Tuesday, August 9, 2022
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

Never-to-be-forgotten Ateneans

Tony La ViñabyTony La Viña
September 19, 2020, 12:20 am
in Eagle eyes by Tony La Vina
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
108
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

Never-to-be-forgotten Ateneans"Faith, leadership, passion"

 

 

“Living and Dying – In Memory of 11 Ateneo de Manila Martial Law Activists,” authored by Cristina Jayme Montiel, memorializes 11 Ateneans who lived as paragons of self-sacrifice and service to others, ultimately offering their lives fighting the Marcos dictatorship.

Last Tuesday, I shared the stories of Ferdinand Arceo, William Vincent Acuna Begg and Artemio Somoza Celestial, Jr. In this column, I recount the heroism and martyrdom of three extraordinary young Ateneans, namely: Manuel “Sonny” Llanes Hizon, Jr. Edgardo Gil “Edjop” Mirasol Jopson and Emmanuel Agapito “Eman” Folores Lacaba.

Sonny Hizon, Jr., born 24 May 1952 in Quezon City, was a scion of a wealthy family. His father was a high-ranking executive of the Government Service Insurance System and his mother came from the prominent Llanes clan of Ilocos Norte. Sonny entered college with the privilege and security of one who was socially, economically and academically accomplished. However, contrary to what one would expect because of his privileged upbringing, Sonny had simple tastes and was amiable to everyone. He was a tall and fit bespectacled athlete, easy-going and had a wry sense of humor. In college, he was active with the Solidarity movement and with other religious and socially-oriented organizations.

ADVERTISEMENT

As the student movement grew in the 1970s, Sonny joined a radical underground group and became a National Democratic activist. Before long, he joined the Student Christian Movement which was also known as the Kilusan ng Kabataang Kristiano ng Pilipinas or KKKP. In time he decided to devote himself fully to social activism.

Sonny graduated from Ateneo de Manila University in 1972. But his whereabouts after college became a mystery. Shortly thereafter, he surprised his friends by becoming part of the propaganda unit of the New People’s Army, along with his wife, a fellow activist. The exact date of his death is not known. But his friends and fellow activists agree that he died in Nueva Ecija sometime in the first half of 1974, at the age of 22.

Edjop is the most famous among the three heroes I write about today, because of his achievements in and out of the underground movement. Born on 1 September 1948, proudly the son of “a simple grocer” (words Marcos used as an insult but became a badge of honor), Edjop grew up in a closely knit family in Caloocan. In 1969, Edjop captured the presidency of both the Ateneo Student Council and the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP).

Graduating with a degree in management engineering, an achievement that would have opened a path to great corporate or business success, Edjop opted to continue his activism. He went to law school at the University of the Philippines but quit after two years. He then volunteered as a labor organizer and later went underground where he became a top leader. In 1979, he and other companions were captured by the military. He was detained but later escaped and moved to Mindanao where he was killed on September 21, 1982 in Davao City. He was only 34 years old.

Emmanuel Agapito “Eman” Flores Lacaba was born on 10 December 1948 in Cagayan de Oro City but grew up in Pateros, Rizal. He was a scholar in Ateneo de Manila and served as a porter in the dorm. The First Quarter Storm showed him marching with the moderates and radicals and toward the end of 1974, he left for Mindanao where he joined the New People’s Army. As a member of the NPA, he worked as a bus conductor to familiarize himself with the geography. He continued to write poems, essays, and stories. From his accounts and letters, Eman shared that he was happy and felt that he truly belonged among the simple folk in the countryside.

In one of his last poems, written in Davao del Norte two months before his death, Eman writes these immortal lines: “We are tribeless and all tribes are ours./We are homeless and all homes are ours./We are nameless and all names are ours./To the fascists we are the faceless enemy./Who come like thieves in the night, angels of death:/The ever moving, shining, secret eye of the storm.

Lacaba’s An Open Letter to Filipino Artists continues: “The road less traveled by we've taken – And that has made all the difference: The barefoot army of the wilderness/We all should be in time. Awakened, the masses are Messiah./Here among workers and peasants our lost/Generation has found its true, its only home.”

After being captured by soldiers, betrayed by an informer, Eman was killed on 18 March 1976. He was 28 years old.

