MINDSETBREAKER PRESS AND DISTRIBUTION
Email: mindsetbreakerpress@riseup.net
Address: 157 Ilaya E.Mendoza St. Buting Pasig City, Philippines 1600
INTRODUCTION
We are an underground anarchist publishing and distribution entity based in the Philippines.
We believe that every issue that affect our lives are interconnected ; be it social or ecological catastrophes we have seen today, small scale or large, society or individual. It does not come from us but manifests through domineering hierarchical structures and centralized order; maintained by the state and religion, morality; the spectre of capitalism aimed towards greed and profit and was organized founded and carried out from the ashes of ruthless terror and bloodshed many centuries had passed by that we blindly inherited today .
We believe no borders and willfully continue fighting against it until
it’s destruction alongside with sexism, homophobia, racism and other forms
of oppression that was created and needs to be challenged. This might come
outside our inner conventional wants and desires that we are dealing with
everyday to cope up with our ability to interact within society or the
question on how we are brought to; by combating such convention inside
ourselves.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Mindsetbreaker Press operationally started in early 2010 as an individual
project that focuses mainly on translating anarchist literatures (English
text) into local languages that will be more applicable and relevant to
the rather complex scenario of political, social and economic currents of
the Philippines. As time goes on, the press eventually grew in number
(its members) after establishing personal collaboration with some friends
involved in the anarchist social network and activism. However, the
project is open to new people who are interested to take part or extend
their support beneficial to the project (lay outing, editing, writing,
graphic design, artworks,logistics, financial donations etc). The press is
now run by four people specifically working on publishing and distribution
campaign besides other existing projects being carried out by members.
Current members of the project were involved in different projects before
and presently, individually and collectively. Some run social centre or
infoshops, make zine and alternative publications, organizing issue-base
radical events and shows, protest and demonstrations, leafleting for
campaigns, opening free shop and free food on the streets, forums,
networking and hosting informational sites, working with communities
(farmers, fisher folks and indigenous people) fight capitalist and state
development intrusion (Mining, Freeport, Agribusiness, etc.). These
actions had been carried out independent from state intervention,
businesses, mainstream media, NGO’s and religious institutions.
The project is ongoing. Activities ranges from translation work,
literature tablings to community events like local food not bombs, gigs,
workshops and discussion groups in various universities. Much of these
actions were run by independent people and numerous friends we have
personal connections, linking up diversity of ideas and activities in the
hope to be embrace by lots of people who are interested or new to such
alternative existence.
PUBLISHING AND DISTRIBUTION
Translating anarchist literatures; transmitting it into local language
(initially Tagalog as more people could understand this version);
publishing and circulating the final product in paper form to many people
as possible are the main initiative of the press; as a campaign project.
We particularly choose the material to be translated (these are mostly
mailed from people in the global north) after we review and read through
the whole content; how relevant and significant the literature to the
local situation as well to our organizing.
While we state the term organizing, we have seen reality base on our own
actual perspective and understanding. Thus, we struggle to live our lives
in conflict with the ruling order that suppresses our will and motion to
be free. We do not tend to organize other people’s lives or propagate on
how to bring about certain struggles to live by; as we believe everything
is unpredictable and cannot be measured by someone else. On the other
hand, in some part it is disheartening for us. We value real connection
aimed about life and autonomy; not to rule.
TAKING A GLIMPSE ON THE PHILIPPINE POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE
Since the country was colonized by western interests; for example 300
years of Spanish occupation, Japan invasion for a while and later American
influence, arguably, it might be simple enough to understand as to why the
archipelago had ultimately endure such complication that result
indifferences of perspectives, priorities and interests among its own
population. Moreover, it is a very poor country chained in debt; persuaded
within the mockery of mere survival. Poverty rate, famine and corruption
are visibly high. Likewise, conservatism and religious influence (i.e.
