Emmanuel Lacaba | |
|---|---|
 Detail of the Wall of Remembrance at theBantayog ng mga Bayani, showing names from the first batch of Bantayog Honorees, including that of Eman Lacaba. | |
| Born | Emmanuel Agapito Flores Lacaba (1948-12-10)December 10, 1948 |
| Died | March 18, 1976(1976-03-18) (aged 27) Asuncion,Davao del Norte, Philippines |
| Other names | Eman |
| Alma mater | Ateneo de Manila University (BA) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1970–1976 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Pete Lacaba (brother) |
Emmanuel Agapito Flores Lacaba (December 10, 1948 – March 18, 1976), popularly known asEman Lacaba, was aFilipino writer, poet, essayist, playwright, short story writer, scriptwriter, songwriter and activist, often referred to as the "poet warrior" of the Philippines.
Lacaba was born inCagayan de Oro and lived there with his family until moving toPateros, at the age of seven. After attendingAteneo 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 theNew 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 themartial lawregime under theMarcos 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 theIntegrated 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 directorLino Brocka once he got back there. He was 27 years old.[3]
Lacaba wrote the lyrics of "Awit ni Kuala", the song sung byLolita Rodriguez in the classic Lino Brocka masterpiece 'Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang '. He also composed new revolutionary lyrics inCebuano for some well-known folk songs.[specify][citation needed]
The poet Luis Francia included Lacaba's work in a portfolio of Filipino poems for the 45th Issue ofBOMB.[4]
His work has been collected in two anthologies:Salvaged Poems (1986) andSalvaged Prose (1992).[5] Aside from his published works, the collection also features previously unpublished prose writings found in his filing cabinets in Pateros, Rizal.[6]
