Chapter 22
Exodus
M/V Sta. Ana carrying Fr. Driarco, Ka Mario and Roger from Iloilo Golden Friendship
“Welcome to Mindanao .
It’s good to have you around Reverend Fr. . . .”
“I’m Driarco Valderama
dela Cruz from Sta. Rita, Romblon.” the visitor quipped taking out the
wig and mustache.
“Welcome to the group father. Ka Mario
radioed me of your predicament and thought that we should come to your rescue.”
“Many thanks and I really owe my life to
your group.”
“Our group from now on Father. What you
meet is practically what everybody else in our movement experienced. There are
too many others you know like you in the movement you would later learn
suffered worst than you had. These gentlemen and concerned ladies would have
been additional forces that could have possibly stifle Marcos’ voice.
Unfortunately, the muzzle of the gun is such terrifying instrument that could
silence their voices forever. Hence, the change of loyalty from the dictatorial
Marcos’ run government to people nationalists’ struggle for liberation. It’s
their choice. We do follow suit. The rest still caught in the quandary what to
do. But we’ve got to move. Time is running out. Marcos men have been on the run
rampaging the innocent lives of civilians shooting at will they could see
crossing against their path. It’s not the way any civilized nation behave you
know. Precisely we have the bill of rights to protect each Filipino his
security and freedom unfortunately no less than the president of the country
transgressed and abused.”
Driarco and the rest of the group seated on
the backseat remained composed listening Ka Lino’s food for thought while he
expertly negotiated difficult road passing through scenic beaches and panoramic
towering mountains covered with green forests. Ka Mario once in a while would
look back if there are some suspecting vehicles tailing them. But so far none.
“How long would it take us to get there?” Driarco asked.
“About three hours straight travel,” Ka Lino
holding the steering wheel answered.
That means we have still roughly an hour to
go, Driarco thought looking on his wristwatch.
“We’ll be there at exactly seven o’clock in
the morning. And another one or two hours would take us to our destination. You
need not ask us ‘where?’ Just come and see. Ka Aris would be very glad seeing
you joining us in liberating this country from the shackles of tyranny.”
“Our pleasure,” Fr. Driarco uttered
wondering if it is the right answer for the occasion.
Suddenly, the van careened off the road as
hail of bullets rained the vehicle.
Ka Mario’s shout of hapon was late not even able to fire back his M-16. Fr. Driarco was
quick to reach for the steering wheel putting the van back on the road speeding
off hurriedly.
“Move fast,” he said realizing Ka Lino was
badly hit on his broad sinewy arm blood gushing out profusely.
“Shit,” Ka Mario blared seeing two Nissan
patrol with heavily armed military inside out to finish them off.
Instinctively, Fr. Driarco gathered enough
strength and engages the two vehicles to daredevil fast and furious drive. But
the Nissan patrol speeding off swiftly
and by all indications could overtake the blue van.
“Some more nearer, nearer, nearer,” Ka
Mario on the back seat uttered aiming his bazooka towards the speeding military
vehicle. They were jolted as the military started raining them with armalites.
Ka Mario fired back once in a while reserving his bazooka for the final
showdown.
“Just continue zigzagging your route Father
and wait for my words to drive straightway to lure them into coming nearer.
That time my bazooka would be ready,” Ka Mario said.
“We’re on. This is a surprise attack. Be
sure to hit them first before they could blow us into oblivion partner,” the
priest replied in jest.
“Now,” Ka Mario shouted learning that they
would be trap once they would reach the military post about a kilometer away.
Correct timing should be observed to sustain if ever they have to make their
last ditch effort of keeping hope alive.
Instantly, the good priest drive
straightway allowing the first chasing vehicle gather enough speed.
Unfortunately, it turn upside down before it could ever gets nearer Fr.
Driarco’s van. Ka Mario’s bazooka was no doubt fatal as it hit its mark right exploding
the Nissan patrol on the concrete road pavement. Undaunted, the second military
vehicle give a chase. Fr. Driarco maneuvered anew his van zigzagging as hails
of bullets were sprayed to them.
“While the four wheels are still complete
and air intact we could give a run of their lives, he said setting the tone of
their next target. Battle
“Good heavens,” Fr. Driarco thought seeing
from afar the road barrier set by the military. Hid heart further sank seeing
too from the front mirror the second military vehicle fast approaching muzzle
of their armalites protruding from the window out for the retaliation and the
final application of their brutal force against them who earlier killed their
friends in the profession. Suddenly, a counter ambush staged by the rebels
turned the trend of the occasion anew the other way around caught the second
chasing military vehicle practically off-guard blowing away its front tires all
passengers killed inside as it leaped through deep ravine. Taking the cue, Fr.
