Unyielding Search
By Alanah Torralba
A year ago, 23-year-old Karen Empeño was supposed to graduate with a degree in Sociology from the University of the Philippines. The daughter of an ex-union leader and a principal, she grew up well aware of what it means to be an activist.
As part of her thesis requirements, she went to Bulacan to conduct research on the folk songs of farmers with fellow UP student Sherlyn Cadapan. Karen had always been sympathetic to the plight of farmers, even dedicating her life to their cause.
On the eve of June 26, 2006, unknown men in bonnets and combat shoes carrying long rifles, seized both students in the house they were staying in. According to witnesses, Karen, who stands at five feet, was grabbed by her back, her shirt was then used as her blindfold. While a two-month old pregnant Sherlyn, was kicked in the stomach. News of their abduction soon reached Manila and launched a barrage of campaigns for their release.
But all was quiet and idyllic back in Masinloc, Zambales, Karen’s hometown. It was only after two days that Mrs. Concepcion “Nanay Connie” Empeño and Mr. Oscar “Ka Ocs” Empeño were informed through a text message that their daughter had gone missing.
A year and four months later, the search for Karen goes on. While life did not stand still, the despair of searching remains an undeniable fact of the Empeños’ everyday life. Their search will not stop, Nanay Connie says, until Karen is found.