Gallery of Heroes and Martyrs

Kemberly Jul "Kimay" Luna

"Kimay is a true "iskolar ng bayan," who did not waste the people's tax money spent for her education only for personal ambitions, but used her time, talent and intellect in service of the people. She traded her comfortable life of night parties and hangovers for the cold, harsh and mosquito-ridden mountains of Bukidnon because she knew that she is in the right path.

"At mid-December last year (2009), Kemberly was missing. A number of progressive personnel went to Bukidnon to search for her. They searched for her in the camp of the 403rd Infantry Brigade, 4th ID, PA but the officials of the brigade prevented them from entering the camp and denied that Kemberly is in their hands. During the middle of the search however, a news broke out that Kemberly died in an encounter with elements of the Philippine Army in Sitio Bulacao, Brgy. Concepcion, Valencia City. She was a member of the New People's Army (NPA).

"Kimay's corpse was found lying with a few others in the middle of the forest of Bulacao, unattended by the state forces who were bound by agreement to respect the casualties of war, combatant or not.

"Kimay died an honorable death. She died because she fought for what she believes in until the very last minute of her life. She chose the path of armed struggle, firmly believing that there is no greater form of struggle to advance the interests of the toiling masses.

"She belied the common misconception that the New People's Army is a pack of delinquents-- of tramps who lack a better future.

"We salute Kimay for her determination. She was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice-- all for the interest of the people without thinking of herself. She has proven that this rotten social system breeds unrest and many of the younger generation long for a better society that is based on social justice. This system pushes many of our youth to take up arms to achieve the national democratic goal. We believe that her death poses a challenge to all of us-- that unless we make steps to address the root problems of our society, more and more young people will follow Kemberly's footsteps in the days to come.

"We also salute her parents, who were in deep pain, but calmly accepted her fate. They respected her decision to choose the path less traveled."

Tribute Poems for Comrade Kimay

Walang ibang tamang landas
Today at 7:34am
Nang mailathala ang kwento
ng iyong kabayanihan. Di malirip na
kilabot ang naglakbay sa aking kalamnan.
Naghatid ito ng dagitab
sa puso kong nananamlay.
Naghatid ng panibagong lagablab
sa ningas kong aandap andap.

Gusto kong maiyak. Nangalit
ang aking ngipin sa galit.
Napakuyom ang mga kamao, naitaas
ng marahan, na hindi namamalayan.
Awtomatiko ang tugon. May kung
anong lubid ang sa iyo at sa akin
ay nagdudugtong.

Ngunit pang-ilan ka na ba?
Hindi ka nag-iisa, at hindi ikaw ang una,
ngunit tiyak hinding-hindi ding magiging huli--
hangga't ang lipunang ito'y nahahati sa uri.
Hangga't ang tunggalian ay di pa napapawi. Hangga't
may buhay na inuutang, may dugong ibinubuwis,
mananatili--

Ang mga kabataang, iskolar
na nag-aaral ng lipunan sa kagustuhang
baguhin ito. Ang mga kabataang,
hindi kinayang bumili ng inilalakong
edukasyon, kaya lumabas ng apat na sulok
ng silid aralan. At pinagtapos
ng pambansa demokratikong paaralan.

Ang mga babaeng, ang alindog at ganda'y
hindi kahinaan. Pagka't may katapangan
sa pagtangan, ng landas na huhubog
sa pangarap na lipunan. Ang mga babaeng,
hindi nagpadikta sa lipunang nagtatakda
na ang kusina't bahay ang tangi nilang kaya,
bagkus nagtangan ng armas, para sa masa.

Ang mga magsasaka, manggagawa,
at iba pa. Ay haharap sa kanilang natatanging
misyong mapagpalaya. Ang buong mamamayan,
ang masang api at pinagsasamantalahan.
Titindig, babalikwas. Pagkat sa lipunang
ang karapatan ay iginigiit at hindi iginagawad,
walang ibang tamang landas.

Kundi ang tumungo sa kabundukan,
at pabahain ang lansangan.



-----------------------------

isang iskolar ng Bayan, kabataan at babae,
si Kemberly Jul Luna, ay namatay na tangan-tangan
ang pambansa at demokratikong pakikibaka.

ang kanyang buhay, at kamatayan, ay mananatiling
inspirasyon at gasolinang magpapaandar
sa pagpapatuloy ng paglalakbay at pakikibaka
tungo sa isang lipunan na wala nang pagsasamantala
ng tao sa tao.