ACTIVSM IS NOT A CRIME

Not a crime to go home

On the first day of the new year, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) bombed the area of Abra de Ilog in Mindoro resulting in the death of five people–three children and two youth researchers–and the displacement of hundreds. In the midst of the chaos, Chantal Anicoche, a Filipino-American organizer, was taken by the AFP. It wasn’t until a month of demanding her release that she was finally allowed to return to the U.S. But what was the crime that warranted her capture? Why is it criminalized to learn about one’s own culture? Why is it criminalized to connect to a history and land that is witheld from us abroad? Why is it criminalized to desire a brighter future for the Philippines admist the corruption and environmental destruction?

stop the bombings! defend mindoro!

The criminalization of those who advocate for the Philippine people veils the true crimes at hand: those of the Philippine and U.S. governments. At the forefront of Chantal’s capture was the bombing of Abra de Ilog, a continuation of the plundering of Mindoro. Mindoro is an area rich in resources and cultural diversity that many indigenous groups call home. However, this land, like all land of the Filipino people, has become a target of the bureacrat capitalists in power. Where we see lush mountains, valleys, and waterways; the ruling class sees money bags. They will stop at nothing–destroying the land and people–for the sake of personal profit. And using their power, they will criminalize any act that stands in their way.

activsm is Not terrorism

Following the release of Chantal, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has patted themselves on the back for “rescuing” Chantal and labeled activists and human rights advocates as terrorists. Through an onslaught of online propaganda, the Philippine government is targetting youth activism as a form of “terror-grooming.” However, the true terror is the military who promotes a culture of violence through mandatory ROTC trainings that groom the youth to enact attacks similar to those seen in Mindoro. And this propaganda is not new. We see the criminalization of activists in the U.S. through the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti whom the Trump administration have labeled as “terrorists” for protesting the recent rampening attacks of ICE. These are strategies used to scare the people out of speaking out against injustice, but we cannot let them succeed. While it can feel hopeless, we must unite against the common enemies that sit comfortably in their mansions, high-risers, and oval offices. Get organized and get active in your community, from the U.S. to the Philippines.

2026, gouache, colored pencil, and oil pastel on paper, triptych-14×17″