Sunday, February 5, 2023
manilastandard.net
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
manilastandard.net
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion Columns Eagle eyes by Tony La Vina

Living and dying during martial law

Tony La ViñabyTony La Viña
September 15, 2020, 12:20 am
in Eagle eyes by Tony La Vina
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

Living and dying during martial law"Let us remember these young people who stood up to be counted and fought as darkness veiled our land."

 

 

Continuing with my series on martial law, I borrow from a book Living and Dying: In Memory of 11 Ateneo de Manila Martial Law Activists written by Cristina Jayme Montiel and published by the Ateneo University Press in 2007. The book chronicles the life, times and death of 11 Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) activists. Each chapter capsulizes the human journey of an Ateneo activist from childhood days to turning points in the radicalization process to stories about personal involvements at the peak of activism. Each biography concludes with the violent death inflicted by Marcosian military forces.

The book memorializes the life of 11 Ateneans who gave up their lives during the horrendous first 10 years of martial law. These intrepid souls are—Ferdie Arceo, Bill Begg, Jun Celestial, Sonny Hizon, Ed Jopson, Eman Lacaba, Dante Perez, Ditto Sarmiento, Lazzie Silva, Nick Solana, and Manny Yap (whose body has not yet been found). In this column, I share the stories of Arceo, Begg, and Celestial.

They were misunderstood and often disowned by their alma mater. As Antonette Palma-Angeles put it in the foreword of the book: “Student activists were not always well-received in the Ateneo, for they questioned our traditions, disturbed our complacency, even set us against each other while they were with us. But now, 30 years or so after the declaration of martial law, we see with a clarity enhanced by time, that these young men did indeed absorb the best of our lessons to them, giving themselves up for justice, truly living as men-for-others.”

ADVERTISEMENT

“Ferdie” Mirasol Arceo was born on 18 January 1952 at the Delgado Memorial Clinic along Kamuning Road Quezon City, the first child of Atty. Regaldo and Thelma Arceo. In 1968, he enrolled as an AB Humanities student at ADMU and in 1970 Ferdie, together with several fellow student activists, established the Ligang Demokratiko ng Ateneo (LDA), the first radical activist organization of Ateneo. The LDA later split into two factions: the Kabataang Makabayan (KM) and the Samahang Demokratiko ng mga Kabataan (SDK).

Ferdie became involved in labor unions and decided to drop out of school to go full time into political activism. When martial law was declared in 1972, he joined the New People’s Army in Western Visayas. On 29 July 1973, the 21-year old Ferdie was walking along with a companion in San Joaquin, Iloilo when military operatives bore down on them and gunned them down.

William Vincent “Bill” Acuna Begg was a native of Legazpi City, Albay. He was the third among five children born to John C. Begg, an engineer employed at the Clark Air Base, and Zenaida Acuna from Legazpi City. At 14, Bill entered the seminary in Balintawak, Quezon City. In 1970, even as he excelled academically and was a leader in extracurricular activities in college, Bill was also active in nationalist student circle of radical students on campus. He joined Kabataang Makabayan (KM) and immersed himself in student and community organizing work.

In 1971 the writ of habeas corpus was suspended and Bill, together with three fellow KMs, were detained for putting up subversive posters in Marikina. Because of his radical activities, Bill was dismissed by the Board of Discipline. When martial law was declared, he joined the underground and three years later, in March 1975, while waiting for a doctor in a hut in Villa Rey Echague, Isabela, Bill’s NPA unit was attacked by the military. Bill was captured alive. Before killing him, the soldiers mercilessly tortured him, leaving him with 17 stab wounds and 11 gunshot wounds.

Finally, Artemio “Jun” Somoza Celestial Jr. was born 16 September 1950 in Maragondon Cavite, Jun was a son of Artemio Celestial, superintendent of Public Schools in Cavite, and Maria Celestial. Jun entered college at a politically charged period. He joined the Ateneo Catechetical Instruction League (ACIL) and the Student Catholic Action (SCA). Due perhaps to his encounters with the military and martial law’s suppression of open political activist organizations, Jun’s political involvement and the extent of his participation from 1972 to 1974 became less clear-cut at this point. The circumstances of Jun’s death have not been fully established. As far as the family recalls, he was gone for several days before they found his body in the Montalban River near the Wawa Dam in Rizal province on 21 February 1974. There was a big gash on his head, and his body was bloated. The police investigation established that Jun was held by a military unit in the mountains.

September is a month when we remember bad things that happened in this country. But it is also a good time to remember our heroes, those brave and courageous young people—Ferdie, Bill, and Jun who stood up to be counted and fought as darkness veiled our land.

