MA. LUISA POSA-DOMINAO 3

Maria Luisa Posa-Dominado: A Filipino Woman Fighter for Freedom, Justice and Liberation
(Last of 3 parts)

I met Ma.Luisa Posa-Dominado’s eldest daughter, May Wan at the office of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches in one of ecumenical activities held there, where she shared some parts of the life of her mother She was preparing for the Bar Examinations . I have not met Tamara, her sister, who was still studying In Iloilo City. Msy Wan was working and helping with “ Save Maria Luisa Posa-Dominado, Nilo Arado Movement”, a people’s effort that seek to find and recover the two militants and peaceful people working of peace and justice.

With controlled pain, since the abduction of her mother, she said: “My mother has the option to live an easy and comfortable life. But she explained to us why she chose to be an activist and live a life of hardship and some much work, danger and risk. She told us, there are things that needed to be done and wrongs that needed to be corrected. She has to do her share to help bring the needed change in the life of the masses r and exploited people of our impoverished country.”

I could feel her pain, searing through my heart as I looked at her that day. I would like to ask her about her father, Tomas Dominado,  but I decided not. I think it would be an additional pain for her. I met her father, Tomas in 1970 when he was still a student  at the University of the Philippines- Visayas. But I never met him again, after he went underground with the declaration of martial law and even while they were in the military stockade.

In August 10, 2007, on Maria Luisa’s birthday, three months after her abduction and disappearance, her sister Mary Grace Patino, that time in Kansas City , USA wrote a poignant letter expressing her love and pain for her missing sister. The letter was read before hundreds of friends, relatives and fellow human rights advocates that joined her birthday celebration in her absence at the  “Monument for Heroes of Panay in the People’s Struggle” at Plaza Libertad, Iloilo City. The letter reads:

“Dearest Ging. It is your birthday today. It is odd to be celebrating your birthday in your absence. This time, I can only see you in my mind’s eyes and listen to your voice echoing in the recesses of my mind. Yet, it is no less real than if you were just right here, only a phone call away. Maybe this is so because through all the years that we were apart, I had always called you up frequently , over one thing or another.

" We talked about events in our lives and our families which brought us close to each other, each and every day. It was as if we were never far away from each other at all. The last time I talked to you, we were about to launched our fence project in Villa…..you also told me that the earrings and necklace that went with the outfit, but which did not reach you on time, did not matter because what you had was just good enough. You were content because you said you really looked nice in them.

“You must wonder why I would recount this moment I had with you on your birthday and in front of so many people. It sounds very trivial and so ordinary. I am doing this because with this triviality I can grasp just a little bit of your essence, of what make you tick, of who you are. This is just an effort on my part to understand what you represent because in truth, I perceive you as someone bigger than life itself.

The scope of your influence in people’s lives before was limited to a certain number of people only, while you were still physically tangible to us. Your absence has broadened the awareness of a much greater number of people to your presence, your work with the poor and the downtrodden , the ideals you hold very dear to your heart, and to your ultimate sacrifice. Your life’s blood is trickling into people’s consciousness and cannot be ignored or forgotten. The Luisa phenomenon is on the rise.

“Yes, Ging I miss you very much. When I am gripped with the terrible feeling of hollowness and emptiness, I would simply look up at the sky and see your image in the blueness. I would feel the wind brush my uplifted face to hear you whisper to me. I imagine hugging you to me when there was downpour of rain outside so that I can keep you warm and safe in my arms. And God knows that I had been bothering Him a lot about you since you were gone.

“….I and our families want to let you know we love you very much. As I have told you before, again and again, we are all very fortunate and grateful for having you become part of our lives. You are our beloved Ginging, now and forever more. We are better people because of you.”

The search and prayer for Maria Luisa Posa-Dominado, Nilo Arado and all other militants and critics of government who were abducted and remain missing continue. Let us remember them in our prayers.
(Last of 3 parts)