On the 17^th of December 2011, Northeastern Mindanao had been hit by a never-expected disaster. Thousands were killed in a short a time, millions of pesos worth of properties were destroyed and several hundreds of people were missing.

By: Harrison Mariano, RWJM

This disastrous event was brought by the strong current of water from the river with tons of logs and mud in it. The darkness and the destructive flood buried and flashed away the dreams and future of those families, communities and children. Experts named the typhoon in local and international as Sendong and Washi respectably.

In the aftermath, there were massive displacement of survivors and communities, dead bodies in the river banks, streets and coastal areas retrieved to even to nearby towns and regions. It was a regrettable year ender for 2011 among the population of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and Dumaguete cities.

The disaster was even worst because of the revelation of the incapability of the government in responding to the said situation. The burden of responding to the needs of the survivors was passed on to the civil society organizations, the churches, peoples’ organizations and volunteers. Up to the third month after the disaster, no plan was offered to and made with the survivors. And in the process of defining the rehabilitation and rebuilding lives for the survivors, no consultation for the survivors happened except those done by the non government organizations. Among those worst attitude of the government personnel was the grand standing and manipulating the goods for the survivors by claiming the goods as their efforts and used as best political preparation for the coming 2013 local elections. Here is a case of the elite politicians victimizing the survivors for the second time.

Disasters again and again
Prior to the disastrous Sendong, majority of those poor victims were urban poor and minimum wage earners suffering the economic disaster by the high rising prices of commodities and low social services from the government and more and more of these families were even threatened by the massive unemployment and contractualization of labor sector.

Right after typhoon Sendong, government did not even think of responding to a minimum action to convince investors for instance to lower the prices on petroleum products, localized suspension of the 12% value added tax to commodities and moratorium to lower down the rates of energy and power. But not a single action aside from the political grand standing and self-serving speeches of these politicians on the cancelation of logging permits only to be recalled later. Investigations for the incident were made only to safeguard those responsible for the massive tree cutting and divert the attention from the government’s policies of disregarding the environment for logging and mining industries.

Sad to note also are questions among responders. Fly by night private organizations also used the survivors’ situation to make money. NGOs of family dynasty built consortiums and joined networks then reported to their funding partner the network’s efforts and saving the funding for their organization and family interests. International funding organizations and response groups have literally robbed local potentials from local responding organizations, offering high fees and incentives in the name of capacitating the local organizations but in the end, it turned out staffs were pirated and hired with high paying jobs to do the dirty works and profits go to the NGO executive who parachuted in the affected areas. More so, these international organizations felt like they owned these local personnel and their employees – a master and a slave relation or the capitalist and the worker to contextualize it today.

More and worst disasters will happen when people and the masses will be used and fooled by these voltures. The more the collective response must the people have the less these opportunists can take advantage of the victims.

The State and its Vibrant Contradictions in Actions
Policy combating the effects of climate change was passed and to give teeth to the law, a disaster risk reduction and management law again was passed with penalties and sanctions for the violators while on contrary the government encouraged open pit mining and massive “selective” and “responsible” logging. Preservation of environment has been also in the primary program of the government that is why organic farming and sustainable agriculture laws were passed and put budgetary allocations for the implementation of such laws, but again, line agencies and even policy makers are promoting chemical fertilizers and manipulating agricultural industry in favor of the investors and not the masses. Thus, conversion of lands for business is only one of such manifestations how the government takes care with its people and the economy.

These were the only few contradicting pronouncements, actions and initiatives of the government in the past and more so in the present.

Such posted real challenge for real response from the peoples and movements. Revolutionary movements and disaster response groups must always bear in mind that the government is always an institution to subjugate and put the interest and welfare of the masses in its last priority. It is an institution to oppress and implement the interest of the capitalist and oppressive system. These glaring realities can always be seen during the times of the disasters like in Sendong.

In principles and in practice, the well being of the masses and environment shall always be a non-negotiable matter. This means that environment must be saved from the capitalist dominance or else, there’s nothing left to the people especially the masses. Then, it is an obligation of all marginalized and struggling for the liberation of humanity to liberate ecology from the greediness of capitalists.

The real constant disaster that the world’s masses are experiencing is the capitalist neo-liberal assaults killing every human and the environment, and our response shall always be revolutionary which is not neglecting the important role of the masses themselves. The gains of these revolutionary struggles shall be with and for the masses and the direction will be the elimination of all kinds of exploitation including that of the environment.

