Skip to main content

Even after his death, the spirit of Ka Toto lives and shimmers among Filipino people

By Harsh Thakor 
Comrade Dionisio Micabalo, was better known by the masses as Ka Toto, Ka Jeff or Ka Delong. All Marxists and revolutionary democrats bow down to pay its highest tribute to Ka Toto, for his relentless selfless service to the Filipino people and unflinching devotion in his entire life to advancing the national-democratic revolution.
Ka Toto died on July 26, 2023, being engaged in a gruelling a battle between the New People’s Army and the 58th IB of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at the border of Barangay Litit and Barangay Libertad, in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental province.
Revolutionary democrats must all express gravest sympathies to Ka Toto’s wife, children, grandchildren, as well as to comrades, and the peasant masses and Lumad peoples with whom he rendered service to the people and the revolutionary movement. Ka Toto planted seeds for new lotuses to bloom or to resurrect flame of revolution.
Ka Toto was born on December 26, 1962, from a small landlord family. He attended college at Liceo de Cagayan in Cagayan de Oro City where he took a course on BS Accounting. At the age of 18, Ka Toto was enraged with the oppression and suffering inflicted on the Filipino people caused by imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat capitalism which are the root causes of the their problems, and their suffering under the US-Marcos dictatorship. He integrated with revolutionary forces in 1981 at his college. Even under martial law, he took the cudgels in anti-fascist, anti-imperialist and antifeudal mass struggles.
In 1982, Ka Toto joined the New People’s Army and participated in constructing building new guerrilla fronts and units. In 1985, he was known as Ka Yani when he was deployed to Front 6 in Bukidnon. That same year, he was transferred to Front 4-A in Misamis Oriental where he was known as Ka Abbu and Ka Cardo.
Ka Toto was assigned to the Lumad areas in 1988. Brimming with revolutionary spirit, he quickly fast integrated with the indigenous masses. He showed respect to their traditional customs, structures and practices, and patiently elevated their political consciousness and democratic strength. Ka Toto played an immense role in elevating their revolutionary movement to a new height
Having fully dedicated their lives to advancing the people’s war, Ka Toto and his fellow revolutionary wife built a strong revolutionary family. They instilled in their children fully the aspirations of the Filipino people for genuine liberation .In the following years; Ka Toto helped expand Party organizations from section level committees, to district committees and fronts.
Ka Toto ranked amongst the revolutionary forces who upheld the Second Great Rectification Movement which the Party initiated in 1992 to rectify errors and deviations from the basic principles. He also played a role in those weaknesses, but in time rectified errors, upheld the national-democratic line by rebuking the revisionists who betrayed the Party, the revolutionary movement and the people.
In 2003, Ka Toto was arrested with his wife and imprisoned for six months. He was released by posting bail. In 2009, Ka Toto assumed the role of secretary of the North Central Mindanao Region Party Committee. He fortified the Party’s collective leadership in the region. Applying the basic principles of protracted people’s war, they invoked the sprouting of guerrilla warfare throughout the region, especially in 2012-2017 during which they reached superlative heights. Without hesitation, Ka Toto and other leading cadres extended support to other regions needing help in terms of personnel and resources.
Ka Toto was among the delegates to the 2nd Congress of the Communist Party of the Philippines in 2016. There he was elected a member of the Party Central Committee. He was also appointed as a leading member of the Mindanao Commission in 2017. In 2023, the Central Committee appointed Ka Toto as a member of the Political Bureau.
Prior to his death, Ka Toto actively took initiative in NCMR to regain strength, after having suffered setbacks due to internal weaknesses and shortcomings. In the region’s evaluation,, Ka Toto always engaged in constructive self-criticism for weaknesses and illustrated his relentless will to correct them. Together with all revolutionary forces in the NCMR, Ka Toto strive on the path of resurrection towards climbing new heights in revolutionary struggles.
At the ripe age of 61, Ka Toto marched astride the fraternity of the youth or younger Red fighters in crossing mountains and rivers, towards hills and plains, to penetrate the vast masses and ignite revolutionary spirit and strengthen their organized ranks.
Ka Toto manifested or symbolised determination, collective leadership, and dedicated study and application of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism to concrete conditions and practice, criticism and self-criticism, and firm adherence to the path of protracted people’s war.
Despite his stupendous achievements and victories, Ka Toto remained unassuming and selfless. He was one of the fulcrums of the revolutionary movement in the NCMR, in Mindanao and the whole country, but was, always humble, gentle and smiling, always adhering to listen to advice, and in turn offer give his own advice.
The Filipino people, especially the peasant masses and indigenous people in Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Agusan del Norte, Lanao del Norte to Maguindanao, will forever cherish and resurrect Dionisio Micabalo, and his contributions to advancing the people’s democratic revolution in the Philippines.
---
Harsh Thakor is freelance journalist.Thanks information from Red Spark and Philippine revolution blogs

