Philippine revolutionary organization Artists and Writers of the People (ARMAS) published in April 2022 the Golden Edition of its cultural journal Ulos, in celebration of its 50th anniversary, and in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army. The Ulos Golden Edition contains 50 poems, songs, short stories, news rapportage and essays penned by revolutionary writers in the last five decades, adorned with selected illustrations from revolutionary artists.

ARMAS, one of the 18 allied organizations of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, collects cultural works from the various regions of the country and publishes these in its cultural journal Ulos (English: lunge or thrust). The Ulos Golden Edition, a ‘twin issue’ of December 2018 and March 2019, highlighted works from renowned revolutionary writers and martyrs including Prof. Jose Maria Sison, Alan Jazmines, Eman Lacaba, Romulo Sandoval, Kris Montañez, Wilfredo Gacosta, Servando Magbanua, Kerima Lorena Tariman, Mayamor, Alice Guillermo, Neil Doloricon, Parts Bagani and Silvia Madiaga.

In its Editorial, ARMAS said the Golden Edition brings out the importance and role of revolutionary propaganda and culture in the five decades-long national democratic revolution. The works reflect the revolutionary struggles of the people, from the northernmost regions to the southernmost regions of the country, and record historical events through the series of reactionary presidents from the dictator Marcos to the tyrant Duterte. ARMAS recalled that the creation and spread of revolutionary cultural works was one of the priorities set with the reestablishment of the CPP in 1968.

ARMAS also reflected on the development of cultural media in the last five decades. Cultural cadres in the late 1970s used V-type silkscreens to print their publications. Nowadays, cultural works have branched out to the digital world of the USB drives, DVDs, digital audio and video formats and the internet.

Copies of Ulos Golden Edition are free to download here