The need to expose and eliminate those money-making and opportunist organizations and individuals is a duty of all survivors and responders like building the society free from oppression and deprivation.

Building a Revolutionary Party today is not only a challenge for genuine Marxists but ought to be done by contemporary revolutionaries.
By: Anzelmo Guerrero, Revolutionary Workers’ Journal- Mindanao

This is mainly because the neoliberal globalization stage of capitalism albeit its severe crises has been monopolizing the global economic, political and cultural lives of people since the demise of the Socialist camp. Experiences of different revolutionaries in building Parties and organizations of the working class often suffer stagnation, intense crises which usually led to disintegration and failures.

Various reasons and analysis for such dismal development of revolutionary Parties and organizations have been given. Principal of them would be the failure of Party cadres and organizations to see the impact of the global capital to mitigate its intensifying crises and pass it on to the working class. Neoliberal globalization has done this systematically and effectively thru both government and the financial and multilateral infrastructures. Such development has direct effect to the socio, economic and political lives of the already impoverished people but specifically the workers and toiling masses. There has been significant increase on the number of workers in the service sectors. These workers have been subjected to greater contractualization and casualization by the capitalists to extract more profits. Under this scheme trade union works are strictly prohibited. Workers in the abovementioned sector have been preoccupied with their day to day economic struggles and relating these activities to political struggles have become very hard. The development of political consciousness of these workers has been very slow if not almost next to impossible. The process and the gap by which workers by themselves would become workers for themselves has become very far apart.

The Widening Gaps of Workers by Themselves to Workers for Themselves
Objective material basis for socialist revolution within this bourgeois hegemony can be best described as eschatological. They are present in the capitalist system and yet one has to go beyond to a non-existing paradigm or rather to a failed one. Building and implementing a socialist program within the womb of capitalism is like reaching an impossible dream.Not a few who tried to implement such program have ended up helping in the strengthening and perpetuating the very system they are trying to fight and replace. The vision and the mission of revolutionary Marxists to build an independent workers’ organization and Parties have experienced serious difficulties and paralyzing development of splits and betrayals.The current trend of the neo-liberal globalization of capitalism has impacted in peculiar conditions in the different countries. The tasks of the Revolutionary Marxists are to correctly lead the working class and oppressed people to build and implement transition program when the ebb of the socialist and progressive camps is on its highest form and the global capital is on its intense offensive flow albeit its crises, unevenness and backwardness of capitalist development in many countries have direct effect on the Political consciousness of the working class and have made difficulties in building unity and establishing solidarity works.The development and the changes in the characteristics of the working class and forms of organization can be glimpsed in the difficulties in sustaining mass movements and raising their levels.

Revolutionary Parties and Organizations have suffered failures in transforming and leading the spontaneous activities to political movements. This is not because of failure to banner the most militant forms of struggle and carrying out the sharpest political slogans but mainly the problems and difficulties in creating democratic spaces for different organizations united in the causes of the burning issues of the day and systematically agree on common program of action.

Building Revolutionary Party and organization today means sharpening all available resources and means to correctly read the nature of the crises of the global capital with its converged manifestations of economic, financial and ecological characteristics. Transitional programs which are both democratic and anti-imperialist can only be effective and sustainable if feasible and viable alternatives of development paradigm are integrated and concretely acted upon in the day to day lives of Revolutionary cadres and militants.

The urgent issues and the fast deteriorating global situation because of the climate change as a result of the intensifying greediness of the capitalists have reminded revolutionary parties and progressive organizations that launching the socialist revolution can only be possible if it has integrated the ecological struggles on the other hand ecological struggles can only be genuine and sustainable if they are integrated in the socialist struggle within the neo-liberal globalization stage of capitalism.
The daily struggle of the working class for concrete democratic and economic reforms in their communities because trade union works are not possible in their work places, should result on concrete gains in the improvement of their lives. In such situation, the process of raising the democratic and economic struggles into political consciousness will be less difficult.

