Kabataang Makabayan (KM)...

M E M O R I E S: Life and Time of Pastor Rudy Bernal, hia  Glimpses on History &

                          The People’s Struggle for Freedom

Chapter 21– Kabataang Makabayan (KM), Organized & Started  the Struggle for National Democracy in Iloilo and Panay

The Kabataang Makabayan (KM), the student movement that rocked Iloilo and Panay  in 1972  until 1987,   started  in 1969 with some 12 atudents  from a  college and a  universities of Iloilo City.  The   liberation  ferment    started softly with  flickering  embers,  grew  steadily  with  flares  and flames  that  touched and moved the poor people to Panay  to participate in the revolutionary struggle..

Alberto Espinas was  the missionary   of this  liberation movement in  Iloilo City. He came from  Lyceum of the Philippines in Manila, a product of what was known, the First Quarter Storms of Philippine Revolutions. With  8 of  his friends, they   organized the Iloilo chapter of Kabataang Makabayan.   Bert Espinas  came  to Iloilo as Joven Defensor. That was his new name.  His nom-de- guerre.

Bert Espinas recruited  Fluelyn  Ortigas and Rolly Lorca  for  KM -Iloilo.    Flu Ortigas, on the other hand, recruited his younger brother Virgil Ortigas and  Vic Beloria.  Rolly Lorca  recruited Francis Monfort, Eddie Carilimdiliman and VSC.  They continued their Discussion Groups (DG) and made studies on   the arts and technics in   organizing and mobilizations of students.  They studied histories. They studied the revolutionary movements in the country and other parts of the world.  They studied the lives of revolutionaries.  They studied  the  ideas of Mao Zedong,  from a small booklet knowin known as Mao Zedong Thoughts.

They organized the first Kabataang Makabayan (KM) chapter in Iloilo.  The  organizational meeting was held at the home  of Flu Ortigas, at the front of  CPU.  Flu Ortigas presided the organizational meeting. Flu’s parents, Rev. Restituto Ortigas and Mrs. Felisberta Ortigas, were Baptist Minister of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churcches.

Elected  first KM officers were  Alberto Espinas, President; Josil Jaen, Vice President; Virgil Ortigas,  Chairman Education.  

Members were Fluelyn Ortigas, Rolly Lorca, Francis Monfort, Eddie Carilimdiliman,  Vic Beloria.

Soon, other members came - Norman Cabangal,  Romie Deprado, Boy Estandarte, Pablito Araneta, Tomas  Dominado, Alex Gonzales, Fabie Fernandez, Elmer Unsay, Gregorio Castigador, Ferdie Arceo and  Jim Geduspan.

There were 4 ladies who were members of CPU KM chapter,  shortly after the organizational meeting. Three of the  lady KM members were from   Davao City and 1 from Iloilo. We’re trying to recall their names.

The first KM members     guided  Kabataang Makabayan, as it organized chapters in Central Philippine Unversity, University of San Agustin, University of the Philippines –Iloilo, Iloilo City Colleges, Visayan Central Colleges and other colleges, including  girls exclusive schools.

After they have organized the chapters in Iloilo City, they moved forward and organized KM chapters in   colleges, high schools and communities in towns  in Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Antique and Guimaras.

Earlier, KM chapters were organized in  universities, colleges and communities if Bacolod City.  And softly, it reached out to colleges and high schools  and communiteis in the towns   of Negros Occidental.

In 1972, before President Marcos declared Martial Law, KM and its allied associations has organized chapters  in nearly 25% of the barangays in Panay.

When President Marcos was overthrown in 1986, KM, SDK, CPP and NDFP with their allied associations has chapters  in some 60% barangays  in Iloilo and Panay.

When martial law was declared, the first who were arrested in Iloilo and Panay were  KM and SDK members, student activists, militant farmers and workers,  some pastors and urban poors.  Commander Walingwaling, the veteran of the HUKs and People’s Liberation Army  of the 50’ and 60’s was arrested. The Pastor of Katipunan Baptist Church in Katipanan, Tapaz, Rev. Dianala, at 70 years old,  was also arrested. They were detained for months at the military stockade of Camp Delgado in Iloilo City.

A big  military Stockade was built in several rooms at Camp  Delgado for those who were  detained.

 KM was   declared an illegal organizations.  From their groups,  cadres of the  Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and  the New People’s Army (NPA) were organized. They were the vanguards for the revolutionary movement in Iloilo  and Panay.They resisted the martial law regimes. They stood and fought with the  people of Panay in the hard struggle for the liberation of the poor and struggling  masses.

The revolutionary spirit   instilled deep on  KM members hearts, steeled  them to  resist  martial rule  for decades, until President Marcos was toppled from power and exciled to Hawaii.

During the first ^t three months  after the declaration of martial law, 10  KM members and activist were killed. They were the first victim’s for President Marcos martial rule. Killed  by military operatives in Bingawan, Iloilo, few months after martial law was declared were Alex Gonzales, UP-Los Banos, Fabie Fernandez, Central Philippine University,  Elmer Unsay, Univesity of San Agustin, and student Gregorio Castigador.

Few months after the Bingawan incident, student activists and KM members were killed by military operatives in Antique. They were Virgil Ortigas, CPU, Eddie Legislador, USA, Alberto Espinas, Lyceum of the Philippines,  Vicente Biloria, CPU and  Jim Geduspan.

Many KM members died fighting  for the liberation of the masses. A big number of them were   imprisoned   by the  martial law regimes and succeeding regimes. Others, in their  old age, continue to  different battle fronts.   And those who have gift for singing struggle songs,  again sung their songs while in the hills. In the old age today, they sung their today,  whenever there were opportunities to sing  these again.

Other KM members joined    labor and farmers unions. Some joined  professional groups– physicians, lawyers, nurses, professors, engineers and other professionals. Some  joined poltical parties.  Some  priests, pastors and  nuns served in the  united fronts.

They  participated in the hard and long  struggle.  They were   mostly  unknown.  And they remained unknown until today. But   soon, their lives and  struggles will be written. They will write it themselves.  They  will tell the stories of their lives and their struggles. They  will tell the stories of their failures and successes.  They will share the pains and laughters of  their  past.   They will tell us their defeats and victories, their loses and  gains. They will share  their faith,  hopes and dreams  to  the young  and coming generations. They will tell the simple stories of their lives, and like the living  stories of the Bible, it will live for years and years,  if  not forever.    

