Hundreds of relatives, comrades, friends, and guests gathered at the University of the Philippines–Diliman Theater in Quezon City last week, May 11, honoring the Toboso martyrs. They paid tribute to the Negros 19, composed of nine unarmed individuals and 10 New People’s Army (NPA) Red fighters the 79th IB massacred on April 19 in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, Negros Occidental.

Those killed were Altermidya journalist R.J. Nichole Ledesma; UP Diliman University Student Council (USC) student leader Alyssa Alano; National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates-Youth member Maureen Keil Santuyo; Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (Union of Agricultural Workers) organizer Errol Wendel; Lyle Prijoles, Filipino-American leader of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines; Kai Sorem, Filipino-American organizer of Anakbayan in the US; young peasant Roel Sabillo; and two minors (15 and 17 years old) from Toboso and Calatrava.

The martyrs included a squad of ten Red fighters of NPA–Northern Negros (Roselyn Jean Pelle Command): NPA–Northern Negros commander Roger Fabillar (Ka Tapang); political instructor Maria Clarita Branzuel Blanco (Ka Sanim/Pat); squad leader Rene Villarin Sr (Ka During); district party cadre Genevieve Balora (Ka Raia); medical officer Pedro Bonghanoy (Ka Regen); Sonny Boy Caramihan (Ka Nikki); Arnel Javoc (Ka JR); Joros Caramihan (Ka Bunso); Labskie Purisimia Enustacion (Ka Judy); and Jocel Gimang (Ka John Paul).

The program of tribute titled “To Live In Negros Is To Also Know Death*, Negros 19: Panaghoy at Paghihimagsik” was led by UP Diliman USC, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and Karapatan. The organizers said the gathering was launched to collectively recognize the entire Negros 19’s courage, intelligence, and love they offered to the people.

The tribute lasted more than two hours and was filled with speeches, testimonies, videos, and performances of revolutionary songs, poems and dances. These featured the Negros 19’s life of service to the masses and the Negros Island masses’ relentless struggle amid continuing poverty, exploitation, and militarization on the island.

Relatives and friends of Alano, Ledesma, Santuyo, Errol Wendel, Prijoles and Sorem attended and delivered messages at the tribute. Their messages brimmed with life stories, jokes and merriment, militancy and the burning fire of struggle.

Alano’s mother Shiela said that the loss of her child extinguised her dreams for herself, for the family and above all for the poor who were denied relief from life’s hardships. “Let us continue carrying on the dreams she set aside for the nation. Let us not allow her memory to be erased from this world nor allow their lives go to waste,” she urged the public. “I call on everyone to continue the struggle they began. Because we all know, that is what they wanted: change the system to help the poor of Negros.”

Bayan’s chairperson Teddy Casiño delivered a message. “Their paths met in Negros, on an island rife with poverty, contradiction and conflict, but full of hope. Hope nourished by the unceasing mass struggle to change their dire condition,” Casiño said. “The Negros 19 are not criminals and terrorists. Never! They are heroes—heroes of the people! We love and honor the Negros 19.”

League of Filipino Students chairperson Gabriel Magtibay represented the youth in a speech. “We should emulate the Negros 19. United action guarantees our victory so long as we keep grasping the dream for a world without exploitation. So we have nothing to fear!” he said.

He challenged fellow youth, “It is no longer enough to know what is right—that we are on the right side of history—we ourselves make history!” He added, “The youth vow to strengthen the revolutionary tide of fighting youth. Our vow is to not merely inherit tradition, but to correct, advance and forge militancy, to change the course of the world, raise the stage of our society, and advance the national-democratic revolution to socialism.”

Communist Party of the Philippines chief information officer Marco Valbuena sent a tribute message. “The Party and the New People’s Army honor that the martyrs and heroes of Toboso walked the path of the national-democratic revolution either for a short or long time. Our vow is to give justice to their death,” he said.

“From the land nurtured by their blood, thousands more sons and daughters of the people will rise, stand up, revolt and traverse the long and winding road of people’s war toward the red day of victory,” Valbuena added. The gathering ended with the singing of the Internationale.

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*”To Live In Negros Is To Also Know Death” is quote lifted from RJ Ledesma’s piece titled “The Last Masskara.”