The Revolutionary Party today can only be EcosocialistThe struggles of reforms which are democratic, anti-imperialist and ecological can be concretely sustainable and appropriate in the launching of food sovereignty movements in the local, national and global scale. The working class and the toiling masses have not only been exploited and oppressed by the intensifying greediness of capital but they are most of all victims of ecocidal capitalism.Concrete program on struggling and supporting the farmers and agricultural workers to convert their chemical intensive farming to ecological agriculture develop their organic technology of controlling their agricultural seeds and intensifying the local food production and distribution can be concrete form of anti-imperialist and developing in higher form of democratic struggles of the toiling masses and agricultural workers. Systematically but rapidly phasing out of the usage of fossil fuels and biofuels and replacing with clean and renewable energy sources are again can only be done in a basic democratic struggle and clear anti-imperialist movements which we can be linked from local, national and the international levels.

Socialist Struggles and building Revolutionary Parties and organizations today can only be effective and sustainable if they are part of ecological struggles and building concrete alternative development model. The emancipation of the working class by the working class themselves and they are objectively rooted in its current characteristics and changing nature and when they become for themselves in forming their independent party and organization. These Parties and Organizations can only be genuinely Revolutionary Socialist if they are working not only to the development and emancipation of the working class and all oppressed people today but most especially ensuring that next generations will have a free and safe world. The Revolutionary Party today can only be EcoSocialist.

Revolutionary movements are and will always be grounded with the masses’ conditions. They grow and gain strength from the real support and followings of the masses. Without the situations of injustices, massive poverty and hunger, inequalities, monopolies and elitist social structure that victimize the masses no revolutionary movements with the political aim to achieve structural change in power relations will not have ground and reason to exist.By: Harrison Mariano, RWJM

In the Philippine society, more and more sufferings have been felt by the masses. Massive poverty has been partner of the majority population for so long and most of these numbers are in intense hunger. Such extreme situations of the people attract different agents for social change including the extremists and the rightists.
We cannot expect answers to these situations from the ruling system and government bureaucracies. Expectedly, they represent the monopoly capitalists, multinational companies and exploiter business owners since these leaders were put by these economic oligarchs in the positions for their vested interests. Change of leaders in the government from local to national brought more disasters to peoples’ lives because it is a change from one set of the ruling class to the other.
Clearly, since the victorious EDSA People Power 1 not counting the pre-Dictatorial period, poverty keeps on increasing and no real peoples’ government have been in placed in the Philippines. In the urban and rural areas (centers or peripheries) the condition of injustices and poverty are glaring and very visible. Even with the pronounced economic boost and the high remittances from the overseas migrant workers, much less are extended to alleviate the situation of the poor.

But, we cannot see the massive movements of the discontented and victims of these social, political and economic injustices. There are pragmatic movements but are becoming little by little irrelevant in numbers and influence. This has been a situation to reflect among revolutionary forces. Are the masses tired of being part of these ideals and actions for their liberation? What factors why? Or have these movements impact on the lives of the masses? Do the revolutionary movements really with and for the poor people or for the leadership only of these movements?

History of Revolutionary splits and the Left Dynamics
Left organizations since the history of split from the CPP brought by the closed-minded framework PPW, while other organs and individuals have breathed polluted air of opportunism and individualism, others also remained true to their ideals and orientations – they are competing to who can mobilize numbers and expand territories to the extent of destroying one to be the good one.
Extreme vanguardism and exclusivist framework continued to dominate among revolutionary forces and the feeling that the correct revolutionary and political line is owned only by one or two and the rest are pseudo and counter-revolutionaries.
The debate that resulted to split in the middle of 90’s made the mass organizations confused to where and to whom to go with and until today, it is sad to understand why revolutionary forces keep on claiming mass movements as party properties and even revolution as they own.
Electoralist groups need to play with the mainstream reactionary electoral system to win posts and or influence inside the dominant system.

Economic Survivalist Tendency to Apathy
Confusions and the tendency to survive, many people tend to work on their own to live and tired of evacuating now and then, and being implicated to revolutionary forces, then the reactionary military and police will be harassing them, it is better for them to keep silent.
The economic survival has been the element of inactive participation of the masses today in mass movements. And this set-up is a contribution of the elitist and monopolist economic system. First thing for the day is to think and work for the daily meals.

The Challenge: Who shall build and strengthen the mass movement?
Revolutionary movements are grounded on the sufferings of the masses and without the masses revolutionary ideals are the results of the concrete revolutionary movements raised on the level of theory than in effect will provide guidance to higher level of revolutionary movements.

