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BUHAWI – The teenage NPA guerrillas in the Philippines
“Let these few photographs represent the 1983 documentary of the guerrillas in Mindanao. Most of the photographs here were not included in the book Kasama. It was good to go through my negatives again and make a new selection.” Alex Baluyut
The New People’s Army guerrilla unit was called Buhawi or (tornado) and it was comprised of fighters who were mostly in their teens. They were the Secondary Regional Guerrilla Unit (SRGU) of Northeast Mindanao operating in Agusan Del Sur, Mindanao. It was a fully armed company (30 men) size unit and some of them had already seen battle. It was 1983 and I would spend 3 months with these guerrillas.
I was assigned to a squad, led by Ka Brian, who like most of the squad leaders were into their mid or early 20’s. To have, in 1983, a company size guerrilla unit was impressive and combined with the Main Regional Guerrilla Unit or MRGU they would total to about 70 armed men and women. If all operating units were mobilized, I estimated that the guerrillas would be at 140-50 strong. This was the peak of the Communist insurgency. The rebel units fought their war with confidence at this point, they operated in an area roughly the size of Metro Manila and were launching raids with impunity.
Guerrilla life is mostly trudging along daily and in this case in one of the most inhospitable terrains that I have ever worked in, the Red area as they call it or liberated areas was located in within the Agusan Marsh or an area of forest swamps, it was literally, the wetlands. And with the monsoon rains upon us, I and my armed companions were constantly fighting to keep dry and warm. A pair of cheap rubber shoes would last about two months before the soles would get sucked into the mud. I lived out of my backpack and I was given a hammock made from two nylon sacks sewn together.
Photographs & Text by Alex Baluyut
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Hi Alex – I doubt if you remember me but my one and only conversation with you was at the “aborted” book launch of your book Kasama. I was working at the CCP then and eagerly waited after 5pm to attend. Instead I saw you with bundles of the book still wrapped and the food caterers cleaning up even before the event started. I asked you what happened and you gave me the details — a conversation that lasted for over an hour if I recall right. I guess it was easier for you to talk to a stranger. I still have my autographed copy which is truly a prized possession. Thank you for taking pictures of the kasama… these days, these are rare photos indeed of a period that unfortunately few remember. I sincerely hope that the book Kasama again sees print and is given due recognition for documenting history. I salute your hard work and passion.
Meron pa kayang mga child soldiers na tulad nila ngayon sa NPA?
Classic shots. I remember when the rebels back then were packed with college studes from Katipunan Ave or from the university belt and the Philippine Collegian were bold enough to post images like these.
furthermore, thinking back and interviewing a former senior rebel from that time he agreed with me that majority of the company was made up of rebels who were 17-19 age (some younger) the exception was the squad and company leaders which i mentioned.Thanks
oh sorry meant policy not police
hi Kenneth in the text i said most of the squad leaders were in their mid or early twenties.Kenneth this was before the stories of child warriors broke,and the NPA had no police on recruiting young to very young rebels.later the NPA would clear this up.
Great photos, sir Alex. I wonder about the title though. It says “teenage guerrillas” but the text says that most of the rebels were in their early to mid-20s.
Great stuff. 3rd paragraph seems truncated though.
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Thanks. Fixed.