Post by EXPRESIDENT on Aug 4, 2010 15:56:28 GMT 8
Ex-NPA rebel considering return to mountains if Noynoy fails
Izah Morales | August 3, 2010 at 4:08 pm | Categories: Philippines, Politics | URL: wp.me/pRwjP-1cI
PAGUDPUD, ILOCOS NORTE -- When President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III won the 2010 elections, Aiza* had high hopes that he would fulfill his promise to rid the government of corrupt officials.
If President Aquino cannot fulfill his promises, she says she might go back to the mountains and rejoin the communist New People's Army (NPA).
“Tingnan natin kung matutulungan niya na magkaroon ng pagbabago, siyempre tutulong din tayo. Pero kung walang mangyayari talaga, maaring mamundok ulit ako (Let us see if Aquino could ignite change in the country, of course, all of us should help him. But if nothing happens, I might go back to the mountains),” Aiza shares.
Aiza joined the NPA in the Mountain Province in the early 1990s. She was 16 then. From the ranks, she became a battalion leader in less than five years and conducted operations in the Mountain Province and nearby areas.
“Sumali ako mamundok kasi nakita kong malupit yung mga militar sa lugar namin, kinukuha yung ani namin imbes na pangalagaan yung safety namin. Pero ang pinakamabigat na rason, pinatay nila ang kuya ko kasi akala nila kasama sa NPA (I went to the mountains and became a rebel after seeing the injustices of the military in our area, keeping from us our harvest instead of ensuring our safety. But the biggest reason is when they killed my brother who they thought was a member of the NPA).”
Asked how she told her mother of her plans to become a rebel, Aiza says she just left home one night. “Kinausap ko si nanay after ng tatlong buwan. Sinamahan nila ako pagbisita ko ng bahay at pag-akyat ulit. Wala namang sinabi sa akin si Nanay na mali ang desisyon ko o ano, basta mag-ingat daw ako palagi (I talked to my mother after three months of joining the group. My battalion leaders accompanied me then when I visited our home and until I went up to the mountains again. Mother just told me to always stay safe).”
Despite being the youngest recruit, Aiza received no special treatment from her “family in the mountains.” She was taught hand-to-hand combat skills and how to operate a .45-caliber pistol, an AK-47, a baby armalite and M-16 rifles, among others.
She was also trained as a sniper but she preferred to use the baby armalite as an area scout together with battalion partner Jinky*.
“Nagpalit nga kami ni Jinky ng armas, sa akin na yung baby niya tapos sa kanya yung M-16 ko kasi mabigat (Jinky and exchanged guns. I got the baby armalite and she got the M-16, which was heavy),” recalls Aiza, who adds that they all had nicknames for their guns.
Her comrades, she says, served as her second family although their typical day was far from what one might call “normal.”
“Sa taas, natuto akong matulog ng nakaupo sa puno habang may bagyo at kumain ng agahan habang may barilan. Normal lang yun sa amin (Up there, I learned how to sleep while seated on a tree branch under a storm and how to eat breakfast with shots being fired around us).”
Aiza also recalls that they were trained to use herbal plants as medicine and spot edible fruits for survival. This proved to be useful after Aiza was wounded by grenade shrapnel during an encounter
.
“Mabubuhay ka talaga sa bundok kasi nandun na lahat ng kailangan mo, yung halaman na akala mo damong ligaw lang pero gamot pala o pagkain yun (Nature will provide you with medicine or food in the mountains so you can definitely survive there).”
On a nearby mountain, Aiza points to an herb about a foot tall with small violet flowers she called “garen” that is said to have antibiotic properties. There is also a tall herb with thick stems called “subusoy,” the broad leaves of which are chewed and applied to wounds for faster healing. There were several others such as amamisay, banaba and pinya leaves which can be used to treat stomach ailments.
Aiza says kamoteng kahoy or cassava served as their main food source. The cassava even caused infighting within the NPA when food supply was really scarce up in the mountains, she says.
Aiza also showed us trees planted by some NPA members up in the mountains, especially near roads and streams to prevent rapid soil erosion.