In 1971, to help  the  workers’ education works, PANELFU opened “People to Peoples Program”  at Station  DYRI.  I was assigned  Anchorman and   news commentator. By that time, PANELFU has some 350 village chapters in Panay. We  reached  out to them through “People to People;s Program”. We were heard daily, 7 days a week at 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM.

And  many years later,  in the  90’s,  I started a religious radio program, a  social, economic,  political and Biblical reflections, a radio ministry that lasted for 24 years until 2006,  at DYFM and DYRI in Iloilo City.

I spoke once a week reaching out to the people. We also reached out on the Air, some  NPA and CPP in the hills. We shared the  simple  messages of God’s Love,  that saves, redeem and liberates us from the forces that enslaved and buried the poor in poverty.  And some listened to our message.   For Jesus Christ’s  social, economic, political and revolutionary perspectives was similar, in not  the same,  with the communists in different lands.  Jesus fought and condemned  the oligarchs of his time. He condemned the elites of his  generations. But he was a friend of all  the poor and  struggling masses..

Last week,  April 22, 2017, I met Caster, a former NPA commander.  He is a farmer. He fought for years  when martial law was declared. There were times, when he and his group were building guerrilla zones in the mountain boundaries  of Iloilo Capiz, Aklan and Antique. It was a lonely place to live. But it was also  dangerous, for often  military operations were in nearby areas. .

 They were building their camp with   small huts,  these were their  sanctuary against  the rains and coldness of the nights.  For a short moment, he shared his life in the hinterlands.  “It was hard. It was  lonely. It was always dark. We could see only little lights at noon, when   noontime  lights  penetrate heavy leaves and foliage of “lunok” trees that covered  the skies.” He said, he continued with his group fighting the cause  of the liberation.

He  said me,  he remembered  me. Rather, he knew me.  For he  always listened    at  “Hour of Discovery”, our  radio ministry.  For “Hour of Discovery” was  designed  to  study  biblical, social, historical and political realities of our time.  It was a radio program that  spoke softly and clearly the   evils of  the elites, and  super  rich,  that owned  and controlled  for themselves, the lands that God has intended for all people to use for their living.   Feudalism  and  oligarchy  were evels   that buried the masses of our people in  deep poverty and  hopeless lives.

 The  KM movement was a phenomenon in the  history of students organizations.  I think, one of the reasons was the  inspiration  and guidance given by the great  revolutionary in Asia, Chairman  Mao Zedong. The power of his thoughts touching  the minds and hearts of the youth.

The small booklet, with quotes from the Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party   become a powerful force in the re-education of the youths in the late 1960’s to 1972’s.  It has transformed KM members to  cadres and missionaries  for social transformation,  exposing and fighting the three evils of Philippine society. The  small booklet was known “Mao Zedong Thoughts.”

While working with PANELFU in 1971,  Bert Espinas and Josil Jaen and some KM  members  visited, stayed and discussed relations with   Coronacion Chiva (Commander Walingwaling)  and her husband  Federico Togonon (Commander Guevara), in  Alibunan, Calinog.   Coronacion Chiva was Chairperson of  PANELFU in Calinog.  And Federico.  Togonon  was Chairman of  PANELFU in Central Panay. The two, has very strong influences with the fighters of HUKs and  the People’s Liberation Army in the 50’s and 60’s.

That meeting and the decision made was very important and strategic.  It  unified  the forces of the old revolutionary fighteers  of the  HUKS & HMB  with  youth of    Kabataang Makabayan.   This two forces, helped greatly in  strengthening the  CPP, NPA and NDF in Panay

. 

Last  February 11, 2017, several KM members attended  the ”10  Reunion of FQS Hidlawanay –WV “  in Iloilo City. There I met nearly a hundred Kabataan Makabayan   veterans. Most of them were  now old.  They were retired. They were veterans of the struggles.  There knees were  weak. Many have myopic visions.  But their hearts were  still  aflame. There  hopes  and dreams for a liberated country  remained strong in there hearts.   

The KM of West Visayas, veterans of the 1^st Quarters Storms   came all the way from different parts of the country. Some came from the   USA, Canada, Australia, Europe, Asia, the Middle East.  Most of them have been imprisoned for years, fighting for their beliefs and  dreams. Some called for the  continuation of the Peace Talks  now going on in Neitherland. Some  calls for the continuation of the People’s War until victory is finally won.   

In 1986, when President Marcos was thrown out of power and exciled to Hawaii by the US, The painful record  of Marcos martial law victims and atrocities  in the Philippines were recorded for posterity to remember.     

            3,257  were killed.  (400 of these were from Panay).

            35,000  tortured.

           70,000   imprisoned.

The revolutionary movement has become a powerful force that now challenged the government of the Philippines.

The National Democratic Front, in its peak in the mid-1980’s  “commanded 35,000 Party members, 60 guerilla fronts, two battalions and 37 company formations and foisted ideological and organizational hegemony in the progressive politics during the Marcos dictatorship.” It was said, that this time, the  Democratic Front has chapters  in some 60%  of barangays/villages in Panay.

In Iloilo City, the NPA partisans were operating in different villages. In the outskirt  of Iloilo City -- in the towns  of  Leganes, Pavia, San Miguel. Zarraga and Sta. Barbara, the the NPA and the partisants were strengthening the organizations. The same were happening in Capz, Aklan and Antique. The possible  victory can be seen at a distance, as the revolutionary movement moved  on to a possible  stalemate.

But soon a crack developed in the once united movement.  The national democratic movement had devided – re-affirmists that support Joma Sisons positions and the  rejectionists block that was opposing Sison’s position. This devided the movement. But  it moved on, even it was quite broken and splintered in several pieces.

Mets George Angel, Learns Some Arts on Politics and Saw Some Business Ventures

M E M O R I E S:  Life and Time of Pastor Rudy Berna, his  Glimpses on History &

                         The  People’s Struggle for Liberation

Chapter 20 –  Mets George  Angel,  Learns  Some Arts on  Politics and Saw Some Business Ventures

 It was   at Lyceum of the Philippines  that I met    George Washington Angel. We became friends  It’s a friendship that lasts  for years. He and his wife, Helen lives  in Quezon City today.  We  still   communicate with each other.

 George was from Sablan, Benguet Province.    He finished   Nautical Course and was on board international  ships for some    years.  He was   a navigator. After some years,  he decided to stop being on board ship  to pursue his college education. 

