I met Ka Rene for the first time Last June 12, 2009, Saturday. " So you're Ka Rene, huh. It's finally good to meet you. I've heard a lot of good things from you, you know." There was dead silence. There was me standing in front of Ka Rene and him lying down in his coffin with eyes closed, never be opened again, and a very peaceful look in his face that had angered, sorrowed and assured many.
I don't really know who Ka Rene was personally. Heck, I didn't know how he looked like until I got word that there was a certain Sumilao farmer leader named "Ka Rene" who was shot dead while he was going back to his home. He was a simple farmer who mustered enough courage to fight for the Sumilao cause. With such fight, he didn't go with his guns and goons to the mountains to have their voice and gunshots heard but he went for non-violence actions in the form of hunger strikes, peace rallies and the infamous walk from Sumilao to Manila. I was able to undergo a 3 day immersion last May at Sumilao and I can personally attest that what this men are fighting for is very simple. Very simple to the point that our logic don't comprehend it. And despite being a logical and objective person, I can't help but feel emotional and compassionate towards this situation. Ka Rene: A Simple Man and His Simple Dream.
If there's one thing I learned in this experience, my conviction is strengthened that, indeed, " Freedom is never Free." It takes the shedding of sweat, blood and the laying of ones life. Give me liberty or give me death. Edwin Burke said it best when he declared, "It only takes FEW GOOD MEN to do nothing for an OVERWHELMING ARMY OF EVIL to succeed." Most of the price of freedom was paid by a few good men in the form of Jose Rizal, Bonifacio,Ka Rene and the other unnamed men and women who have laid their lives for their children's freedom. The least we can do is to defend it with our lives.
" Ka Rene, it's good to meet to finally meet you. I'll see you soon." I turned away from the coffin, walked towards the the XU Chapel exit with my companions and felt at peace on the fact that I'll never be the same person again.
I don't really know who Ka Rene was personally. Heck, I didn't know how he looked like until I got word that there was a certain Sumilao farmer leader named "Ka Rene" who was shot dead while he was going back to his home. He was a simple farmer who mustered enough courage to fight for the Sumilao cause. With such fight, he didn't go with his guns and goons to the mountains to have their voice and gunshots heard but he went for non-violence actions in the form of hunger strikes, peace rallies and the infamous walk from Sumilao to Manila. I was able to undergo a 3 day immersion last May at Sumilao and I can personally attest that what this men are fighting for is very simple. Very simple to the point that our logic don't comprehend it. And despite being a logical and objective person, I can't help but feel emotional and compassionate towards this situation. Ka Rene: A Simple Man and His Simple Dream.
If there's one thing I learned in this experience, my conviction is strengthened that, indeed, " Freedom is never Free." It takes the shedding of sweat, blood and the laying of ones life. Give me liberty or give me death. Edwin Burke said it best when he declared, "It only takes FEW GOOD MEN to do nothing for an OVERWHELMING ARMY OF EVIL to succeed." Most of the price of freedom was paid by a few good men in the form of Jose Rizal, Bonifacio,Ka Rene and the other unnamed men and women who have laid their lives for their children's freedom. The least we can do is to defend it with our lives.
" Ka Rene, it's good to meet to finally meet you. I'll see you soon." I turned away from the coffin, walked towards the the XU Chapel exit with my companions and felt at peace on the fact that I'll never be the same person again.
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