In the mountains of Guihulgan there lived people whose goal in life is just like the rest of us, to live in peace. What makes their situation different from us is that, there in the mountains, they have to deal with not only the complexities of living but also with the conflict between the government forces and the Maoist rebels.
The barangay of Linantuyan is located 42 kilometers from the town proper of Guihulngan and is considered as the most remote barangay of the town. So remote is the place that transportation is almost non-existent.
A two hour, P300 per head “habal-habal” ride will bring you to Linantuyan, a barangay that because of its great distance local officials will have to ride a helicopter to reach the place. Because of its distance also, the residents of Linantuyan sometimes has to walk to the nearby Barangay Sikatuna to purchase goods or chance upon a habal-habal which will bring them to the town proper.
Linantuyan is a place whose reputation has been marred by the presence of insurgents and has created an image of danger in the minds of outsiders. So negative is the image of the place that majority of the class backed-out when we were told that we have to make a documentary of the place. Out of the ten members of the class, only four were able to make it to Linantuyan to discover how the place really is and document the story of a place that struggled to free themselves from the clutches of the communist rebels.
This documentary is a part of the final requirements of senior Mass Communication students in their TV Production and Management class.
Armed only with video cameras, a meager food supply and feelings of anxiety and excitement, the four students went to the mountains of Guihulngan to document the story of Linantuyan and her people.
So many things have been said about Linantuyan, the residents, the soldiers assigned in the area and the situation of the place. Some of it were true while some are nothing but speculations made by people who have never seen the place and have only heard exaggerated stories of the place.
Contrary to the belief of a lot of people, Linantuyan is a peaceful place—or so it is now. The people are hospitable and warm, though a little bit cautious when dealing with newcomers. They were cooperative enough to share to us their stories and their hopes for the future of their place.
Among the many people we met there, we were able to interview former NPA supporters like Nanay Magda, Tatay Pio, and Tatay Genaro. All three were simple village folks who, despite their financial difficulties, were forced to support the NPA in fear that something might happen to them if they don’t.
Tatay Pio, for example, was a revolutionary tax collector of the NPA who was contented with his piece of land but was enticed by the group to join them. According to him, the NPA told him that if he really owns his land then he wouldn’t have to pay taxes for it. He said that sometimes he is embarrassed to ask from his neighbors because he knows all of them are having a difficult time but he because the group ask him to, he has to do it.
Like most villagers, Tatay Pio is also afraid that the soldiers of the 11th IB might leave the place. Well, he has a reason to be. Tatay Pio is one among the six villagers who first came out and testified against the rebel group. According to Tatay Pio, the rebels once told him that “makapatawad sila’g kawatan, nungka ang tabi-an”. (They could forgive a thief but not a gossip).
Though the place still bear the marks left behind by the insurgents, it is slowly recovering with the help of the local government and the army. The village was given a water system which makes the villagers’ life easier; an additional classroom was constructed for the use of the children in their village Elementary school and the local government is already planning to construct a farm to market road which will help the village greatly.
They say that you can only appreciate something if you have already experienced it. Making the TV Documentary allowed us to experience how it feels to produce your own film, research your own materials, and as well as hone our abilities in announcing, scriptwriting and video recording.
The activity taught us to deal with an entirely different set of people that we are used to mingle with. It taught us to be resourceful as we have to make use of a meager budget, limited crew and uncertain accommodations. The experience we had in Linantuyan made us realize that we can actually do something even if we lack a lot of things; that we only need determination and motivation to do it.
We went to Linantuyan to find the truth about the status of the place. Until now, I am not sure if we really did find the truth but I am fairly certain that the villagers shared their stories in their own free will and that they were not coerced in anyway to talk to us. We asked them so many things about the place, the years with the rebels, and even the alleged harassments made by the soldiers and all these they answered willingly.
Fear remains in the hearts of the people of Linantuyan. I guess they can never really be assured of their safety especially that they know that the people who are securing their place now could easily be assigned anywhere in the future. However, I am optimistic that the village and its people will fully recover from the long years they had spent in the hands of the rebels and the negative image of Linantuyan will finally be cleared.