His father, an Igorot of Benguet, was a  bright and principled man. He was a farmer and a businessman.  His mother, was intelligent, a lovely woman, slim and toll.  I heard,  she  was of a  French ancestry.    George was handsome, with strong personality, whose statures,  looks, his way of speaking  shows  he came from a comfortable and  educated   middle class family.  

 They lived simple lives, with his father,  using a progressive,  productive and practical  farming technologies planting different kinds of crops for their family  needs and business. 

I think, George Angel  has three siblings. The eldest, Mike was  mayor  of    Sablan, Benguet in 1965.   He  had  higher political  plans for Benguet.  His other brother,  Nick was a respected  journalists in Baguio City  and Correspondent of Manila Times. His older sister, was in  vegetable  business  in Baguio City and sold vegetable products in the Subic.

George   ventured  to  Manila in 1965. He  worked  at   Philippine Evening News as a newspaperman. He has mastered the English language. Newspaparing was easy work for him.    He covered the  Health Department and do  other special assignments for the paper.  While working in the newspaper, he  studied at   Lyceum  of the Philippines.  In college,  George   robbed  shoulders with   big  names   in newspapers and   business.

He  has   high ambition in life.  He moves  among the top.    These   may have been contributed easily by his  natural intellect,  several years oo international travel  as a navigator and his  ability to develop   friendship  with  people he met  here and abroad.   He was  observant  of events, situations and opportuntiies in every city and country he visited while on international travels.  I am one year older than  him.

 His personality  can easily attract and befriend well-known  men and women in business.   I think,  he knew  this special talents he has. He   used it for good.   He was  deeply  honest and principled  person.  He’s not religious.

George knew that I have studied  few semester in Theology. He knew, I believed in God.  He  got some Bible verses and quotations from great men and women. He often used it to drive a point.  But he enters  the church, only when he has to attend weddings and when  a family  friend  or relative  will be buried.  He  is  a practical man.

To strengthen his mind and analytical power, he read books and newspapers always. He read  history, litertures, biographies, newspaper columns and Editorials.  

And to strengthen his body, he has his body building equipment,  dumb bells and other exercising equipment at home.   He exercised and  practiced  to  make sure  his body’s strength and reflexes were   ready for any   eventual  encounters, should there be a need for it. His punches were fast and  his hand grips were strong. He kept his trainng and exercises only at  home.  His skill were hidden.

He has a way of doing something better.   At Lyceum, most of  our classmates joined campus   politics. They run for position in the  student government. I joined in their campaigns in school.  George did not join campus politics.  He have higher plans. When election was held that year, he  filed his candidacy and  ran for Board Member in the  Lone District of Benguet Province.  He did not tell any of that he was running of Board Member in the province.

He invited me to join him in Baguio City.  Together, we  produced  5 -meters  long streamers with  bold red  letters. “ANGEL FOR BOARD MEMBER” which were stretched  across the streets  or on the sides of the road in Baguio City, Trinidad Valley and in all  towns of Benguet.

He  gathered  cartoons of materials for children -- crayons, ball pens,  notebooks, pad papers, pencils, etc. to give   voters in the villages. This  were provided him by his friends.

He held political  caucus  in the villages. His leaders cooked dog and goat meat duromg caucus at 3:00 PM. He joined campaign rallies. He spoke with other candidates on the platforms in Baguio City and in the towns of Benguet.  He fought well known,  moneyed and powerful politicians.   He waged a hard fight. He fought  hard.  He stood straight and tool and walked  during the campaigns in villages   with a confidence of a winner.  I think, he  knew  his chance of winning the election was slim.   But  he   inscribed  clearly  his   name in the minds and hearts  of the municipal, provincial and  regional   politicians and business   leaders of the time.  

With  the looming national  elections of 1965, there were some events that developed in the Liberal Party.  Speaker Cornelio Villareal, was  softly ousted President of the Liberal Party. Senator Gerry Roxas was  assumed  the presidency of the  Liberal Party. There was a need for party  re-organzation.  Sen. Gerry Roxas appointed George Angel, chairman of the Liberal Party of  Benguet.

  George moved decisively. He called young and potential leaders of  Baguio City.and Benguet towns for a meeting.  The new and potential leaders were organized.  They elected the  new members of the Liberal Party of Benguet. And he   appointed  the  members  of the newly re-organized Benguet Liberal Party.  The  group will now composed the leadership that will chose the  candidates of the Liberal Party for national election in 1965.  I joined George in his  efforts. I tried to study  his simple but decisive method in re-organizing the Liberals in Benguet. 

The political  powers during that time were  Sen. Gerry Roxas,  Sen. Ninoy Aquino, Sen. Gene Magsaysay, Sen. Jovy Salonga, Mayor Tony Villegas and Sen. Sergio Osmena. Behind was former President Diosdado Macapagal,  the chairman of the  Arbitration Committee of the Liberal party. I observed. Speaker Cornelio Villareal was out of the picture. He may have been hurt by his being sidelined,  with the assumption of Gerry Roxas to the  LP presidency.

Mayor Antonio Villegas of Manila, to strengthen his hold in Manila, asked George to help him in  strengthen  the Liberal Party of Manila. He appointed him consultant.

George also developed close  relationship with Ninoy Aquino. Several times, I joined him in the house of Ninoy  in Times Street,  Quezon City.  We  were often  at the White House,  the residence of Gerry Roxas. I observed closely the Liberal Party leaders, mostly Congressmen and Governers coming  for consultations with the new  President  of the Liberal Party.  We still  visit and have conversation with former Speaker Cony Villareal in his home in Macopa Street, Quezon City.

By that  time, I have resigned from Agence France Presse. I  have  decided not to continue   my newspaper works.  I do not like to use all my life writing  lives of people, what they were  doing, and what the intend to do. I have seen the political spectrum. I saw the same people and families hold positions of power  in government.  They get  to gain  power. And  with power they  get more money. 

 I have decided on two possible directions in life. To go back to my studies in Theology and  be a Minister of the Gospel and  participate in the work for spiritual, social and political change.  Or, to join a labor  union,  helped educate and organize workers and farmers to gain force and power for change. Or be  part of both, a pastor nvolved in social and political change. 

Soon after, George ran for  Congressman in Benguet Province. His opponents were incumbent Congressman Andres Cosalan who was running for re-election and  former Governor Dangwa, a well known political leader, millionaire and owner of the Dangwa Transportation Company that have route from Baguio City to Manila.   George lost in the political arena.