Catholicism) is not so new. So does everyday repression by the state
(Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police) is
rampant targeting petty crimes, outcasts and insurgents in the guise like
; covering terrorism images on the media or straightforwardly branding
innocent people to be involved in an armed-party guerilla groups
(Maoist-left) to justify legal murder. In general, some may have seen it
as an unprecedented effect due to economic constraints being pushed around
and realistically being felt everyday that leads to further injustice and
abuse unbearable.
ANARCHIST ACTIVISM IN THE PHILIPPINES
There are various individuals and collectives involved in different
activities and projects in the Philippines such as info shops and social
center, alternative press and distribution, solidarity actions with
communities engaged on social and ecological struggles, alternative
workshops, book and zine clubs, forums, street protest, free food
distribution, graffiti, film and art events, gigs, mobile library and free
shops, regional and international networking and so on. Actions of such
groups are being organize through non-hierarchical and non-statist values
and thus believes on the primacy of direct actions to resolve problems;
unfaithful to any form of ideological and authoritarian framework to
bring about change.
AIMS AND GOALS
The aim of the project is to provide radical ideas on the streets and
universities particularly counter- informational and alternative awareness
that we feel rich in diversity and open for arguments/discourse whilst
give coherence to the practical situation of the locality and time. This
comes in paper form through republishing the works of various radical
authors we choose to and later hand it out to people in massive amount.
Furthermore, the main important goal of the project besides re-publishing
the works of various authors; is to support local anarchist writers
(individual and collective) who are struggling to circulate their works to
different sectors in society;(i.e. students, farmers, indigenous people,
fisher folks, vendors, workers (employed or unemployed), squatters, women
and men, gays, lesbian,, youth, etc); not limited only to subculture and
scenes. Other than that, we pick up few titles written by local comrades
we knew and one local writer is currently involved on the project. We
hope to establish venues and deepen our understanding about anarchist
ideas; hopes, dreams and its practicality not remote only to several
people, individual and groups but different sectors of society currently
struggling everyday living. This includes us, ourselves not above anyone
else.
Few of the local titles cover history and politics about the Philippines
base on contemporary anarchist perspectives.
By distributing large amount of anarchist literature on the streets and
universities on regular basis is seen as first time in history in the
Philippines since obtaining money for print-out is sometimes difficult.
Anti-authoritarian ideas never reaches many people of different sectors
who are working hard everyday .Basic needs like food on the table are
oftentimes the utmost concern for everyone. The present economy will
never be useful only usher death and destruction. Every valuable resource
that provides life is plundered; monopolized by capital through trade
agreements.
We felt that our attempt in bringing alternative and counter informational
literatures on the streets and universities is crucial leading to
self-awakening and critical thinking among the dispossessed masses.
Moreover, we are out to subvert the face of underlying politics that we
have seen and felt as anti-human and profit motive.
CURRENT ACTIVITIES AND CAMPAIGN IN GENERAL
First of all, we are currently working on republishing the entire pdf;
What is Anarchist Communism? By Alexander Berkman. We wanted to reformat
the pdf into a magazine to save printing costs and paper. Means that the
text will ultimately become smaller (due to compression) but still
readable to the eye (maybe A4 size, 9.5point). The entire pdf is about 270
pages and will costs lots of money for printing.
After republishing the English version of Alexander Berkman’s What is
Anarchist Communism, Our plan is to circulate the paper to several
universities throughout Manila, Philippines. These are 4 different
universities such as Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP),
University of the Philippines (UP) and other progressive schools like
Ateneo de Manila and Technological University of the Philippines (TUP).
PUP and UP are quiet better known for many years as to having
authoritarian leftist concentration; organizing to manufacture students
into blind submission and authoritarian ideology (Marxist and Maoist).
This is always dangerous and absurd aiming to overthrow the existing state
to grab power in the guise of proletarian management, sovereignty and
nationalism to rule people.
