Armando “Mandrake” Palabay used the stage as his protest ground in his early years as an activist.
A native of Ilocos, Armando’s childhood was defined by a community devoted and loyal to Ferdinand Ma
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rcos and his family.
But Armando and his eight siblings were brought up in a household that taught them the value of education, love for country, and service to the community. Such upbringing held more weight in how he lived his life.
Rumors of abuses and injustices by the Marcos government against students and ordinary citizens started to spread. This prompted Armando, his brother Romulo, and a small group of friends to have nightly discussions and debates about current events. They joined the local chapter Kabataang Makabayan (KM) soon after.
They started joining rallies, staging plays at the plaza with commentaries about current social issues. These efforts were amplified when they moved to Manila to study in UP, and when they joined the cultural arm of KM, Panday Sining. He protested in songs, poetry, and more plays.
After the bombing at Plaza Miranda in 1971, the brothers returned to Ilocos where support for the Marcos family remained strong.
The blinders had to come off, so the Palabay brothers organized countryside trips to expose students to village life. They launched protests against abusive military personnel. These drew young activists from all over Luzon to take part in their efforts.
When Martial Law was declared, the brothers became a target of state forces. They were detained and tortured for over half a year.
In 1973, he moved with the Tinggians of southern Abra. Here, he found a new stage, at the heart of which was the community, and he was audience. He fully integrated himself, learned their language and ways of living.
He dedicated himself to a life of service, without the need of a curtain call.
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Read Armando’s full story here: https://www.bantayog.org/palabay-armando-d/
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