In the Philippines, it has always been a show of force and competition of numbers by organizations which are usually moderate or extreme positions.

It is always the duty of revolutionary cadres to build conscious mass movements and strengthen such movements but must not claim to be owners, since it is owned by the masses. Only, revolutionary movements’ role is crucial for the guidance and linking their revolutionary orientation from the masses’ aspirations and real conditions.

And who are these revolutionary movements? They are individuals embraced with aspirations to radically change the current social, political and economic system and have believed the important role of the masses in all forms and methods in launching the revolution.

So, the duty to build and strengthen mass movements is by the collective of individuals who are also part of the masses and not someone from other planets who owned all ideological and political correctness. Revolution totally based on the subjective and objective readiness of the masses and not of the party alone.

The ebb of the revolutionary flow in the Philippines put some cadres in their comforts and never grows old, some if not all have been absorbed by the dominant system and are frustrations to the revolutionary movement.

By: Anzelmo Guerrero, RWJM

After two years, the PNoy government has shown its worth, the people should prepare themselves for the worst and strengthen their ranks…

15 April 2012

(18 March 2012)

Last 18 March 1995, the Revolutionary Peoples’ Army (RPA) was formally founded through the agreement of all the members and the leadership of Peoples’ Communist Party (PCP), the Pre-Party formation after the split from the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). During its plenum conducted to democratically discuss and change the name of its armed wing after the Regional Command’s decision to break from the Chain of Command from the New People’s Army (NPA). The name RPA was agreed upon because of the composition of the three peoples of Mindanao (Indigenous Peoples, Bangsamoro, and Migrant Settlers). Thus, it is deemed worthy for the name of the army to signify and reflect the representation of the three people on it. Comrades then started the formulation of its rectified military orientation which becomes a guide in the realization of its everyday work that is based on the concrete situation of Mindanao and of the country.

After more than two years of formation, the first Mindanao-wide Military Conference was called upon last 11-18 November 1997. One of the main focus of the discussion during this conference included the summing-up of the experiences of the armed struggle from the period the first unit was formed in the countryside and the partisan works in the urban and cities, the formation of the Moro Revolutionary Army (MRA) of the Bangsamoro and Kuyog Sumfat Mamalu (KSM) of the Indigenous People, finalization of the military orientation and the conduct of work of the armies in the ebb period of revolution, approval of the name of the army and election of its over-all command. It was also in this conference where negative and positive experiences were identified and become learning guide for the continuous realization of the military works in the future.

After the conference, the new military orientation was proven effective and efficient in more than a decade of practical experience. This orientation is based on Politico-Militar framework which balanced the two aspects and didn’t consider one as primary or secondary to the other, which is the basic difference in principle and practice of the old party (CPP) until now. It considers political and military works as equal and considers equal footing with the other arena of struggle which would depend on the concrete situation that may arise in a specific period of time. It didn’t abolish the use of arm and the arm struggle as the most authoritative and controlling form of struggle but it considered the essence of putting such in the right place. In the uneven and mal developed capitalist system like the Philippines, there is always a period where revolution is on its flow or ebb. During its ebb period, it is necessary to intensify Revolutionary Mass Work through the combination of all forms of struggles to ensure the realization of the primary demands and reforms that for a long time has been denied from the masses. The vital role of the military work is to support these actions and to defend their successes against the attack of the ruling class.

Days prior to the 17th Founding Anniversary of RPA, a pre-summing up of the army’s historical account and experiences were conducted. It included the time when the first unit was formed in 1984 up to the period it made split from the old party and its military wing, the period it started on its own and the period when the new party and its military wing was formed. It was in this contextual period where numerous positive and negative experiences and its corresponding learning were identified. It is important to learn from those experiences, enhance its positive aspect, and avoid the weaknesses from the past to be committed again.

During the celebration of its 17th year founding anniversary, comrades, activists and the masses initiated a program with the theme, Continue Embracing the Right Orientation to Intensify Revolution against Oppression. The program had three memorable and important parts which includes (1) the presentation of the armies on their expertise in military work through war games, maneuvering, combat operation in the countryside and the partisan operation in towns and cities, (2) the commemoration and tribute to martyr comrades who sacrificed their lives for revolution, and (3) support messages from different sectors, masses, and other people from different types of work in solidarity with the 17th founding anniversary of RPA. One of the messages given was from the leadership of the Revolutionary Workers Party – Mindanao (RPM-M) which expressed more encouragement and additional challenge for everyone to continue socialist revolution until it is realized.

