[3] It was banned by the Philippine government in 1972 when then-President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law, and was driven underground.

[2] Kabataang Makabayan originated from the Students' Cultural Association of UP (SCAUP) in the University of the Philippines and was initially organized as the youth arm of the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas-1930 by José María Sison, Ernesto Macahiya, Nilo Tayag, and others.

[7][8][9] Sison envisioned the youth group as revolutionaries who would establish a country led by the working class instead of oligarchic politicians.

[2] Nacionalista Senator Lorenzo Tañada gave the closing speech at the KM's first national congress and was both a consultant and honorary member.

The protests and subsequent violence they inspired collectively became one major factor that led to Marcos’ declaration of Martial Law in late September 1972.