“The National Democratic Front (NDF) became the most influential bloc
within the Philippine left during the Marcos years. It was directly
influenced by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), reinforced by
its growing armed group (The New People’s Army) that was able to form
battalions in many strategic regions in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The
radicalism displayed by the organizations initiated by the CPP attracted
many sectors, primarily the youth”- Gasera Journal
We tend to hand out 1000 copies of published material each university in
the hope for students to self-organize themselves and take action against
all forms of authority; most especially freshman youth and secondary years
were authoritarian left organizers masked in disguised in order to capture
their mind. We also hear that there are some organizers enrolled there not
by studying but organizing students into such ideological lines.
In addition, we’d begun translating the Alexander Berkman entire pdf into
Tagalog. This is the usual language in the archipelago where many people
could able to understand or speak to. The tagalog version of Berkman’s are
intended for people who are not comfortable with English most especially
large sectors of society mostly the poor and marginalize class. We start
translation chapter by chapter; piece by piece of Berkman’s. We are
planning to publish every chapter in tabloid/newspaper format and
disseminate the paper through out school libraries, literature tablings
during community events and food not bombs actions, news stands in train
stations and other public access and busy streets. We need 500copies per
chapter.
Somehow, due to our limited time this will cost a 15 month period
translating all the Berkman chapters (1-31) but at the same time we wanted
to circulate it chapter by chapter until everything will be finished.
Currently, two people in the project do translation work. We are thinking
about inviting other comrades if they are free and open to do so. After
translation is done, we aim to publish it into a book format and
distribute. That’s our entire plan for the Berkman literature.
Next, besides re-publishing foreign literatures, we are very motivated to
produce our own local materials and support local writers’ base on
personal consent before carrying out their works under our project, as an
underground anarchist publishing and distribution entity. There are 7
titles finally approved after meeting with people and local writers we
knew, one is actually now a member of the project and is a regular
voluntary writer.
The few titles being approved includes Gasera Journal (collection of local
anarchist writings about history and politics in the Philippines,
Indokumentado #1(autonomous ideas, experiences, activism and movement in
the archipelago) Anarki: Akin ang buhay ko, Sosyal si Simo at si
Sima(anarcho-syndicalist perspective) , Archipelagic Confederation :
Alternative political structure beyond representation and state politics,
Punkista zine (punk subculture and political) and Mindsetbreaker
zine(documentation of different social and ecological struggles, campaigns
and actions in the Philippines). These are all critical and informational
titles available locally that have theoretical basis meanwhile some are
connected closer to certain political issues. These, we need 1000 copies
per title out of 7 titles we carry.
Other than that, we will do info tour in different schools along with the
titles we carry as the main topic aim to open up discussions and
discourses.
Some titles we might intend to sell to those who can only afford to buy
(like in few universities or event spaces) but mainly for the poor people
we gave it for free. We as well wanted to sell some of the titles to
assure our publishing and distribution keeps going and supports other
radical projects locally. This in the course of time will give self
sustenance in the future to run our projects alive and always operational.
FINANCIAL SOLIDARITY NEEDED (in whatever amount you could donate)
As a publishing and distribution entity, we mobilize and publicize
literatures through organizing forums and discourses about every topic we
carry like history, politics, and anarchism etc.initially aimed at
schools. Creating awareness events and literature tablings.
We want the project to become long term as possible that will be more
specific on publishing and distribution campaign. There is other related
stuff we want to work on besides publishing the entire Berkman book like
doing info tour in different universities along with the literatures we
carry as main topic to discuss about, most especially local writings;
essays and articles. Besides, we want to encourage local writers to keep
doing what they are doing, even most people sometimes entrapped with the
bitterness of time available due to economic conditions.
As an underground press, we are here to openly reach different people and
stand our ground not only limited to subculture and scenes. And ultimately
become a worthwhile initiative to keep projects running and contribute
services to other people, so they can start one; themselves. This might
reflect not only limited to ideas but action and building solidarity.
Yours in trouble,
Mindsetbreaker Press and Distribution
mindsetbreakerpress@riesup.net
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