PALAYAIN! FREE OUR PEOPLE!
FREE OUR HOMELAND!

We understand that the Philippines has nominal independence – meaning, foreign influence and intervention permeates, especially from dominant superpowers like the United States and China. These influences dictate much of our homeland’s politics, trade and economy, and socio-cultural aspects. This is why the Malaya Movement USA asserts the defense of our sovereignty as a key principle in our framework for organizing. Read more about Malaya Movement USA’s campaign to Defend Philippine Sovereignty. 

With this perspective and in line with the Philippine Independence Day on June 12,  we want to showcase the aspirations of millions of Filipinos of a genuinely independent and free Philippines through art. This page highlights the work of Filipino artists, writers, musicians, and other creatives to take part in our Philippine Independence Day commemoration. Art submitted can be used for nationwide prop materials like flyers, banners, shirts, stickers, posts on social media, etc. Click the image to download for widespread use.

Sino

@lotti4evr, @polsingson, @tresingkoproductions

Babaylan @tabuugabbu

Ana-Louise
Malaya Union City

Illumination
@camcaing, Malaya Chicago

This gouache piece that acts as a small interrogation into the ways in which colonial influences are appropriated by an indigenous population. One of the Philippine’s most famous examples of the intertwining of the indigenous and colonial may be piña cloth which has roots in abaca weaving but also has the influence of the imported, non native pineapple alongside Spanish culture during the Spanish colonial period. Here, the painting looks at the history of illuminated religious texts that were used to indoctrinate and convert filipinos to Catholicism. While we fight for independence, this look at Spanish influence on our culture hopes to remind us to also interrogate the modern influence of US empire on the Philippines and think through the ways soft power are used as levers of colonial domination.

Karabao Para Sa Masa
@eiiecoj, Malaya PDX

FREE OUR MOTHERLAND

@solmelindo Soliven Melindo

Balang Araw

Balang Araw is a 3 song EP by Audine and Tabitha, members of Malaya Movement USA’s national leadership. The songs covered were learned during Malaya’s very first Immersion Trip to the Philippines in September 2024.

Balang Araw and Kawayanan were written by Peace Consultant, human rights defender, former political prisoner Ericson Acosta who was martyred by the Philippine state in 2022. Mahapdi sa Mata was written Sinagbayan PUP, a student cultural group.

The title of the EP, Balang Araw means One Day, and it represents the hope that one day, the Philippines will be genuinely free.