By DELIA BAGNI
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Family, friends and people who have met, shared and walked with Recca during her journey and struggle as a New Peoples Army member in the Cordilleras expressed their love and respect for her during the 2nd book launch of “RECCA: From Diliman to the Cordilleras,” during the 31st Cordillera Day celebration here at the People’s Park, April 24.

According to Audrey Beltran of the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) the book was successfully finished and published with the help of Recca’s friends, people who knew her and the people whom she has left a mark. The book contains poems, tributes, testimonials and images that honor Recca’s life and the revolutionary path that she has chosen. Photo by Noel Godinez

Recca Noelle Monte also known as “Ka Tet” in the hinterlands of the Cordillera where she served for 12 years, was among the seven red fighters killed in a military operation on September 4 and 5, 2014 in Lacub, Abra. Apart from the seven guerrillas, and two civilians: engineer and non-government worker Fidela Salvador, and Noel Viste, were also killed.

According to Audrey Beltran of the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) the book was successfully finished and published with the help of Recca’s friends, people who knew her and the people whom she has left a mark. The book contains poems, tributes, testimonials and images that honor Reccas life and the revolutionary path that she has chosen.

Noel Monte Sr, Recca’s father, a former member of the Philippine Navy, shared a glympse of Reccas school life as a bright student. She graduated valedictorian from elementary, a silver medalist at the Manila Science High School and was a student of the University of the Philippines.

“Sino ang hindi matutuwa at proud sa anak na mabait at matalino? (Who wouldn’t be proud to have a daughter who is kind and intelligent). At a very young age I have seen Reccas dedication to serve the people” Monte said.

He added that her daughter saw the life of the people in far flung areas during their school immersions and decided to live and fight with them against the inhuman treatment of the government and the rotting system.

He stated that the path Recca chose to take is a dangerous one, she decided to join the NPA on her birthday August 24, 2002 leaving a promising life in the city and stable employment in a comfortable office, with the reason for the need of having a force to pressure the government to reform its policies specially for the farmers.

He added that Recca’s decision in life is the evidence of a life that has been lived in the service of others and strengthened by love of the people. She was hailed as their hero in the Cordilleras and her 33 years of life is worth more than those people in power because she dedicated her life serving the Filipino masses and sharing her knowledge about the system we live now in.

He expressed his gratitude and respect to all the people who have attended the funeral, condoled with them and showed their respect and love for Recca.

Joanna Cariño of the Cordillera People’s Alliance (CPA) stated in her message that Recca chose to leave her comfortable life in the big city to join the New People’s Army and live among the impoverished indigenous communities in Kalinga. She was much-loved as “Ka Tet” and is remembered to have organized and empowered the women, teaching them how to read and write, while learning the local culture. She found love in the mountains with Kalinga NPA warrior and NDFP consultant Kennedy Bangibang and their son Diwin in the bosom of the indigenous communities. Her life echoes that of my sister Ka Maria, who died as an NPA amazon in Ifugao, and is equally inspiring. Her memory will live in our hearts forever.

She added that “Ka Tet is not a katutubo in the Cordillera and yet she chose to live with the Cordillera masses and became one of us. We can’t thank her enough for what she had done”.

There are four book launches set for “Recca: From Diliman to the Cordilleras” first was held last April 22 at Quezon Hall in UP Diliman, then April 24 Cordillera Day celebration at the People’s Park in Baguio City, and on same day in the Kalinga Astrodome in Tabuk, Kalinga then on April 29 Cordillera day celebration at the Abra State Institute for Science and Technology, in Bangued Abra. # Delia Bagninordis.net