The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) was established out of a significant ideological shift within the Philippine left. Jose Maria Sison spearheaded the formation after dissatisfaction with the existing Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas-1930. Sison and his followers believed that the need for a party that adhered strictly to Marxism-Leninism was essential, particularly one that took into consideration the unique socio-economic conditions of the Philippines, characterized by widespread poverty, landlessness, and foreign intervention. The founding congress took place in a period marked by political turbulence and social unrest, providing fertile ground for revolutionary ideas to take root.

By breaking away from the older party, which they felt had become stagnant and ineffective, Sison's CPP aimed to provide a fresh approach to organizing the working class and peasantry. The party emphasized a protracted people's war and the importance of building a strong revolutionary movement to overthrow the existing government, characterized as a puppet regime of imperialist powers. Sison’s ideology was centered around the idea that only through armed struggle could genuine social change and liberation from colonial and feudal oppression be achieved.

This new party quickly gained traction among various sectors disillusioned with the status quo, particularly among the rural populace and urban workers. The establishment of the CPP marked the beginning of an organized communist movement in the Philippines and laid the groundwork for future uprisings and insurgencies that would challenge the government for decades. The CPP also quickly took on the role of leading ideological discussions and activities among leftist factions, thereby reshaping the political landscape in the country.