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Chapter 24 - CHAPTER 23 - EXODUS

Chapter 23

Exodus

MV Sta. Ana carrying Fr. Driarco, Ka Mario, and Roger on board drifted from Iloilo to Cagayan de Oro City to the sea for six hours. The City of Golden Friendship on sight beckoned from afar the glittering neon lights flickering like-colored constellations dotting the skylines. Blowing its horn, the luxury liner glided swiftly towards the seaport breaking the dawn and still asleep City. From atop the boat, Fr. Driarco could see hundreds of well-wishers including stevedores in their yellow uniforms out positioning each other on the concrete pavement for passengers' luggage. Soon hundreds of people came rushing into the boat as the gangplank was hoisted kissing the concrete seawall. All passengers were already on their feet, the rest queuing up downstairs wanting to set their foot on their destination. Ka Mario led the group followed by Roger, Fr. Driarco, and another companion. A van with a one-way mirror took them in.

"Welcome to Mindanao. It's good to have you around Reverend Fr. . . ."

"I'm Driarco Valderama dela Cruz from Sta. Rita, Osigan," the visitor quipped taking out the wig and mustache.

"Welcome to the group father. Ka Mario radioed me your predicament and thought that we should come to your rescue."

"Yeah quite tough coming out from Osigan. The waves confronting our motorboat were like Cathedral high. Aboard for that 50 kilometers trip or 31-mile equivalent was like a journey to hell. No choice to travel but nighttime to avoid prying eyes of Brown Shirts along the way. A van took us from the forest after a helicopter ride. It's good we just came on time at Iloilo City port and got aboard. Tough nut really to crack but it's good we pulled all this together. Many thanks and I owe my life to your group," he shared catching his breath.

"Our group from now on Father. You should know that your journey is the same path each one of us in the nationalist democratic struggle passed. There are too many others you know like you in the movement. You would later learn some even suffered worse than you had. These gentlemen and concerned ladies would have been additional forces that could have possibly stifled Marcos' voice. Unfortunately, the muzzle of the gun is such a terrifying instrument silencing their voices forever. Hence, the change of loyalty from the dictatorial Marcos' run government to people nationalists' struggle for liberation. It's their choice. We do follow suit. The rest are still caught in the quandary of what to do. But we moved on or death would overtake us."

"Time is running out. Marcos' men have been on the run rampaging the innocent lives of civilians shooting at will they could see crossing against their path. It's not the way any civilized nation behaves you know. Precisely we have the bill of rights to protect each Filipino his security and freedom unfortunately no less than the president of the country transgressed and abused."

Driarco and the rest of the group seated in the backseat composed listening to Ka Lino's food for thought while he expertly maneuvered negotiating difficult road passing through scenic beaches and panoramic towering mountains covered with green forests. Ka Mario once in a while would look back if some suspecting vehicles are tailing them. But so far none.

"How long would it take us to get there?" Driarco asked.

"About three hours straight travel," Ka Lino holding the steering wheel answered.

That means we have still roughly an hour to go, Driarco thought looking at his wristwatch.

"We'll be there at exactly seven o'clock in the morning. And another one or two hours would take us to our destination. You need not ask us 'where?' Just come and see. Ka Aris would be very glad to see you joining us in liberating this country from the shackles of tyranny."

"Our pleasure," Fr. Driarco uttered wondering if it is the right answer for the occasion.

Suddenly, the van careened off the road hail of bullets raining on the vehicle.

Ka Mario's shout of alarm was late not even able to fire back his M-16. Fr. Driarco quickly reached the steering wheel putting the van back on the road and speeding off hurriedly.

"Move fast," he said realizing Ka Lino was badly hit on his broad sinewy arm blood gushing out profusely.

"Shit," Ka Mario blared seeing two Nissan patrols with heavily armed military inside out to finish them off.

Instinctively, Fr. Driarco gathered enough strength and engaged the two vehicles to daredevil fast and furious drive. But the Nissan patrol speeding off swiftly and by all indications could overtake the blue van.

"Come nearer, nearer, nearer," Ka Mario on the back seat uttered aiming his bazooka towards the speeding military vehicle. They were jolted as the military started raining them with bullets from armalites. Ka Mario fired back once in a while reserving his bazooka for the showdown.

