Background

The mid-sixties saw the emergence of the national democratic movement in the Philippines on a clear perspective. It gained strength in the first quarter storm of 1970, taking deep roots among the people. It soon developed into a national force in the next decades.

The declaration of martial law in 1972 failed to stem the growth of the movement. The peasant movement for genuine land reform rapidly gained ground nationwide. Workers' strikes broke out. Students, teachers, professionals and the religious took to the streets to defend civil liberties and democratic rights.

The assassination of Senator Benigno Aquino in 1983 triggered bigger demonstrations against the dictatorship. At the core of these mass action was the national democratic movement leading such broad alliances as the Justice for Aquino, Justice for All (JAJA), the Nationalist Alliance for Justice, Freedom and Democracy (NAJFD) and the Coalition of Organizations for the Realization of Democracy (CORD).

BAGONG ALYANSANG MAKABAYAN (BAYAN) was established in May 1985. It brought together more than one thousand grassroots organizations with a total membership of more than one million, representing different classes and sectors committed to our people's struggle for national freedom and democracy. The founding chairperson was the staunch nationalist Senator Lorenzo Tanada, the Grand Old Man of Philippine politics.

BAYAN soon became the coordinating center for open mass mobilization against the dictatorship. It led big demonstrations in Metro Manila and carried out nationally coordinated people's strikes (welgang bayan) in major cities of the country. These mass actions greatly contributed to the downfall of the Marcos regime.

The BAGONG ALYANSANG MAKABAYAN (BAYAN), which means New Patriotic Alliance, is a national multi-sectoral alliance of people's organizations committed to the Filipino people's struggle for national freedom and democracy.