Unmasking the Myths of the CPP and its Leader Joma Sison | Maya Butalid & Carlo Butalid | Non-fiction

Description

This is a simple and straightforward book. It is meant as an introduction for young activists. For those who want a ‘heavier’ work, read the appendix. But perhaps inadvertently Maya and Carlo have put together an important work. They add to the growing number of personal accounts which gives flesh to the national democratic movement. They also debunk myths around the movement, not least the myth of ‘Joma lives’.

—Joel Rocamora, PhD in politics from Cornell University Former Secretary of the National Anti-Poverty Commission

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Brave, reliable, timely. This book by Left progressive spouses Carlo and Maya Butalid is that and more. Their bravery involves ‘unmasking’ an armed revolutionary movement with an oftentimes rabid partisan following.

It is in Utrecht, The Netherlands where the Butalids are based, as was the late CPP Leader Jose Maria Sison. A certain ‘up close and personal’ view of Joma Sison in Utrecht for six years (1987-93) is part of this book’s reliability as a first-hand insider source of information, as the authors were long-time CPP cadres both in the Philippines and more significantly in Western Europe.

The timeliness of this book is now underscored by the current ‘days of rage’ against high-placed and shameless corruption rejected by today’s youth—to whom and for whom this book is mainly addressed. It would be in the best interest of that current youth generation’s own informed decision-making to at least read, understand, and ponder on the lived experience, insights and learnings in this book avowedly unmasking CPP and Joma myths, but also more importantly advancing an alternative ‘way forward,’ and then judge for themselves.

This book is thus deliberately written in a readable, simple and conversational style meant for younger readers. But even older political readers like me, more familiar with polemical, theoretical and even academic articles and books on the CPP and Sison, will find this book to be refreshing (or cathartic), with aspects and issues that would make for good and deeper discussion, study and further writing.

—Judge Soliman M. Santos, Jr. (Retd.) Author, TIGAON 1969: Untold Stories of the CPP-NPA, KM, and SDK (Ateneo Press, 2023)