I guess I am one with the people of Linantuyan in their belief that someday, they will finally find peace. And for the sake of the Linantuyanons, I hope it comes soon.
The barangay of Linantuyan is located 42 kilometers from the town proper of Guihulngan and is considered as the most remote barangay of the town. So remote is the place that transportation is almost non-existent.
A two hour, P300 per head “habal-habal” ride will bring you to Linantuyan, a barangay that because of its great distance local officials will have to ride a helicopter to reach the place. Because of its distance also, the residents of Linantuyan sometimes has to walk to the nearby Barangay Sikatuna to purchase goods or chance upon a habal-habal which will bring them to the town proper.
Linantuyan is a place whose reputation has been marred by the presence of insurgents and has created an image of danger in the minds of outsiders. So negative is the image of the place that majority of the class backed-out when we were told that we have to make a documentary of the place. Out of the ten members of the class, only four were able to make it to Linantuyan to discover how the place really is and document the story of a place that struggled to free themselves from the clutches of the communist rebels.
This documentary is a part of the final requirements of senior Mass Communication students in their TV Production and Management class.
Armed only with video cameras, a meager food supply and feelings of anxiety and excitement, the four students went to the mountains of Guihulngan to document the story of Linantuyan and her people.
So many things have been said about Linantuyan, the residents, the soldiers assigned in the area and the situation of the place. Some of it were true while some are nothing but speculations made by people who have never seen the place and have only heard exaggerated stories of the place.
Contrary to the belief of a lot of people, Linantuyan is a peaceful place—or so it is now. The people are hospitable and warm, though a little bit cautious when dealing with newcomers. They were cooperative enough to share to us their stories and their hopes for the future of their place.
Among the many people we met there, we were able to interview former NPA supporters like Nanay Magda, Tatay Pio, and Tatay Genaro. All three were simple village folks who, despite their financial difficulties, were forced to support the NPA in fear that something might happen to them if they don’t.
Tatay Pio, for example, was a revolutionary tax collector of the NPA who was contented with his piece of land but was enticed by the group to join them. According to him, the NPA told him that if he really owns his land then he wouldn’t have to pay taxes for it. He said that sometimes he is embarrassed to ask from his neighbors because he knows all of them are having a difficult time but he because the group ask him to, he has to do it.
Like most villagers, Tatay Pio is also afraid that the soldiers of the 11th IB might leave the place. Well, he has a reason to be. Tatay Pio is one among the six villagers who first came out and testified against the rebel group. According to Tatay Pio, the rebels once told him that “makapatawad sila’g kawatan, nungka ang tabi-an”. (They could forgive a thief but not a gossip).
Though the place still bear the marks left behind by the insurgents, it is slowly recovering with the help of the local government and the army. The village was given a water system which makes the villagers’ life easier; an additional classroom was constructed for the use of the children in their village Elementary school and the local government is already planning to construct a farm to market road which will help the village greatly.
They say that you can only appreciate something if you have already experienced it. Making the TV Documentary allowed us to experience how it feels to produce your own film, research your own materials, and as well as hone our abilities in announcing, scriptwriting and video recording.
The activity taught us to deal with an entirely different set of people that we are used to mingle with. It taught us to be resourceful as we have to make use of a meager budget, limited crew and uncertain accommodations. The experience we had in Linantuyan made us realize that we can actually do something even if we lack a lot of things; that we only need determination and motivation to do it.
We went to Linantuyan to find the truth about the status of the place. Until now, I am not sure if we really did find the truth but I am fairly certain that the villagers shared their stories in their own free will and that they were not coerced in anyway to talk to us. We asked them so many things about the place, the years with the rebels, and even the alleged harassments made by the soldiers and all these they answered willingly.
Fear remains in the hearts of the people of Linantuyan. I guess they can never really be assured of their safety especially that they know that the people who are securing their place now could easily be assigned anywhere in the future. However, I am optimistic that the village and its people will fully recover from the long years they had spent in the hands of the rebels and the negative image of Linantuyan will finally be cleared.
I guess I am one with the people of Linantuyan in their belief that someday, they will finally find peace. And for the sake of the Linantuyanons, I hope it comes soon.
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