At first, this note pays tribute to Kerima Lorena Tariman, whose legacy in literature, poetry is as same as her contribution in the struggle for the emancipation of the Filipino working class.
As according to reports, Tariman, known as "Ka Ella", was captured and killed by the miliary in Silay City, Negros Occidental last August 20, 2021.
Prior to her joining the revolution, Tariman was a renowned poet, writer, and artist. She was taking up Philippine Studies when she became managing editor of the Philippine Collegian, the student publication of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, from 1999 to 2000. Before this, she was the publication's culture editor. One of Kerima's published works for the Philippine Collegian included the essay "Talakayang-Buhay o 'Panitikang Saksi' ng Pambansa-Demokratikong Kilusan," which was published on August 3, 1998.
In 2017, she published her last poetry collection, Pag-aaral sa Oras: Mga Lumang Tula Tungkol sa Bago (Reflections on Time: Old Poems about the New), which CNN Philippines named as one of the best books by Filipinos in 2018.
For the folks in Negros Occidental, her contribution to the revolution, be it through her poems, writeups, or even the battles she participated outweighs the statements of the enemy. That despite the slander, her works resonate and thus inspires especially those who engage in the struggle. She is as any other patriot whose concern for the folk means to "go with them" despite the risks.
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Other than "Ka Ella" Tariman, this note also pay tribute to a valiant warrior and artist Parts Bagani.
Known for his visual art, this red artist was murdered by the military in Polomolok, South Cotobato last August 16, 2021. He died unarmed and was in no position to fight- except having pencils, brushes, paint, and paper.
Call those tools "weapons", but from these brushes, pencils, paint are themselves "weapons" to create masterpieces that provokes the mind of the concerned as it counter those of the enemy. For as Parts Bagani devoted his entire life and artistry for the folk and revolition, he features the sufferings of the oppressed and exploited masses and vignettes of the their Red fighters, images of their fervent service to the masses, and valor in the field of war. His imagery and colors gave inspiration to struggle for liberation- and thus gave life and color to revolutionary publications, books and other literature that roused and endeared the masses.
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Both Tariman and Bagani showeth how art and literature should be for the labouring folk. Contrary to the slander and the bullshitry brought by the order and its apologists, their contributions, be it their written or visual works, or their experiences in war, gave inspiration to struggle for national and social liberation.
Need not to explain further, but this note expresses the idea that those who took the road less traveled is a result of seeking truth from facts. That the corruption, impunity, disenfranchisement, has drive patriots to go beyond the parameters and face the risks in various forms. Orderists may still cling to the narrative that those people killed are enemies meant to be slandered even they're dead, but as one patriot would say even in the face of death:
"Long live the nation, Goddamnit!"