“Mahalaga ang kagubatan kasi sa mga puno kami nakatira dito sa itaas lalo na kapag bumabagyo. Kaya nga galit kami sa namumutol ng kahoy dahil pag bumaha ng malakas at nag-landslide, ang kawawa yung mga nasa baba kaya kung may maitutulong kami tulad ng pagtatanim, ginagawa namin (The forest is important to us because trees serve as our shelter especially when it rains. We do not agree with illegal loggers because rampant logging leads to floods and landslides, with people living in the lowlands to suffer. As much as possible we help in our own way),” says Aiza, while pointing to a three-year-old tree planted near a stream.
Apart from receiving training in combat and medicine, each NPA member is also trained to navigate the mountains without a map to ensure that they can survive alone. “Dapat kahit mapahiwalay ka sa grupo mo, kaya mong mabuhay (One should be able to live independently even if you are not with your battalion).”
And yes, just in case you’re wondering, they do play and like listening to ‘70s folk band “Asin.”
After four years in the service, Aiza decided to descend from the mountains together with 50 other NPA members to rejoin their families. They asked permission from their comrades, and they parted ways without ill feelings. Until now, Aiza says she still receives letters from the NPA commander and members who have become her friends during her stay.
“Hindi ko pinagsisihan na namundok ako kasi marami akong natutunan tulad ng disiplina at kung paano mabuhay. Wala man akong asawa ngayon dahil wala akong napusuan simula ng sumali ako hanggang ngayon, kapiling ko naman ang pamilya ko at pangako ko sa sarili ko na poprotektahan ko sila hanggat kaya ko. Sana yung mga lider din sa gobyerno, gawin yun sa Pilipinas (I will never regret that I went up to the mountains to become a rebel because I learned a lot. While I may be single until today because I never fell in love up in the mountains and even until now, I have my family and I promise to protect them from harm. I hope our government leaders will do the same for the Philippines).”
*The names of the persons mentioned in this article have been changed to protect their identities.
***
loQal.ph is a website owned and operated by Filquest Media Concepts, Inc. It works under the principle of giving voice to the voiceless, subjects not covered by traditional media because of their mad rush for scoops, topics, personalities and issues that sell publications, advertising space or airtime. To do this, the loQal.ph team produces stories, video, photos and other multimedia content types fit for the new media audience.
Izah Morales | August 3, 2010 at 4:08 pm | Categories: Philippines, Politics | URL: wp.me/pRwjP-1cI
PAGUDPUD, ILOCOS NORTE -- When President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III won the 2010 elections, Aiza* had high hopes that he would fulfill his promise to rid the government of corrupt officials.
If President Aquino cannot fulfill his promises, she says she might go back to the mountains and rejoin the communist New People's Army (NPA).
“Tingnan natin kung matutulungan niya na magkaroon ng pagbabago, siyempre tutulong din tayo. Pero kung walang mangyayari talaga, maaring mamundok ulit ako (Let us see if Aquino could ignite change in the country, of course, all of us should help him. But if nothing happens, I might go back to the mountains),” Aiza shares.
Aiza joined the NPA in the Mountain Province in the early 1990s. She was 16 then. From the ranks, she became a battalion leader in less than five years and conducted operations in the Mountain Province and nearby areas.
“Sumali ako mamundok kasi nakita kong malupit yung mga militar sa lugar namin, kinukuha yung ani namin imbes na pangalagaan yung safety namin. Pero ang pinakamabigat na rason, pinatay nila ang kuya ko kasi akala nila kasama sa NPA (I went to the mountains and became a rebel after seeing the injustices of the military in our area, keeping from us our harvest instead of ensuring our safety. But the biggest reason is when they killed my brother who they thought was a member of the NPA).”
Asked how she told her mother of her plans to become a rebel, Aiza says she just left home one night. “Kinausap ko si nanay after ng tatlong buwan. Sinamahan nila ako pagbisita ko ng bahay at pag-akyat ulit. Wala namang sinabi sa akin si Nanay na mali ang desisyon ko o ano, basta mag-ingat daw ako palagi (I talked to my mother after three months of joining the group. My battalion leaders accompanied me then when I visited our home and until I went up to the mountains again. Mother just told me to always stay safe).”