Remembering comrades

The anniversary celebration was successful though there was information on adversary and the presence of the Reaffirmist (NPA) elements and the presence of the Philippine Army around the area. The success was made possible because of the cooperation of all comrades (military and political), activist masses, regular local forces, ally forces of the army, and some allies who gave time and support. The National Operational Command of the RPA would want to extend its revolutionary and warm gratitude to those who gave and showed their support for the success of the said celebration. RPA is hoping for a continuous warm support for any type of work of the revolutionary movement.

Long Live the Socialist Revolution!
Long Live the People and the Masses!
Long Live the 17th Founding Anniversary of the Revolutionary Peoples’ Army!
Long Live the Revolutionary Workers Party – Mindanao!
Long Live the Three People (Indigenous People, Bangsamoro and Migrant Settlers)!
Long Live for everyone!

Raul Faustino
National Operational Command
Revolutionary Peoples’ Army

Camp Usman, Mindanao – It was a cloudy 1st of May in 2011 when members of the Revolutionary Workers Party – Mindanao commemorated the 10th anniversary since its founding on May 1st 2001. Despite the rocky and difficult terrain towards the camp, it was a festive revolutionary gathering with comrades greeting one another.By: Harrison Mariano, RWJM

Messages from the party organs and allies were read by representatives with enthusiasm and revolutionary spirit.

The leadership thanked the party members and all of those comrades whom after all of the challenges the party went through and were able to survive remained and continued to be with the masses. The message also paid tribute to the comrades who offered their lives to the revolution, while recognizing the important role of the masses who also remained steadfast with the revolutionary project of the party.

On the other hand, simultaneous mobilizations were launched by militant comrades at the urban and rural centers in observance of the International Workers Day (May Day). Together with the masses and the workers movement in the open and the underground arena RPM-M is committed to the socialist revolutionary project in all aspects.

A Moment of Introspection
Comrade Amilie of the South Central Mindanao Region, a veteran, was in a contemplative mood as he gave a recollection when the party was established. He said that looking back the party today is a product of more than ten years of revolutionary commitment of comrades, the masses and the workers movement. He further stated that as the party opened its doors to a pluralist framework and its machinery engaged in different line of works, the party came across individuals with bankrupt and opportunistic tendencies inside the party and used the party for their vested interests. “However, the experience taught us lessons and allow us to grow in revolutionary spirit and strength as an organization,” said Comrade Amilie.

Comrades from the regions also shared the challenges experienced as they struggled in the initial years in establishing the new party, the period of consolidation and strengthening its ranks. Despite the difficulties, the comrades kept moving forward and felt triumphant as the party reached its 10th year despite all the odds that it has hurdled. The party principles and objective reading of the current political situation of Philippine society and the world made them more encouraged to advance the masses’ interests.

In the true spirit of Internationalism, the assembled group expressed solidarity to the current peoples’ revolts in North Africa, Middle East and other parts of the world. These struggles have also inspired the cadres to push on with the struggle for justice and freedom for the oppressed peoples.

The Revolutionary Spirit Continues
It is the commitment to the peoples struggles and the socialist revolution which gathered the comrades and the masses to join hands and march together. The 10th party anniversary was attended mostly by the mass members, sympathizers, supporters, cadres, and militants. The astounding presence of the Revolutionary Peoples’ Army combatants representing the different units and commands in Mindanao was very notable. The gathering is a concrete manifestation that the party remained grounded and with the masses. As one of the attendee activist leader shared, the revolution is nothing without the masses and in turn the masses are helpless without the revolutionary orientation. “A revolutionary mass organization will always be supported by the masses only if it is rooted with the masses,” he expressed.

The gathering was not only speeches and reminiscing. This was also peppered with musical presentation and dances of cadres, supporters, and RPA elements which added color and vibrancy to the event. The cadres showed artistic contributions and portrayed their experiences of struggles and calls through creative expressions. Many sung impromptu musical compositions which challenged everyone to write and sing more songs of freedom and the revolution.

