Heroes of Youth, or A Matter of Point of View


Many thanks and photo courtesy of League of Filipino Students and the Arkibong Bayan

The great divide, nay, a chasm, between poverty and opulence both obtained in the urban centers like mega Manila and the rural areas is an encouragement for courageous and idealist youths to take up a different challenge in their own perspective.

But it is not the only factor or reason enough, there should be more which brings forth the “sudden” awakening of students into the political realities on hand, some embrace bold and daring decision that consumes their passion, effort and lives.

Later in their immersion and experience in the communities some “graduate” and rejoin the mainstream of the society. Others become political activists. Many do not finish their “apprenticeship” and community organizing task and join the countless batch of youths etched in an unwritten memorial of young martyrs and heroes of the people (bayani ng bayan).

One of whom is Kembery Jul Luna, an AB English student at Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT). She was found lifeless in the forest of sitio Bulacao of barangay Concepcion in Valencia city. A bullet pierced her chest and nape as a result of an encounter with the military on the 15th of December, last year.

We have to resurrect one poem of ours written for some dear friends who went ahead of Kemberly. Yes, we dedicate the same to her, too:

isang tanghaling tapat sa buhay ni cesar, rommel at mark
Dec. 12, 1994

walang atubili ang hatid ng mga kalatas
na balot ng bakal sa inyo dumatal
winarak ang utak tumarak sa dibdib
mga bisig dinipa sa langit
piping labi humalik sa mamad na lupa

sige, sa inyong paghimlay isalin ang pag-asa
damhin ang pag-usbong
ng bagong pakikibaka na inyong punla
gabayan ng alaala ang sunod na pagpula
sa dakong silangan
hayaan luksang parang ay lagumin
ng luntiang halaman hitik sa bunga
anihin ng karet pandayin ng maso
mga kamao ay itaas pamuli ng libong kasama.

tanghaling tapat na naman, cesar, rommel at mark.

(Note: This is reposted on Arkibongbayan.org do check out for more.

The great divide, nay, a chasm, between poverty and opulence both obtained in the urban centers like mega Manila and the rural areas is an encouragement for courageous and idealist youths to take up a different challenge in their own perspective.

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