The soldier trod through the damp mud. His current homebase was near a riverbank, deep into the farmlands of rice. He carried weapons and ammo on his back to help supply their forces.
Sweat trickled down the side of his face as he arrived at their hideout. It wasn't much, but it sufficed to keep his allies hidden from the prying eyes of the subjugators who had forcibly taken their land.
His fellow Filipinos greeted his arrival. They helped him by taking his supply and ushering them to their makeshift weaponry area.
“Ayusin niyo na ang ating mga kagamitan para sa susunod na araw!” Their leader commanded firmly. Everyone was up and about—rushing left and right to prepare for the battle ahead.
As soon as the weight was removed from his fellow shoulders, he carried on supporting his fellow katipuneros. They all carried at least two sandbags on their persons before marching outside to create their own defenses in the rice terraces. Although the higher ground helped them in the category of altitude, it would be futile if the enemy had shot them through the crops.
After his fifth cycle of climbing the high lands and coming back down to base, he fell back, sitting on the ground with his back against the kawayan wall. His muscles felt sore all around, and his legs felt like they were about to give in.
He breathed in deeply as his eyes watched his friends come and go. There were times when the katipuneras would leave their base and come back with medical supplies and food. Each time they passed him, they would ask, “Ayos ka lang ba?” with concern in their voice.
The man felt a smile form on his face. Regardless of them being strangers or acquaintances at best, he could feel the warmth of a family within, despite the dreading war looming over them.
Tomorrow could either be an opportunity for the future of their people or not. Regardless, it was a risk he and his allies were willing to take. If they managed to take down a portion of the foreign soldiers, they would be helping their predecessors reclaim their freedom. After all, it wasn't just them who's fighting against the enemy's hold—it was the whole motherland.
In the corner of his eye, he spotted a piece of paper on top of a table.
He rose to his feet, took the paper, and started on his mission to find something to write with.
It didn't take long for him to return to his earlier spot. After asking a katipunera if she had anything lying around, he had received a graphite pencil.
“Pasensiya na kung ayan lang ang kaya kong ibigay sayo,” she said.
“Ayos lang. Hindi ko naman kailangan ng magarang panulat. Ang mahalaga ay may maiiwan na bakas sa papel,” The soldier replied.
He sat back down, pulling out the pencil, and started to think. Writing a letter was not as simple as he thought it would be; it was easy to think of the overall gist of it, but it was hard to jot down the words he had in mind.
Then, his mind replayed the events that happened before he ended up in the revolutionary army. The tragedies, the discrimination, the erasure of their culture just for the riches of the land—all of this could end if the masses stood up for themselves.
Para sa Masa,
Sa araw na isinusulat ko ito, kami ay naghahanda para sa giyerang mangyayari laban sa mga mananakop. Ako ay katulad ninyo na naghahangad ng kalayaan ng bansa. Kasama ang mga kapwa nating Pilipino, nais kong hingiin ang inyong tulong.
Sa labanan na ito, hindi sigurado kung makakalaya tayo, subalit, handa akong ialay ang buhay ko para sa posibilidad na iyon—kahit maliit man ito.
Pinili kong ipaglaban ang karapatan, bansa, at kapwa natin. Hindi ko kayang manataling manood lang sa pang-aabuso sa atin araw-araw. Mangyari na ang lahat, huwag lang sana umabot na sumuko tayo sa masasakim nilang kamay.
Bilang mamamayan sa minamahal nating lupain, nais kong ialay itong laban namin sa mga kapwa nating inabuso, sinaktan, at namatay dahil sa hindi makatarungang pagtrato nila sa lahi natin. Nais kong buksan ang inyong mga mata sa posibilidad na tuluyan tayong gawing alipin sa sarili nating bansa. Hindi nila tayo kayang utuin sa kanilang mga gustuhin. Kahit sa maliit na paraan, kaya nating pigilan ang pagkaubos ng ating mga likas na yaman.
Naniniwala ako sa inyong lahat na tuluyan natin silang mapaalis sa bansa natin. Kasi kung hindi natin kakayanin, sino pa ang gagawa? Tayo-tayo lang naman ang magkakampi sa bansang ito. Gawin natin ang lahat para sa kinabukasan ng mga susunod pang maninirahan at mamahalin ang lupaing ito.
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
Lubos na sumusulat,
Before he could finish, the booming voice of their leader echoed through the camp.
“Halika na, mga kababayan! Uulitin ko ang ating plano bukas.”
He quickly stood up, the letter still in his hand. He stared at the empty space below the letter.
“Bilisan mo na!” Shouted the commander.
“Opo, pasensiya na!”
He decided not to write his name—the thought of the many Filipinos who shared his ideology came to mind. Hastily, he folded it into four and kept it tucked inside his breast pocket.
The letter stayed as a reminder for what he was fighting for—the independence of the Philippines.
Maybe someday, they would reach their victory: a glorious day where the ocean blue of the flag shall wave high in the sky instead of the bloody red.
Written by Elliannah Joy Galvez
Elliannah Joy Galvez is a dedicated campus journalist and contributor. Their insightful writing sparks meaningful conversations and keeps the community informed.