Moving forward
Comrade Ernie Castro from the North Western Mindanao Region leadership thanked all of those who exerted efforts for the realization of the celebration despite the limitations and clandestine nature of the activity. The challenges everyday has to be faced by revolutionaries with the masses.

In closing, comrades, supporters and militants sang together the international hymn as an expression of solidarity and the continuing commitment to the socialist revolution for the masses, and the oppressed peoples in the country and the world.

By: Dum Dew

In November 2010, the Military Commission of the Revolutionary Woprkers’ Party – Mindanao, Revolutionary Peoples’ Army called for a Military Conference. This resulted to the election of National Operational Command and the adoption of its basic documents affirming its orientation and principles for the masses. As part of its continuous capacitation of its ranks and cadres, a military training was resolved to be launched thru the Politico-Militar Academy..

The Politico-Militar Academy (PMA)
The PMA is a military and political machinery of the Revolutionary Peoples’ Army tasked to capacitate RPA military ranks, political cadres, and members in all necessary trainings, ideologically and militarily.

The planned military training was realized in the second year of 2011. A month-long military training was organized with more than a hundred military comrades from different guerrilla, partisan and military units participating at Camp Cielo, Mindanao.

Meanwhile, responding to the call of strengthening the peoples’ armed forces, the South Central Mindanao Region of the RPW-M and RPA base opened a similar PMA run by the Ancestral Domain Defense Unit (ADDU). The participants of the military training in this area comprised of Bangsamoro, Indigenous People and Migrant Settlers. The military exercise was also in response to the challenge of consolidating, expanding and strengthening the revolutionary military forces among tribes, communities and regions given the challenges posed by the time and objective conditions.

The ADDU-RPA Military Training
Following the success of the military training in Camp Cielo, the ADDU launched its military training at Camp Mingkugu, Mindanao. Trainees came from the different units of ADDU and RPA in South Central Mindanao. The training was not only limited to military orientation and actual combat exercises but as well as theoretical discussions. Prior to the start of the said military training was the formal opening of the Politico-Militar Academy – South Central Mindanao.

The success of the training was mainly attributed to the important role of the masses and local militia that helped in the security and preparations until the end of the exercise. During the discussions, crucial issues came up concerning local landlords, political dynasties and warlords that posed as constant threats to the ancestral domain claims of the Lumad and land security of the peasants. The security situation is also aggravated with the presence of bandits, ‘lost commands’ and other armed groups who loot the properties of the masses.
It ended with military honors and tribute to the graduates, attended by mass supporters and activists including comrades from different lines of work.
After the training were series of consolidation activities which saw more daring comrades joining the revolutionary forces in the regular guerrilla units and partisan and organizer operatives in the urban and rural areas in the Region.

The Ancestral Domain Defence Unit
The Ancestral Domain Defence Unit (ADDU) was founded from a bitter experience of the Indigenous People in Mindanao because of the oppressive assaults by the ruling elite of the society. Its historical existence is rooted tribal communities’ defence force against aggressors. This cultural practice existed even before the Sultanate System and Colonization era. Weapons used also evolved from bow, arrow and bolos to sophisticated ones in its struggle. During the Commonwealth period in 1900s, Indigenous Peoples in Mindanao fought thru the Alangkat Movement which aimed to protect their territories that were being included and or integrated to the Commonwealth government.

At present, even if many Lumad are already assimilated into into the mainstream and those who continue to live by their traditions, more Lumad still remain conscious and continued to fight for the protection and preservation of their ancestral domain and for social liberation in various arenas. This includes the revolutionary (underground) form, like ADDU that have continuously worked with the Revolutionary Workers’ Party- Mindanao – Revolutionary Peoples’ Army (RPM-M-RPA) for a more comprehensive and inclusive socialist revolutionary framework. ADDU knew that the prevailing ruling system is capitalist and there will never be a society of the oppressed peoples and class, unless they will work and contribute in the dismantling of that oppressive system.

ADDU consistently sow seeds to consistently advance the oppressed peoples struggles. It has to consolidate and strengthen its ranks, cadres and units politically, ideologically and militarily. In the Politico-Militar framework, a peoples’ army should be equipped with political and military capabilities and never prioritize the former or the latter. It is always a combination of both. Armed struggle, meanwhile, should complement with the other forms of struggle in the reform and revolution framework.