O Susana ! Untold Stories of Martial Law in Davao

Macario D. Tiu, the book’s editor, declares in the introduction: “Reading the stories, I immediately saw their historical value in showing on the one hand the arbitrariness and brutality to the Marcos Dictatorship (1972-1986), and on the other hand, the silent courage of church and ordinary folks in Mindanao in defying Martial Law.” He makes it clear that the stories were of those “who chose to work aboveground when Martial Law was declared as distinguished from those who worked underground or fought in the countryside. But as their stories demonstrate, working aboveground was no easy matter either as the above ground spaces were not only suffocating but also very dangerous.”

The book emphasizes that martial law was a national experience; here we see the pattern of suppression and repression. The similarities one immediately notices is the manner of arrest, the accusation, and the absence of transparency with regard to detention. Several were arrested then accused to be communists. Then friends and family got exposed to the fear and pain from not knowing what had happened or where those picked up had been brought. This kind of uncertainty is very familiar to me, because at the time we were always in a state of tension because of news of one friend being picked up or another having been brought to a military camp to be interrogated. One of the lawyers helping workers at that time tried to locate a worker by bringing his child around speaking with a loud voice with the hope that a “safe house” was nearby and the detainee would respond to the child.

The book is special for me because there are many people I know in the book including: Orlando Carvajal, Bishop Bienvenido Tudtud, Boy Ipong, Nestor Horfilla. At least two sections discuss experiences with creative dramatics as a way to educate regarding social realities. It reminded me of working with Nestor Horfilla in an adaptation of “Anino sa Bu-ang”, a Cebuano play on World War II by Ben Villaluz. Nestor had adapted this play very well to dramatize the military atmosphere. The group also presented “Kabesang Tales” in Cebuano. It had been very educational not only for the audience but also for the actors and the production staff.

I loved it that Karl Gaspar wrote a whole section on Bishop Benny, “Tatay Bido”. I hope I never forget that he said: when you face a different culture, you face it with reverence, like removing footwear as you enter a Church sanctuary.” I haven’t learned this enough. Of course I was totally touched with Karl’s narration of the bishop’s efforts to bring about acceptance among those in the hierarchy for our brothers in the South and their faith.

The most moving part of the book was Orlando Carvajal’s life story. First, he has a very clear description of his experiences, especially those in interaction with the military. Second he had a very instructive discussion of his political position then and now. We find here a testimony of the agonizing decisions one needs to make in a very challenging time in our history.

Of course, there are many women’s narratives. Let is start with the nuns. The military had raided the Good Shepherd convent: “The soldiers ransacked every corner, entered their chapel, forcibly opened the tabernacle, and scattered the consecrated host all over the floor.” Sr. Regina Pil, RGS narrated “their ordeal in the hands of the soldiers who showed no respect to the nuns, courageously denouncing the military’s arrogance.” Karl M. Gaspar provides the background stating: “Inspired by the spirit of renewal brought about by Vatican II and challenged by the concrete realities of martial rule when their flock were stalked and bullied by men in uniform began to call on the rest of their Sisters to redefine how their charism would play out in this evolving landscape. Under the leadership of the late Sr. Christine Tan RGS, the congregation expanded their outreach to the victims of the brutalities of martial law. Their convents became the sanctuaries for the families of the disappeared, imprisoned, tortured, and ‘salvaged’.”

The narrative on the tragic sinking of M/V Cassandra describes the heroism of Sr. Mary Virginia Gonzaga, Sr. Mary Consuelo Chuidian, Sr. Mary Concepcion Conti, and Sr. Mary Catherine Loreto. “The Sisters were last seen giving the passengers instruction on survival measures. They took care that the children had life vests on. There were not enough life vests on hand. It was the Sisters’ last act of selflessness as they sacrificed their own lives so others may live.”

Many women worked as development workers in those challenging times, and we can encounter their stories or meet them as storytellers in the book. One was saved from arrest by the community folk. Another describes her experiences of detention. Marilen Abesamis had tension-filled experience of assisting an escaped detainee return to his family, in the face of constant military checks.

Let us have a personal encounter with some of these courageous storytellers this Friday, September 16, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Performing Arts Building in UP Cebu.