The story of Jopson underground

Benjamin Pimentel’s “U.G.: An Underground Tale, The Life and Struggle of Edgar Jopson” ( Anvil Publishing, 2006) is not simply a biography of one Filipino activist. It is also a story about a generation that confronted dictatorship, inequality, political repression and the difficult choices created by a society in crisis. Through the life of “Edjop” Jopson, Pimentel presents a deeply human account of how an educated young Filipino from a relatively privileged family gradually became involved in the student movement and eventually the underground resistance against the Marcos dictatorship.

The book is particularly powerful because Edjop’s story is not presented as the story of a person who was born a revolutionary. Instead, it shows a young man whose political consciousness is developed through experience. At only 22, Edjop already had money, education and national recognition. Yet he eventually gave up a life of privilege to join the underground movement.

The book traces the dramatic transformation and places it in the context of the larger story of the First Quarter Storm (FQS).

Edgar Jopson was born into a relatively privileged Filipino family and had many opportunities that other young Filipinos of his generation could only dream about. He received a good education and became a prominent student leader at the Ateneo de Manila University. He eventually became the president of the National Union of Students of the Philippines. His political involvement placed him among the young leaders who became increasingly critical during the late 1960s and early 1970s. His name became particularly associated with the First Quarter Storm of 1970, a period of intense student and mass demonstrations against the government of Ferdinand Marcos.

As I personally recall, the FQS occurred during the first few months of 1970 and was directed not only at Ferdinand Marcos but also the Constitutional Assembly that was meeting to formulate a new Constitution. Led by the student activists, the main coordinating group was the Movement for Democratic Philippines and led by Eric Baculinao and Chito Sta. Romana, who was the national spokesman.

One of the most memorable moments in Jopson’s political life occurred when he and other student leaders met Ferdinand Marcos in January 1970. During that meeting, Jopson reportedly demanded a written promise from Marcos that he would not seek a third presidential term. This episode symbolizes the confidence and idealism of the young activist generation.

Edjop did not begin as an underground revolutionary. His journey developed gradually. He began as a student leader then became a reformist. Then he became increasingly radicalized by the political circumstances surrounding him. Eventually, he entered the underground movement. This transformation is one of the central themes of Pimentel’s book.

The FQS of 1970 was one of the most important periods of student and mass activism in modern Philippine history. Students, workers, farmers and other sectors protested against poverty, corruption, inequality and authoritarianism. Young Filipinos were increasingly questioning the political system they had represented.

The FQS represented more than street demonstrations. It became a generation’s awakening.

Pimentel’s book consequently becomes both a biography and a history of a generation. A contemporary description of the book emphasized that it was not nearly the story of one individual but also the story of the generation of young Filipinos who helped shape Philippine history.

The most painful aspect of U.G. is the recognition that political struggle has a human cost. Edjop’s decision to join the underground affected not only himself but also his family, friends, colleagues, loved ones. His story demonstrates that every political conflict is not purely ideological. Behind every political label is a human being.

Edjop continued his underground political work despite the enormous dangers involved. His role became increasingly important within the underground movement. Following the capture of Jose Maria Sison in 1977, Edjop became one of the leaders involved in the political organization in Manila and Rizal. Later, he became associated with the movement in Mindanao.

His life ended violently. In September 1982, Edjop was killed during a military operation. Sources describing his final moment report that he was shot while attempting to escape during a military raid. His death transformed him from an activist to a symbol. His name was later included on the memorial wall of the Bantayog ng mga Bayani, which commemorates people who resisted the Marcos dictatorship.

In the book, there is a chapter written by Katski Flores about making “EDJOP, the Movie,” an above ground tale of struggle and triumph. When she was asked what was the hardest part of making the biopic, her answer was as follows: “How do you condense the life of Edgar Jopson into 100 minutes? What moments do you highlight?What do you leave out? You can’t show everything, but what you choose must reveal the heart of the person – who they were beyond their reputation, their public persona, their legacy. And that pressure – the responsibility of making the right choices – was for me the most difficult part of making the film.”

The movie is showing in nationwide theaters next week.

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