19 RALLYISTS SLAIN IN ESCALANTE, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL

SEPTEMBER 1985

CRISIS.250,000 Negros workers lost their

jobs in the 1970S

1985

13th anniversary of Marcos declaration of martial law and dictatorship

Call for nationwide people’s strike, or Welgang Bayan

3-DAY WELGA

10 DEMANDS1. Free subsidy to all hungry Negrenses

without discrimination2. Farmlots for hacienda workers to till 3. Wage increases for farm workers and

laborers4. Priority for workers’ needs; reduce military

budget5. Punish soldiers who committed crimes and

indemnify victims

6. Stop militarization in Negros; dismantle CHDF and private armies

7. Produce Fr Rudy Romano and Rolan Ybañez

8. Free all political prisoners9. Repeal the National Service Law10.Dismantle the US-Marcos dictatorship.

CHDF, GOONS CAME

MACHINE GUN

Rallyists cry: “Bigas, hindi teargas!” “Makibaka, huwag matakot!”

Concelebrated mass for the victims and to protest the massacre, Escalante, October 1985

FEB 1986, EDSA REVOLT

WILLIAM ALEGRE

18 years old, singlehacienda worker since age 13

2nd of 5 children, parents also hacienda workers

MICHAEL DAYANAN

17-year-old hacienda workersingle

RODNEY DEMEGILIO

30-year-old hacienda worker reached 4th grade

left behind a widow and 2 childrenGikinahanglan nako nga mokuyog sa welgang bayan para sa

kaugmaon sa atong mga anak ug kaayohan sa tanan. I must join the welga for our children’s future and for the good of all.

ROVENA FRANCO

18-year-old hacienda worker, single2nd of 5 children of hacienda workers

died from wounds unattended for 10 hours in hospital

ALEX LABATOS

18 years old, singlehacienda worker since age 15

11th of 12 children of laborer parents

ANGELINA LAPE

17 years old, singlehacienda worker since age 13

6th of 11 children; reached 5th grade

Maayo pa nga mamatay nga magtindog sa paghimakas nga nagsulong sa kawsa, kay sa mamatay nga magtikongkong sa

kasakit sa gutom. It is better to die fighting for a cause than to die of hunger.

NORBERTO LOCANILAO16 years old, single

hacienda worker since age 85th of 7 children of hacienda workers; reached 5th grade

Dili bale kon may matabo kanako, ka yang kabuhi tagsa ra man. Kon mamatay mang gyod ko pangitaon lang ninyo aron hiposon,

kay gikinahanglan gayod nako ang pagpakigbisog para maangkon nato ang kahilwayan. I don’t mind if something

happens to me. We have but one life. If I die, I only ask that you find and bury my body. I need to join this struggle to achieve

our national freedom .

RODOLFO MAHINAY

23 years old, singlehacienda worker since age 8

3rd of 8 children; reached 3rd year HS

ROGELIO MEGALLEN JR.

21 years old, singlehacienda worker since age 10

3rd of 8 children; reached 6th grade

Kinahanglan panginmatyan nako ang atong yutang natawhan. Kong puede man lang anaay usa sa akong mga manghod nga mosunod sa akong paghimakas, kay kini para sa kahilwayan sa pangabuhi sa tanan. I must die for my native land. I hope one of my brothers would take my place in the struggle because this is for the national liberation of the Filipinos .

CLARO MONARES

hacienda worker since age 14eldest of 10 children; reached 1st grade

married with no children

MARIA LUZ MONDEJAR16 years old, single

hacienda worker since age 12all family work in hacienda

9th of 11 children; completed 6th grade

RODOLFO MONTEALTO21 years old, single

hacienda worker since age 13, family worked in hacienda since grandparents’ time

6th of 11 children; reached 2nd grade

Wala mang goy seguro ang among lakat. Kong harason mi sa mga military wala man mi armas nga dala gawas sa among bukton ug lawas. Walay seguro nga makabalik. Pero, dili bale, unsa man ang akong dangatan kini kaayohan man sa tanan. If the military harasses us, we have nothing [to defend ourselves with] but our own bodies. I’m not certain to return. But whatever happens, this is for the good of all.

ANIANO ORNOPIA

27-year-old hacienda workernever went to school and never learned to read or write

left behind widow and 3-month-old daughter

NENITA OROT

20-year-old hacienda worker, singlereached 2nd year HS

5th of 8 children; all hacienda workers in the family

EDGARDO SALILI

20-year-old fishermanleft behind a widow and a 9-month-old

daughter

RONILO SANTA ANA

17 years old, singlehacienda worker since age 10, reached 4th grade6th of 9 children; all in family work as hacienda

laborers

Ipadayon ang paghimakas sa atong kawsa. Pursue our cause.

JUANITO SUAREZ

24 years old, singlehacienda worker since age 12

never went to school, never learned to read or write2nd of 7 children; all in family work as laborers or

maids

MANUEL TAN

18 years old, singlefisherman since age 12, reached 4th grade

2nd of 7 children; was in the rally with his father

CESAR TEJONES

24-year-old hacienda workerreached 4th grade

left behind a pregnant wife and a 2-year-old son

TOWN HALL MARKER

ANNUAL REMEMBERING

Mothers

We have but one life…

I’m not certain to return …

Whatever happens, this is for the good of all.