Written by Allen Limos
Photos and captions by Allen Limos
Published May 7, 2022
While he was in prison during Martial Law, Jose Camus wrote a poem for his wife, Beatrice, as he hopes that someday, they’ll be back again.
As the song goes, “I fell in love with the same woman three times.” These are lyrics from a song based on Ninoy Aquino’s poem for Corazon Aquino while he was in prison. My grandparents have a similar story.
A photo of Jose Camus when he was in Camp Olivas San Fernando Pampanga
Jose Camus and Beatrice Camus were a newly-wed couple who experienced the wrath of Martial Law. My grandfather, Jose, or Tatay Jose as we call him, was a student activist when dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. placed the country under martial law. In 1972, Tatay Jose was one of the students who were imprisoned without due process under Martial Law. But unlike many other Martial Law victims, his story was wiped from history. Although I may not have met him, my grandmother Beatrice, or Tutin as my siblings and I call her, remembers his ordeal.
A photo of Jose Camus on his elementary graduation day
Born on September 8, 1951, Tatay Jose grew up in Ramos, Tarlac. My grandmother, on the other hand, was born on April 3, 1951 in Paniqui, Tarlac. They met in high school at Central Institute of Technology in Paniqui.
Tutin fondly remembers him as the one who only brought one piece of paper to class and was always late. My grandmother recalls his usual line whenever his teachers would ask why he was late: “Kahit na late ako, nasa utak ko naman na ‘yan [aralin].” Even at a young age, he already spoke to power.
(Even if I’m late, I already know that lesson.)
Jose Camus and Beatrice Camus (those with the red ‘x’ marks) on their “Buwan ng Wika” celebration
Despite being tardy, he graduated high school as the class valedictorian. He went on to study commerce at Far Eastern University (FEU) but, after a year, he moved to Dr. Nicanor Reyes Memorial College, unable to bear with the harsh training at Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). In his new school, he served as the student leader.
Jose Camus giving a speech on Dr. Nicanor Reyes Memorial College Intramurals
“Si Jose maka-masa,” my grandmother recalls with a smile. He advocated for free education and, as the student leader, he would speak up against their school authorities whenever they would not allow students to take their exams due to unpaid tuition fees. Aside from this, he was also adamant on his stand against then President Ferdinand Marcos.
(Jose loves the people.)
This was a challenge to Jose. However, for her, he was an easy pick because of his compassion to others and his selflessness.
On January 17, 1972, they decided to marry in Paniqui Municipal Hall. A few months later, they got married once again at the church in Paniqui to follow the cultural norms of affirming a couple’s marriage. However, no physical imprint of those momentous occasions were captured. No photos were taken so the frozen memories are now only a dying memory of my grandmother.
Because of this, there were murmurs spread within my family for decades that they got married while my grandfather was in prison, but Tutin was quick to deny that.
A few months later, their seemingly happy family life together, turned out to be a difficult one. In September 1972, when Jose was in his last year of college, Marcos declared martial law. Tutin recalls her experience at that time and says“Noon (Martial law), lahat ng tao takot!”
(During martial law, everyone was scared!)
After his declaration, various lawyers, labor leaders and students were imprisoned without due process, including my grandfather.
A well-known activist in his town, Jose, was wanted by military personnel. However, knowing he did not do anything wrong, he bravely stormed over to his brother, who was a military cadet, and asked to turn him over.
Yet, he was not included on the national list of activists that were wanted. My grandmother said, “Hindi siya kasama sa list ng national government ng mga huhuliin na dadalhin sa Camp Crame, kaya nilagay na lang siya Camp Olivas.”
(His name was not on the list of those wanted by the national government to be placed in Camp Crame, so instead he was placed in Camp Olivas.)
In the span of six months, he was placed in three different jails: the municipal jail of Paniqui, the Tarlac provincial jail and Camp Olivas in San Fernando, Pampanga, where he spent most of his time behind bars.
Jose Camus with his cellmates in Camp Olivas
While he was in prison, my grandmother would visit him weekly in Pampanga. At that time, Tutin was already pregnant with their first child, my mom. She would visit him weekly in Pampanga to bring food.
While Jose was in prison, Tutin struggled as she juggled work, and preparing for my mother’s birth. She said “Malaki ang hirap ko nang nag-asawa kung pwede nga lang ibalik ko pagkadalaga ko eh ibabalik ko.” Despite this, she endured all the suffering just to get by.
(I suffered so much ever since I became a wife, if only I could bring back my childhood I would.)
While in prison, my grandfather wrote a poem entitled “My Beloved.” It was his gift for my grandmother’s 22nd birthday on April 3, 1973. Coincidentally, he was released from prison on that same day.
Jose Camus’ love letter to Beatrice Camus for her birthday on April 3, 1973
This is one of the only gifts she still has left from Tatay Jose. Hence, the paper has been hiding in her drawer, folded for decades. She only showed it now for me to see. She keeps this as her most precious memory of him.
After six months in prison, Tatay Jose went back to school to finish his degree. Afterwards, they settled down in Sison, Pangasinan. Seven years later, they had two more kids, all of which were girls.
Camus family picture taken in Baguio city
In 1980, he decided to pursue his dream to become a lawyer. He obtained his law degree four years later. As he was reviewing for the bar exams, he decided to run for mayor of Sison, Pangasinan. Little did he know, his decision would lead to his demise.
His experience as a Martial Law victim, garnered him massive support from the townsfolk. However, because of the heated political climate since he was running against a long-standing political dynasty, on October 16, 1984, he was murdered.
His murder, though unresolved, was widely seen as politically motivated, masterminded by a political opponent.
Tutin said his cause of death may be the reason why he was not mentioned on the roll of victims or the official list of Martial Law victims.
His death also meant he could not see the result of the suffering he and thousands others endured because of Martial Law. Two years after his death, the EDSA People Power overthrew Marcos.
Afterwards, my grandmother raised their daughters. She instilled in them the values that her husband valued. Her daughters later on obtained their degrees in the top universities of the country.
My grandparents' story is not an isolated one. There are numerous cases of Martial Law victims who are yet to make their stories heard. But like the paper of the poem that is about to tear into pieces, their story and those that share the same stories may no longer be heard if another Marcos becomes president. The remaining relatives of Marcos shun these kinds of allegations and it worries me if stories like this will be wiped into oblivion like that of my grandfather’s.
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