Anakbayan Sydney

27/07/2026

Anakbayan Sydney stands against the false narrative perpetuated by Philippine president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, as he delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

The true state of the nation is one of a deepening economic and political crisis rooted in US imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat capitalism that forces millions of Filipinos to seek work overseas. The Marcos administration persists in upholding the Labor Export Policy, transforming our people into mere commodities for international markets instead of improving living and working conditions in our homeland. Instead of addressing the root causes of unemployment, low wages and poverty, the government is happy to benefit from the remittances of Overseas Filipino Workers while failing to protect them from exploitation and abuse.

This crisis is driven by an export-oriented, import-dependent economy that leaves the Philippines vulnerable to rising global prices while failing to develop domestic industries. Combined with the worsening cost of living, stagnant wages and the absence of genuine land reform and national industrialisation, millions of Filipinos continue to struggle to afford basic necessities despite government claims of economic progress.

The Marcos administration government also continues to commit grave human rights violations through the repression of activists and the continued practice of red-tagging from the Duterte administration. Across the countryside, Indigenous communities continue to face militarisation, displacement and intimidation as their ancestral lands are targeted for military operations, resource extraction and other development projects that benefit foreign and elite interests rather than local communities.

(continued in comments)

12/06/2026

FIGHT FOR GENUINE NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE!

The Philippines remains unfree under the combined weight of US imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucrat capitalism.

Despite the illusion of ‘independence,’ foreign powers continue to control our politics, economy, and military while political dynasties, corruption, landlessness, and poverty continue to plague the Filipino people. Lopsided treaties and trade agreements peddled by Washington such as Pax Silica, in the hopes of securing mining rights over critical minerals and other natural resources to fuel the growing industrial war machine of the US, are additional burdens that not only further erode Philippine sovereignty but also aim to keep the country’s economy and foreign policy dependent and intrinsically linked to US geopolitical interests.

The recently concluded Balikatan exercises, the largest iteration to date, further militarised our homeland in service of the US’ Indo-Pacific strategy. Alongside projects such as AUKUS, the Philippines continues to be treated as a military outpost and US forward base amidst inter-imperialist rivalry with China at the expense of Philippine sovereignty and security.

State repression also continues to intensify as Marcos Jr’s bid to secure a seat in the UN Security Council miserably failed as his regime’s crimes against the Filipino people become exposed. The Negros 19 massacre and the ongoing red-tagging and harassment carried out by NTF-ELCAC show how activists, journalists, researchers, and progressive organisations are targeted for standing with the exploited toiling masses and for asserting their rights.

Yet across the country, Filipinos continue to resist exploitation, landlessness, corruption, and state violence while fighting for genuine national liberation.

On this Hindipendence Day, we reject pro-US historical revisionism and reaffirm our commitment to the struggle for genuine national democracy.

LONG LIVE THE FILIPINO PEOPLE’S STRUGGLE!
DOWN WITH US IMPERIALISM, FEUDALISM, AND BUREAUCRAT CAPITALISM!

03/05/2026

Join us for a night of music, culture, and solidarity in support of the Filipino people’s struggle for human rights and justice.

Featuring performances from Filipino musician from Musikangbayan, local acts, and open mic karaoke

Come through for a night of community, art, and pakikibaka. Bring your friends, sing your heart out, and stand with the people fighting for genuine freedom and democracy.

Date: Saturday, May
Time: 6PM
Location: Spaceship Gymanisuim (43 North Parade, Campsie)

$10 entry at the door
No one turned away

01/05/2026

This International Workers’ Day, Anakbayan Sydney is one with the workers in Australia, in the Philippines, and across the globe who continue to fight for dignity and freedom from imperialist exploitation.

We stand with workers demanding living wages, secure jobs, humane working conditions and genuine social welfare both in Australia and in the Philippines. We condemn the corporations and ruling elites who continue to profit from the labour of the working class while denying workers their basic rights and protections. We honour the courage of the Filipino working class who continue to fight against imperialism, bureaucrat capitalism and feudalism, the root causes of widespread poverty, landlessness and forced migration.

Over 2 million Filipino workers are forced to work overseas due to the lack of genuine national industrialisation and employment opportunities at home, with tens of thousands based in Australia alone. Imperialism forces Filipino workers to leave their homeland, only to face wage theft, job and visa insecurity, racism, isolation, and unsafe working conditions. In times of conflict and crisis, overseas Filipino workers are often left vulnerable and abandoned by their government who profit from labour export while failing to guarantee their safety and welfare.

The recent organisation of Kowloon House union in Quezon City serves as a powerful reminder that collective action is our sole weapon against exploitation, and sole means to secure our rights. Kowloon House workers committed to a six-day strike and successfully attained the wage increase and benefits promised to them for years.

Their bravery is a reminder that every struggle for job security and humane working conditions is part of a larger movement against imperialist domination.

This May Day, we call upon Filipino migrant workers, youth, and allies to organise with the same unwavering determination shown by workers across the Philippines and the world. Let us continue to be one with the Filipino workers’ demand for PHP1,200 daily national minimum wage increase in the Philippines. Let us resist exploitation of workers across sectors and across borders, strengthening solidarity among the international working class.

27/04/2026

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊: Filipino activist groups led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan - BAYAN Australia decry the massacre of 19 individuals in Toboso, Negros Occidental on April 19, 2026. They directed their protest at the Philippine Consulate in Melbourne by riddling the foyer of the building on Collins street with messages of condemnations and calls for justice.