Driarco swiftly executed a U-turn speeding away back the pursuing counter
offensive attack occur from those guarding the military outpost. Reaching the
ambushers location, they hurriedly leaped from the van to the ground. Ka Lino
limping taking the needed cover. Roger, Fr. Driarco and Ka Mario followed a man
who later they learned as Ka Aris, the leader of the group. The ground attack
continues as Fr. Driarco and company started withdrawing from the area.
A registered nurse applied the first aid on
Ka Lino and as soon as bandaging of his destroyed right arm was over and
dextrose properly installed followed Fr. Driarco’s group catching them half way
towards the rebel’s camp. No fatalities featured from the rebels camp except
some injured from the counter attack by the military enforcement group. But it
proved to be their last hurrah and did not show any semblance of good planning
or was Fr. Driarco and company were merely given second chance to make up their
mind that fighting against duly instituted authority like the government is just like courting suicide.
“Good we reached this place Father alive. I
thought it was the end when the first military vehicles almost overran us. How
bad our luck would have been have we passed out. Imagine leaving Sta. Rita
alive only to be dead and buried here in Mindanao .
Seem to be this is not an Island
of Promise
“Dead yes. Buried, no. It’s not the
practice of the military of burying their enemies. Throwing them into the sea.
Maybe.”
“And torching them to death the way Nero
used the early Christians as torches or most likely as additional fertilizer to
communal cemetery.”
“Tomb of the unknown you mean. What a
pity.”
“That was history, unprecedented. . ..”
“Unlike today’s military always abiding the
protocol of war with no less than this
country signatory of that Geneva Convention.”
“No,
you don’t. If you die defending your country. Is that not an honorable death. I
think it’s worth the price. Never mind if nobody would claim your dead body.
God will.”
“Excuse me but I hope you’re fine now. I’m
Ka Aris,” said the leader of the group.
“Glad to meet you and thanks for the
necessary lift otherwise we would have been six feet below the ground,” Fr.
Driarco intoned gripping tightly Ka Aris left hand extended to him.
“If you’re ready now to join us in our
struggle against Marcos dictatorship I could formally request the group to
gather around and formally accept you giving you a new sobriquet we require for
anybody who would be joining us. It is a name you could forever be proud of
while you are in the movement.
“My pleasure,”
Momentarily, the members together and
waited for the words of Ka Aris.
“Good morning our comrade in arms. We have
today a new friends coming all the way from far away marble country blown away
by wind of change in this part of the country where great number of our forces
are concentrated. He’s a priest but not any ordinary priest who preaches
liberation in the pulpit. He is the priest of the people having joined them in
their struggle against all forms of injustices. Unfortunately, as averred by
your good self and everybody else who joined this movement for a lasting cause
there’s no way to break Marcos dictatorship by any individual. Marcos forces
are too strong. Think of how he institutionalized the military institution
paving the way of militarization of different department of the government
leaving not enough breathing space for Juan de la Cruz and worst of willful
killing of lives whose voices could have helped silenced the fascist ruler. He
and his family has been persecuted. See how ruthless the president is that even
a man in sultana is not spared. There are too many of them and I bet you guess
where they are now. Either they were dead and or have joined us in the movement.
We regret to Fr. Driarco that we have to pluck you out from your parish our
hierarchy tells us to come to your rescue. We did at the risk of our own lives.
We hope by now you realized that we need each other if we are to free ourselves
from this endless web of treachery and fascist rule of Mr. Marcos. We have
nothing to lost except the chains of slavery for many years since Martial Law
was handed to us. Who says that Filipinos are coward with you and now Fr.
Driarco joining us in the movement? My dear friends let’s welcome him the
committee decided to address him Kasamang
Emir in memory of our brother in arms who zealously fought and died for the
freedom of this country.”
