Red Love Monday: Julie and Neil

Every Monday, Dating Politics features leftie couples who're shaking the laws of lust and motion while saving societies in crisis and motion.  Based on the novel by Russian Rev Alexandra Kollontai, Red Love Monday is about love on the other side and inside the class struggle.

If you and your partner are lefties and want your stories posted, check out the Underground Notes and let me know.  I'll transmit the questions.

Julie Nieto and Neil Castro 

She:  Julie “Julay/Juls” Nieto, Secretary-General of the Philippine Women Centre of Quebec

He:  Neil Castro, Secretary-General of Kabataang Montreal

Side by side in the struggle since:  2006

Active Turf:  Cote-des-Neiges, Montreal, Quebec

The Meeting of Two Worlds:  Met at the Ipagpatuloy: Living the Storm! First Quarter Storm Conference in 2005, in Vancouver, B.C....

Anthems:
Juls:
• Dakilang Pakikibaka* (Neil's version)
• Buhok** by Grace Nono

• A Millie by Bambu
• My Folks by Carlo Sayo & Dagamuffin

• Determined to Rise by Dagamuffin

• Mabuhay Revolution by Peace Pipe

• Get Up, Stand Up by Bob Marley

...I could go on really, but I'ma stop here!

Neil:
• Imagine
• Dakilang Pakikibaka

Battle cry:

Juls:
• Chant: Makibaka! Huwag matakot!***
• Motto: A woman's place is in the struggle

Neil:

• Chant: Kabataan Lumalaban!****

• Motto: Serve the People

Why she activates his world:  She is very creative with a big caring heart. She refuses to conform to the norm, especially when it comes to style! She is very passionate when it comes to expressing herself on behalf of the people and doesn't need a megaphone to lead chants at a rally. Sometimes I think that she and Tala*† are going to be more like sisters than mother and daughter coz of their close bond.

Why he activates her world:  His commitment & passion to serve the people, I'm always inspired when I hear him speak at a conference/press con/community forum/workshop/discussion group... but even more so when it empowers the people! Neil could totally be a one man band... really... he sings, plays guitar/bass guitar/piano/percussion. Although I'm not sure if he can do that all at once. Neil is a lot of fun! Especially as a Tatay.*±

The Long March:  To be the living study of a revolutionary Filipino family in Canada

Quirks outside the picket line:  We love walking around Cote-des-Neiges being with the masses. We constantly download TV shows/movies. We love kicking it with Tala and teaching her things like the “Isang Bagsak!”*‡

Neil has a Tatay dance which is almost as good as the KM dance, and makes cheesy Titoˆˆ jokes... ya'll know what I'm talkin' bout!

                                          -Juls                                                                             

Juls loves to knit everything for everybody and when she's in deep concentration her head tilts and her lips curl up to her nose!

                                          -Neil                                                                            

* Great Struggle

** Hair

*** “Advance the struggle! Do not fear!”

**** “Youth Rise Up!” or “Youth Stand Up!” or “Youth Resist!”

*† Their fiercely cute daughter!

*± Father

*‡ “One Big Clap!” Executed when a group or collective has come to a point of unity

ˆˆ Uncle, from the Spanish Tio