Marcelo Martin was a small frame man with squarest jaw, bristly hair, bog forehead, bushy hair and of average height. His constant work under the sun tanned his skin is like a leather. He had large uneven stained teeth due to smoking. Shortly before the outbreak of the Pacific war and during the Occupation, Marcing, as he was called, was someone to be respected in the many barrios far from the town, for this seemingly unimpressive looking man was the powerful local political ideologue of the local socialist organization or invisible government.
Son of a tenant farmer, Marcing studied in the local school completing his first level education. According to his teachers, he was an avid reader, a quick learner, plus a leadership quality, of easily winning the others to his side. The teachers felt that if this boy could have the opportunity to pursue his studies, he could be a lawyer, an educator or a political scientist.
“Yes, Marcing will be somebody someday”, remarked Ka Gorio to his father Mang Candido.
“I hope so. He loves to read if time would allow him”, replied Mang Candido who was glad to hear some good remarked about his son Marcing.
While this young man was busy with his family raising as he already got married, the barrio was steadily feeling the sealty encroachment of the socialist movement disguised as land reform. There was really discontent in the existing tenancy system and it would be easy for the movement leaders to entice farmers to attend local meetings. Marching was one of those convinced to attend and he did.
“What do I lose by listening besides the cacique system to my mind needs reforms”, reasoned Marcing when asked why he opted to attend the meeting.
The frequency of the meetings increased and there was an increased attendance. New political lecturers would come and by this time, Marcing became a convert to the movement.
“You’re neglecting your work and the farm animals are getting thinner due to lack of care”, complained Marcing wife, Sita.
“I’m busy. Ask your brothers or your father to help us for a while”, Marcing replied as he was leaving for a meeting.
The Pacific War broke out and later the Occupation period came. The members of the political movement were able to get firearms when Bataan surrendered and they called themselves the People’s Liberation Forces. Day by day, this group gained followers and soon the units became numbered squadrons. The roamed the country sides exercised their authority and asking for material support. Those who refused were threatened.
The People’s Liberation Forces would never fight the Occupation troops frontally but by stealth like ambushes and surprise attacks. They had no match for a professional army. But little by little, they could inflict damage and casualties.
Marcing seldom came home to his family. He seemed to be busy always carrying his “buri” portfolio which he never let anyone touch or look at the contents.
“There is a report that the barrio people would be zoned by the Occupation soldiers”, reported a barangay official.
That same evening, Marcing went underground. He knew that the noose of the enemy was getting closer to him.
The barrio male population were herded in the town plaza and individually interrogated and physically inspected. Those with marks on their shoulders were isolated and then carted away in military trucks. The rest after a whole day of investigation were freed. Those taken away never returned to tell the story of the inhuman punishment and treatment inside the detention prison somewhere.
Unknown to many, in the field organization of the People’s Liberation Force, for every military commander there was a co-equal political leader. Any action of the troops must be with dual consent of the two leaders the military and the political.
In the many outlying locations, Marcing became a political lecturer on socialist and communist ideology. As an ideologue, he was highly respected and consulted. In the field, he assumed a non d’guerre, or an alias – Commander Marco. Seldom would he remain in one place, for he had to spread the gospel of the ideology to gain more followers. He had to be itinerant and inspired leader.
Many months before liberation, the Peoples Liberation forces became active. They continued to harass enemy detachments, convoys, and camps. They would hit suing surprise as an ally, and then retreat. Enemy casualties mounted.
Eventually, the encampment near the barrio moved out one evening lock, stock and barrel. It would seems that the Occupation troops would never return.
The following morning, People’s Liberation Forces in large groups came and occupied the enemy garrison. As the members of the contingent relaxed themselves, word came that the top leaders of the organization would be arriving.
At the appointed time, the guerrilla troops readied themselves in formation. There was a big crowd from the population, for someway, somehow, they had relatives among the underground fighters.
When the two highest men came, the military commander and the political leader, they were surprised to see the Commander Marco, whose name evoked fear everywhere was Marcelo Martin.*