SOME people may have grown weary with the tradition of spending Christmas with one’s family, but individuals who have experienced Christmas away from their loved ones vowed to never go through the ordeal again.
Ribomapil “Joeyboy” Holganza Jr. recalled the loneliness he felt during the three Christmases he spent in jail during the Martial Law period.
Holganza, then 23 years old, and his father, Ribomapil “Dodong” Holganza Sr., were arrested for rebellion and detained inside a military stockade.
“I spent three Christmases in jail. This is the part of my life story that even my own children don't want to hear,” Joeyboy said.
Joeyboy, his father and three others were arrested around 9 a.m. on Dec. 24, 1983 while visiting a house on Lopez Jaena St., Cebu City, which served as base for an armed group.
Merger
The Holganzas were supposed to discuss a possible merger of groups that were opposed to the Martial Law.
Joeyboy said that the leader of the Asturias armed group was killed shortly before that and opposition groups were thinking of joining forces.
Joeyboy said that he arrived in Cebu City three days before Christmas. He came down from the mountains of Cebu to spend Christmas with his mother.
He said that he was part of the opposition that operated in Pinamungajan and San Fernando.
On the morning of Dec. 24, the older Holganza asked his son to accompany him. They stopped by a gasoline station where they were joined by Dr. Filemon Alberca before proceeding to Lopez Jaena St.
Shout
While inside the house on Lopez Jaena St., they heard someone shout an order for them to get out.
Joeyboy said that one of their companions ran up to the second level of the house to get firearms and explosives.
One of the rebels threw a grenade at the military, headed then by Col. Manuel Cabigon, but the explosive bounced and exploded near the rebels. Many of the rebels were wounded during the incident.
The Holganzas were detained at the Camp Sotero Cabahug on Gorordo Ave.
Joeyboy said that many decided to take up arms to oppose restrictions imposed during the Martial Law.
Retired Judge Meinrado Paredes, an activist and a young lawyer then, said that he saw the arrest of the Holganzas because it happened close to where he lived. He said that he did not go near them for fear that he, too, would be arrested.