Website: tonylavina.com 

Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

Tags: ActivistsAteneo de Manila UniversityCristina Jayme Montielmartial law
ADVERTISEMENT
Tony La Viña

Tony La Viña

Related Posts

The ICC and Duterte, the next phase

byTony La Viña
February 4, 2023, 12:05 am
0
8
Denying Villafuerte justice

"The International Criminal Court can only intervene where a State is unable or unwilling genuinely to carry out the investigation...

Read more

Victory for press freedom

byTony La Viña
January 31, 2023, 12:10 am
0
8
Denying Villafuerte justice

"May the free press win in all these cases" Rappler Holdings Corporation and its president Maria Ressa have been acquitted...

Read more

Justice delayed is justice denied (Part 2)

byTony La Viña
January 28, 2023, 12:10 am
0
8
Christmas path to peace

"The basic principle is that no one should be deprived of liberty unless there has been a trial and final...

Read more

Gigi Reyes and everyone’sright to speedy trial

byTony La Viña
January 24, 2023, 12:10 am
0
8
Denying Villafuerte justice

"The SC said while Reyes’ detention is based on a court order, her prolonged detention, without any progress on the...

Read more

Attacking human rights defenders

byTony La Viña
January 17, 2023, 12:10 am
0
8
Denying Villafuerte justice

"The story of Dyan and Armand ended well but others will not be too lucky in the future until the...

Read more

Protest, petition, passion and praise

byTony La Viña
January 14, 2023, 12:10 am
0
8

"These days, it’s San Francesco’s praise for suffering, sickness, and death—lines he added to the canticle when he became sick...

Read more

Print Edition

View More

Recent Posts

  • Online Payment of DOH Permits, Licenses, Registration in Metro Manila Now Available via www.myeg.ph
  • Digital champions
  • Scholarship platform
  • Up-and-coming singer hits listeners with new heartbreak anthem
  • ‘Agimat ng Agila’ is PMPC’s best drama series
  • Can Beyonce finally take home the top Grammy?
  • Queen of the arts
  • Vancouver… in Washington?

Advertisement

Latest News

Can Beyonce finally take home the top Grammy?

byAFP
February 5, 2023, 9:10 pm
0
8
Queen of the arts

As music’s elite gather in Los Angeles for the Grammy awards on Sunday (Monday in Manila), one question is playing...

Read more

Queen of the arts

byAlwin Ignacio
February 5, 2023, 9:00 pm
0
8
Queen of the arts

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray is excited and thrilled as she joins the celebration of National Arts Month (NAM) for...

Read more

Vancouver… in Washington?

byBob Zozobrado
February 5, 2023, 8:50 pm
0
8
Fall in love with City of Dreams’ seductive gastronomic offerings

While my sister and I were driving from Seattle to Portland, we passed by a directional sign on the highway...

Read more

Rediscovering Makati’s hip and happening side 

byManila Standard Lifestyle
February 5, 2023, 8:40 pm
0
8
Fall in love with City of Dreams’ seductive gastronomic offerings

Noted for its numerous gated communities, upscale malls, world-class hotels, and bustling central business district, Makati City has a long-held...

Read more

Fall in love with City of Dreams’ seductive gastronomic offerings

byManila Standard Lifestyle
February 5, 2023, 8:30 pm
0
8
Fall in love with City of Dreams’ seductive gastronomic offerings

City of Dreams Manila highlights seductive offerings set to impress loved ones this Valentine’s season. For a swoon-worthy celebration, the...

Read more

Advertisement

ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

ABOUT US

Manila Standard

Manila Standard website (manilastandard.net), launched in August 2002, extends the newspaper’s reach beyond its traditional readers and makes its brand of Philippine news and opinion available to a much wider and geographically diverse readership here and overseas.

Digital Edition

In tone and content, the online edition mirrors the editorial thrust of the newspaper. While hewing to the traditional precepts of fairness and objectivity, MS believes the news of the day need not be staid, overly long or dry. Stories are succinct, readable and written in a lively style that has become a hallmark of the newspaper.

Download – Today’s Paper

Search

No Result
View All Result

6th Floor Universal Re Bldg., 106 Paseo De Roxas cor. Perea Street, Legaspi Village, 1226 Makati City Philippines

Trunklines: 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Pop.Life
    • Newsmakers
    • Hangouts
    • A-Pop
    • Post Its
    • Performances
    • Malls & Bazaars
    • Hobbies & Collections
  • Technology
    • Gadgets
    • Computers
    • Business
    • Tech Plus
  • MS ON THE ROAD
    • Sedan
    • SUV
    • Truck
    • Bike
    • Accessories
    • Motoring Plus
    • Commuter’s Corner
  • Home & Design
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Construction
    • Interior
  • Spotlight
  • Gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Events
    • Seminars
    • Exhibits
    • Community
  • Biyahero
    • Travel Features
    • Travel Reels
    • Travel Logs
  • Pets
  • Advertise with Us

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Install Manila Standard Web App

Install App