Former U.S. activists of ‘70s-‘80s KDP launch legacy website

The website curates and the disseminates the work of the national organization of Filipino immigrants and Filipino Americans that brought together, trained and guided many of the most progressive members of the Filipino community of the ’70s-’80s. WEBSITE

SAN FRANCISCO – Former activists of Katipunan ng mga Demokratikong Pilipino (KDP), a militant organization of Filipino immigrants and Filipino Americans in the 1970’s and 1980’s, launched a website curating and disseminating the work of the national organization that brought together, trained and guided many of the most progressive members of the Filipino community of that period.

“In light of aggressive efforts by the Marcos family to whitewash the history of the Marcos dictatorship, the KDP Legacy website “holds a significant value for students of Philippine history and the Filipino community in the U.S. during the martial law era,” explains Melinda Paras, a founder of the organization.

“It’s worth noting that the 50th anniversary of Martial Law is being commemorated this month, which serves as a reminder that we need continued vigilance in protecting the Filipino people’s human and democratic rights,” Paras adds.

Published by KDP Legacy, a non-profit organization based in San Francisco, CA., KDPLegacy.org  “tells our collective KDP story, and captures the KDP’s progressive perspective for the Filipino American community within the broader context of US society and the community’s connection to the motherland,” says Jaime Geaga, president of the KDP Legacy Board of Directors.

“This history can easily be forgotten within a generation unless it is written and documented. The website attempts to ensure that what we fought and strived for will be remembered,” adds Geaga.

Published by KDP Legacy, a non-profit organization based in San Francisco, CA., KDPLegacy.org  “tells our collective KDP story, and captures the KDP’s progressive perspective for the Filipino American community within the broader context of US society and the community’s connection to the motherland,” says Jaime Geaga, president of the KDP Legacy Board of Directors.

“This history can easily be forgotten within a generation unless it is written and documented. The website attempts to ensure that what we fought and strived for will be remembered,” adds Geaga.

Historical record

KDPLegacy.org is designed and organized in different sections, each featuring the various areas of work KDP focused on. They include “KDP History,” “Supporting the Struggle for Democracy and Independence in the Philippines,” “Lobbying in Congress,” “Justice in the US,” “Immigrant Rights,” and “Anti-Racist and Solidarity Work.”

Complete issues of Ang Katipunan (AK) have been digitized and easily accessible. Published from 1974 to 1987, AK articles covered developments in the Philippines, exposing the injustices of the Marcos dictatorship during martial law.  It covered the resistance of the national democratic movement and the New People’s Army along with other democratic opposition activities.

The AK documented the extensive anti-Marcos opposition movement in the United States and efforts of the anti-Marcos forces to oppose U.S. support for the dictator.  It also covered organizing against discrimination against Filipinos and other minorities in the U.S.  The AK carried on-going coverage of liberation movements across the globe.  Finally, the AK published cultural work of poets and photographers of the time, in its VOICES columns.

Documents and publications

The website also contains a wide selection of KDP publications, which track developments in the Philippines and the U.S. during the ‘70s and ‘80. A list of resources includes videos, photos and books, notably A Time To Rise: Collective Memoirs of KDP Members. In addition, the Voices section of the website holds video interviews with many activists reflecting on their experiences in KDP.

A major feature of the website is the “Domingo and Viernes Murders,” which documents the Marcos-ordered killing on June 1, 1981 of two KDP activists, Silme Domingo and Gene Viernes. At the time of their deaths, both were leading members of the KDP Seattle Chapter and newly elected officers of Local 37.

Rene Ciria Cruz, founding member of the KDP and  former editor of its Ang Katipunan newspaper, notes that in the ‘70s and into the ‘80s, “left-wing North American-born and immigrant Filipinos waded into the thick of the difficult struggles for democracy and social justice in the Philippines and here. It is our hope that the site will serve as a significant repository of lessons for today’s progressive activists who are striving to better the human condition.”

The KDP Legacy Board of Directors is composed of Jaime Geaga, Jon Melegrito and Melinda Paras.  The website design is by Ces Rosales and co-editors of the site are Jaime Geaga and Melinda Paras.

For more information, contact [email protected].

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