Emmanuel Lacaba
{{Use Philippine English|date=January 2023}}
{{Philippine name|Flores|Lacaba}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Emmanuel Lacaba
| image = BantayogWall20181115Alternativity-92L.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = Detail of the Wall of Remembrance at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani, showing names from the first batch of Bantayog Honorees, including that of Eman Lacaba.
| birth_name = Emmanuel Agapito Flores Lacaba
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1948|12|10|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental, Philippines
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1976|03|18|1948|12|10|mf=y}}
| death_place = Asuncion, Davao del Norte, Philippines
| alma_mater = Ateneo de Manila University (BA)
| othername = Eman
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Screenwriter
- editor
- journalist
- activist
}}
| years_active = 1970–1976
| spouse = {{marriage|Eulalia de Vera|1969}}
| children = 2
| parents =
| relatives = Pete Lacaba (brother)
| awards =
}}
Emmanuel Agapito Flores Lacaba (December 10, 1948 – March 18, 1976), popularly known as Eman Lacaba, was a Filipino writer, poet, essayist, playwright, short story writer, scriptwriter, songwriter and activist, often referred to as the "poet warrior" of the Philippines.
Life
Lacaba was born in Cagayan de Oro and lived there with his family until moving to Pateros, at the age of seven. After attending Ateneo 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 the New People's Army.{{Cite news|url=http://aboutcagayandeoro.com/legacy-artist-life-emmanuel-lacaba-advocacy-marcos-regime/|title=Legacy of an Artist: The Life of Emmanuel Lacaba and His Advocacy During the Marcos Regime|date=September 4, 2017|work=About Cagayan de Oro|access-date=May 12, 2018|language=en-US}}
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."{{Cite news|url=https://martiallawfiles.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/emmanuel-lacaba/|title=Emmanuel F. Lacaba|date=October 1, 2012|work=Martial Law Files|access-date=May 12, 2018|language=en-US}} As Emmanuel became more deeply involved with the New People's Army, and with other guerilla groups opposed to martial law under the Marcos 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 the Integrated 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 director Lino Brocka once he got back there. He was 27 years old.{{Cite web|url=http://kapetesapatalim.blogspot.com/2008/04/eman.html|title=EMAN|last=Pete|first=Ka|date=April 13, 2008|website=kapetesapatalim.blogspot.com|access-date=March 18, 2018}}
Works
Lacaba wrote the lyrics of "Awit ni Kuala", the song sung by Lolita Rodriguez in the classic Lino Brocka masterpiece 'Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang '. He also composed new revolutionary lyrics in Cebuano for some well-known folk songs.{{specify|date=March 2016}}{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}
The poet Luis Francia included Lacaba's work in a portfolio of Filipino poems for the 45th Issue of BOMB.{{Cite web|url=https://bombmagazine.org/articles/two-poems-lacaba/|title=Two Poems by Emmanuel Lacaba - BOMB Magazine|website=bombmagazine.org|access-date=May 12, 2018}}
His work has been collected in two anthologies: Salvaged Poems (1986) and Salvaged Prose (1992).{{Cite web|url=http://www.oovrag.com/essays/essay2007b-1.shtml|title=Against the Dying of the Light: The Filipino Writer and Martial Law By Ed Maranan|website=www.oovrag.com|access-date=May 12, 2018}} Aside from his published works, the collection also features unpublished prose writings found in his filing cabinets in Pateros, Rizal. {{Cite journal |last=Lacaba |first=Jose F. |date=2012-05-18 |title=Salvaged Prose |url=https://philippinestudies.net/ojs/index.php/ps/article/view/874/865 |journal=Philippine Studies: Historical and Ethnographic Viewpoints |language=en |volume=41 |issue=2 |pages=264 |doi=10.13185/2244-1638.4859 |issn=2244-1638}}
Awards and honors
- The book Six Young Filipino Martyrs states, "Not many poets are given the honor of becoming martyrs for their country. In the Philippines there are only two: Jose Rizal and a disciple he never knew, Emmanuel Lacaba."{{Cite web|url=http://www.bulatlat.com/news/3-15/3-15-mothers.html|author=DENNIS ESPADA|title=Mothers of Courage|website=www.bulatlat.com|access-date=March 18, 2018}}
- The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) confers the Gawad Eman Lacaba Award to young poets. Lacaba and his brother Pete were accorded the distinction of being among the top 100 Filipinos in culture.{{Cite web |url=http://www.bohol-island.com/loon/lights1.htm |title=Loon's Leading Lights |access-date=February 19, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207203424/http://www.bohol-island.com/loon/lights1.htm |archive-date=February 7, 2009 |url-status=dead }}
- The Ateneo de Manila University paid tribute to Lacaba on December 8–14, 2002.{{YouTube|W4KyCjD6ToE}}
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20081201160459/http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/apr/06/yehey/weekend/20080406week1.html
- http://www.arkibongbayan.org/2007-03March27-freesatur/doc/beyond%20literature%20by%20boni%20ilagan.txt
- https://web.archive.org/web/20080906153402/http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/0307%26082008/life03.html
- http://filipinopoets.blogspot.com/2008/04/principe-by-eman-lacaba.html
- https://web.archive.org/web/20071020102640/http://www.anvilpublishing.com/bookdetails.php?id=2004000190
References
{{Reflist}}
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Category:Ateneo de Manila University alumni
Category:Assassinated Filipino journalists
Category:People from Cagayan de Oro
Category:Writers from Misamis Oriental
Category:20th-century Filipino poets
Category:Marcos martial law victims
Category:Individuals honored at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani
Category:Journalists honored at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani
Category:Ateneans honored at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani
Category:Journalists killed under the Marcos administration
Category:Artists and cultural workers honored at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani