by: Kaye Ricamora

For the University of Cebu - Erato Communication Festival

Finished on: August 27, 2000

Have you ever thought that for once in your life you could see someone right in the act of risking his life for his brethren? Have you ever asked yourself why some peoples selfish motives would lead to the destruction of others? Well, Ive asked myself that a couple of times a long time ago

Now I sit in a corner of this rotting and poorly made nipa hut. For months have we been kept in this worn-out shack, underfed and undernourished. At times I would relish the memories of those days when I could eat to my hearts content when even at times I could even have the tendency to waste food.

Under the pallid moonlight, you would think were okay from afar. Looking through those military binoculars, you would think the rebels are treating us right. But were not. WE are sick and tired of waiting for help from the government that never reaches us. Many of us captives are now becoming ill or dying because of all this delay. WE want outNOW!!!

However, there is some part of me that holds me back from being hysterical. I think Im on the verge of insanity just by being stuck in this deplorable place. My mind couldnt stop itself from going back to the days before this event.

We were on an educational tour: me and a few comrades. We were assigned to teach in a remote town. WE were chosen to bring the arts and sciences to the students in that area.

The first several days were fabulous. All the children were eager to learn. And the faculty was so warm towards us.

And on one fateful day, I remember it all so clearly. I was teaching these children a few tricks on acting for their drama class when I suddenly saw the classroom door burst open and a group of armed men clad in semi-army uniform and sinister faces barged in the classroom.

The children started screaming and panicking and I tried to calm each and everyone of them but they were just like a stampede of horses running around the room for their lives.

One of the men, annoyed by all the screaming and crying of the children, took out his gun and purposely pointed it to one of the children and shot the defenseless child on the head.

"Is their anyone of you here who would want to follow that child? Make one more noise and I will definitely blow your brains out!" I heard him threaten us.

The childrens cries subsided into scared sobs and whimpers. At gun point, we were all led out of the building and into the thick forest.

My comrades and I and some other teachers tried to keep ourselves calm just for the children. We realized that if we panicked we would perish. Those other children and teachers who opposed them when we were still in the school grounds and during the death march, they were shot at point blank and their bodies were left of the trail to rot.

After months have passed, the body count is rising and these are only several of us left, mostly children. The others died of sickness; others became insane and they were killed for that; others were beaten and beheaded because the government refused to meet their demands.

What has the world come to? Many lives, including mine, have been destroyed by this war. The children have even lost their hope for a bright future ahead of them. Theyre pessimistic that they will still live to see the dawn of a new day.

One of my friends, Lilian, angrily said to me," I cant take this anymore. I dont want anymore people to die" And with that, she, as determined as she was, stood up.

She faced the rebel captain defiantly and asked, "What more do you want from us? WE have done nothing wrong to you or your people but why do you treat us so bad as though we are animals? I demand that all of us captives be set free."

And because of this, she was flogged to death. "Lilian!!! Stop!!!" Never in my entire life have I witnessed such a ruthless manner of handling prisoners. Never have I imagined such a treatment even in the movies. Now my friend lay cold and lifeless on the cold floor in front of me.

I could no longer take it anymore. If I couldnt do this now, then when? When were all cold and lifeless just like Lilian? Then all Ive ever thought as right in my life is useless! I said to myself if I lose my life the way Lilian did, I might as well do it for my fellow captives!

I looked at the two guards in the room. I knew that if I let my other comrades and the children escape, they would hunt them down and shoot them down in the forest. They would die and all will be in vain.

So I decided to fight back and show them that they should fulfill whatever promises they have said to us. And thats freedom.!!!

I tackled the first guard down and punched the other hard on the cheek. "That was for my friend and for all those who died way before her in your hands!" I told them.

Angrily they got up and started hitting me with the butt of their guns. I remember the children and my friends pleading them to stop. I felt a blow here, another here, one there!

When they finally stopped, I was beaten so bad I could hardly open my eyes and I could feel drops of my blood fall on the floor. They threw me at my fellow captives and asked them to dress my wounds. After that they chained me to the other part of the hut.

Even in my beaten, groggy state, I could tell that they would set the other captives free at long last! However, not me. I await my execution in their hands!

Just a few hours ago, they were all released. But before they left, one of the children came to me and told me with teary eyes, "I could never forget this sacrifice! I owe my life to you and I would pray for you always. Now that they will execute you, I pray that God receive you and bring you into heaven and that He would send more people like you"

Never have I heard such a heartfelt gratitude from another person, unfortunately, it was the best eulogy one could ever receive when she died.

I choked out a painful thank you to her. "It was my pleasure" She left and they took me to a small open field where they tied my hands to my back and let my back face the firing squad.

I felt my life flash before me: My mom kissing me before bedtime; my dad playing games with me; my siblings taking care of me. "Im sorry this had to happenBut I love those childrenAnd my friendsAnd I dont want them to die brutal deathsI want them to be freeI want you to be freeJust like what you told meAnd I love you for that"

The last three words I heard was "READYAIMFIRE!!!"