Compatriots-NDFP, the revolutionary organization of Filipinos overseas, sends its militant greetings to Christians for National Liberation (CNL) and congratulates it on its 10th congress. As both allied organizations of the NDFP, we are honored to stand alongside CNL and its rich history of revolutionary practice in advancing the interests of the oppressed and exploited Filipino masses against big comprador and landlord adherents of US imperialism.
Christians for National Liberation has earned a significant place in the history of the Philippine revolution as the revolutionary organization of church people. In addition to CNL’s historic role in the fight against the Marcos fascist dictatorship, CNL was also instrumental in helping spread the flame of Philippine revolution at a nationwide scale. Revolutionary priests and nuns helped in communication and in producing and moving resources across the archipelago to support the people’s war. Many comrades and masses testify to the many contributions of the CNL in helping the revolution take root across numerous provinces and regions in the country.
To this day, revolutionary priests, nuns and lay workers continue to play a significant role in advancing the armed revolution in various ways. In celebrating the victories of CNL, it is important to remember our revolutionary experience to draw lessons and plan for the coming years for the continued advance of the people’s democratic revolution.
It is therefore only fitting that on this day, we also give tribute to Ka Louie Jalandoni who served as a strong voice for the oppressed and exploited, especially the sugarcane farmworkers of Negros both as an activist priest and one of the founders of CNL. We remember Ka Louie’s life and legacy in his first death anniversary this coming June 7, 2026. When Ka Louie was deployed abroad in 1976 and appointed as International Representative of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines in 1977, he tirelessly fulfilled his duty to organize our fellow compatriots overseas as well as church leaders in various countries in support of the Philippine revolution.
Ka Louie’s legacy lives on in the continuing advance of CNL especially on its 54th anniversary this year. We fully agree with the theme of your congress “Strengthen and expand our ranks and further contribute in advancing the national democratic revolution! Strike deeper roots with the masses in fighting the fascist and bureaucrat-capitalist US-Marcos Jr. regime! Advance the armed struggle!”
The theme of your congress is especially meaningful in the current context of intensifying crises that expose the rottenness of the US-Marcos regime as a puppet and fascist state hellbent on advancing the interests of the local exploiting classes and their imperialist masters. Your 10th congress presents a favorable opportunity to expand the ranks of CNL and strengthen itself and its contributions to the advance of the Philippine revolution.
Your work in persistently arousing, organizing and mobilizing the common church people, the nuns, priests, pastors and bishops to defend human rights and use the institution of the church as an instrument against the exploiting classes is admirable and something we strive for.
As part of the Filipino diaspora, both church leaders, migrants and immigrants themselves are scattered across the globe. They form part of the Philippine nation and therefore fall within the scope of the Philippine revolution. Church people play an important role in arousing, organizing and mobilizing our fellow compatriots abroad who look up to them for guidance and advice in the face of worsening economic crises and its impacts on Filipino workers overseas.
As an integral part of our efforts to wield the revolutionary potential of, and to consolidate church people in the religious sector overseas, we have established CNL-Compatriots last October 2025 in the United States. This chapter is the first sub-sector under Compatriots to hold its assembly, gathering 120 church leaders from various chapters and cells of the CNL-Compatriots across overseas forces, alongside observers from Compatriots-NDFP, Kabataang Makabayan-Compatriots, Makibaka-Compatriots and others.
We vow to continue strengthening CNL-Compatriots in the coming years as the revolutionary sub-sector of church people overseas. This is our contribution in advancing the Philippine revolution by encouraging more of our fellow compatriots to serve in the homefront and take part in the armed revolution to overthrow the three ills of Philippine society and establish a genuinely just, prosperous and peaceful society.
