FFPS salutes Ka Maria Malaya, heroic martyr of the Philippine revolution
We hereby share a statement published by Friends of the Filipino People in Struggle (FFPS).
Ka Maria Malaya was a leading cadre and red fighter of the Philippine revolution. For more than 48 years, she dedicated her life to the service of the Filipino people as a cadre of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)), playing a vital role in strengthening the Philippine revolution and the people’s war. On February 12, she fought her last battle in a fierce encounter between the New People’s Army (NPA) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Ka Maria served as a member of the Central Committee and Political Bureau of the CPP, as part of the Mindanao Commission, and as secretary of the Northeast Mindanao Regional Party Committee. The CPP recognizes her as one of the great pillars of the Second Great Rectification movement, which was instrumental in correcting past errors and revitalizing the revolutionary movement into the strong and resilient force we see today. In its statement, the CPP paid tribute to the revolutionary life of Ka Maria and immortalized her name alongside the greatest heroes of the Philippine revolution.
We join the toiling masses in the Philippines and all revolutionary forces of the Filipino people in mourning and paying tribute to Ka Maria Malaya. Her unwavering service to the oppressed and exploited will continue to inspire anti-imperialists worldwide.
Even at 71 years old, Ka Maria Malaya showed extraordinary courage by refusing to surrender, and by facing the fascist AFP in battle until her very last breath. Her courage, revolutionary sense of duty, and steadfast dedication to the people—amidst the life-and-death struggle against imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucrat capitalism—challenge and inspire all anti-imperialists to take up even greater tasks and responsibilities in the fight against imperialism.
We are certain that her legacy lives on in the thousands of new revolutionary cadres and red fighters she helped develop—who are ready to continue her work and leadership in the struggle.
Over the past few years, the US-Marcos Jr. regime and its armed forces have repeatedly claimed that each fallen revolutionary martyr signals the defeat of the revolution. Yet time and again, the Filipino people have proven them wrong. Their courage and indefatigable spirit show that the revolution is just, has a strong foundation, and will continue.
Today we salute and draw inspiration from the life of Ka Maria Malaya. The name she chose—Malaya, meaning “Free”—befits the revolutionary character of her life. As we honor all the martyrs of the Philippine revolution, we vow to continue to strengthen our support for the Philippine revolution until victory.
Long live Maria Malaya!
Long live the revolutionary spirit of all martyrs of the Philippine revolution!
Long live the Filipino people’s struggle for national and social liberation!
