Chapter 37- Kabataang Makabayan (KM) & the Struggle for National Democracy

Kabataang Makabayan (KM), was the student movement that rocked Iloilo and Panay from 1972 until 1987. It started in 1969 with students from Manila linked with students from colleges and universities of Iloilo City to work for political and revolutionary change.

The liberation movement fermented and started softly with flickering embers, growing steadily with flares and flames that touched and moved the poor people of Panay, especially the youth to participate deeply in the struggle for economic and political liberation.

Then a democratic movement in Iloilo in late 1966's was started with Alberto Espinas, Fluelyn Ortigas and Rolly Lorca, Ilonggo youth leaders, who were KM members in Manila. When they returned to Iloilo, they formed KM Iloilo chapter. Rolly Lorca recruited Josil Jaen. Alberto Espinas recruited Francis Monfort, Eddie Carilimdiliman and VC.

The National democratic movement came from different groups in Iloilo. Pablito Araneta, Tomas Dominado and Jim Geduspan were members of Samahang Democratikong Kabataan (SDK). Ferdie Arceo was from KM Manila. Pablo Fernandez was from Masang Prop.

Alberto Espinas who was elected first KM President, Iloilo Chapter was from Lyceum of the Philippines. He was a product of the “First Quarter Storm of Philippine Revolution” in Manila. With his 8 friends, they organized the Iloilo chapter of Kabataang Makabayan. Alberto Espinas came to Iloilo as Joven Defensor. That was his new name. His Nom-de- Guerre.

They continued Discussion Groups (DG) and made studies on the arts and technics in organizing and mobilizing students. They studied histories. They studied the revolutionary movements in the Philippines and other parts of the world. They studied the ideas of Mao Zedong, from a small booklet 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. Fluelyn’s parents Rev. Restituto Ortigas and Mrs. Felisberta Ortigas were Baptist Minister of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches.

Elected first KM officers were Alberto Espinas, President; Josil Jaen, Vice President; Virgil Ortigas, was Chairman, Education Committee; Presiding the Organizational Meeting was Flu Ortigas.

The first members were Fluelyn Ortigas, Rolly Lorca, Francis Monfort, Eddie Carilimdiliman, Vic Beloria and Pablo Fernandez, who was Corp Commander of UP Visayas ROTC.

Other members of KM- Iloilo were Manfred Ortiz, Willy Ortiz, Norman Cabangal, Romy Deprado, Louie Posa and Elmer Unsay. They were the first KM members from the University of San Agustin. 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.

The first KM members guided Kabataang Makabayan, as it organized chapters in Central Philippine University, University of San Agustin, University of the Philippines –Visayas, Iloilo City Colleges, Visayan Central Colleges and other colleges, including girl’s 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 Iloilo Province.

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

In 1972, before President Marcos declared Martial Law, KM and its allied associations have organized chapters in nearly 39% 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 65% barangays in Iloilo and Panay.

When martial law was declared, the first who was arrested in Iloilo and Panay were KM and SDK members, student activists, militant farmers and workers, some pastors and the urban poor. Coronacion Chiva (Commander Waling-Waling) and 60 others were arrested. Rev. Delifin Dianala, pastor of Katipunan Baptist Church in Katipunan, Tapaz, Capiz was arrested and imprisoned. He was 70 years old. They were detained for several 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.

With the declaration of martial law, Kabataang Makabayan (KM) was declared an illegal organization. From their groups, cadres of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) New People’s Army (NPA) were mobilized, trained and organized. They were the vanguards for the revolutionary movement in Iloilo and Panay Island. 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 the hearts of KM members, steeled them to resist martial rule for decades, until President Marcos was toppled from power and brought by US forces to Hawaii.

During the first three months after the declaration of martial law, 10 KM members and activist were killed. They were the first victims for President Marcos's martial rule in Panay. Some of those killed by military operatives in Bingawan, Iloilo, few months after martial law declaration 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 regime and succeeding regime. Others, in their old age continue to fight in different battle fronts. And those who have gift for singing struggles songs, again sang their songs while in the hills in their old age. Today they sing their songs whenever there were opportunities to sing these again.

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

There were 3,257 killed in the country, 400 of them were from Panay. There were 35,000 tortured. And 70,000 imprisoned. The revolutionary movement was a powerful force that 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.” During that time, the Democratic Front has chapters in some 60% of barangays or 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 NPA and the partisan were strengthening the organizations. The same were happening in Capiz, Aklan and Antique and Guimaras. 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 cracked and divided. the re-Affirmists that supported Joma Sison’s positions and the Rejectionists block headed by Kintanar and his group that was opposing Sison’s position. It greatly weakened the revolutionary movement. It moved on but broken, splintered in 3 groups. These was one unfortunate development in the Philippine revolutionary struggle of the past, that greatly weakened the revolutionary movement until today

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

They participated in the hard and long struggle. They were mostly unknown. And most of them remained unknown until today. But soon, their lives and struggles would be known and written. They would write their stories themselves. They would share share their lives, their works, their struggles and challenges. They would tell the stories of their failures and successes.

They would share the pains and laughter of their past. They would tell us their defeats and victories, their losses and gains. They would share their faith, hopes and dreams to the young and coming generations. They would tell the simple stories of their lives and like the living stories of the Bible, it will live for years and years in the people's hearts and forever.