300 YEARS WAR . . .

[Gen. Nicetas C. Parena (Ret.), Chairman of Kalinga Foundation, a Civic Organization that helps in livelihood projects of the families of the soldiers, being interviewed by Joel Atencio, PNA]

300 YEARS 4 GENERATIONS OF WARRIORS/PEACEKEEPERS

Its been quite a while since I haven't wrote on modern day history concerning matters not known generally to the public. It has been years since we started the advocacy for one of the most unsung hero in Philippine history to earn the recognition he deserves in our history books, not because he bears a name similar to that of ours. It was his deeds, his life and times that inspires many, to advocate the ideals he lived by. A true Filipino without any desire for self interest, but to secure and promote the freedom we already attained.

As I retrace history, I do not know if it was incidental or Divine to be at places in the wrong time or wrong time at the right place with the right? Or, wrong people? Decision makers, the silent operators or the people behind that changes the course of history. Whichever it may lead, history must be written for the next generation to live by, for the ideals that people in the past stood by, in the hope for others to understand what really transpired and how it happened. Without history . . . we do not know why we are following a path where we are leading to. For many . . . pana-panahon lang po - but for some, it has been the path long laid even before others set in. Our advocacy shall continue . . . because the ideals was already there even before our coming.

The problem with our governance is continuity, picking the bits and pieces is hard, especially if politics sets in whenever change of administration takes place. Well, there are those who remains regardless of changes, conflict or war . . .

“THE 1986/1989 COUP”
IN HONOR OF THE TWO SENIOR SURVIVING LUGA OF THE AFP

GEN. EMILIO S. LUGA JR. (Ret.) COL. MATEO H. LUGA (Ret.)

Roy R. Luga

The 1983 assassination of Benigno Aquino ignited the unification of the people's sentiment for a change of leadership in government. With the popularity of his leadership in question and his failing health, President Ferdinand E. Marcos’ control in governance slowly loses its grip.

In Negros, student activism is at its peak. The rising cost of fuel , goods, commodities and tuition fees sparked student unrest. Student leaders of West Negros College were in the forefront of boycotts, rallies and long marches to protest government anti-poor policies and human rights atrocities. Different NGOs and political party espousing nationwide solution to the political turmoil besetting our country begun to emerge. The sustained mass action forced then President Ferdinand E. Marcos to call a snap election in 1986, which resulted to series of event history foretold.

Sometime in February 1986, many NGOs helped organized the National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), former student leaders and nationalistic individuals joined the organization in the hope of protecting the ballots for the sentiment of the people to be truly heard. The walk-out by NAMFREL personnel manning the computers for its operation quick count at PICC caused a major scandal that put in question the true winner of the snap presidential poll. Three (3) nights before the February 25, 1986 EDSA Revolution, in a ball of Silliman University’s College of Law: “Effective 12:00 midnight, I am already considered a renegade. I am withdrawing my loyalty to the Armed Forces of the Philippines”: Captain Cresencio Tan, President of the College of Law, Commandant of the ROTC, Silliman University. In Manila, words of impending arrest of then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and the PC/INP Chief, Fidel Valdez Ramos, hit the main story of the print media the following day.

REVOLUTION HAS BEGUN!

TO BE CONTINUED . . .