But he gained needed experiences, skills, management  abilities, connections  that enabled him to start strong in his business venture – a company he started in  Manila  with enterprise that  soon  reached to other cities of  the world. He visited   different cities of the world  doing business in – USA, Western Europe, Australia and several countries in Asia.

George  joined and became member and officer of  different professional, business, educational and civic organizations  to reach  and helped  people. He was a member of the Board of Regents of  Philippine  Politechnic  University with its several colleges in the country. He was  once  Chairman of the  Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa).  He has also been   Chairman of the  Philippine  Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He was consultant to several business enterprises  in Manila with branches in other cities of the world.    He was always on the go – international and regional travels.

When he  was courting his wife,    Helen Villanueva, a nurse  at Philippine National Railways (PNR), a  daughter of the Auditor of  PNR, he asked me often to accompany  him on his visits.   When it was time to asked her hand in marriage, George  asked me to join him with his father and a relative to  Taytay,  Rizal  for the traditional  “kagon”. That was  a beautiful evening. Helen’s father and mother, his two brothers and two  younger  sisters.  I am with George, his father and a relative of his father that evening when his marriage  was   planned and made.

On  their  wedding that  early morning at 6:00 AM,   at a Catholic Church Mayor Tony Villegas stood as one of the principal sponsors. I was there to witness their solemn moment of marriage with our friend, Manuel Jeminez, who was taking  Foreign Service  at Lyceum.  Manny was the son of Vice Mayor Carol Jeminez of La Castilana, Negros Occidental and Judge Jeminez of Bacolod City.  We were blessed  attending their   wedding  that early morning.  

He and Helen decided to have their home in Manila. They were blessed with 3 children. They have  also grandchildren. Gino, the first born  is now  in the United States. Iveth, their  daughter  live with his family in  the States. Ang Gene, the youngest stayed for sometimes in the country.   They have very closed relations with each other.  Like me, George is also growing in years.

 My  friendship   with George  opened  me the opportunity to  learn political efforts, strategies of political parties.  It  gave me some insights  on the life and the ways and means of Congressmen, Governors and Mayors on ways to resource funds, and mobilized people for political power. These leaders, often and always, were at the home of Senator Gerry Roxas, the President of the Liberal Party. And just being with them, have small conversations with them,  I learnd lots of things that helped me in my ministry in the Convention of Philipine Baptist Churches, a church organizations with members in most regions  in the country.

I was present during the   Liberal Party  Convention  in 1965 at  Montano Auditorium in Cavite City, when the presidential and vice presidential candidates of the Liberal Party was to be decided to fight for the country’s president. But we were  out of the Convention Hall. Only delegates were inside. But  we were provided with developments inside the Convention Hall every few  minutes.

We learned  the processes  on the election of Senator Ferdinand Marcos, defeating President Diosdado Macapagal in 1965 elections.

After long years with the Liberal Party,   in May 2016 election,  George Angel   joined Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign in Manila. When I text  him one day, he asked me  how Mayor  Duterte  stands against Mar Roxas in Panay and Negros. I told him,  Mar Roxas  will get high votes in Panay and Negros, though Mayor Duterte  may get 2^nd in the Western Visayas

Last September 2016, George Angel  in a text message told me he joined  the Philippines  Foreign Relations Committee delegations to Beijing to help tackle the problems of the South Philippine  Sea.

I  thank   God  for this friendship with  George Angel and his  works and participation in the  social, economic  and political life of  our country.  A  friend who worked and moved   among  some   rich,    influential  and powerful  people in  our  country.

On  reflection I realized God’s wisdom. He gave my friend, George Angel  the opportunity to work with the rich, influential  and powerful.

 God gave me  the  chance to work with small people -- the poor, the weak and the underprivileged in our country. I helped  teaching, organizing, mobilizing them for change  in different villages, towns and  provinces  in our  country, sometimes travelling by plane, bus, motorcycles, bicycles,  sometimes, walking 2 days on small trails on the side of the mountains  to reach our venues for studies and meetings.

He  gave George  opportunity to  travel around the world  as a businessman and entrepreneur,  to stay in flush hotels  participating in business plans and  business transactions in many parts of the world.

God  gave me   chance visit  several cities  --India, Thailand, Bangla Desh, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia,  Australia, Germany and Sweden giving me   opportunity to  learn skills and knowledge from  people working with non-government organizations, participating in the  work for  development and change.

I learned  that God will use us according to  our  knowledge, skills, talents, abilities he had given us,  which we   develop and strengthened in our lives. 

 I thanked God. His wisdom is great and wonderful. He used  my  friend George  Angel to work  with the rich, influential   and powerful.

And God used  me to work with  the poor, the weak, the under privileged, most of them struggling masses  working for equality,  freedom, justice  and  liberation.

FOOTNOTES ON HISTORY: Pastor Samuel Antonio, Baptist Convention Pastor in Negros, Joins the National Democratic Liberation Movement...

FOOTNOTES ON HISTORY

Pastor Samuel Antonio,   Baptist Convention Pastor in Negros, Joins the  National Democratic Liberation Movement

By Rudy Bernal

Pastor Samuel Antonio of Baras Diutay,  Kabankalan, Negros Occidental  is  Baptist Convention pastor  who joined the New People’s Army. He decided to  go to the hills, after his house was raided several times,  during the darkest years of President Marcos martial law regime.

He was a committed and courageous  Baptist  young  minister. He  led the youth of his time  to fight  and build a just and fair life under a political l system that was unjust and controlled by the rich and powerful. He showed his determination to contribute in the  struggle a demcratice society thru the people’s revolution.

Early in life, he felt God was calling him to the ministry. The call was  persistent. He enrolled at the   Convention Baptist Bible College (CBBC) one of the Bible Schools, under the Convention of Philippine Baptist Chuexhwa, He finished  his studies in 1971.

He  was called by  La Granja Baptist Church in La Carlota City to serve as their Pastor. There he worked  as pastor and evangelist.  Pastor Sam Antonio  has a gift as an evangelistic preacher. He often held evangelistic  meetings in the  churches  and  do Bible Studies with evangelistic under tones in the sitios.  He worked in the church for several years,   During  dry seasons he held  evangelistic  meetings.  He worked there for several years.

Then he was called  Puti-an Baptist Church in Cuartero,  Capiz where he  pastored the church, whos members were mostly farmers and farm workers  in the mountains. He ministered at Puti-an for several years. But the desire for further studies continued to pester his mind. He want sto succeed in the ministry and serve the needs of his members.

