Emmanuel Lacaba Explained

Emmanuel Lacaba
Birth Name:Emmanuel Agapito Flores Lacaba
Birth Date:December 10, 1948
Death Place:Asuncion, Davao del Norte, Philippines
Alma Mater:Ateneo de Manila University (BA)
Othername:Eman
Years Active:1970 - 1976
Children:2
Relatives:Pete Lacaba (brother)

Emmanuel Agapito Flores Lacaba (December 10, 1948  - March 18, 1976), popularly known as Eman Lacaba, was a Filipino writer, poet, essayist, playwright, short story writer, scriptwriter, songwriter and activist, often referred to as the "poet warrior" of the Philippines.

Life

Lacaba was born in Cagayan de Oro and lived there with his family until moving to Pateros, at the age of seven. After attending Ateneo de Manila University, he worked in a variety of fields: as a teacher, production hand, and stage actor. During this time, he also became deeply involved in labor movements, such as Panulat Para sa Kaunlaran ng Sambayanan (PAKSA), as well as leftist political groups like the New People's Army.[1]

A prolific diarist and writer, Jose Lacaba wrote of his brother Emmanuel, "When there was no more paper to write on, he would write on the backs of cigarette tinfoil."[2] As Emmanuel became more deeply involved with the New People's Army, and with other guerilla groups opposed to martial law under the Marcos dictatorship, he went deeper into the Philippines' underground, but his poems and stories continued to circulate and find wide readership.

Lacaba, along with three other dissidents, was killed on March 18, 1976, in Tucaan Balaag, Asuncion, Davao del Norte by members of the Integrated Civilian Home Defense Forces. He had been set to go back shortly to the city for a new assignment that would have used his writing skills, and had agreed to write a script for director Lino Brocka once he got back there. He was 27 years old.[3]

Works

Lacaba wrote the lyrics of "Awit ni Kuala", the song sung by Lolita Rodriguez in the classic Lino Brocka masterpiece 'Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang '. He also composed new revolutionary lyrics in Cebuano for some well-known folk songs.

The poet Luis Francia included Lacaba's work in a portfolio of Filipino poems for the 45th Issue of BOMB.[4]

His work has been collected in two anthologies: Salvaged Poems (1986) and Salvaged Prose (1992).[5]

Awards and honors

Sources

Notes and References

  1. News: Legacy of an Artist: The Life of Emmanuel Lacaba and His Advocacy During the Marcos Regime. September 4, 2017. About Cagayan de Oro. May 12, 2018. en-US.
  2. News: Emmanuel F. Lacaba. October 1, 2012. Martial Law Files. May 12, 2018. en-US.
  3. Web site: EMAN. Pete. Ka. April 13, 2008. kapetesapatalim.blogspot.com. March 18, 2018.
  4. Web site: Two Poems by Emmanuel Lacaba - BOMB Magazine. bombmagazine.org. May 12, 2018.
  5. Web site: Against the Dying of the Light: The Filipino Writer and Martial Law By Ed Maranan. www.oovrag.com. May 12, 2018.
  6. Web site: Mothers of Courage. DENNIS ESPADA. www.bulatlat.com. March 18, 2018.
  7. Web site: Loon's Leading Lights . February 19, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090207203424/http://www.bohol-island.com/loon/lights1.htm . February 7, 2009 . dead .