Filipino Communist Rebels Tie The Knot In Camp

MOUNTAIN PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES - APRIL 01: Ka Rodel (comrade Rodel) guides the hand of his 6 year old brother in the dense upland vegetation of the camp on April 1, 2017. A former scavenger in the tough urban poor area of Aroma in Tondo, Manila, the 23 year old Ka Rodel joined the New People's Army (NPA) last year after spending time as an activist and community organizer of an urban poor group. Born dirt poor and never finishing high school, he says, in his own words, to serve his fellow poor is his true calling. Ka Rodel tells me three of his friends from Tondo who have also joined the NPA Front in Quezon are set to join him in the remote hinterlands of Mountain province in the coming months. I joined Ka Rodel's mother and little kid brother on the journey from Manila to the north. Ka Rodel's mother who peels garlic to be sold in Manila's Divisoria market for a living, desperately wanted to see him in time for the 48th year anniversary of the NPA, eventually saving up enough money for the 7 hour bus ride to the north. Trekking under cover of darkness, traversing two mountain ranges and numerous gullies and cliffs, guided by a mixed squad of young female and male red fighters of the Chadli Molintas regional command of the New People's Army who greeted me warmly when they first saw me, the steep trek uphill took almost 9 hours to complete before we reached the well-concealed temporary camp of the guerilla army. The NPA which is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) is celebrating its 48th year founding anniversary amid simple rites.