His desire of further education, pushed him to study as a working student at Filamer Christian College, a Baptist College in Roxas City, Capiz.  He took  Liberal Arts and finished two years.  But he decided to quit due to the very difficult financial situation  as a working student and pastor of Puti-an Baptist Church at the same time.

 During this time, in Capiz, martial law  made life very misserable for many   Filipinos  in the countryside.  After another year in Puti-an Baptist Church, he went back to his home  town in Upper South Negros. There he worked coordinating minister for some  20 small local Baptist congregations in 4 munipalities in Upper South Negros.

It was while working in this small village congregations in upland towns, that Pastor Samuel Antonio saw and witnessed  the hardship and sufferings of ordinary farmers and farm workers  living under the martial law regime. They were constantly harassed by the military and para-military units operating in the area. There were many times, when farmers and farm workers were shot wihtoug provocations.

When a person  was suspected as a rebel or an NPA, they were just  shut. Their was no justice. Their was tyranny. And people continue to live in difficult situations, most often suspected by the military. living under a difficult situation, most often suspected by the military.

About 1979, the situations in the upland villages of Upper South Negros became  more harder, unbearable  and  intolerable. During this time and onward, he was questioned several times on his connections with the NPA. He told the military that he was not an NPA. He is a pastor working with poor farmers and farm workers, teaching his members in the churches of the   teachings of  Jesus in the gospel.  But the  military suspicion persisted and  continued.

Pastor Samuel Antonio kept on his work. The members of the churches he served as Coordinating Minister needs his spiritual guidance and his counsel. They need the spiritual strength in this very delicate and dangerous time of martial rule.

He faced the military and explained  to them the situations. He told the military of the sufferings of the poor people under pressures from both sides of the warring group, the military  on one hand and the NPA on the other hand.  But military’s orientations  were different.  They    want to sow fear in the mind and hearts of the people.  They want the people of the upland and mountain villages to  cower in fear, and just kept silent. Perhaps, they want the people to kneel before them. The people have began to  be wary and afraid of the military. 

The people  of the hinterlands  began to respect the NPA and those working in the revolutionary movement.

Sometimes in  1982  Pastor Samuel Antonio’s  house was raided the military several times. He began to worry for his life and the life of his wife. With raids, he believed  the military was now after his life. It was  now dangerous for him to continue  serving as Coordinating Pastor of the 22  churches in Upper South Negros.

He said, after praying for  his situations, he made a very, very hard decision. He will  join the New People’s Army.  Under the situations, their was no other  recourse for him to take. He cannot continue to live in the mountain villages of Upper South Negros anymore. He must stand and fight for his life and the  life of his wife. He said, it was the hardest decision he made in his life.

Through a friend, he sent  me a message. He wants to see me.  I was in Aklan, when his message reached me.  I went home to Iloilo City.  I passed by my house and have a talk with Hesther. my wife. I told her, I will have to go to Bacolod. It was an urgent matter to do.

I met Sam in Bacolod City.  Allan Sy joined me. Allan was a respected Baptist leader. He was the former President of the   Baptist church leader.  Allan Sy was former president of  Central Negros Baptist Conference. I talked to Pastor Sam Antonio. He told me: "Pastor  Rud, I  have no  other  choice.  My  life is in  danger. Under  this  situations,  working as  Coordinating Pastor of churches in Upper South Negros  is now nest to impossible. I am deeply   suspected as an enemy by the military."

I asked Pastor Sam to go  and join me in  Iloilo.  This  keep the political heat colder for some months. I asked him to  Iloilo until the hit of political situation lessens.  I told him we can find some work for him  Iloilo, so he need not join the NPA. 

 But he told me military raids were  going on in different  places also  in Iloilo.  And  all over Panay Island.  It will be more dangerous for him to live and work in a place where he is quiet alien. He will be working in Iloilo alone, with new friends. It will be more dangerous for him. I thought,   Pastor Sam Antonio was  right.  We also experienced raids by the military.  And in every  military raids,   were on the balance, between life and death. 

I told Pastor Sam Antonio,   in situations like this, his own decision  is right  and respected.  Every one of us, one time  will make a life and death decision. He will make a  very important decision for his life. Perhaps, it is a decision that is not between life and death but, a really hard decision.  I told him, I respect his decision.

We  hold hands together. We bowed our heads to seek God’s will and guidance. And to seek his blessing for the decision that will be made.  I prayed for God’s strength and wisdom. I told the Lord   that Pastor Sam  was making a hard decision for his life and future. He have decided to  join the New People’s Army, as a way to protect his life and his wife. I prayed God  to guide Pastor Sam in his decision. I prayed for God’s protection for his wife. I asked God to guide them, wherever they are and  what ever work they will  br doing. I asked  it in Jesus name. I asked Brother Allan Sy to pray for Sam. He prayed for him and entrusted him, his wife and children to God's care. It was a hard and  solemn moment for us three. 

Then I talked to Pastor Sam.  I told him, with his decisions, the situations has now changed. Perhaps, I will not have the chance to meet and communicate with him again. But we will reached  each other thru  prayer.  

I assured Pastor Sam that we  will be with him. If in the future,  he decides  to go back to the folds of the law, and fight his cause thru legal  means and processes, we will be there to be with him and work with  him.

As I reflected on this decision, I thought perhaps.  joining the NPA was a new ministry  God opened for Pastor Sam Antonio.  In my prayer, I have  entrusted him to our Saviour’s hands. And I said, a similar decision as Pastor Sam,  I could have also made. Except, that I have asked the Lord, if possible I will not fight with guns  and bullets. I have asked the Lord, that  I will fight our cause with the legal and at most para legal means. I have closed avenues for armed struggle in my work and ministry with God.   

Before we parted,  Pastor Sam gave a piece of paper. It was a name. I was his alyas in the  in the underground.  But Pastor Sam said, he always listen to mo on Hour of Discovery. Often, when I gave a Bible reflection and a prayer, I know Pastor Sam was  listening somewhere in the  hills of  Central Negros Island.   He said, he always listened  to me on the radio.

 I also reminded him of Hour’s of Discovery program  in Station DYRI &  GMA Bacolod Ahd GMA Iloilo.   He may listen there for some insights,  guidance and our prayers. Then, we leave each other back to our works and ministry.

Pastor Antonio Antonio joined the NPA together with his wife. He cannot  leave his wife  back. It will be very dangerous, if he leave him and be away. He will not be able to protect her.

 Pastor Sam started  his  new journey in life. It was also a new directions of  his Christian ministry,  as  member of the  New People’s Army.