The group will be holding a community vigil at the steps of Victorian State Library tomorrow evening.

Source: BAYAN Australia

27/04/2026

HUSTISYA PARA SA NEGROS 19!

On April 19, 2026, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) massacred 19 individuals and displaced 650 residents in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, Negros Occidental. Anakbayan Sydney condemns in the strongest terms the cold-blooded killings perpetrated by the fascist military. Those martyred at the hands of the AFP include young activists, journalists, and researchers who dedicated their lives to the liberation of the Filipino people from imperialism, bureaucrat capitalism, and feudalism. Among them are student leader, Alyssa Alano, community journalist, RJ Nichole Ledesma, peasant advocate, Maureen Santuyo, cultural worker and labour organiser, Errol Wendel, Filipino-American human rights advocate, Lyle Prijoles, and youth activist, Kai Sorem.

As Filipino youths inspired by the growing movement of overseas Filipinos integrating with the rural peasant communities, we salute Kai Sorem, a founding member of Anakbayan South Seattle. After learning more about the semi-feudal conditions in the Philippines and witnessing the reactionary state security forces firsthand at demonstrations, Kai’s dedication to the Filipino people did not waver. Her heart remained with her people and yearned to return to them.

The people of Negros has long decried the ongoing militarisation of their communities in the island. The presence of AFP troops in the countryside has been historically linked to military abuses, strafing, bombings, harassment, red-tagging and killings of farmers. State security forces in the country have a proven track record of human rights violations. The rotten regime headed by the corrupt ruling capitalist class and despotic landlord class have always wielded the full weight of the State as an instrument for suppression and landgrabbing to line the pockets of those in power at the expense of peasant farmers, workers, peasant advocates, human rights defenders, and environmental activists. We demand an independent investigation into the massacre and hold the US-Marcos Jr regime directly accountable. The increasing presence of foreign US and Australian troops in EDCA sites through Balikatan, Salaknib, Kasangga, and other joint military exercises in the Philippines only worsen fears as various regions throughout the archipelago become further militarised.

Filipino youths overseas grieve the massacre victims and express our deepest sympathies to all their families. While our hearts ache, this will not break our spirit as we are grounded by our unconditional love for the marginalised and oppressed. We will continue to demand justice and advance the struggle towards a Philippines free from corruption, exploitation, poverty, and land theft.

JUSTICE FOR THE NEGROS 19!
DEFEND NEGROS!
MILITAR SA KANAYUNAN, PALAYASIN!

25/04/2026

27/03/2026

The US empire and its proxy Israel remain the biggest threats to world peace as they continue to wage hybrid imperial warfare around the world in a desperate bid to hold onto US global hegemony.

The unprovoked US-Zionist aggression against Iran has quickly led to serious repercussions for people in the Philippines and globally. Unless the US ends the brutal and blatant attcks, this will create substantial challenges for millions of Filipinos and other marginalised communities.

Anakbayan Sydney stands in soldarity with Filipino workers and peasants in their struggle against the corrupt US-Marcos regime, as they are pushed deeper into poverty with the rising costs of oil. We support the Filipino transport workers’ strike and join their calls for an immediate reduction in oil prices, the elimination of the Excise Tax and Value Added Tax (VAT) on oil products, the distribution of subsidies to impacted industries and a living wage.

We call on all governments to oppose and condemn the war on Iran. We stand with the Axis of Resistance in its fight to defend the region from US intervention. Iran has every right to defend its national sovereignty.

17/03/2026

On Sunday 29 March 2026 at 3pm, the Philippines-Palestine Friendship Association (PPFA) and Prof. Tirmizy E. Abdullah will join Anakbayan Sydney live from the Philippines to discuss the shared struggle against the US-Zionist war machine, from Palestine to the Philippines.

The program discusses Palestinian resistance to US-Zionist occupation and its parallels to the National Democratic movement in the Philippines, collaboration between Zionism and the US-backed Marcos regime, and the significance of these anti-imperial struggles for diaspora communities.

PPFA’s Coordinator Menchani I. Tilendo will present on the Philippine state’s arms deals with the Zionist entity and ongoing PPFA campaigns in the Philippines, while Prof. Tirmizy E. Abdullah will explore the parallels between Gaza and the Marawi siege.

Jennine Khalik from Hasbara Tracker will discuss how Zionist propaganda is exercised through an international ecosystem of organisations, playbooks and incidents to legitimise imperialist violence and pacify resistance.

Date: Sun 29 March
Time: 3pm AEST
Venue: Humanist Society of NSW, 10 Shepherd St, Chippendale NSW 2008
Vegan and gluten-free food will be provided.
Register via link in bio.

26/02/2026

Last week, Anakbayan Sydney held a film screening and discussion to reflect on the relevance and lessons of the 1986 EDSA People Power Uprising, especially as another Marcos is returned to power, continuing his father's legacy of corruption, fascism and imperial plunder.

As revisionist history proliferates alternate images of the past, it is important to screen and reflect on works like Signos (1983) by Concerned Artists of the Philippines and Nick Deocampo's Revolutions Happen like Refrains in a Song (1987) that present a counter-perspective. 

Discussions centred on the historical context leading up to the mass protests and unpacked key questions. How has the Philippines changed since 1986? How has it remained the same? What is the role of the revolutjonary artist? And what does it mean to be Filipino?

Keep in touch with Anakbayan socials for info about future screenings.