Jose Maria Sison

Jose Maria Sison, a Filipino political refugee in The Netherlands, is the Chief Political consultant of the National Democratic Front and founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines. A torture victim during the Marcos regime, he was released from prison after the People Power Revolt. However, the military successfully pressured the Aquino government to cancel his passport. He is now on the terrorist blacklist of the US and other foreign governments. PERSONAL

• Birthday: February 8, 1939
• Birthplace: Cabugao, Ilocos Sur
• Wife: Julieta de Lima

EDUCATION

• Scholar, Jajasan Siswa Lokantara scholarship in Indonesian language, Djakarta, Indonesia, 1962
• Master of Arts in Comparative Literature, University of the Philippines (1959-61)
  • ICA-NEC Teaching Fellowship, University of the Philippines (1959-61)
• AB in English Literature, cum laude, University of the Philippines (1959)
  • Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
  • Pi Gamma Mu International Science Society

CAREER

• Chief Political Consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in peace negotiations with the Philippine government, 1990 - present
• Occasional guest lecturer on Philippine politics, economy and culture in Utrecht University and other European universities, 1987- present
• Senior Research Fellow & Associate Professor, Asian Center of Graduate Studies, University of the Philippines, 1986-87
• Chairman, Executive Council, Philippine Center for Social Research, 1986-87
• Editor-in-chief, Ang Bayan (The People), 1969-77
• Professorial Lecturer in English, Political and other Social Sciences, Lyceum of the Philippines, 1964-67
• Editor, Progressive Review, 1963-68
• Teaching Fellow, English Department, College of Arts and Sciences, UP, 1959-61
• University Public Relations Officer, Araneta University; and Executive Secretary to Araneta University President Salvador Araneta
  

AFFILIATIONS

• General Consultant, International League for Peoples’ Struggle, 2001- present
• Chairman, International Initiative Committee, International League for Peoples’ Struggle, 2000-01
• Member, Vereniging van Letterkundigen-Vakbond van Schrijvers (Association of Literary Arts - Union of Writers), Netherlands, 1994
• Member, Wereldschrijvers Werkgroep, Netherlands, 1993
• Chairman, Preparatory Commission of Partido ng Bayan (People's Party), 1986
• Adviser, Pagkakaisa ng Magbubukid sa Pilipinas (Unity of Peasants in the Philippines), 1969-71
• Founding Chairman, Communist Party of the Philippines, 1968-1977
• Founding Secretary General, Movement for the Advancement of Nationalism, 1966-68.
• Member, Afro-Asian Journalists' Association, 1966
• Member, Afro-Asian Writers' Bureau, 1966
• Member, National Press Club, 1965-68
• National Vice-President, Socialist Party of the Philippines, 1965-68
• Consultant, Malayang Samahang Magsasaka (Free Association of Peasants), 1964-68
• Director for Education, National Association of Trade Unions, 1964-68
• General Secretary, Socialist Party of the Philippines, 1964-65
• Vice President for Education, Lapiang Manggagawa (Workers' Party), 1963-64
• Founder & National Chairman, Kabataang Makabayan (People's Youth), 1964
• President, UP Journalism Club, 1958-59
• Founder & Chairman, Student Cultural Association of UP (SCAUP), 1959-62
• Member, UP Writers' Club, 1962
  

AWARDS

• Marcelo H. del Pilar Award, College Editors Guild of the Philippines, May 1998
• Special award of recognition for outstanding contribution, as selfless and humane leader, patient teacher, caring and compassionate friend and exemplary comrade to the national democratic struggle of the peasants, workers and the entire Filipino people, Kabataang Makabayan, November 26, 1994
• Southeast Asia (SEA) WRITE Award for the Philippines for essay writing and poetry, 1986
• Literary Achievement Award for poetry and essay writing from the Writers' Union of the Philippines, 1985
• National Book Award for Poetry (Prison and Beyond), Manila Critics Circle, 1985
  

Sources: Works of Jose Maria Sison, GMANews.TV