Born Maria Lorena Morelos-Barros on March 18, 1945. Her parents were Romeo Barros & Alicia Morelos. Lorena grew up with her mother, maternal grandfather & aunts, in a modest home. Her family placed particular emphasis on education and proper manners. Lorena studied at Instituto de Mujeres (Academy for Women), until Grade 2, but finished elementary school at St. Joseph's College. She is remembered as a curious, perceptive & caring child and was one of the top students at her school. From a young age, Laurie as those close to her called her, was an avid reader: her mother encouraged her love for literature, very early on. Lorena also attended Far Eastern University Girl's High School, & was active in many extra-curricular activities; she was the director of the school play, a member of the gymnastics team & president of the Junior Red Cross. As well as, editor of the school newspaper; she had her own column called, Margin Notes & wrote under a series of pseudonyms including: Malo, Lio Marea & Malachi. Lorena graduated high school with honorable mentions.
On July 21, 1965, Lorena enrolled at the University of the Philippines Diliman, initally aiming for a Bachelor's of Science in Biochemistry. Her mother, Alicia, insisted she do this program, as she believed a bachelor of arts wouldn't be enough of a challenge. Alicia also wanted a doctor or chemist in the family. However, Lorena was aspiring to become a writer. She rebuffed her mother she became an insomniac because she "fell asleep in all her math & science classes". Loren wanted to take up anthropology, she believed that, "You can't really take up the present, without going into the past".
Lorena continued arguing with her mother and ended up running away from home. Eventually Alicia gave in and Lorena switched her BA to anthropology, for 3 semesters between 1967-68. She received high grades and got onto the honor roll. In addition, Lorena joined several organizations such as, the UofP Anthropology Society & the UofP Writer's Club, which she became the secretary of in November 1969. Lorena was naturally a very sociable person, going out with friends to watch movies, sing at karaoke; her mother often described her as a "social butterfly". She continued butting heads with her mother because of curfew, so she took to calling herself, Cinderella, always home by midnight. Alicia was clearly extremely overprotective, frequently inspecting the canteen in the basement, of the Arts & Sciences building at the UofP, where Lorena & her friends spent much of their time.
Though she didn't often get along with her family, she offered assistance by working for, Diliman Review, the academic journal of the UofP. Her salary was only 200 pesos a month (about $5 Canadian), she spent her earnings frugally, so she could send as much money home as possible. Despite her modest lifestyle, she maintained the poise and gracefulness that had been instilled in her since childhood: which needless to say, earned her many suitors.
As a member of the UofP Writer's Club, Lorena wrote "exquisite" poetry, in English. Her works were published in magazines and the Philippine Collegian, the university's official publication. Some of her poems were, Documentary of War, Poem to Han-shan, A Park is Born & Strike. At this time, Lorena was also reading the works of philosophers & writers like, Jean Paul Sartre, Simone de Bouvoir, Han Suyin, Bertrand Russel & Karl Marx. As well as Philippine nationalists including: Claro M. Recto, Lorenzo Tanada & Teodoro Agoncillo. This, along with the political climate at the time are what propelled Lorena, into the world of politics.
It was at this point in time, when martial law came to the Philippines, it lasted from 1972-81, under the government of Ferdinand Marcos. These events lead to the student & national democratic movements, which Lorena was heavily involved in. Alicia feared that her daughter's increased political activities & participation in the student movement would "turn her into a communist", sure enough Lorena joined the Samahan ng Demokratikong Kabataan (SDK or Association of Democratic Youth), an anti-imperialist & democratic organization of youths.
During the 1st Quarter Storm, in 1970, which was mostly known for anti-Marcos protests, lead by student demonstrations that were violently broken up by law enforcement, Lorena was on the front lines. At this time she wrote mostly in Filipino, in order to be understood by the masses. When she graduated with honors from the UofP on April 11, 1970, she joined the graduating class in protest- they were dressed in their robes but carrying signboards and wore red armbands- they objected the Philippine education system which they regarded as archaic & extraneous. As an honors student she protested against the exorbitant charges of the international honors society, Phi Beta Kappa. When police tried to seize the UofP during the Diliman Commune, Lorena was among the students who barricaded the campus and threw stones at the gun-wielding policemen.
