On behalf of the (New) Communist Party of Canada, we extend our warmest greetings to the friends and comrades of the Filipino revolutionary struggle, on the occasion of the 56^th anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Over the past 56 years, the CPP has shown the way for other revolutionary-minded people around the world. While many revolutionary movements collapsed or fell into revisionism following the restoration of capitalism in the Soviet Union and the counter-revolution in China, the CPP has always remained steadfast in holding high the bright flame of proletarian revolution. Just as our own revolutionary movement in Canada was collapsing in the early 1980s, taking decades to rebuild thereafter, the CPP would spare the Filipino masses such a catastrophic setback by rectifying its own errors in the 1990s in order to carry the Filipino revolutionary struggle forward.

Over the past 56 years, the CPP has led the way in the international communist movement by correctly applying and developing Marxism-Leninism-Maoism, combating modern revisionism, and following the only correct path to revolution—armed struggle according to the concrete conditions of its country. All the while, it has avoided adventurism and easy victories, and has always remained deeply entrenched in the daily lives and struggles of the Filipino people.

Now, as the contradictions of the world imperialist system are intensifying, we see once again the intensification of inter-imperialist rivalry, the worsening of the oppression of dominated countries, as well as the decay of living conditions of the international proletariat and toiling masses. Simultaneously, conditions are ripening again for a second wave of world proletarian revolution to take place.

However, we are not the only ones who seek opportunity out of crisis. The ruling class is attempting to mobilize the people for its own reactionary purposes. We see people the masses being dragged into the the pits of nationalism. We see people falling for the lies of one or another of the ruling-class factions or for one or another of the imperialist powers striving for domination in the world.

It would be wise, for communist and revolutionary-minded people of the world, to remember where the flame of revolution was kept alive during the past 50 years. The teachings and legacy of the CPP, and of the other few parties that remained steadfast during the retreat of the international communist movement over the past 50 years, are invaluable and precious and we must learn what we can from them.

We must build the independent path of the proletariat once again—independent of all ruling-class factions and influences. This is the path that the CPP has valiantly followed for the past 56 years, and this is the path that our young Party aspires to follow as well.

We look forward, comrades, to the upcoming decades of revolutionary struggle we will face together, for our movement and our class.

Toward our bright socialist future,

(N)CPC Central Committee