"Just continue zigzagging your route Father and wait for my words to drive straightway to lure them into coming nearer. That time my bazooka would be ready," Ka Mario said.

"We're on. This is a surprise attack. Be sure to hit them first before they could blow us into oblivion partner," the priest replied in jest.

"Now," Ka Mario shouted learning that they would be trapped once they would reach the military post about a kilometer away. Correct timing should be observed to sustain if ever they have to make their last-ditch effort of keeping hope alive.

Instantly, the good priest drives straightway allowing the first chasing vehicle to gather enough speed. Unfortunately, it turns upside down before it could ever get nearer to Fr. Driarco's van. Ka Mario's bazooka was no doubt fatal as it hit its mark right exploding the Nissan patrol on the concrete road pavement. Undaunted, the second military vehicle gives a chase. Fr. Driarco maneuvered anew his van zigzagging as hails of bullets were sprayed on them.

"While the four wheels are still complete and air intact, we could give a run of their lives," he said setting the tone of their next target. Battle of wits, that is what probably the driver of the military vehicle thought as he also zigzags its route. Aiming for the second shot, Ka Mario unleashed the fury of his bazooka but it did not hit the target falling coconut trees instead.

"Good heavens," Fr. Driarco thought seeing from afar the road barrier set by the military. His heart further sank seeing a reflection from the front mirror second military vehicle fast approaching the muzzle of their armalites protruding from the window out for retaliation and the final application of brutal force against them, needed revenge done to their friends and comrades in the profession. Suddenly, a counter-attack ambush staged by the rebels turned the trend of the occasion anew the other way around catching the second chasing military vehicle practically off-guard blowing away its front tires all passengers inside were killed as the military vehicle leaped through a deep ravine. Taking the cue, Fr. Driarco swiftly executed a U-turn speeding away back the pursuing counter-offensive attack occur from those guarding the military outpost. Reaching the ambushers' location, they hurriedly leaped from the van to the ground. Ka Lino limping taking the needed cover. Roger, Fr. Driarco, and Ka Mario followed a man who later they learned as Ka Aris, the leader of the group. The ground attack continued providing an escape and liberty for Fr. Driarco and company to withdraw from the area.

A registered nurse applied first aid to Ka Lino bandaging destroyed his right arm and dextrose was properly installed followed. It was the scene when Fr. Driarco's group arrived at the rebel's camp. No fatalities were featured from the rebels' group except for some injuries incurred from the counterattack by the military enforcement group. But it proved to be their last hurrah and did not show any semblance of good planning. Or was Fr. Driarco and company merely given a second chance to make up their mind that fighting against duly instituted authority like the military is just like courting suicide?

"Good, we reached this place Father alive. I thought it was the end when the first military vehicles almost overran us. How bad our luck would have been having we passed out. Imagine leaving Osigan alive only to be dead and buried here in Mindanao. Seem to be this is not the Island of Promise drummed up in history but an island of fear," Roger shared while taking breakfast.

"Dead yes. Buried, no. It's not the practice of the military of burying their enemies. Throwing them into the sea. Maybe."

"And torching them to death the way Nero used the early Christians as torches or most likely as additional fertilizer to communal cemetery."

"Tomb of the unknown you mean. What a pity."

"That was history, unprecedented. . .."

"Unlike today's military always abiding the protocol of war with no less than this country signatory of that Geneva Convention."

"No, you don't. If you die defending your country. Is that not an honorable death? I think it's worth the price. Never mind if nobody would claim your dead body. God will."

"Excuse me but I hope you're fine now. I'm Ka Aris," said the leader of the group.

"Glad to meet you and thanks for the necessary lift otherwise we would have been six feet below the ground," Fr. Driarco intoned gripping tightly Ka Aris left hand extended to him.

"If you're ready now to join our struggle against Marcos dictatorship I could formally request the group to gather around and formally accept you giving you a new sobriquet we require for anybody who would be joining us. It is a name you could forever be proud of while you are in the movement.

"My pleasure,"

Momentarily, the members gathered together waiting for the words of Ka Aris.

. . . . . . . . .