More than 100 people launched a program to pay tribute to the August Heroes and Martyrs of Panay on August 26 in Iloilo. Friends, family and former comrades of the 11 fallen Red fighters of the New People’s Army (NPA)-Panay and Communist Party of the Philippines cadres in the region attended the gathering. They offered eulogies and poems for the martyrs.

Maria Concepcion Araneta-Bocala (Ka Concha), Vicente Hinojales (Ka Hadjie/Ka Emil), Aurelio B. Bosque (Ka Zarco/Baijan/Rio), Jose Jerry Tacaisan (Ka Miller/Bronze), Bemjamin Cortel (Ka Amor/Ruby/Mamang), Romulo Iturriaga Gangoso (Ka Reagan/Biboy/Pedik), Jielmor Gauranoc (Ka Doc/Tango/Baron), Juvylene Silverio (Ka Kaykay/Purang), Armando Savariz (Ka Nene/Kulot) , Rewilmar Torrato (Ka Minerva/Mara/Moray) and John Paul Capio (Ka Ronron) were given recognition and honored at the gathering.

The brave sons and daughters of the people fell in a series of armed encounters with the troops of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from August 5 to 15 in the towns of Calinog and Lambunao, and on August 24 in Valderrama, Antique.

The tribute day coincided with Ka Concha’s 74th birthday. “Chacons, as we fondly call Ka Concha, did not reach her 74th birthday today. It is deeply painful for us. We grieve but feel no regrets because dying for one’s principles and love for the people is a glorious death!,” Ka Judy Taguiwalo, a fellow activist of Ka Concha during the US-Marcos dictatorship, said.

At the time of her martyrdom, Ka Concha served as one of the top officials of the Party Regional Committee in Panay and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant in peace negotiations. She became a full-time cadre and organizer in 1972 and completely renounced all the comforts and privileges of her landlord class origin. She played a key role in the establishment of the New People’s Army (NPA) guerrilla fronts in Panay island.

Ka Julie de Lima, chairperson of the NDFP Negotiating Panel, gave recognition to Ka Concha’s contributions to the peace talks. Ka Concha became a member of the Joint Monitoring Committee to monitor the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).

The Party Central Committee’s tribute to the August Heroes and Martyrs of Panay was read in the program. The Party leadership gave the highest honor to Ka Hadjie, Central Committee member and Party Regional Committee secretary in Panay. He is among the younger cadres of the Party who have played important roles in the leadership of the revolution in recent years. He led the Panay region from 2016, after playing a significant part in the comprehensive growth of revolutionary struggles in Northeast Mindanao from 2006 to 2016.

The Central Committee honored the other Martyrs of August for their “struggle against the fascist Marcos regime, defense of the rights of the oppressed masses of workers and peasants, and fighting alongside the Filipino people to achieve their centuries-old desire for true freedom and democracy.”

The Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Magbubukid chapters and the Revolutionary Council of Trade Unions in Panay also honored the martyrs. “The enemy may deplete the NPA, sooner or later, but the oppressed and exploited people will still rise up. The revolutionary movement of farmers in Panay promise this,” PKM-Panay said.

The revolutionary movement from Southern Tagalog and Negros also issued a message of tribute. A statement was also relayed by the Friends of the Filipino People in Struggle, an international organization that supports the Filipino revolution.

The tribute program said the activity was filled with the spirit of the struggle, the attendees attested.