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Emmanuel Lacaba, one of our Exchange Student, was very well known in his native country, even revered. He was murdered in 1976 by henchmen of Marcos, the country's dictator at that time, for his activities as a rebel against the government. For those who might be interested, below are links to articles about him, with the 1st probably being the best. There are even more of them on the web, some written by personal friends of his.
More about Emmanuel
Some History about Emmanuel
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Jon-Stephen Hedges
Eman, On Hearing Only Today of Your Death Thirty Years Ago 2007(For Emmanuel Lacaba)
It was a season of pandemic, a cannibal virus that made hearts war
Yet the immunity of youth that year vouchsafed and protected ours
Allowed us to handle the classics of antiquity, we utopias foresaw
Dreamt that we, the warrior poets, could go from there to cure…
Our mixed metaphors we prayed faith would unravel and enlighten
Open and expectant we were, awaiting a good path to be revealed
Certain what had been given us made us ready for uncertainty
We were neither of us prepared for the magnitude of our opponents
We both of us set out on roads less traveled by a similar inclination
Parallel though our course we did not cross for ten years save fleeting
Recollection of fond laughter over some new insight or well turned phrase
(I prophesied at our parting you would go home to be a president)
Could we have foreseen your destination; could we have found a path
Sustainable of the inclination of the heart now salvaged only in your verse?
O, my old friend, I am so conflicted of soul at the news of your death
Pray we find the green and hopeful pastures of peace we knew as boys!