That same month, Makibaka (Free Movement of New Women) was founded, Lorena as it's chair. The organization was independent of others like KM (Nationalist Youth) & SDK, which both had women's committees, the idea of Makibaka was originally questioned as it was believed it would divide the ranks. But Lorena clarified that a woman's organization would combat women's issues within the semi-colonial & patriarchal society of the Philippines. Makibaka also became more ideological than their predecessors, wanting to change other inequalities that plagued Filipino society like imperialism, feudalism & bureaucratic capitalism. It was also important because it set women within the wider frame of national & class oppression.
Some of Makibaka's achievements were the establishment of the National Democratic Nursery & the Mothers Corp. They also supported or participated in protests against the Miss Philippines Beauty Pageant, UofP Corps of Sponsor & the US Tobacco Co. During this time, Lorena continued writing essays and short articles about women's position in society and their emancipation.
Lorena married, Felix Rivera, a member of the KM, in an underground ceremony, in 1970. He studied political science at the UofP. Unfortunately, Felix was killed a year later in Isabela, Luzon province, as a guerilla fighter in the New People's Army (NPA), the armed branch of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Though saddened by her husband's death, Lorena did her best not be overwhelmed by her emotions and channeled them into her poetry, especially "Sampaguita". Later that year, she joined the NPA's immersion program, in Luzon, where she met Ramon Sanchez; who was her former professor and later became the NPA commander in the area. Ramon & Lorena were promptly married.
Lorena returned to the city & went underground because the rebels knew that the tense political environment would lead to martial law. In August 1971, arrest without warrant became legal and Lorena's name was included on the list of rebels who were to be detained. On September 21, 1972, martial law was declared; which restricted freedom of speech, public assemblies & cultural activities, as well as closing businesses of Marcos' rivals. At the time Lorena was 7 months pregnant & was forced to hide, secretly moving from house to house. She gave birth to her son, Ramon Emiliano Sanchez on November 24, 1972. She left Ramon Emiliano with her aunt, Lilian Morelos. Then she joined Ramon, in August 1973, when he was sent to Bicol, as a political instructor.
Lorena, who was pregnant for a 2nd time, was arrested by the government in October 1973, in Sorsogon & was interrogated and tortured. Due to this she suffered a miscarriage. Lorena was imprisoned in Canlubang and later Ipil Rehabilitation Center, in Fort Bonifacio. During her incarceration, Lorena was devastated to learn her husband, Ramon, had surrendered and led the military to the rebel camp. Nonetheless she vowed to "...pick up the gun you have put down". Lorena escaped from Ipil on November 1, 1975.
She resumed her resistance in the mountains of Quezon province. There she met, Eliseo Miranda and the two were set to marry, however Eliseo was killed, en route to meet Lorena's family.
On the morning of March 24, 1976, the military discovered the hut where Lorena was living. Lorena attempted to fire her gun, but it jammed. She suffered multiple bullet wounds but was able to escape the hut but the military caught up with her. Accounts differ on how she died, she either died on the way to prison or she was shot in the neck. Her body was subjected to unspeakable indignity, even a film crew was present, recording her corpse. A huge ransom was sent to her family, so they could retrieve her body for a proper funeral; Makibaka helped to raise the necessary funds. Her wake was held in Santa Cruz and a memorial was held for her at the UofP. Lorena was buried in La Loma Cemetery.
Side notes:
martial law- the government has total military control over normal civilian functions.
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We Won't Stay Silent
Non-Fiction"We need women who are so strong they can be gentle, so educated they can be humble, so fierce they can be compassionate, so passionate they can be rational and so disciplined they can be free" ...
