I knew her, too
I remember our college days vividly; full of color, delight, and surprises. Being in the national university, we were often exposed to different national and local issues that our teachers would challenge us to analyze. At the back of our minds were puzzling questions, making us reasonably disturbed for those who did not have the opportunities we did. It pained our hearts to live a normal life knowing others were somewhere being maltreated and exploited, life was never fair in the first place.
So sometimes we became vocal about how we felt towards the current system. Others brought banners made of the cheapest materials. I chose to fight with my pen and heart. When we agreed to walk out of our classes to clamor for equality, our teachers didn't mind. In fact, others would beep us ahead not to go to class -they would much rather have us attend musings that would shape our public opinion. At the end of the day it is a critical thinker who can distinguish black from white, right from wrong.
I knew her, too -that young lady we have all been talking about over the weekend. She was a friend, a little sister who started her movement at a young age. She was a good speaker who could convince others join her cause. I watched her bloom into a lady beside the man who adored her. These past months we haven't heard from her, until that day in Negros Oriental when I saw her with five other men.
All I could do was smile at her but somehow our past connections fighting for the same principles back in school gave us non-verbal communication while she was under custody. I wished her well and told her it will be okay, no other questions asked. The issue of whether or not she was indeed part of that alleged rebel group meant nothing to me; I was after the welfare of this person whom I knew to be in the fight for equality. My position was as neutral as possible, maintaining safe distance from the government and her group now. Her new fight, along with the five others, will be a long one. Lawyers will have to prove in court their allegations and for now I guess her best weapon is prayer.
It pained me to see a young girl, fresh from school ending up behind bars. What pains me more is the stigma of our university being affiliated with these extreme groups. We all have principles and beliefs we are fighting for, and different means how to lobby for them. She chose her own path, I chose mine as well. We meet at the same crossroad, the hope of making things new and to have the privileges promised and stipulated. We may come from a school that encourages us to walk out during classes, but we are all in our right minds to choose the battle that we want to win.
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