in 1989, on the island of negros, because of the inhuman conditions in the evacuation centers, nearly 300 persons - most of them were children - died from malnutrition and measles as the result of the u.s.-organized bombing raid, "operation thunderbolt" in the municipalities of candoni, hino–baan, ilog, cauayan, kabankalan and sipalay popularly referred to as the chicks area. the people of cantomanyog began to ask themselves, "why is this war happening here?"