plotted to kill Andres Bonifacio. 

Back in the days of the later years of the Spanish rule, Aguinaldo is considered a democratic leader and Andres Bonifacio is considered a radical leader who is willing to see real change. Just like our dear Comrade Jose Maria Sison and Ka Roger in the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines) in our times.

If Andres Bonifacio wasn't duped and killed by Aguinaldo in the later years of the 19th Century, Philippines would never be the same now. This is where the Modern Philippine Bourgoeise came from and sprouted. From inability and greed of Emilio Aguinaldo. 

But now in modern times, the class antagonism is just simplified but it wasn't actually gone for good. As you can see, Bourgeoise are the Corrupt Officials (Senators, Congressmen, LGUs (Local Government Units), and the political dysnasties present in the Philippine Democratic System, Officers of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines). 

The Proletariat are the Ordinary Filipinos, the businessmen, the workers or labourers who are not stealing from others. These are the oppressed through heavy taxation and abusive collection while the Bourgeoise class just steal, abuse their power, misuse funds for their mistresses, selfish luxurious ambitions, mansions, expensive cars. None of these Burgoeise are punished because they are oppressing the Proleratiats by making the Justice system blind as a bat.

Where did you see a Bourgeoise punished for his or her crimes and scandals? Where did you see the Proletariats who got their rights served and their Social Justice given to them without political colour or biased Justice?

Sad to say this is happening the Philippine Democratic System. 

The very officials who stole, misused funds, and abused their power through Political dysnaties and affiliations by manipulating elections and threatening the capable ones are still in offices, in their mansions, in their thrones unpunished savouring the luxurious life of what they stole from the Filipino people.