Student Christian Movement of the Philippines

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Student Christian Movement of the Philippines
SpokespersonKej Andres[1]
Founded27 December 1960
MembershipNational Council of Churches in the Philippines (associate)
IdeologyNational democracy
Christianity
Ecumenism
Colours     
Mother partyBagong Alyansang Makabayan
International affiliationWorld Student Christian Federation
NewspaperBreakthrough

The Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP) is an ecumenical national democratic mass organization in the Philippines. It aims to uphold students rights and participate in numerous local and worldwide people's advocacies.[2] It is an associate member of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines.[3] It is also a member and a founding organization of Kabataan Partylist.[4]

Orientation[]

SCMP is a national-democratic ecumenical mass organization of Christian students in the Philippines. As Christians, they believe that faith alone cannot solve structural problems in the Philippines, and poverty and injustice must be solved through action, programs, and a national-democratic alternative. Economically, the group believes in establishing genuine agrarian reform, then national industrialization, in order to free the Philippines from poverty. It also build links with other Filipinos of other sectors and faiths, as well as through international solidarity.[5]

History[]

Origins[]

Part of the worldwide youth ecumenical movement which had its roots with the first SCM founded in Great Britain in 1899, the Student Christian Movement of the Philippines was founded on December 27, 1960, through a National Assembly of 57 delegates representing 52 units from around the country.[2]

Marcos dictatorship[]

A copy of Breakthrough, SCMP official publication, and a booklet from 1983.

The group participated in the student movement in the Philippines during the 1960s and 1970s. During this time, it was one of the groups that the Kabataang Makabayan sought help for the latter's expansion.[6] It was during 1971 in which the organization released a statement integrating liberation theology with local Maoism, to pursue the struggle against US imperialism and local feudalism and capitalism. It was influential among radical Christians, together with and Ed de la Torre.[7]

Prominent SCMP leaders during this time include from UP Diliman, who also organized the (CNL),[8] and Jessica Sales from UP Los Baños.

SCMP organizing was affected by the declaration of Martial Law by then-dictator Ferdinand Marcos. The group was formally re-established on January 20–22 in a National Assembly at UP Los Baños. It expanded its work outside Metro Manila and strengthened its work on international solidarity.[5]

SCMP became one of the Christian organizations that took participation at the First EDSA People Power.[9]

Post-EDSA[]

The group persevered in organizing and strengthening links among other sectors when the Mendiola Massacre happened under then-president Corazon Aquino.[5]

SCMP was also part of the Second People Power Uprising.[10] During the early administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, a youth initiative called Youth Movement for Justice and Meaningful Change, composed of Anakbayan (AB), the League of Filipino Students, the College Editors' Guild of the Philippines, the National Union of Students of the Philippines, and the Student Christian Movement of the Philippines met in the office of Anakbayan in Padre Noval, Sampaloc, Manila, to discuss plans to advance the interests of the Filipino youth. Talks were made due to the disillusionment brought by the new administration. Eventually, these talks culminated in the formation of Anak ng Bayan Youth Party on June 19, 2001, coinciding with the birthday of José Rizal.[4]

Since 2000, Student Christian Movement of the Philippines has remained active in the student movement in the University of the Philippines,[6] as well as in other schools and provinces in the Philippines.

During Pope Francis's visit to the Philippines in 2015, the group held a youth camp and other activities to celebrate the arrival of the Pontiff.[11] Additionally, SCMP urged Pope Francis to make 'surprise visits' to urban poor communities in Metro Manila and in the "tent city" of typhoon Yolanda survivors in order to be more familiar with the concrete conditions of the marginalized in the country.[12] The group, meanwhile, denounced the handling of Benigno Aquino III of the disaster, saying that he was like Pontius Pilate, in his 'washing of hands' on the deaths due to the typhoon.[13]

In 2016, SCMP and WSCF released a statement condemning the killings of Lumads in Mindanao, holding accountable the government under Benigno Aquino III. Various groups asserted that the role of the church as sanctuaries of the oppressed must be respected.[14]

Duterte administration[]

See also: Protests against Rodrigo Duterte
SCMP during the International Human Rights Day protest in Manila, December 10, 2020.

During the Duterte administration, SCMP became one of the youth and Christian groups that has been critical of the government. Along with other faith-based organizations such as NCCP, Iglesia Filipina Independiente, , , and Roman Catholic Church, the youth group also experienced red-tagging and other forms of harassment.[15]

Forwarding a youth agenda for the 2019 Elections, Kenji Muramatsu, former Spokesperson, said that the youth will hold senators accountable even after elections.[16]

In 2019, the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Iloilo warned against participating in a mass walkout headed by progressive youth organizations. The West Visayas State University chapter of SCMP denounced the AFP as trampling on freedom of expression, "silencing voices of truth". Muramatsu asked "What is wrong with helping victims of human rights abuses call for justice for their slain loved ones? After the bloody massacre in Sagay City (Negros Occidental) and the non-stop surveillance and harassment on human rights defenders, now the military wants the people to shut up amid widespread human rights violations committed towards God’s people." Further, he said that the actions of the AFP were "un-Christ-like" and that "the Bible and our churches have taught us to pursue justice and let it flow like a stream. For the military to vilify the people’s pilgrimage towards this mission explicitly goes against the teachings of Christ."[17] On October that year, the UP Visayas chapter of SCMP denounced the red-tagging of posters scattered at their campus that tagged mass organizations in the said university.[18]

