Although it is still developing and refining its platform, Bisig has dared to openly espouse and popularize the spirit and vision of socialism. Let me explain what we call self-managing socialism or Filipino people’s socialism. We use the term Filipino people’s socialism to directly differentiate our vision from the negative experiences of failed experiments to build socialism. The founders of Bisig decided to come up with a vision that is not tied to particular models of socialism but which uses the positive aspects and elements of these experiments and adapt them to the concrete condition, culture and history of the Philippines. This is a continuing narrative, since we want the process of visioning to be both participative and collective.
We divided the concept of Filipino people’s socialism into three categories - economic democracy, political democracy and cultural democracy - so as to emphasize democracy in pursuing our socialist vision.
On economic democracy. Bisig envisions different forms of ownership of the means of production. We have seen that these forms are more appropriate to Philippine conditions (e.g. public ownership, state control of certain enterprises, cooperative and individual ownership of other enterprises). We reject the return of capitalist ownership - the domination of the profit orientation, and exploitative and oppressive capitalist control over the working class. Second, democratic socialist planning of the economy that is needs-oriented rather than market-oriented; people’s ownership and management of the economic affairs of the country; people’s participation in economic planning at all levels; direct control and management of factories by labor; development of the local economy; development of science and technology that will not give birth to more alienation, exploitation and oppression, and will maintain ecological balance; progressive taxation; and agrarian reform. We are still trying to discover the concrete features of socialist agrarian reform, and specifically, a study of collective ownership of big tracts of land versus individual and private ownership of small farms.
On political democracy. We appreciate the value of popular power and other institutions of people’s political power, pluralism, multiparty system, sectoral representation, federal type of government, right to dissent, independent foreign policy, economic relations with other countries based on national interest, a professional army and people’s militia.
On cultural democracy. Bisig works to achieve human and individual development; popular and nationalist technical and political education; free and relevant social services; media free from government control; freedom to worship or not to worship; recognition, protection and broad support for the development of indigenous communities and the lumad; support for the Moro struggle for self-determination; support for the rights and welfare of women, gays, lesbians and trans-gender; appreciation of and support for the youth and elderly; development of a popular Filipino culture; human and personal development; family and above all, women.
We have no particular terminology for “methods.” The question of our political line was not discussed during the founding of Bisig. Other organizations were puzzled at how Bisig could be formed when the forms and types of struggle, and particular strategies and tactics have not yet been clarified. But we saw the need for and importance of a political line. We have tried to accomplish this since the early 1990s, and are continuing to do so. Bisig was formed as a loose organization, so we can understand why it had no clear political line, plus it started as an organization of different tendencies and different political ideologies and formations. Maybe it would be better for us to use the phrase “political lane” and not just a political line, since a lane can accommodate more lines and not just one. Bisig is not a revolutionary party but from a loose organization, we have tried to set up a semi-cadre, semi-party formation; and consequently, there have been changes and adjustments in the realm of organization and ideology.
Bisig’s strategy and tactics focus on taking political power. It believes that we should start planting the seeds of socialism even now (socialist apprenticeship), before actually taking political power. We have determined that these are the factors and conditions that should be present for the actual attempt to take political power: the motive forces should be prepared; the world situation should be favorable; international solidarity work; a strong coalition and linkages of various revolutionary organizations and parties; and a favorable reading of objective social conditions. We also believe that there should be two levels of revolution - political revolution and social revolution. We have learned this from past experiences in building socialism.
Bisig believes that there are no fixed primary and secondary forms of struggle. Concrete conditions determine which particular forms of struggle should be used, and which forms will be secondary and primary. We believe that there are five arenas of struggle that should be developed: mass struggles and movements, parliamentary-electoral struggles, international solidarity work, developmental work, and ideological-cultural work.
Developing mass struggles and movements. This is related to the formation of sectoral organizations. We believe that we should, at present, put greater stress on strengthening the student and urban poor mass struggles and movements.
Parliamentary-electoral struggle. We believe that we should emphasize the issue of local governance and be able to pursue and gain concrete tactical victories at the local level. Considering that 99% of local government units are still in the hands of traditional politicians, socialist “apprenticeship” in governance is especially important.
International Work. It is also important to engage in international work, in alliance and solidarity work, and giving equal weight to developmental work. This will give us experience in actually managing socialist programs.
Ideological-cultural work. Bisig has no armed force and we believe we should carry the fight to the ideological-cultural arena, capturing the imagination of the masses and convincing them to choose the alternatives and programs that we offer. In brief, that is our vision and those are the methods that we will use to capture our vision.