In honor of the Panay August Martyrs and all heroes of the revolution in the region, the Panay Regional Party Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) declared today as Panay Martyrs Day. The day of remembrance comes a day after the commemoration of the National Heroes Day.

The Party Committee earlier urged all revolutionary forces in Panay to carry out various activities as tribute to the martyrs throughout the month of August, and designated August 26 as the Panay Martyrs Day. It called on all forces to pay special tribute to the Panay August Martyrs, composed of 11 Party cadres and commanders and fighters of the New People’s Army (NPA)-Panay (Coronacion “Waling-Waling” Chiva Command), who were killed in August 2024.

The Panay August Martyrs include Vicente Hinojales (Ka Hadjie), Concha Araneta-Bocala (Ka Minay), Rewilmar Torrato (Ka Minerva), Benjamin Cortel (Ka Amor), Romulo Iturriaga Gangoso (Ka Reagan), Aurelio Bosque (Ka Zarco), Jose Jerry Tacaisan (Ka Miller), Juvylene Silverio (Ka Porang), Armando Sabares (Ka Kamlon), Jielmor Gauranoc (Ka Tanggo), and John Paul Capio (Ka Ronron).

At the time of his death, Ka Hadjie served as a Central Committee member and Panay Regional Party Committee secretary. He led the Panay region from 2016, after playing an important role in the comprehensive growth of the revolutionary struggles in Northeast Mindanao from 2006 to 2016.

Ka Concha served as Ka Hadjie’s partner in leadership together with the entire regional committee. She began working as a full-time cadre and organizer in 1972. Apart from being one of the key officials of the Panay Regional Party Committee, she was also designated as a consultant for peace negotiations of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). She would have turned 75 today, August 26.

“The names of the August Heroes and Martyrs of Panay will forever be etched in the collective memory of the Filipino people. Their contributions to the people’s democratic revolution will never be forgotten. Their lives of revolutionary service will always serve as inspiration to the people,” said Marco Valbuena, CPP Chief Information Officer.

Several Party units, both in the countryside and urban, held discussions and other activities today to pay tribute to the martyrs and heroes of Panay. Units under the NPA-Panay performed a silent 21-gun salute as tribute. Similar activities were mounted by allied organizations of the NDF-Panay accross the region.

“Above all, we must give life to their martyrdom by joining the armed struggle and enlisting in the New People’s Army. This is the highest form of tribute for the August 2024 Martyrs and those who came before them,” the regional committee said.

According to the committee, hundreds of younger forces must urgently take on tasks in the mass struggle and the armed struggle in the countryside to immediately recover from the losses and setbacks suffered in recent years as a result of internal errors, shortcomings, and weaknesses in Party leadership, and to advance further beyond the level previously reached.

“With inexhaustible optimism and under the guidance of the Third Rectification Movement, the cadres, commanders, and Red fighters firmly believe that the armed revolution will advance again, regardless of obstacles it will face,” it added. It also stressed holding fast to the lessons of history in order to advance.

“Marcos and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are fooling only themselves when they claim that they can crush the armed revolution this year or next. Despite having experienced setbacks, the New People’s Army, under the absolute leadership of the CPP, is resolute in its determination to wage armed resistance relentlessly,” Valbuena pointed out.