Sonny, Edjop, and Eman were a generation ahead of me in Ateneo de Manila. But their stories have always inspired me. The faith of Sonny, the leadership of Edjop, and the passion of Eman are qualities I have always hoped for myself. They will never be forgotten.

Website: tonylavina.com Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

Tags: Artemio Somoza Celestial Jr.Cristina Jayme MontielFerdinand ArceoWilliam Vincent Acuna Begg
ADVERTISEMENT
Tony La Viña

Tony La Viña

Related Posts

Gilbert Son, missionary of hope

byTony La Viña
August 9, 2022, 12:05 am
0
185
Denying Villafuerte justice

"It is important to have an adult itinerary of faith, so that believers, with the grace of God, step by...

Read more

FVR’s template of good governance

byTony La Viña
August 6, 2022, 12:10 am
0
341
Denying Villafuerte justice

"FVR reminds us that we can be a great country and not the bickering, conflict-driven, and disunited nation that Marcos,...

Read more

Sickness unto death

byTony La Viña
August 2, 2022, 12:05 am
0
883
Denying Villafuerte justice

"I protest the suffering and deaths of my friends but I am also surprised by the beauty of their lives...

Read more

Terrible disinformation on Furigay killing

byTony La Viña
July 30, 2022, 12:05 am
0
1.3k
Hold the line together

"There is no justification for what suspect Dr. Chiao Tiao Yumul did and it must be condemned by all men...

Read more

Interesting first Sona by Marcos

byTony La Viña
July 26, 2022, 12:05 am
0
1.1k
Denying Villafuerte justice

"The president also took note of the increase in household consumption as the country continues to reopen, along with robust...

Read more

High expectations for Marcos’ first SONA

byTony La Viña
July 25, 2022, 12:15 am
0
505
Denying Villafuerte justice

"His administration will grapple with a wide variety of challenges, problems and issues, now existing or may yet emerge in...

Read more

Stories you may like

  • Zubiri new Senate President, vows to uphold chamber’s independence

    Marcos sees stronger PH-India relations

    5706 shares
    Share 2282 Tweet 1427
  • Showbiz icon Cherie Gil dies at 59

    2603 shares
    Share 1041 Tweet 651
  • Replevin and its common law origins

    1252 shares
    Share 501 Tweet 313
  • Fuel rollback next week, power rate cut in August

    1152 shares
    Share 461 Tweet 288
  • Getting into character: How the cast of ‘Maid in Malacañang’ prepared for their roles

    2704 shares
    Share 1082 Tweet 676

Print Edition

View More

Recent Posts

  • Asian markets mixed as focus turns to inflation data
  • After Durant ultimatum, NBA Nets owner backs Nash, Marks
  • GDP grew 7.4% in second quarter
  • Torrential rain, flooding in Seoul kill seven
  • ‘Grease’ star Olivia Newton-John dies aged 73
  • Mike Tyson slams ‘slave master’ Hulu series for ‘stealing’ life story
  • P-pop girl group 4th Impact on working with Korean producer
  • Trump says Florida home ‘raided’ by FBI

Advertisement

Latest News

Mike Tyson slams ‘slave master’ Hulu series for ‘stealing’ life story

byAFP
August 9, 2022, 9:00 am
0
149
Mike Tyson slams ‘slave master’ Hulu series for ‘stealing’ life story

Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson has accused an unauthorized television drama of stealing his life story, comparing the streaming...

Read more

P-pop girl group 4th Impact on working with Korean producer

byManila Standard Showbitz
August 9, 2022, 8:52 am
0
144
P-pop girl group 4th Impact on working with Korean producer

By Julienne Nicole J. Rivera The all-girls Filipino group 4th Impact shocked fans with their latest single, "Tapat Sa 'Yo,"...

Read more

Trump says Florida home ‘raided’ by FBI

byAFP
August 9, 2022, 8:30 am
0
151
Trump sues to keep records on US Capitol attack secret

Former US president Donald Trump said Monday that his Mar-A-Lago residence in Florida was being "raided" by FBI agents in...

Read more

US returns 30 stolen antique artworks to Cambodia

byAFP
August 9, 2022, 8:00 am
0
144
US returns 30 stolen antique artworks to Cambodia

The United States on Monday returned 30 stolen works of art and antiquities to Cambodia that had been looted from...

Read more

Sneakers for Makati : AB4.0

byManila Standard
August 9, 2022, 1:50 am
0
1.1k
Sneakers for Makati : AB4.0

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