The children of this country, we believe, must learn from Nicky’s example of how character and resolve are better steeled and forged by those who seek no recognition, reward or payback for their acts of patriotism and fidelity to the people’s genuine democratic aspirations.
Boy’s life served as an inspiration to many people. Sr. Consuelo Valera, ICM, a co-worker, believes that his wide experience and deep grasp of the peasants’ situation ably directed the RMP’s task of social transformation.
“He was a born leader … critical, analytical and charismatic….” These words were often used to describe Cesar Hicaro, who was an intelligent and hardworking student.
In the late 1970s, world sugar prices collapsed. Across Negros, production had slowed down or worse, stood still. Half a million farm workers lost their livelihoods and hundreds of thousands of children faced hunger and death.
He was a hacienda worker, having started to work at the age of 14. He reached only the 4th grade but he had dreams of a better life for his family and for his brothers and sisters.
Jesus said he kept running away from where the shooting started, avoiding the roads and choosing to cross fields, until he reached home. Then seeing that Manuel failed to get home, he searched for his son, only to find he was one of the fatalities in the shooting.
Juanito was 24 years old, single, and worked as a sacada and a fishpond watcher He was a native of Sagay. He was 4th of 6 children. Juanito did not go to school at all and did not know how to read or to write.
Ronilo was wounded when soldiers started shooting at the welga participants. He was taken to the Vicente Gustilo Memorial Hospital where he died from his wounds two days later.
Edgardo was an active member of the Association of Small Fisherman in Negros (ASFIN) when he joined the welgang bayan in 1985.
Nenita was a good friend of the student leader Juvelyn Jaravello, and the two girls worked together during the welgang bayan, sometimes taking turns on the microphone. They discussed workers’ issues, militarization issues, and other pressing issues of those days.