Good day to everyone!

Here’s a letter to political prisoners, as requested by a comrade.

If you know anyone, please feel free to share.

An English translation is available below.

,

Meg

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Sa mga kasamang bilanggong pulitikal,

Kumusta po kayo? Sana ay nasa mabuti-buti kayong kalagayan, sa kabila ng lahat. Nawa’y nakakakain at nakakatulog nang sapat, at nakakapaglibang paminsan.

Sa totoo lang po ay inisip ko kung may maisusulat akong hindi pa ninyo alam. Tiyak ko po kasing di hamak na mas mahigpit ang inyong paggagap sa ating mga pinaniniwalaan, at mas marami at malalim ang inyong pinagdaanan. Pero sabi po ng humiling nitong sulat, kahit alam mo na, minsan ay maigi ring marinig mula sa iba.

Una, hanga po kami sa inyong tapang na magpatuloy sa gawain sa gitna ng paniniil ng estado, at ngayon, sa matibay na pagharap sa hatid nitong hirap. Mainam po kayong patotoo sa iginigiit ng ating kilusan tungkol sa pagiging tao. Na likas tayong naghahangad ng mabuti para sa kapwa, at handang ipaglaban ito maging sa panahong mapanganib.

Pinatutunayan ninyo at ng marami pang aktibista na maaari palang mag-asam ng pakinabang na lagpas sa sarili, na ituring ang ating kapakanan na mahigpit na kaugnay ng sa iba. Kaya naman lagi po namin kayong ipinagmamalaki, at laman ng isip. Hindi pa man po namin naipagtatagumpay ang inyong paglaya, inspirasyon namin kayo sa pagpakahusay. Sisikapin po naming punan ang naiwan ninyong puwang, sa pamamagitan ng paghalaw ng mga aral sa inyong karanasan.

Sisikapin po naming matipon ang inyong mga kwento, at kung may pagkakataon, sana po’y maisulat rin ninyo – tulad ng ginawa ni Cesar Lacara noong dekada ‘60, sabi ng isang kaibigan. Gaya ng kanyang mga aklat, tiyak po naming magiging hitik ang inyong malilikha sa mga aral na magiging gabay namin at ng mga susunod na salinlahi ng aktibista: sa kung paano maglunsad ng mga kampanya, magpalawak ng kasapian, at maipagtagumpay ang mga laban.

Para po sa amin, hindi kabiguan ang inyong pagkapiit, at lalong hindi tagumpay ng kaaway. Sa halip, ito’y walang iba kundi bahagi ng tunggalian ng uri, at patunay na hindi basta-basta magsusuko ng kapangyarihan ang mga naghahari. Ito marahil ang dahilan kung bakit maging sa pagkahuli ay nakataas ang inyong noo, at kung di pinipigilan, pati ang kamao. Malinaw ang kawastuhan ng inyong pagpanig, kaya’t laging may tapang, laging may dangal sa inyong tindig.

Kaya naman marubdob po kaming nagpapasalamat sa inyong mahusay na halimbawa. Alam po naming sa kabila ng lahat, wala kayong pinagsisisihan sa inyong tinahak. Na kung may susunod na buhay, ito at ito rin ang pipiliin ninyong landas.

Hangad po naming mga nasa labas ang gayon ding paninindigan, at kahandaang magsakripisyo para sa sambayanan. Ang inyong ipinamalas na kabutihan ng puso at tapang ay nagniningning sa inyong katauhan. At kung paanong hindi magagapi ng diktadurya ang nagkakaisang sambayanan, hindi maipipiit ng anumang bilangguan ang inyong diwang palaban.

Lubos na humahanga at sumasainyo,

Meg

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English Translation

To our dear political prisoners,

How are you? We hope you’re well, despite everything. That you’re eating and sleeping well, and able to partake in leisure sometimes. 

To be honest, I am not sure if I could write anything that you don’t know yet. I am well aware that you have a much tighter grasp of our principles, and that you’ve been through so much more. But according to the comrade who requested this, at times, it’s good to hear from others what you already know.

First of all, we admire your courage to keep on with your tasks despite the repression, and now, your grit and determination as you face its consequences. You are proof of what our movement says about being human: that by nature we always aspire for the good of our fellow men and women, and that we are ready to fight for it, even at the risk of danger.

You and other activists are a testament to how it’s possible to aim for gains that are beyond ourselves, to treat our welfare as intimately connected to those of others. This is why you are always on our minds, and evoking great pride. While we have not yet triumphed in our fight for your freedom, you are our inspiration in doing better. We will strive to fill the void you’ve left, by drawing lessons from your experiences.

We will try to gather your stories, and if there’s a chance, we hope you could write about them too, the same way Cesar Lacara did in the ’60s, as a friend shared. Like his book, your work will surely be filled with learnings that can guide us and the next generations of activists: on how to wage campaigns, expand memberships, and win struggles.

For us, your imprisonment is neither a failure, nor a victory of the enemy. It’s nothing but part of the class struggle, a proof that the powerful will not easily hand over their power. This is probably why you raise your head – and fist – even when in shackles. You are dignity personified, because it’s clear to you where you stand.

Because of this, we are in deep gratitude for your fine example. We know that despite the hardships, you have no regrets. That in another life, you will keep choosing this path.

May we have the same commitment, the same readiness for sacrifice. And may we learn from the goodness of your heart, which shine in your person even behind bars. No prison can contain your fighting spirit, just as tyranny can never defeat the people’s will.

In solidarity,

Meg