By Joe Phua Video producer in the Philippines

At the end of 2003, a young 18-year-old woman from the southern Philippine island of Mindanao decided she would take up arms against the government and join the communist guerrillas, known as the New People's Army (NPA).

On New Year's Day she adopted the nom de guerre Ka Grace (Comrade Grace) and after she bid a bitter farewell to her parents, Grace trekked to the NPA's jungle hideout for the start of her arduous guerrilla training.

She was joined by about 60 other young recruits, many of whom also belonged to an ethnic minority group called the Manobos.

For decades the Manobos have been pushed off their ancestral lands by powerful landlords. Logging and mining companies have also encroached on the Manobos traditional forests, often kicking them off their land to exploit their resources.

Grace had wanted to be a teacher. However after spending less than a year in university she had to return home as her parents could no longer afford her education.

With tears flowing down her cheeks, Ka Grace admits missing her family and friends

She graduated from the NPA jungle training early February but had yet to engage the enemy in battle when we met her.

Homesick

The NPA has been fighting the government since 1969, and is the world's oldest communist insurgent group.

As a member, Ka Grace receives no salary. She lives a harsh life in the hilly jungle, surviving on tightly rationed meals of dried fish and rice.

Her day starts at 0400 and usually ends at 2100. All her worldly possessions are packed in a haversack.

With tears flowing down her cheeks, Ka Grace admits missing her family and friends. She does not know when she will see them again.

In between sobs, she describes her biggest fear, the fear of not knowing if she will live to see the next day, the fear of not seeing her family ever again.

When asked if she is a young lady or a guerrilla fighter, Ka Grace answers: "I want to be called a guerrilla fighter because that is what I am. I will fight until we are victorious. Grace is a guerrilla fighter, a lady guerrilla fighter."

Since we left Grace, the lady guerrilla fighter has been re-assigned to a frontline active unit.

One Day of War was broadcast in the UK on Thursday, 27 May, 2004 at 2100 BST on BBC Two.