HISTORICAL FOOTNOTS -

HISTORICAL FOOTNOTES: 

Mrs. Leonila Antonio, A Baptist  NPA Officer Involved  in  Education  & the People's 

Liberation…

Mrs. Leonila Antonio joined and accompanied Pastor Samuel Antonio, in the struggle for  freedom and liberation of the Filipino masses from poverty, injustices and economic depravity by joining the New People’s Army (NPA). They  worked   in the hinterlands of  Southern Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.

 Pastor Samuel  Antonio decided  to join the New People’s Army (NPA) in 1981.  Mrs. Leonila Antonio joined  him  and  involved themselves in the  liberation struggle of the Filipino masses.

They were working peacefully in the Baptist churches in the hinterlands of Negros Island, were  Pastor Samuel Antonio served as Circuit Minister for some 22 congregations,   hoping to continue their ministry  in peace. But Pastor Samuel Antonio  experienced continuous harassment from the military, Their activities were suspected and questioned. Several times, they experienced  raids by the military. They decided to seriously consider how to handle their situations, which involved   now, their lives. 

 Pastor Sam Antonio and Mrs. Leonila Antonio  made a very hard decision  of their life. They  decided to join the New People's Army.  They both decided to join in the  NPA camps in the hinterlands of Upper South Negros.  This district, compost of 5  towns  of Kabankalan, Candoni, Sipalay, Hinobaan and Canlaon.

It was dangerous to leave Mrs. Antonio in their home alone.  It may be hard for her to accompany him, but  that’s  the better  way under the  circumstances. Alone in their home, Pastor Antonio will  never  be able to protect his wife.  And  with  many military atrocities during martial law, a lovely and intelligent  woman as Mrs  Antonio could be   vulnerable consumption by the  military in the hinterlands during those times. It was a hard decision for the couple. But they made that decision.  To be  together in the struggle, with the Filipino poor in the work  for justice, freedom and  liberations.

After some months of briefing, study and involvements,  Pastor Samuel Antonio and Mrs.  Leonila Antonio  were  accepted members of  the NPA.  Mrs. Antonio was was  taken  as member of the  Propaganda &  Organizing Team (POT), assigned in the hinterland villages of  Upper South Negros.

Before her  marriage,   Mrs.  Antonio studied at La Consolacion College (LCC) in Bacolod City. She finished her Bachelor of Science  in Commerce, major in Accounting. She worked for several years. Then she met Pastor Antonio. After some months of courtship they were married. It was quite difficult for her, living for years in the city to join Pastor Antonio in Upper south Negros working and  visiting the  24  village church that their farther, Pastor Victorino Antonio have helped build in his more than 30 years of ministry in the areas.

With her marriage to   Pastor Sam,  Mrs. Antonio seemed to have been thrown into the hard life in the mountain villages, where she had to  re-adjust  her life and her way of living. But  she adjusted fast.

When she was assigned to the Propaganda and Organizing Team (POT) their  main responsibility was translation works. They  were  four members of the team. They worked  and studied   with farmers in the hinterland villages.

 But their main task was translation works – translating   the Party’s educational materials, used in mass education works,   from  English and Tagalog to Ilonggo / Hiligaynon.  Her education in college  and  wide readings, suited her for the job of education, training  and translation  and publishing  works.

The translated materials  in Ilongo  were then printed. It was used  in the education works and training among the masses  This was  needed as a Party responsibility, so that the masses involved in the studies would know the situations, their basic rights, understood their responsibilities as good citizens and learn the political and economic  directions of the party. 

When I asked  her   how many farmers and farm workers in the hinterland  barangays were reached by the Propaganda and Organizing Team (POT), Mrs. Antonio said, " on normal situations, some 50 -70 per cent of the masses in the barangays  participates in   study  by the Party.   There were some people, who do not want to participate in the education by the Party.  Some felt they do not need it. Others   fear   their involvement will put them in danger with the  military"

She said:  "Education was  very important for all people, even those who were only primary grades and even those who have no  formal education.  For education were not only for those who attend formal schooling.  Right education  were learned  by  living,  working and involving with people in their daily struggle  for life and  their rights.  Many among the masses have learned and  understand the “mass lines” of the party. With this understanding, the masses of the barangays will be able to know  what are good for the  people,  specifically  the poor and the weak. They will also learn and understand the evils  of  government  policies &  military,  the oligarchs  and  the elites  greed  and exploitative  business interests.

According to Mrs. Antonio more than 50% of the masses in the barangay’s hinterlands,  now understood  their political rights. They  understood their business rights thru   membership in cooperatives and   farmers’  associations  they studied  the mountains."

 'They have learned to understand their rights  as  consumers.  A growing number of the masses in the villages can now stand and have the courage to defend their rights."  I asked how Mrs. Antonio looked at the present work of President Rodrigo Duterte and the Peace Talks between the Government of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.  She said, "she was  hopeful and pray for  the  success  of the Peace Talks.  The people need to learn thru the Peace Talks,   the real reasons for the war in our country.  Through the Peace Process,  those involved  will  learn the real reasons for the conflict and how the conflict can be addressed and  solved. For the war between the government and the New People’s Army have now killed more than 40,000 Filipinos from the side of the government forces, the NPA   and  civilian. 

It was very hard for her to  have   their    4 children cared by  relatives and friends among the masses in the mountains,  while she and her husband were fighting the cause of the poor and deprived.  These were often lonely days.  She suffered so much anxiety. She fears for the security of their children, because sometimes,  they were  used as guide and investigated  on  the whereabouts  of their parents.

 During normal times, when the area were a bit peaceful, they visit their children, but  not frequently. They worked hard for some projects  to  help  support  their children’s subsistence. But often this  were not enough. She hopes that after the storm is over, when peace will come, they will live normal lives, in a peaceful  and just society.

I asked Mrs. Antonio  what were the hopes of the masses in the hinterlands of Negros Island today?  She looked at me with light tears in her eyes. She said:  " he   struggle may still be long and hard. And if war continues between the government and the revolutionary forces, there will be more  killed and  wounded, both from the military and police, the rebels and the unfortunate people hit by bullets coming from both sides of the warring camp."

 But the present Peace Talks, now on the 3^rd  Phase  in Rome, January 2017,  may bring peace and change. For the Peace Talks and the peace agreement that will come, will bring the needed peace in our country. That was the dream. They dream of   victory –when people and their children would live happy,  peaceful,  prosperous  lives with justice and freedom for all.