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The Vietnam War and Its Impact on the Philippines and its Social Movements

The Vietnam War and its Impact on the Philippines and its Social Movements: Commemorating the 50th Year of Vietnam’s Reunification

Speakers:

    • Walden Bello, Focus on the Global South
    • Noel Christian Moratilla, UP Asian Center
    • Ana Maria R. Nemenzo, WomanHealth
    • Lai Thai Binh, Ambassador, Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Reactors

Manjette Lopez, Cristine Ebro, and Rosalinda Pineda Ofreneo

Moderated by

Virginia Lacsa Suarez

25 April 2025
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm (Philippine Standard Time)
UP CIDS, Lower Ground Floor,
Ang Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman

Rationale:

The Vietnam War lasted for 21 years from 1954 to 1975. It pitted a small underdeveloped country against the world’s most powerful military machine. More than 500,000 US troops fought in Vietnam and 58,200 were killed in action. Vietnamese casualties were more severe – 1.1 million Vietnamese fighters and 2 million civilians killed.

War crime atrocities committed by American troops horrified the world. The war was so unpopular that about 100,000 American soldiers deserted and 50,000 fled to other countries to avoid combat. Additionally, 570,000 men were draft offenders while some 100,000 fled the U.S. to avoid conscription.

By the time the war ended in April 1975 with the liberation of Saigon, Vietnam was in ruins – cities and towns severely damaged, the economy totally disrupted and its countryside scarred by chemical defoliants, bombs and land mines.

Throughout the war, Vietnam was a global symbol of popular resistance against a superpower and its native allies. Rallies and demonstrations in support of the Vietnamese struggle took place all over the world. In the US, a massive peace movement emerged with hundreds of thousands demonstrating against American involvement in Vietnam.

The Philippines was no exception to the global trend. In many ways, it was the Vietnam War and its moral compass that aided in the resurgence of a radical social movement of students, workers, and peasants in many parts of the country.

Fifty years have passed since the defeat of the US and the reunification of Vietnam. The forum on April 25, 2025 will commemorate this momentous and historical event and discuss lessons from the Vietnam War and its influence and impact on the Philippines and its social movements.

This forum is co-organized by the Philippines – Vietnam Solidarity Committee, UP CIDS Program on Alternative Development, SANLAKAS, Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya, Asia-Europe Peoples’ Forum, Arya Progresibo, Stop the War Coalition, Phil-Cuba Cultural & Friendship Association, and the UP Asian Center.