 After his re-orientations, he was  assigned  in education and training works.    Then he was assigned  in  building  the united fronts. Later he was assigned as   full time member of the NPA.  He was  now  with the fighting force.  He said: Pastor Rudy, mine was a journey that was delicate and dangerous.  It  was  a journey  I decided to travel to  help in the salvation and deliverance of our  poor people from the  powers of the  elites and Pharaohs  of our time.”  I sat down and  reflected on the life of Moses, many centuries ago.

That was  a long and dangerous    journey he and his wife made for some 11 years.  There 3 sons and a daughter were  born while they were  in the  armed struggle. His decision to serve the people and  fought  there  causes, not only with ideas, but with  guns and bullets, and led them   in the journey  for    peace, freedom, justice  and liberation.

He  said:  “I often cry when I saw  my four  young children away from us and cared by   our friends, in  the masses.  It was painful seeing them, left few days after their birth.  It  was  a sacrifice we have to make for the future – the liberation of our  people from  deep poverty and hopeless live, in the midst of the vast tracts of lands and resources  that were owned by the rich and  elites in our land”

He thought, the will be fighting  all their lives. But there were life’s  circumstances that  came along.  During  President Fidel Ramos  time  in  the 1990’,  he called for  a National Reconciliations.  The President  invited those who were fighting the government to in the hills to  join him in a reconciliations process for change.

 Pastor Sam Antonio and his wife, Leonila  studied  deeply and reflected on the reconciliation  call  of the President. He decided to accept the call. He  decided to come back  to the folds of the law and start a new struggle, the  parliamentary, the peaceful   struggle  with  farmers and workers in the  in Central Negros Island.

He wrote the President, stating his  decision to join him in his call for  reconciliation .He told the President why he want to go back to the folds of the law.

He told me::  “I  was already getting old. My  4 children were  now growing and started going to school. Soon, they will be in  high school. We want them to continue their studies in college. We need to be with them and guide them.”

They were not able to guide them in their early years.  For they were always away and absent from their children, in their growing  days.   He  need to find  work.  And he feels ,there  was  a time for everything.

He said: “There   was a time for everything.  A  time to fight and   a time  to stop fighting.  A time for war and  a time for peace. A time to  plant and time  water the plants”. In  his letter, he told the President Ramos,  he did not surrender.  Yes, he said. He did not surrender.    He accepted his call for reconciliations.

He said, he was going  old. The struggle will be taken over by the younger generation. He was called by God for another job. A work   God  prepared him to do. And new fight for  equality, freedom and justice.

Pastor Sam talked with his officers in the revolutionary struggle.  They understood  his decision. They gave him the go-signal to  decide  the course of his   life and action that was  good for him and the people.

When he decided to go back to the folds of the law, Convention Baptist leaders in Negros  came to assist him.  CPBC  President Wilson Guanzon  Sr., Vice President  Thor Famillaran,  Pastor Fred Jacildo and other Baptist leaders in Bacolod and Kabankalan were  around together with  ecumenical  church leaders.  They fetched   Pastor Sam Antonio and his wife Leonila Antonio from the mountains  in Kabankalan to Bacolod City.  

In Bacolod City, with  radio stations interviewing him of his coming back, Pastor Sam Antonio asserted that he did not surrender. He joined  the call of President Ramos for a “national reconciliation”.  He continued  the struggle and his fights….but on a different  level and different   methods. A legal means of fighting for change..

He told me one day:  “To be holy is to be separated for the cause of Christ and  protected by His power. Therefore,  those who were   for the Lord’s purpose will  be reformatted and protected by  Christ the Lord. “

Today,  Pastor Sam Antonio was  committed  to led in the revival of the churches but also building and transforming communities  in the hinterlands of Central Negros Island.

After he  left the NPA, and joined the Reconciliation Process of President Fidel Ramos,  Pastor Sam Antonio, started a strong legal efforts to bring peoples developments in the mountain villages in Upper South Negros towns and villages thru education, organizing, advocacy works, organizing the masses – farmers, workers, farm labourers  and fishermen and organized them into farmers associations and cooperatives. 

He reached out to different government agencies and mobilized resources–  cash, seeds, seedlings,  farm implements for the  people of the countryside, who were left behind in development and trained  them to be productive and have the strength and courage to stand and assert their rights.

He  dreamed   and pray  that a   tractors will be provided by the government to their associations and cooperatives,  together with   cows  and  carabaos  needed by the  people of the hinterlands for their  works .  Slowly,  their dreams  began to flower.  And one of the   strength in their service and ministry is a song, they often sung,  to give power their dreams, the Philippine National Anthem –Bayan Magiliw (Dutang Bilidhon)  that he translated in Ilonggo, the song of our  people. They   usually sing this song with the people, before their meetings, and as they  start their works:

              DUTANG BILIDHON

`            1. Dutang Bilidhon, nga amon natawhan

                  Sa may kaisog kami naga-ambahan;

                  Dutang balaan sang mga baganihan

                  Ang manlulupig, amon pamatukan.

                  Sa kalangitan  mo, sa   dagat,

                   kabukiran, amon ginapaabut

                   Ang  pag-apin Mo sa kahilwayan,

                   Sa Imo hayahay, makita ang bituon

                   Gasiga, indi malupig  kag

                   Mapintasan ang kadutaan nya.

                   Matahum duta, duta ka sang kapawa

                   Mangin sa imo ang kalipay.

                    Amon kabuhi, tanan gid ginaunong

                   Kon luiban ka sang  kaaway.

                 (Translation: Pastor Sam Antonio

Joins Agence France Presse (French News Agency) Manila Burea, Learns a Bit of News Editing and Writing

M E M O R I E S:Life and Time of Pastor Rudy Bernal, his Glimpses on History &

                       The People’s Struggle for Freedom

Chapter 20– Joins Agence France Presse (French News Agency) Manila Bureau, Learns  a Bit of News Editing and    Writing

It was in 1965 that  I joined and worked with  Agence France Presse (French News Agency), an International news agency’s Manila Bureau. During that time, there were  four international news agencies    in Manila, providing  national, regional and world  news  to the Philippines and  Asia –  United Press International (UPI), Associated Press (AP) both from the United States,  Reuters from  Great Britain  and Agence France Presse (AFP), from France.