Sustained applause followed until Ka Emir
said few words holding on not to go far declaring his commitment to the group
he is yet to confirm his loyalty with action while in the movement. If I may
die while in the movement so be it, he stressed strengthening the bond of
camaraderie ship of the people around. Their help extended to him at the cost
of their lives had they were blown away was something he could not forget. This
is the kind of commitment we need, a commitment that could definitely destroyed
Marcos Martial Law, he went on to emphasize. He beg however that he is yet to
keep pace with the blistering step they have undertaken and hope that Abel and
Roger could also be in the movement and if not ready should be given their
choice until such time they could make their own decision. Soon each one
welcome Ka Emir extending their left arm one at a time others embracing him
tightly. Women too have shown happiness and quiet elated that a man like Ka
Emir empathized with their struggle. Accepting their handshakes so moved him
deeply and recalls that true enough there are many other Gabriela Silang in the
country. What prompted these creations to have been in the movement much
earlier than him enthralled him convincing him that if women in their early
twenties and thirties have consecrated their heart for the struggle why and how
long would it take for men like him to follow suit. Indeed so much suffering
has been experienced by Juan de la Cruz. When would they come to the rescue
when they too are persecuted like him. But not all men have that privilege of
being persecuted. Not all men in other words are that brave that unlike him
that they have to declare willingness to put their lives next on line. Ka
Eliza, the pretty nurse, was one among those who offered him good cheer and
hope he would have his fulfillment in the movement. The people right here need
better your services than those in many parishes. They died without even
hearing confession. A movement like this Ka Emir deserves your services, he was
told.
Life in the movement has taken Fr.
Driarco’s life behind the scenes. He soon learns how to handle and fire a gun
to save his own self and protect the lives of those in the movement specially
the women and children. He too has learned to live in utmost simplicity
thriving on root crops and corn, vegetables and wild animals.
One, two, three more years past Ka Emir
catapulted to become a commander manning his own brigade in lieu of Ka Lino who
after several skirmishes against the military paid his own life. Since then Ka
Aris elevated Ka Emir to take the vacant post the former did not mind. Here’s
chance to make it even against the WOLVES and the abusive military and defending
the oppressed at all cost, an action indirectly challenging the Mighty Apo and
his men. Here’s the ultimate chance of liberating Esperanza and of clearing his
name. Suddenly he recalls whatever happens to the needle he dearly protected.
To whose possession did it rest secure today. Was it turned into ashes after
his convent was blazed with fire? And whoever killed the Mayor on that fateful
night when he was resting on the convent?
As armed combatant, he too shares the
travails and hardships of climbing rugged terrain, bad weather, sleeping on top
of trees like bats and of engaging the military to several war of the flee
employing the rudest guerilla tactics. And like all if not many of those in the
movement he too felled down by bullets, legs, arms and the severest of all, his
chest, just below his heart. It would have been a fatal shot. God must have
wanted me to carry on the struggle. He so wish. So be it, he would affirmed.
It is in such many occasions he was
recuperating when strong affectionate attachment to Ka Eliza grows and
developed. It’s her duty to attend the wounded but somehow Ka Emir feels that
there was personal touch Ka Eliza exudes every time she visited him. Someone
special is praying for your fast recovery here that every time you’re in
operation she’s saying the rosary and praying your safety so you could be back
safe and alive.
“You would know it later who’s she when
time comes,” she would whisper gently to Ka Emir. In his mind, he knows only a
woman in love could say those words
“She must be that woman. Who else?” he would tell himself.
“She must be that woman. Who else?” he would tell himself.
There had been many gentlemen who have
shown affection to her - flowers, poetry
and special attention – but none of them have so far smitten her heart. Not
until Ka Emir came around. He’s an embodiment of her ideals, tall, strong,
reserved and above all intelligent. Since then her days seem to be rosy and
complete. The only hitch is that Ka Emir was an ordained priest and that he
could not possibly compromise his vocation. But isn’t it that ‘all in love is
fair,’ her heart tells her. Love is never love until you give it away and
returns back to you, she would recall an inspiring dictum. Whatever happens to
her that Ka Emir preoccupied her mind while delivering her daily activities.
Sometimes, she would be running out of her mind finding herself in solitude
staring on the horizon by the spring humming a tune or two and in the evening
keeping herself refreshed by the cold breeze of wind.
“If this is not that special feeling called
love, what is this?” she must be asking.
That bold feeling unfortunately have that
temerity holding her affection back just maybe
waiting the right time to show it.
Many more weeks and months passed, the
stronger her feeling towards Ka Emir making her nuts driving all the more crazier
as days and nights passed. Love conquers all, why not for those who really mean
it. It was in this height of madness when she finally decided of letting her
feelings go. Sneaking out one night from her quarter, she perfunctorily tiptoed
her way towards Ka Emir’s hut. Alerted by the slightest movement, Ka Emir
reached for his pistol underneath the pillow and put his index finger on the
trigger until Ka Liza push slowly the door and let herself in her night suit. Ka Emir choked seeing his
unexpected friendly guest.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
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