The group criticized the 'failed' online and distance setup of education during the COVID-19 pandemic. They said that the state of education during the pandemic has dealt mental, physical, and emotional woes to Filipino students. The group urged the government to provide educational aid, safe resumption of classes, and accountability of the national government.[19] SCMP also called to abolish the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), citing red-tagging and other human rights abuses, and redirect its budget towards various aid for the Filipino people suffering under the pandemic, including their advocacy for student aid.[20]

SCMP slammed President Duterte on Independence Day 2021 as a "puppet" enforcing neoliberal policies such as economic Charter Change, CREATE Law, and jeepney phaseout.[21]

Remembering SCMP senior friend and martial law desaparecido , SCMP honored church people killed under Duterte such as Marcelito "Tito" Paez and Mark Ventura, as a statement against oppression under the administrations of Ferdinand Marcos and Rodrigo Duterte.[22]

On Bonifacio Day 2021, the group slammed the candidacy of Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Sara Duterte for the 2022 National Elections and denounced the actions and policies of the past Marcos and Duterte administrations as treacherous acts against the Filipino people, similar to treachery against Bonifacio.[23] Relating to the elections, they also praised the extension of voter registration and the assertiveness of citizens online and on-ground.[24]

On November 30, 2021, the group, along with other church leaders encouraged presidentiable Leni Robredo to review her stance regarding NTF-ELCAC and call for its abolishment.[25]

Activities[]

Dialogue with community representatives from Quezon City, 2021.
Relief work by national democratic organizations, December 2020.

SCMP participates in ecumenical liturgical fellowships, Bible studies, integration among peasant and workers communities, protest mobilizations, worship dialogues, relief operations, and international solidarity work.[5]

Affiliations[]

The Student Christian Movement of the Philippines has been affiliated with the following federation and associations:

Notable alumni[]

SCMP senior friends (alumni) include:

References[]

  1. ^ Patag, Kristine Joy (26 January 2021). "Killing of Bukidnon priest sends 'chilling message' to those serving masses in countryside — group". Philstar.com. The STAR. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Student Christian Movement of the Philippines". Peace Insight. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  3. ^ "Our Associate Members". Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  4. ^ a b "Anak ng Bayan Youth Party". webcache.googleusercontent.com. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d "PHILIPPINES Student Christian Movement Report". www.ibiblio.org. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  6. ^ a b Lumbera; Taguiwalo; Tolentino; Gillermo; Alamon, eds. (2008). Serve the People: Ang Kasaysayan ng Radikal na Kilusan sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (PDF). IBON Foundation, Congress of Teachers and Educators for Nationalism and Democracy (CONTEND) Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT).
  7. ^ Shoesmith, Dennis (1979). "Church and Martial Law in the Philippines: The Continuing Debate". Southeast Asian Affairs. 1979: 246–vi. doi:10.1355/SEAA79S. ISSN 0377-5437. JSTOR 27908361.
  8. ^ Contributor, Staff (2016-07-13). "TAYAG, Carlos N." Bantayog ng mga Bayani. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  9. ^ "Serve God, Serve the People". www.negationmag.com. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  10. ^ "Remembering Edsa 2: One youth activist's view from the streets". like a rolling stone. 2008-01-15. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  11. ^ Lozada, David. "Youth groups to hold camp, activities during Pope's visit". Rappler. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  12. ^ Lozada, David. "PH students to Pope Francis: Make 'surprise' visits to poor". Rappler. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  13. ^ Pasion, Pher (January 20, 2014). "'Palasyo, hugas-kamay sa Yolanda'". Pinoy Weekly.
  14. ^ "WSCF statement on harassment of Lumad people - World Student Christian Federation – Europe". wscf-europe.org. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  15. ^ "Betrayals". Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  16. ^ Contributors, Bulatlat (2019-03-28). "Youth groups call for independent senate". Bulatlat. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  17. ^ "You are being redirected..." www.panaynews.net. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  18. ^ Inquirer, Philippine Daily (2019-10-04). "Students, workers in UP Visayas decry Red-tagging". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  19. ^ "Education stakeholders call for student aid, safe resumption of classes". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  20. ^ "Students' group calls for abolition of NTF-ELCAC anew". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  21. ^ "IN PHOTOS: Independence Day 2021 protests around the Philippines". RAPPLER. 2021-06-12. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  22. ^ "Church, rights groups remind Filipinos to learn lessons of martial law". Catholic News Philippines | LiCAS.news Philippines | Licas News. 2021-09-21. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  23. ^ "Groups slam Marcos-Duterte on Bonifacio Day". RAPPLER. 2021-11-30. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  24. ^ Relativo, James. "Ria Atayde saludo sa extension ng voter's registration, idinulog haba ng pila 'mula madaling araw'". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  25. ^ "Philippine Church leaders urge Robredo to 'study' roots of armed conflict". Catholic News Philippines | LiCAS.news Philippines | Licas News. 2021-11-30. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
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