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

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 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

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

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 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

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 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.