Ka Fidel’s life in the revolution is an exemplary of the life all revolutionary and patriotic youth strive to live.
The recent passing of Ka Fidel Agcaoili of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) brings grief to all Filipino revolutionaries. But at the same time, we remember him not only as the NDFP negotiating panel chairperson we knew him as today — more than that, Ka Fidel was a student, an organizer, a militant, and a comrade.
Ka Fidel was one of the founding members of the Kabataang Makabayan (KM). Like the scores of patriotic youth we know as KM today, Ka Fidel was a student when he was first drawn to the struggle of the masses. From there, he grew, alongside his comrades, to better and deepen his theory and practice of waging the people’s national democratic revolution. His family’s opposition to his activism did not stop him from integrating with the masses and organizing. He devoted all the privileges he had and the skills he developed to further the movement.
Marcos’ rule did not scare Ka Fidel from the fight. He faced the dangers of resisting the dictatorship head-on and found himself in prison. Yet, neither an unimaginable amount of torture nor over a decade of imprisonment pushed him to turn his back on the people’s revolution. On the contrary, he decisively returned to the struggle and he waged bigger fights for the masses since.
Today, as we face intensified state terrorism and attacks not unlike those experienced by the militants from Marcos’ time, we look at Ka Fidel’s life with renewed strength and determination. Ka Fidel’s sacrifices for the movement is one with the sacrifices of all Filipino revolutionaries —then, now, and those to come.
Highest revolutionary salutes to the masses’ beloved Ka Fidel!
Long live the people’s national democratic revolution!