Despite being the youngest recruit, Aiza received no special treatment from her “family in the mountains.” She was taught hand-to-hand combat skills and how to operate a .45-caliber pistol, an AK-47, a baby armalite and M-16 rifles, among others.
She was also trained as a sniper but she preferred to use the baby armalite as an area scout together with battalion partner Jinky*.
“Nagpalit nga kami ni Jinky ng armas, sa akin na yung baby niya tapos sa kanya yung M-16 ko kasi mabigat (Jinky and exchanged guns. I got the baby armalite and she got the M-16, which was heavy),” recalls Aiza, who adds that they all had nicknames for their guns.
Her comrades, she says, served as her second family although their typical day was far from what one might call “normal.”
“Sa taas, natuto akong matulog ng nakaupo sa puno habang may bagyo at kumain ng agahan habang may barilan. Normal lang yun sa amin (Up there, I learned how to sleep while seated on a tree branch under a storm and how to eat breakfast with shots being fired around us).”
Aiza also recalls that they were trained to use herbal plants as medicine and spot edible fruits for survival. This proved to be useful after Aiza was wounded by grenade shrapnel during an encounter
.
“Mabubuhay ka talaga sa bundok kasi nandun na lahat ng kailangan mo, yung halaman na akala mo damong ligaw lang pero gamot pala o pagkain yun (Nature will provide you with medicine or food in the mountains so you can definitely survive there).”
On a nearby mountain, Aiza points to an herb about a foot tall with small violet flowers she called “garen” that is said to have antibiotic properties. There is also a tall herb with thick stems called “subusoy,” the broad leaves of which are chewed and applied to wounds for faster healing. There were several others such as amamisay, banaba and pinya leaves which can be used to treat stomach ailments.
Aiza says kamoteng kahoy or cassava served as their main food source. The cassava even caused infighting within the NPA when food supply was really scarce up in the mountains, she says.
Aiza also showed us trees planted by some NPA members up in the mountains, especially near roads and streams to prevent rapid soil erosion.
“Mahalaga ang kagubatan kasi sa mga puno kami nakatira dito sa itaas lalo na kapag bumabagyo. Kaya nga galit kami sa namumutol ng kahoy dahil pag bumaha ng malakas at nag-landslide, ang kawawa yung mga nasa baba kaya kung may maitutulong kami tulad ng pagtatanim, ginagawa namin (The forest is important to us because trees serve as our shelter especially when it rains. We do not agree with illegal loggers because rampant logging leads to floods and landslides, with people living in the lowlands to suffer. As much as possible we help in our own way),” says Aiza, while pointing to a three-year-old tree planted near a stream.
Apart from receiving training in combat and medicine, each NPA member is also trained to navigate the mountains without a map to ensure that they can survive alone. “Dapat kahit mapahiwalay ka sa grupo mo, kaya mong mabuhay (One should be able to live independently even if you are not with your battalion).”
And yes, just in case you’re wondering, they do play and like listening to ‘70s folk band “Asin.”
After four years in the service, Aiza decided to descend from the mountains together with 50 other NPA members to rejoin their families. They asked permission from their comrades, and they parted ways without ill feelings. Until now, Aiza says she still receives letters from the NPA commander and members who have become her friends during her stay.
“Hindi ko pinagsisihan na namundok ako kasi marami akong natutunan tulad ng disiplina at kung paano mabuhay. Wala man akong asawa ngayon dahil wala akong napusuan simula ng sumali ako hanggang ngayon, kapiling ko naman ang pamilya ko at pangako ko sa sarili ko na poprotektahan ko sila hanggat kaya ko. Sana yung mga lider din sa gobyerno, gawin yun sa Pilipinas (I will never regret that I went up to the mountains to become a rebel because I learned a lot. While I may be single until today because I never fell in love up in the mountains and even until now, I have my family and I promise to protect them from harm. I hope our government leaders will do the same for the Philippines).”
*The names of the persons mentioned in this article have been changed to protect their identities.
***
loQal.ph is a website owned and operated by Filquest Media Concepts, Inc. It works under the principle of giving voice to the voiceless, subjects not covered by traditional media because of their mad rush for scoops, topics, personalities and issues that sell publications, advertising space or airtime. To do this, the loQal.ph team produces stories, video, photos and other multimedia content types fit for the new media audience.