I have a  limited  training on news works.   And I am not good in English.  Writing was always a struggle and hard work.   I’m working as Proof Reader of the Philippines Herald.    Herald was the oldest newspaper in the country. It was  one of the newspapers closed by  President Ferdinand Marcos   when he declared martial law in September 1972. Other national newspapers-  The Manila Times, Manila Chronicles, Manila Bulletin and Philippine Evening News, re-opened  and published again. But   Philippines   Herald decided to close  forever.

While doing proof reading works,   a friend  from  Agence France Presse, Ed Magtoto  visited me. We had a good conversations. Then he said, "Rudy, there is vacancy at Agence France Presse. Only one vacancy. We are looking for another News Editor. Kid Tatad, the Senior Editor has resigned two days ago. Mr.  Vincent Lateve   asked me find someone to replace him. I have not told yet anyone of the opening. If you want, you apply tomorrow. Bring all your needed documents."  

 "If you would like to apply,  come to the office tomorrow at 11:00 AM. I will  introduce you to the manager."  The job was news editing.  I thought, the job offered was   was much  better  than proofreading. He told me, aside from news editing, I will have more opportunity to cover news,  news for international audience. 

 I went  the following day  with my application letter  and  other  documents.   Agence France Presse office was at the 2^nd Floor of the Manila Chronicles building in Intramuros, Manila. On the Ground Floor was  the    Chronicles Printing Press. Manila Chronicles was  owned and ran by the Lopez family.  Fernando Lopez was active political leader He served as Senator and Vice President.  Every national  and local elections, the Chronicles Printing Press was  busy producing  elections  propaganda materials, including Sample Ballots for distribution during election campaigns.

At Agence France Presse (French News Agency) that morning,   I was introduced by Mr. Magtoto to   Mr.  Vincent Lateve. He  was    a toll,  middle aged  Frenchman. He came to  Manila  as  Correspondent of AFP.  He took  the place of Teodoro (Teddy) Benigno, AFP Manager, who went  to Paris  on  scholarship.  After he returned, Teddy Benigno was appointed   Press Secretary by  President  Cory Aquino.

I have a pleasant conversation with Mr. Lative. He accepted me as the newest editor of AFP.  One thing I remembered of  him.  After some discussion during my interview,  he said,  “You have a good voice.  It will be important when you make  interviews”. I smiled and extended my hands for a handshake.  I remembered his words. ”You have a good voice.”  I thought my practiced  of deep breathing  has paid off.  For  I have a squeaky and effeminate voice when I was younger. Then, he  referred me to Mrs. Trinidad, Assistant Manager to  give me  further instructions and  details of my work.

Mrs. Trinidad  gave me   needed  instructions.  She gave me information of the other AFP  News Editors. The time and assignments.  She said, if possible I must start work in  three days. I am needed."    I immediately resigned   from the   Philippines Herald. Three days later, I was already with  Agence France Presse. And   started  work as News Editor.

I feel I cannot believed my  luck.  I am now  News Editor of an International News Agency. Soon, I will be assigned to interview top people in government, diplomats and politicians. What, if I did not decide to study in high school. Or, if I did not pushed myself hard  to study in college as work student - washing dishes of student interns?  A new opportunity has opened. I thanked God for his help and guidance. 

We were seven  AFP staff.   Mr. Vincent Lateve, International Correspondent and Manager.  Mrs. Trinidad, Assistant  Manager and in charge for Philippine Features  write-ups  for national and  international release. Ruben Alabastro, Senior Editor and Assistant Correspondent,  Edgar Sibal, Assistant News Editor,  Mr. Ed Magtoto,  News Editor and of course now, Rudy Bernal, News Editor.  

There were  3   Teletypists that mans the receiving  and  transmission of  news. The 3  teletype machines  worked   24  hours a day receiving news from around the world. There  was also an installed Telegram Machine, that can sent messages, very fast if needed.   We looked  at all the incoming  news. Those that were  of interest for Southeast Asia,  were transmitted to  Singapore, where they were  distributed to Southeast Asia cities.  Here, I discovered the power of Teletype and Cables machines.  Every minute the, the Teletype machines  spews news items  coming from all over the world, and transmitted   to Newspapers and Radio & TV Stations in the Philippines. These were wonders of mass communication, I never thought of this things, while taking care of our carabaos when I was in grade school.   

Mr. Vincent Lateve and Ruben Alabastro prepared and wrote news for international release three times a day, in the   mornings, noontimes  and  in the  afternoons.

News  service  works  was   exciting job.   When  news broke with  international interests we have to work fast,  so we can  transmit it faster   than other news bureaus for a  few minutes. It's a highly competetive  job. A  minute  ahead of other news  agencies means business.   It was a work that carries discipline, fast action  and  challenges.

 The news editor,  I replaced  at Agence Frence  Presse  was Francisco (Kit) Tatad.  He resigned from AFP and joined  Manila  Daily Bulletin as Columnist.  Kit Tatad was a very good writer and columnist. On many occasions while covering diplomats who arrives or who were leaving  Manila,  Kit Tatad  was always  there.  I only come when  Ruben Alabastro, Senior News Editor was  busy and sent me to cover the event. We were often at the Press Lounge  of  Manila International Airport  for  Press briefings  I  listened always carefully, as    Kit Tatad   asked questions during interviews. I tried to study and learn his style and methods of questionings.

 Kit Tatad continued  working as  Bulletin columnist, until  President  Ferdinand Marcos  appointed him  Press Secretary/  Secretary for  Public Information. He  was the official spokesman of  President of Ferdinand  Marcos.   He  transformed himself, from a columnist, to the    powerful voice of the President of the Philippines. 

 When  President Marcos declared martial law,  Secretary Francisco   Tatad,  read the Martial Law declaration on  television and radio.  I remembered, It seems  to me,  his   lips  and  hands  trembles  a bit, as  he reads the Martial Law declaration.  For that was a defining moment in the Philippines. In other countries, a similar situation have brought upheaval,  that  toppled governments. 

It was privilege to work  with  Agence  France Press. It was a great learning process. The Press  Card, used with humbleness,  opens  wide opportunities  for an ordinary man like me.  It  opened  closed doors in governments,  business and diplomatic offices. That’s one power of media.

I have  learned that work, any kind of work was  great if you love the work.  And any work is hard, if you think it is  hard.  I learned reading news, a thousand news reports daily  was  also hard. It  was    hard as  a farmer who  plows    the  rice field with his carabao the whole day. Or  nurses who attend to patients need every hour of the  day and often stands as they work.  A lawyer who go to court    doing almost the same kind of legal  works  every day. It was   a job as hard as the works of  policemen who stand guards to protect citizens lives and properties  the whole day. 

