Songs of Resistance from the Speak-in-English-Zone,  Notes on Logistics of Repression

Our research project  STANDING IN THE CRACKS OF MULTIPLE HISTORIES  also visits the SAVVYZΛΛR airwaves with a growing constellation of stories and struggles pushing against the ongoing legacy of extractivism and colonialism by the United States. For this episode, we cordially welcome Dang A Dang Radio, an independent online radio program that takes its name from Dangadang (“struggle” in Ilocano), with a tribute to “Dagiti Kanta Ti Dangadang,” a series of books containing progressive songs written by political prisoners, artists, farmers, workers, red fighters, and other marginalized groups.

Guided and inspired by “Dagiti Kanta Ti Dangadang”, Dang A Dang Radio was formed in hopes to be a research, archival and online radio platform that features songs, poetry, music, and field recordings of social movements for national liberation and democratic rights in the Philippines, the diaspora, and beyond. It aims to present, amplify and highlight the rich history and tradition of protest music in the Philippines.

The Philippines has long played a vital role as a strategic military outpost for the United States in the Asia-Pacific region. From the Boxer Rebellion to the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and even the Persian Gulf War, U.S. bases like Subic Naval Base and Clark Air Base served as critical launch points for interventions and covert operations across the region. For decades, these bases symbolized a deep entanglement of U.S. influence in Philippine politics, economy, culture, and military affairs.

Yet, the history of U.S. presence in the Philippines is also a history of resistance. Generations of Filipinos have pushed back against foreign domination, culminating in a landmark victory on September 16, 1991, when the Philippine Senate rejected the "RP-US Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Peace," bringing an end to more than 400 years of foreign military presence. This moment was not just a geopolitical turning point – it was a powerful assertion of national sovereignty and a cultural triumph for the anti-imperialist movement in the Philippines.

In this episode, we delve into this rich history through the voice of Professor Roland Simbulan, who recounts the events that led to the closure of U.S. bases in 1991 and reflects on the ongoing fight for independence. We also explore the enduring legacy of these movements through the soundtrack of the anti-bases campaign, as well as contemporary songs that challenge the renewed U.S. military presence under the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Songs in this episode:

1. Speak in English Zone by Joel Costa Malabanan
2. Signos by Patatag
3. Pinggan by Paul Galang
4. Giyera Dala ng Imperyalista by Ambon
5. Isyu by Paul Galang
6. Amerika by Anak ni Aling Juana
7. Olongapo by Patatag
8. G. I. Joe by Anak ni Aling Juana
9. Base Militar by Inang Laya
10. VFA Blues by Alay Sining
11. Sa Kadiliman, Sa Luntian, Dugo at Liwanag by Tanghalan ng Uring Salot
12. Ibagsak by Jon Bonifacio (feat. LEURK)
13. 1, 2, 3, US-Troops Palayasin by Sining Lila
14. Fiesta by Patatag
     

Some of the recordings were taken from the physical media collection of Dang A Dang Radio. The interview is mostly in Filipino and Taglish.