Jose Maria Sison Versions Of Italian Partisan Song & Andres Bonifacio's Own Now On YouTube

A Filipino activist raises his clenched fist during a rally in the Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 01 Feb) – A song by Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison has been posted on YouTube and so far gathered almost 4,000 views in just over 3 months.

Sison sung the Italian partisan song, Bella Ciao, (http://www.youtube.com/v/3IZ31IZ339A) in Spanish version and Filipino interpretation. A guitar accompanied his version of the World War II song. Aside from Bella Ciao, he also sung the Filipino revolutionary “Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa” (http://www.youtube.com/v/iJ3qeaIu-7w) by national hero Andres Bonifacio.

Bella Ciao, which runs for 3 minutes and 46 seconds, drew various comments from pro-Sison supporters to anti-communist advocates.

YouTube is a popular Web video sharing site that lets anyone store short videos for private or public viewing.

One comment from a Sison supporter, who goes by the alias “revenger64”, had this posted on YouTube: “Mabuhay si Ka Joma! Xa ang tunay na bayaning Pilipino! Ituloy ang laban sa makalumang naghaharing sistema! Rebelyon ang tunay na buhay ng mga Pilipino sa panahon ng krisis at pagsasamantala! Wakasan ang lumang at sinungaling na demokrasyang naghahari sa lipunan, palitan ng tunay at makamasang demokrasya!”

But emilio1969, an anti-Sison, said: Communism is dead! Get over it and get a life! If you truly love the Filipino masses go home and fight in the Philippines. Do not hide in Europe and live comfortable life while your comrades are eating coconuts for breakfast and guavas for dinner. Pabigat ka lang sa Dutch government. Mahiya ka naman!

Sison is currently living in exile in The Netherlands. The CPP’s armed wing, the New People’s Army is fighting in the Philippines for the establishment of a Maoist state.

Both the CPP and NPA and their political group, the National Democratic Front were listed as foreign terrorist organizations on Manila’s prodding after the peace talks collapsed in 2004. (Mindanao Examiner)