 I remembered the first time I was assigned to interview a Senator. I was  assigned by Mr. Robin Alabastro to  interview Senator Jovito Salonga.  I went to  Congress. I proceeded to his office.  There was a name on his door.  I knocked. But I stopped. My heart was beating hard. I  did  not open  the door. I stopped for a moment. I breathe   deep and hard.  Deep breathing lessen the tension and  throbbing of my heart.  Then, I went  again to  the door of his office. I knocked. I opened the door. I proceeded to the Secretary. I flashed  my  Press Card. I spoke slowly.  I said:   "Agence France  Presse  is  requesting to      interview the  Senator."

The Secretary  looked  me straight on the eyes. He took  my Press Card. Then he asked me to wait.  He will talked  to  the  Senator.

She ushered me to  the  room of the  Senator Salonga. He was  pouring some  pages on   his file when I came. He looked at me. I gave him my Press Card.  He asked me to set. With quite a quivering voice, I told him: " Senator, I| am Rudy Bernal from Agence France Presse.  AFP  would like to interview you.  I am from Iloilo City and formerly with CPU.  I am a Baptist.   I was at Central Philippine University, several months ago, when  you  spoke at CPU students and faculties." Senator Salonga extended his hand for handshake. He  thanked  me for the information. He said, he was happy that the Baptists in Panay  has supported him in his senatorial candidacy. He  sat  across me on the other side of  the table.

 He was very friendly and accommodating. I know Senator Salonga was a Protestant. I readied my tape recorder. And  I began  my interview.  I  asked him several questions that we prepared at Agence France Presse.   He answered clearly and lengthily.  And the interview lasted for  nearly 20 minutes.  I thank the Senator. We shake hands again.  I   went    back to our  office.  I wrote the story. And my job for the day was  done.   After that first interview with the Senator,  covering news  and doing interviews with    government leaders, political leaders, military leaders  and diplomats  became  more easier and a  challenge.

I  made an interview with Ninoy Aquino. It was about the Jabida massacre case, where several Muslim trainees in Corregidor were reported massacred. There was only  one survivor. The wounded  young man, who swam from Corrigidor to Cavite. He said, they were told, they will be sent to Sabah. It was a short interview with Ninoy Aquino. Fifteen minutes with my Tape Recorder. 

 Interviews were jobs that needs  and  demands preparation. The need for background checks and former pronouncements of the persons to be interviewed. There were always invitations for press briefings and press conferences. These jobs offered me   opportunities to rub shoulders   with those in power, knowledge   and wealth.

One time, I was  covering a conference. I cannot remember  any more that  conference  in Quezon City. That  day  Sen. Robert Kennedy was shot. One of my instructions,  when covering  news, was to call the office every 15  minutes. That  will  provide us the opportunity to get news that came any time of the day.    When I called  the office,   Edgar  Sebal, news editor, told me that Sen. Robert  Kennedy was shot.  I shouted to  the reporters  that Robert Kennedy was shot. Max Edralin, a cousin of President Marcos  ran to me. “ What did you say?  What happened? Robert Kennedy was shot”.  I said  told him Senator Kennedy was shot.  Then, I saws all  newspapermen were on the phones calling their offices.

There were  no cell phones  then.  Big news were hot events. The competitions in news business were  great.  Edgar Sibal, transmitted Robert Kennedy assassination  barely a  minute  ahead of other news group in Manila. Transmission of news fast, even for a minutes, was an achievement.

Under a different situations, I cannot shout to  Max Edralin, a cousin of  President Marcos.  But media  offered me time to be on the level of the powerful in our country, even for just a few minutes.

After working  a year and a half  at AFP,  I  began to feel that  news  editing and  writing  was  not the  job I would like to do all  my life. The job offers good salary. Most of the snacks and meals were free. But I felt, I could not live my  life, telling the stories of the people in the news, what they do and how they do it. I thought, perhaps, when I am old, I can just write stories of people’s lives. But at this time,  while still young, I must  be  part of the actions, whatever that action is. 

 In my  brief works in the newspaper and wire service, I have seen the slums of Pasay, Tondo, San Andres in Malate, Makati, Pandacan and other areas   with the brutal living conditions of the poor in the slums, a  grave contradictions to the  affluence and  rich and powerful we say  in newspaper's Society Pages.

And I have seen, that the newspapers were part of the strongest forces that strengthen the elites and the oligarchs to maintain their power and strength. The poor, has no voice and power to change their situations and lives.

I saw the  struggle  of the students in Metro Manila as  they rallied to  show the  evils of the social, economic and political  system of the country.  I have seen the challenges of the trade unions and their call for  people to organize and  work for change.  This tinkered  my mind and  touched  my  soul.   God was  giving me  a new  order. He calls me to a new life’s   directions. The directions was clear. To be a minister of the gospel. Or be a labor labor and organizer Or both, a pastor and labor organizer. I prayed for God’s guidance and  direction.

A few days later, I heard that Mr. Curaming, a Herald reporter who  covers   National Defense and the Philippine Constabulary resigned. He stopped from his newsparing work. He will  study in the seminary. He will be a  Catholic priest, and served his people. I have not heard  from him since then. I do not know if he became a priest.  But I  have, somehow followed the same decision he made, with  a little difference. My decision was to be a pastor and  a labor leader.

 That night, I decided to  join the groups that were working for social, spiritual, economic and political change.  I will   join hands with other sectors of society and helped   empower the poor and weak, unite and help fight for the needed structural and political change in our country.  

Several months later,  I resigned from Agence France Presse.  I   decided to join and work with  farmers and farm laborers and help labor union in Panay. I will go back to Iloilo as  base of our  works.  I have decided to remain in the Philippines and work in the country and helped  in the struggle of our  change. That night I bowed down my head to God  in prayer. I asked God’s guidance.  I know,  it will be another long way.  But God will open my way, the needed way, as I  go  in service to Him. I will study again as pastor,  but will involve myself in the people’s movement, with labor education and people’s  organizing  as part of my  ministry in life.

When I joined Kabataang Makabayan (KM) in Manila, my mind and decision  was clear.  I will not join the armed struggle, though I’ll respect the stand of those who believe.  I will  not  fight with bullets.  I will fight with    ideas and reasons. I will  involved and worked  with other  sectors of society, in helping educate and organize  the  laborers, workers, peasants, fisherfolk and  urban poor,   the weakest sector of our society. Then, they can stand and fight  for equality, freedom, justice and social transformation.