Maria Lorena Barros wrote poetry and essays and was a student at the University of the Philippines. In the 1960s, she joined student activists groups like Kabataang Makabayan and later became the co-founder of Malayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan (MAKIBAKA), which focused on promoting women’s rights and improve economic conditions. When writ of habeas corpus was suspended, she was charged with subversion and had to go underground. She got married and had a son. In November 1973, she was arrested, tortured, and imprisoned. She managed to escape with three political prisoners a year later. She died at 28 years old in March 1976 in battle.