STORIES

In September of 2021, after falling victim to a series of red-tagging by state forces, Atty. Macababbad was gunned down, sustaining seven gunshot wounds to the head. His name joins the list of the many lawyers murdered by state forces.

After Ka Kano’s brutal murder, his remains were brought along the Southern Tagalog people’s march to Manila for the International Human Rights Day mobilization– a fitting tribute to an Indigenous hero, but also a grim image of the fascist and violent character of Arroyo’s regime.

The computer science major who sought to troubleshoot a different system

Chad Booc, then a Computer Science major at the University of the Philippines Diliman, despite his hectic schedule and heavy workload, found himself joining the local chapter of Anakbayan in his college. It was through Anakbayan that Chad would have his political awakening and knowledge on the issues that plague the most oppressed sectors in Philippine society.

After the Filipino people’s triumph against the Marcos dictatorship, Mother Petra continued to dedicate her time and energy for the struggle of the Cordillera People. She was active in the Cordillera People’s Alliance from its founding in 1984, up to the latter years of her life. She was a steady fixture in the mass movement in Cordillera, a celebrated mass leader, and a mother not only to her 7 children but to the vast masses she chose to serve.

“I have gained a new understanding of life and death, as well as the meaning of love and sacrifice. I have fallen in love with the land, my people, my culture, and my identity. A life alone doesn’t seem so bad anymore, and I’ve reached the point in my life where I am completely selfless. My love for others outweigh my love for myself.”

According to witnesses, Datu Victor was being forced to surrender to the military, to which he responded, “Why should I surrender? I’m not guilty of anything.”