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 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.