A three-day series of activities here brought together international solidarity, political discussions and collective action in defense of peace, democracy and the rights of peoples. The Friends of the Filipino People in Struggle (FFPS) Europe chapter held a gathering on August 28, actively participated in the People’s Festival of Resistance for Peace, Democracy and Liberation on August 29, and staged a culminating rally on August 30.

The FFPS Europe chapter gathering on August 28 provided an important venue for discussing the current situation in the Philippines and the continuing need to strengthen international solidarity with the Filipino people.

The discussions highlighted the challenges confronting the Filipino people, including militarization, repression, poverty and inequality. The issue of Pax Silica was particularly discussed and was pointed out that it is not designed to build an independent national economy instead,  it is designed to serve the needs of US war preparations against China as well as the needs of US tech monopolies ever-eager to exploit the country’s cheap labor, land and resources.

Particular attention was given to the continuing struggles of peasants and rural communities, as well as the importance of addressing the social and economic roots of the protracted Philippine conflict.

The gathering also emphasized the need for the revolutionary movement to learn from its setbacks, confront organizational weaknesses and undertake a process of rebuilding and rectification. It stressed that the aspirations of the Filipino people for national liberation and genuine social change remain alive despite serious difficulties.

The role of US imperialism and its strategic interests in the Philippines was likewise discussed, particularly in relation to Philippine sovereignty, foreign military involvement and the growing tensions among major powers.

The gathering reaffirmed the importance of international solidarity in defending human rights, opposing militarization and supporting the Filipino people’s right to determine their own future.

On August 29, FFPS Europe actively participated in the People’s Festival of Resistance for Peace, Democracy and Liberation, sponsored by RESIST EUROPE held at Mundo Matongé in Ixelles, Brussels.

The festival brought together organizations and movements from different countries for discussions on peace, war, militarization, women’s struggles, rising fascism and the defense of rights and freedoms.

The programme featured a keynote address by Victor Garces, Vice Chairperson for Internal Affairs of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS), as well as solidarity messages and thematic panels.

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) participated in the panel on “Rising Fascism, Militarization and Defending Rights and Freedoms,” alongside speakers from Belgium, Germany and Iran.

A workshop on “Resistance in Action: Voices, Struggles and Paths to Liberation” was also held, with the NDFP facilitating one of the workshops. Comrades from the homefront representing the Revolutionary Council of Trade Unions (RCTU) and Kabataang Makabayan (KM) joined the NDFP workshop as speakers, sharing their perspectives and experiences from the Philippine struggle.

The festival concluded with workshop reports, cultural presentations, the acclamation of a Unity Statement and a celebration of resistance for peace, democracy and liberation.

The activities culminated in a rally in Brussels on August 30, where FFPS actively joined other participating organizations and movements in expressing solidarity with peoples struggling for peace, democracy and liberation.

The three days of activities strengthened the connection between the Filipino people’s struggle and the broader international movement against militarization, repression and foreign domination.

The Brussels gathering, festival and rally underscored the importance of broadening solidarity, building alliances and bringing the Philippine struggle to wider audiences across Europe.

As the activities demonstrated, international solidarity remains a vital force in defending human rights, advancing national sovereignty and supporting the aspirations of peoples for genuine freedom and social transformation.