“Imperialism wounds so many people. We can’t look away.”

Written by: Louisa L. on 21 September 2026

(Stomping on US puppets as resistance flags fly -Supplied)

On the 54th Anniversary of the imposition of martial law in the Philippines, around 50 gathered in Sydney, before an anti-Aukus, pro-Palestine rally.

Claude Mostowic, representing Pax Christi, spoke first. He condemned ongoing colonialism both here and overseas. He pointed out the Catholic Church had stood for truth and justice in the Philippines. But in Australia the McMahon government endorsed martial law by providing military aid. Mostowic spoke of the “violence of silence”.

But his particular target was US imperialism.

“We can’t look away,” he said. “Imperialism wounds so many people. Yet the struggle always continues.”

A number of young people also spoke. From Migrante, Aya hailed the massive anti-corruption protests. She said, “My pride comes from my people.”

US embassy drools over war bases and potential profits 

Vanguard recently reported, “During December, 2025, the Trump administration finalised an agreement with the Philippines to establish a huge AI facility on 4,000 acres of land with a 99 year lease. Based in Tarlac Province, the proposed Pax Silica facility has made use of the former US Clark Air Force Base, officially closed in 1991, with the ending of the previous Cold War.” 

On August 31, Indigenous peoples, farmers, scientists, workers, students and many others protested against Pax Silica and the massive the US Luzon Economic Corridor, which includes Pax Silica. 

A drooling US Embassy in the Philippines factsheet – a must read! – lays out the staggering scale of the project. It calls the massive Luzon Economic Corridor, a “trilateral” initiative between the US, Japan and the Philippines, plus Australian and other US “partners” But in reality, it carves up 50 percent of the Philippine’s economy under US military and corporate control. https://ph.usembassy.gov/fact-sheet-luzon-economic-corridor/ 

Speakers in Sydney praised “the new generation of Filipino youth” rising here and overseas, saying the only way is to fight. Instead of parliamentarism, “We see the people rise up against US imperialism.”

Print Version - new window Email article

-----