Dante Buenaventura: Up Close and Personal

Levy Abad, 4^th of July, 2016

Ang Peryodiko , August 1-15 ,2016

Volume XIV NO. 14 (Winnipeg Mb)

Wow! The months of May and June were kind of dry months for me as an amateur writer. I wasn’t able to write except for some poems about the hometown of my mother and a tribute to a human rights activist comrade who passed away.  This morning, 4^th of July, I woke up early and went to Polo Park to take a walk for one hour as my exercise and went straight to La Merage Restaurant at 90 Isabel St. to hang out with seniors, and low and behold, I saw two friends who I respect dearly as activists back in the early 70’s. For the purpose of this article, I just want to refer to them as Ate (older sister) Clara and Kuya (older brother) Ariel. They requested me not to mention their real names for they were victims of the worst torture during the time of the dictatorship. They can still sense those traumatic years.

I left the table of the Breakfast Club folks and went to chat with the historical ones for a great conversation on different subjects and for whatever reason, our conversation shifted to Dante Buenaventura. The shift was sudden that even the two friends whom I was talking to were surprised and ask me who started it. Honestly, I myself can’t recall.  They told me that Dante was the person who married them back in the old days in the movement during the Marcos Dictatorship. I asked about Dante’s role in the cultural field during the first quarter storm and Ate Clara replied that Dante was the founder of Samahang Kamanyang ng Masang Pilipino or SK for short.  Kamanyang is the Tagalog for incense. I asked her, “Really Ate?” with wonder in my tone. “Yes, Indeed! He is original,” she uttered.  Ate also confirmed to me that Dante was a member of the KM or Kabataang Makabayan (Patriotic Youth), the radical youth movement back in the first quarter storm.

I told the couple that I wrote articles about Dante, which was published in some community papers like Korea Times, Diversity times, Ang Peryodiko and occasionally in Filipino Journal. I explained the importance of writing down his achievements to serve as a light for the community in its struggles. What Dante started in the community bore much fruit, for instance, his dedication to the cause contributed a lot in the anti-dictatorship struggle in the diaspora and also in the struggle against racism. His influence can still be seen up to this day. In fact, Magdaragat just finished celebrating its fortieth anniversary of serving the community by educating the youth on Philippine culture and compassion for the motherland.

Ate told me that she recalls those days back in 1969 to 1972 when Dante was his Professor in advertisement and at the same time, the founder-director of Kamanyang  of which she was a member. She shared a story when they arrived here in 1993, they went to watch a Folklorama Magdaragat event and had goose bumps watching the presentation. She kept wondering why the dynamics of the play was so familiar, the use of the lights, the fluidity, the use of  silhouette, the acting, musical scoring, and even the movement on stage were strangely familiar, only to realize later that Dante was the founder of the group, the same reason why it was so similar to Kamanyang. Ate Clara and Kuya Ariel were shocked because they thought that Dante was in the United States at that time. It was only later on that they learned that Dante already passed away. They address Dante as Kuya (Older Brother) Dante with respect.

I asked her about the background of Dante and Ate shared some interesting information. Dante attended PETA (Philippines Educational Theatre Association), which is known up to this day for creating issue-based performances that mirror and reflect the times). He did workshop on theatre and became classmates with Lino Brocka (a Filipino film director), who was widely regarded as one of the most influential and significant Filipino filmmaker in the Philippine Cinema history) Source: Lino Brocka: The Philippines’ Greatest Director) and Ricky Lee, a writer of Paksa or Panulat Para sa Kaunlaran ng Sambayanan (Pen for People’s Progress), and a Filipino Multi- awarded author stage and screen playwright and journalist. These two are considered legends of Philippine theatre and Cinema. 

Ate recalls that she performed in one of the big productions  back in the days like the Pulang Tala (Red Star) that was shown at the Abelardo Hall in UP. In this play, she remembers reciting the poem Bilanggong Pulitikal (Political Prisoner) and Teodoro Agoncillo’s Republikang Basahan (Tattered Republic). I can sense her excitement while telling this anecdote. She added that Anak Pawis was among those plays staged by Dante during that time. Another play that was staged by Kamanyang and written by Dante is Asendero (Landowner) that tells about feudal exploitation and the struggle of the peasantry to end an oppressive system.

“Those were the days Levy,” Ate Clara uttered with fondness in her voice.  I also learned from her that the President of PUP (Polytechnic University of the Philippines ), formerly PCC or Philippine College of Commerce during their time was Dr. Nemesio Prudente who became the founder of Guerilla Anakpawis ng Kalunsuran or GAK, one of the groups opposed to the dictatorship. “During those days, Ate said, Dante would organize workshops and series of education on Political Philosophy and Ideology.” Professor Fernando Samonte was at one time invited to conduct a workshop on poetry.

I asked her about Dante’s style of leadership. Ate Clara informed me that he was a workaholic and never stops until he almost drops dead.  She remembers that every time Dante leads a march, Dante would always be the flag bearer, always making sure that everybody is safe. After the big rallies and presentation, they would retreat to the Blue Room at the PUP to do an assessment and enjoy the company with laughter, food, drinks, among other things.  Another place that they frequent was Dante’s house where they will have meeting, assessment, discussion interspersed with laughter, food, fun, ideology and politics. Ate surely misses those years and remembers Dante fondly telling them to always love the people and fight for truth and justice. Dante did not fail to remind them on the need to immerse oneself with the masses in order to take root and so in the process, get rid of the petty bourgeois mentality.

In the midst of these exchanges, Ate suddenly told me, ”Before I forget this, Dante Buenaventura’s girlfriend during that time was really pretty and smart and at the same time the President of the Supreme Student Council”.  I asked Ate whether the lady was a Spanish Mestiza of Chinita or a Chinese mestiza and she replied that she was just so beautiful. At this point, Ate’s husband or Kuya (older brother) reminded me that there were a lot of gossips in the community, but they don’t really matter anymore, and what is important as a comrade and friend, we have to celebrate Dante Buenaventura’s life’s achievements.

As an organizer, Ate said that Dante was amazing and that he was well loved by the whole community. Being a revolutionary, he treats everyone equally because he hates feudal tendencies. He was not into building fiefdom. Ate continued that upon the declaration of martial law, all the members of Kamanyang were called by Dante for an emergency meeting at their home and it was packed.  There, Dante in a classic organizer style, assigned tasks and arranged for the members to be housed in pairs in different homes in the community to be hidden from the fascist authorities. Even before he left for abroad, different task were given on the proper disposition of members of Kamanyang to different organizations that were resisting the fascist dictatorship of Marcos.

We were so engaged in our conversation that we did not notice the time, but before we parted, Ate mentioned a song that Dante wrote and which Hermie Evangelista arranged. The title of the song is “Ginugunita ko” (Remembering) and Ate cited a few lines: Ginugunita ko ang mga sandali na kita’y kapiling, yaong yumayakap ka sa aking mga paang hubad at sa dibdib mo’y pinasisisbol ang buhay ko. Ang buhay na naging kamatayan ko pagka’t nawala ka sa akin.” Itigil mo ang luha sa mata yaong tumitigis sa kamay at paa” (I can still remember the moments that you were with me, times that you embraced the nakedness of my feet while in your chest you allow my life to blossom. The same life that became the cause of my death when you were taken away from me. Dry up the tears from your eyes that are flowing to your arms and feet) Ate Clara and Kuya Ariel who was a pioneers of the Labour Movement back in the 70’s told me that the poem is all about peasant oppression and the necessity of drying the tears and the beginning of struggle to change the world. The song was popular decades ago but its relevance does not and should not fade with time.