Humility, Kindness, and Warmth: In Memory of Vince Francis "Ka Poy" Dingding
I've spent the better part of the last 30-something hours trying to figure out the best way to tell my stories of Kuya Ding's brightness, sharpness, humility, wittiness, and humor. His patience, kindness, and warmth.
But the grief is a little paralyzing again now barely a month since the Negros 19 massacre. Ironically, he was the first person I thought of when news of the massacre broke.
But I will say, Kuya Ding was always larger than life. His presence cannot be contained in words.
I may be spent from writing tributes to our fallen comrades, but I am also always so, so proud of them for persevering in fighting a system that creates oppressive conditions where resistance is a necessity.
That said, please read the Facebook post by Nagkahiusang Kusog sa Estudyante about him; the life he lived as a staunch student leader, youth activist, and labor organizer; and the path he eventually took to pursue the highest form of struggle, as someone who saw and experienced firsthand the rot of the system that creates landlessness and abject poverty. A system that thrives on the oppression and exploitation of the Filipino people. A system built on the violence that sets the fertile soil for more radical means of dismantling it—something that many like Kuya Ding believe to be the only solution when elections are rigged, state forces regularly commit human rights violations with impunity, and justice is elusive.
At the same time, in tandem with our recognition of the rotten system, we must call into question the legitimacy of the military operations that took the life of Kuya Ding and his companions. Given the track record of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in summarily executing wounded, ailing, and/or elderly Red fighters, especially since the declaration of the MO 32 and EO 70, it is not outside the realm of possibility. The International Humanitarian Law, (IHL), of which the Philippines is a signatory, prohibits attacking combatants who are no longer able to fight or have surrendered or were unarmed at the time of the incident.
Contrary to the propaganda the military is pushing, even war has rules, rules that they have consistently violated, such as the case of the Bilar 5, which included fellow UP Cebu alumna Hannah "Ka Maya" Cesista. The Bilar 5 were tortured and then killed despite having surrendered, according to eyewitness accounts. Violations to the IHL are war crimes.
But despite the grief and rage I feel, Kuya Ding is now immortalized as what he always was to me: a symbol of the persevering, ceaseless, and tireless spirit of a true revolutionary. As one of the people who organized me as a baby tibak, he helped shape the foundation of how I would be as an activist. I've even kept this screenshot of a post about his graduation rally speech in my files for years now.
I remember covering this graduation rally as a freshman student journalist in UP Cebu 10 years ago now and I remember marveling at the sheer militance of Kuya Ding and the student movement.
Kuya Ding shaped an entire generation of activists who now continue to serve the people in an endless number of ways, but, most importantly, with warmth, kindness, and humor.
Rest in power, Ka Poy! I spent a good 5 minutes crying-laughing when I found out you had chosen that as your name, because of course you did!!! You really couldn't leave us without one last laugh.
We owe so much to you, Kuya Ding. You live on in the struggle for genuine liberation and just peace through us and the masses who loved you dearly.
#DingPangkaraniwan
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Vince Francis "Poy" Dingding was martyred in an alleged encounter alongside 4 other Red fighters on May 16 in Cauayan, Negros Occidental.