Among the most dynamic and passionate members of Liga ng Agham para sa Bayan (LAB) are the youth — science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students and advocates who bring fresh energy to the revolution. In the context of the ongoing rectification movement, these young revolutionaries are playing their part in the effort to address internal weaknesses and strengthen the role of the STEM sector in advancing the national-democratic revolution.
Ka Charlie, a STEM student and a member of LAB chapter in Metro Manila, reflected on some of issues in organizing and mobilizing STEM youth. “I think one of the main issues in our development as part of the revolutionary movement has to do with the petty-bourgeois culture we came from. It’s sometimes a struggle for fellow comrades to overcome liberal attitudes within the organization,” shared Ka Charlie. “There’s an active effort to build a more proletarian and revolutionary culture. There’s still a lot to do, but I’m very proud of what our chapter has accomplished so far. We’ve become more accepting of criticism from others and ourselves.”
Identifying these weaknesses has also lead to significant improvements in practice. The youth chapters of LAB have been actively pursuing campaigns to arouse, organize, and mobilize the youth and their efforts have become obvious in the bold expansion of its membership in the cities.
Ka Milya, a recent LAB recruit from 2024 noted how their comrades seemed “more determined and committed than in the past.”
“I can definitely see a difference in the effectiveness of our work. For example, I can tell that we’re able to bring campaigns closer to students, and that the students are readily accepting these campaigns — very different from last year. And even with all these mass campaigns that we conduct, we are still able to launch internal educational sessions to collectively improve our ideological foundation as revolutionaries.”
But the greatest victory of all is the increased support the youth chapters of LAB have provided to the New People’s Army. The young scientists are wholeheartedly finding ways to participate in the armed struggle—from financial and material support, exposures and tour of duty in the countryside to eventually joining the people’s army.
As LAB prepares for its golden anniversary this year, the rectification movement remains a central focus. The youth section of LAB, armed with the determination to continue the people’s war onward to complete victory, are poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the revolution. (This article, written by Ka Nunat, is republished and edited from Agham Bayan). ###
