I was first year college at that time. I was ecstatic to see my first article printed center fold in one issue of our student university paper "The Quill". The editors liked my writing entitled " In search of modern hero".
I went to the Quill office and was happy to bring more copies with me. I felt too proud of my self as I went out of the office.
Then one guy came to me and invited me to a little forum. He looked very serious yet friendly. He was just 21 years old. He had this low and calm voices thats a bit strange.
The next day I was in a room with several students in uniform for the "forum". All of them are strangers. All are innocent looling too. There I saw the guy who invited me the other day doing some kind of lecture. I sat for several minutes and noticed something familiar. I've heard the lecture before. Back in my home town where NPA's have the biggest nest all over the Philippines.
I raised my hand and ask the lecturer: "From where did you learn this lecture? The last time I heard this lecture is from my hometown as highschool student and this was done to us by NPA rebels". I said it loud enough that it stunned everyone in the room, except the lecturer himself.
The forum was suddenly cut and most attendees were sent outside. I learned that about 6 of the attendees are back-ups and observers. Most of them are from other big universities in Cebu and holds big position in the League of Filipino Students, or LFS. Most of them were 20 years old at most. I was 23 years old at that time and was eager to lecture them how lucky they are to be in school and they should not waste their parents money i joining leftist organization. I inquired if they are all communists. They said they are not.
Then a 3-day debate followed. I tried to talk them out of the organization. Only to learn little by little that they are infact already deep rooted and well connected to the CPP-NPA legal fronts. One is the president of Anak Bayan, the other one an officer of Gabriela and the rest are all connected legal fronts.Me on the other hand was not empty handed. I told my real life story of growing up where real batlles, real killings and real sufferings happen becuase of insurgency. It was ugly I told them. I also told them how communist favors recruiting bright and fresh university minds like them to be the future leaders of communist movement.
I read a book (back when I was still a taxi driver in Manila) written by a British MI5 deputy director Mr. Wright who narrated thedeep penetration of communists into the England's school campuses. Many British governmentent officials and military Generals were silent communists he exposed. That book "spy catcher" laid out the communist blue print of recruting new communist in top universities. Joma Sison was recruited and indoctrinated inside our very own state university, UP if I must say.
But After 3 days of debate, we agreed to disagree. They were all hardened leftist and ripe for adventure in the movement. Marvin admitted to me he is already a communist and I stopped arguing. Communism is like a religion. It requires deep faith and belief, regardless. A communist believes that the only way to achieve lasting peace in his country is through a bloody revolution. Who am I to tell him he's wrong?
We parted ways and maintained contacts and respect to one another. I joined The Quill later as an officer but never get to the top because I wasn't a true leftist to my collegue's standard. Most university papers are controlled and dictated by some people "up there". But I wrote plenty of jokes, poems and short love stories in college and got good feed backs. All I really wanted was to finish college and have fun writing.
2 years later, Marvin died in a clash with military in Bohol. His death was headlined in news papers. I know Marvin was proud to die in the battle field. His conviction was deep and unwavering. But his was a lost cause.
Look at Joma Sison. Look at Satur Ocampo. Look at Popoy Lagman. All of them used the movement for thier personal gains.
Hundreds of thousands of leftist students were recruited, used and misled by an ideology never understood even by its leaders. Most were just pushed by curiousity, adventurism, hatred against corruption and even lack if personal dreams.
Communism is a long dead idea. All that's left is camaraderie, belongingness and brotherhood for those who fought with valid causes against oppression.
For a long time the CPP-NPA preached that the US imperialism is our enemy. I agree with it. That we need true nationalism to grow as a nation. I agree with it. That we need true identity as a people. I agree with it.
Me and Marvin have many things in common. The only difference is that, he went too far and paid with his life for a lost cause.
We don't need Communism. All we need is Nationalism.
Under Duterte's administration, I believe true nationalism is coming. But the CPP-NPA and US Imperialist are colluding to put him down. Good thing most of the Filipinos are on his side.