Comments

TRENDING

Hyderabad protest demands end to Operation Kagar as senior Maoist leaders killed in encounter

By Harsh Thakor*  A protest was held on June 17 at Indira Park in Hyderabad by the Shanti Charchala Committee, calling for an end to Operation Kagar and the start of peace talks with Maoist groups. The event brought together representatives from several political parties and civil society organizations. Among those who addressed the gathering were CPI (ML) New Democracy Central Committee member Vemulapalli Venkatramayya, along with leaders from the Congress, BRS, CPI, CPM, Telangana Janasamithi, MCPI, SUCI, CPI ML, RSP, and VCK. The programme also featured performances by cultural groups such as CLC, HRF, TVV, Arunodaya, Praja Kala Mandali, and Praja Natya Mandali. Public figures including actors Narayana Murthy and Tudundebba Upendar and academics like Professor Anver Khan and Professor Vinayaka Reddy participated as speakers.

Food security crisis persists in Gujarat despite NFSA: Survey reveals grim ground reality

By A Representative  A new field-based survey conducted in January 2025 across Dahod, Panchmahals, Morbi, and Bhavnagar districts has revealed alarming levels of food insecurity among vulnerable communities in Gujarat, ten years after the implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Conducted by Anandi – Area Networking and Development Initiatives (ASAA) and community organisations working with mahila sangathans, the Gujarat Food Security Survey covered 1,261 households, purposively chosen to reflect the experiences of marginalised populations including Adivasis, OBCs, single women, the disabled, and the elderly. The findings suggest that despite the promises of NFSA and wide coverage under the Public Distribution System (PDS), food deprivation remains widespread and systemic failures continue to exclude the most vulnerable.

Land under siege: A silent crisis, desertification is threatening India’s future

By Raj Kumar Sinha*  Desertification is emerging as one of the gravest environmental challenges of our time. Marked annually on June 17, the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought reminds us that the fate of our planet’s land—and the billions who depend on it—is hanging in the balance.

Victim to cricketing politics, Alvin Kalicharan was a most organized left handed batsman

By Harsh Thakor* On March 21st Alvin Kalicharan celebrates his 75th birthday. Sadly, his exploits have been forgotten or overlooked. Arguably no left handed batsman was technically sounder or more organized than this little man. Kalicharan was classed as a left-handed version of Rohan Kanhai. Possibly no left-handed batsmen to such a degree blend technical perfection with artistry and power.

Central London discussion to spotlight LGBTQ+ ex-Muslim rights and persecution

By A Representative   On June 13, 2025, the Dissident Club in Central London will host a public discussion to mark the 18th anniversary of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) and to commemorate World Refugee Day. The event, scheduled from 7:00 to 9:00 pm, will feature speakers Ali Malik, Maryam Namazie, and Taha Siddiqui, who are expected to address the intersecting challenges faced by LGBTQ+ ex-Muslims globally.

Better halves lead the way as organic farmers, entrepreneurs and social reformers

By Bharat Dogra  Two major challenges continue to limit the full participation of rural women in development. First, their crucial roles, potential, and capabilities often remain underrecognized. Second, even when women are encouraged to take on broader responsibilities, the overarching development models may not align with their needs or perspectives and may even appear counterproductive. Under such conditions, it is unrealistic to expect women to engage as enthusiastic and creative participants.

Lepa Radić: A symbol of defiance and resistance, of fight against oppression

By Harsh Thakor*  December 29th marks the centenary of the birth of Lepa Radić, a Yugoslav Partisan whose courage during World War II continues to resonate through history. Born on December 19, 1925, in the village of GaÅ¡nica in what is now Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lepa Radić was only 15 when the Axis powers invaded Yugoslavia in April 1941. In response to the occupation, she joined the Partisan resistance, eventually becoming one of its most revered figures. At the age of 17, she was executed by the Nazis for her involvement, refusing until her death to betray her comrades.

Hope from the Amazon: Land rights, indigenous voices, and the winds of change in Latin America

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  After several days of travel and digital silence, I returned from a rare and deeply moving journey into the Amazon region of Colombia. It was not just another field trip, but an opportunity to witness the pulse of Latin America’s land rights movement, firsthand.

Violent evictions in Nagarahole: Forest department razes adivasi huts despite FRA protections

By A Representative   In a disturbing escalation of tensions between state authorities and Adivasi communities in the Nagarahole forests, over 250 personnel from the Forest Department, Special Tiger Protection Force, and local police violently demolished six huts belonging to Jenu Kuruba Adivasi families in Karadikallu Atturu Koli Haadi on June 18. The demolition took place in the midst of heavy monsoon rains, leaving families exposed to the elements and stripped of their temporary homes.