Statement of the NDFP International Office
October 17, 2024
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines International Office (NDFP IO) honors the life of Dante C. Simbulan, a towering figure and true patriot of the Philippine revolution. Our deepest condolences go out to Patti, their children, family, friends and comrades – may you find strength and peace in the legacy that Dante left behind.
Born on May 3, 1930, in San Simon, Pampanga, and a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1952, Dante took an extraordinary path – from being a distinguished officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to becoming of the fiercest critics of the very institution he once served.
Dante Simbulan’s transition from military officer to educator and activist was driven by his deep sense of patriotism. He initially served as captain in the Philippine Army, assigned to combat the Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan (HMB), the precursor to the New People’s Army (NPA) under the leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). Despite his military background, Simbulan’s exposure to the injustices perpetrated by the ruling class and the military’s role in suppressing the masses awakened his revolutionary spirit.
As a PMA instructor, Simbulan taught future military leaders and revolutionaries, including Lt. Crispin Tagamolila and Lt. Victor Corpuz, both of whom defected to the NPA during the Marcos dictatorship. Simbulan was also instrumental in inviting CPP founder Jose Maria Sison to provide a lecture at the PMA, where Ka Joma delivered his powerful talk “On the mercenary tradition of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.”
He chose to stand on the side of the Filipino masses, rejecting the oppressive regime of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. His detention from 1974 to 1977, during which he was held without charges at both Camp Bonifacio and Camp Crame, only strengthened his resolve. Exiled to the United States in 1980, Simbulan continued his fight for freedom from abroad, campaigning for the withdrawal of US support for the Marcos fascist dictatorship. Even in exile, his heart remained with the Philippines, and his activism never ceased.
Simbulan’s legacy is not only in his defiance of tyranny but in his profound contributions to revolutionary education and thought. His books, including The Modern Principalia: The Historical Evolution of the Philippine Ruling Oligarchy (2005) and When the Rains Come, Will Not the Grass Grow Again?: The Socialist Movement in the Philippines, 1920-1960 (2018), stand as monumental works that laid bare the structures of power and oppression in the semi-colonial and semi-feudal Philippine society. Through his writings, Simbulan unflinchingly exposed the roots of poverty and inequality, and the corruption of the ruling elite, providing future generations with a wealth of knowledge to continue the struggle for national and social liberation.
Throughout his life, Simbulan was never silent in the face of injustice. He tirelessly challenged not just the Marcos dictatorship but also the succeeding regimes that perpetuated violence and exploitation. His voice, his works, and his example continue to inspire activists and revolutionaries today.
As we mourn his loss, we celebrate Dante Simbulan’s life as one dedicated to the liberation of the Filipino people. Dante Simbulan was a true patriot, a soldier of the people, and a revolutionary whose memory will be forever etched in the hearts of all who seek justice and liberation in the Philippines.
