HOMAGE TO KA BEL
 

Lyrics by Jose Maria Sison
Music by Danny Fabella

You have fought wisely and valiantly
For the rights of the toiling masses
And  oppressed peoples of the world
Under the red flag of the working class.

Your calls for peoples' solidarity
For freedom,  justice and progress
Against the empire and puppetry
Continue to resound and inspire us.

Chorus:
You have never been afraid to die
For the working class and humankind.
Thus, your heroic example and 
 deeds
Will always live in our hearts and minds.

You have risen to greatness as hero
By serving the workers and people,
By sharing with them weal and woe,
By standing in the forefront of struggle.

Tribute to Ka Bel

of the National Union of People's Lawyers

Peoples’ lawyers all over the country salute Ka Crispin Beltran, a genuine peoples’ champion, for his major contribution in advancing the peoples interest. He may not have passed the bar exams but he was the best “labor lawyer” in the country having successfully won many legal victories for the rights of the working class through militant struggle. The life of Ka Bel is one devoted to work and struggle and despite his advanced age he managed to do both with vigor and commitment.

Many said Ka Bel would have wanted to die in the midst of struggle but we are sure he had no regrets because he actually died in the midst of the campaign against the continuing attacks on the peoples’ economic welfare exemplified by the rising prices of rice and gasoline and the unjust refusal of the government and the employers to give decent wages to the workers. One of his last acts was signing the bill granting the poor an exemption from the Expanded Value Added Tax.. He was in the thick of the battle against attacks on Philippine sovereignty, a battle he has continuously waged throughout his life. One of his last acts was signing the Supreme Court Petition to declare the Joint Maritime Survey Undertaking between the Philippines, China and Vietnam unconstitutional. But more than these, Ka Bel was in the midst of struggle because up to his death he played an active part and an important role in the peoples movement for a free, just and democratic society.

Many said Ka Bel would have wanted to die fighting, but we are sure he had no regrets because he did in fact die while hard at manual labor, in the midst of the daily struggle of the common man to live amidst poverty. His simple living in death not only shocked the country, used to rich politicians who will never engage in manual labor, but also made the people realize that indeed it is possible for committed political leaders like Ka Bel to shun material wealth and genuinely devote their lives to the service of the people. Those who previously attempted to bribe Ka Bel in exchange for his vote in Congress not only committed a crime but also committed an insult against him and the principles with which he stood for. His firm rejection of the bribe offer relays a strong message of hope for us all while we battle the corruption that pervades the Arroyo government.

With the passing of Ka Bel, the working-class and the people lost a sincere and dedicated defender who will not back down to those who threaten the peoples’ rights. We mourn his loss, but we celebrate his life so that it will serve as our model and as our inspiration to give our utmost to live up to the call to ‘serve the people’.

We are sure that Ka Bel is happy that he lived his life to the full in the service of the people and he died in the midst of struggle and steadfast in the service of the people. We, in the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, are glad that we once worked with a great man. Mabuhay and diwa ni Ka Bel, ang diwa ng paggawa at pakikibaka para sa masang anakpawis!

 

The family of Ka Bel

TRIBUTE TO KA BEL

The International Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL) extends its heartfelt condolences to Ka Osang Beltran, to the children, grand children and great grand children of Philippine Congressman and genuine labor leader, the Honorable Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran. IAPL also extends condolences to the Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) Party, of which he was the President and representative in Congress, and to the leadership and member unions of Kilusang Mayo Uno (May first Movement), and to all Filipinos fighting for freedom, justice and democracy.

Ka Bel died on May 20, 2008, after falling off the roof of his home which he was repairing. He wanted to make sure that the roof would not leak during the coming rainy season. Though he was a Congressman, he lived in a tiny, unpainted home quite the opposite of other Congressmen who live lavish and luxurious lifestyles.

Ka Bel was a labor leader since the 1950’s. He was a former taxi driver and union organizer. He helped organize the Confederation of Labor of the Philippines, the Philippine Workers Congress and the labor organizations KASAMA and PAKMAP. He helped form the Federations of Unions in Rizal and the Philippine Nationalist Labor Organizations. He became the president of the Kilusang Mayo Uno, the most militant labor federation in the Philippines today.

When the partylist system presented opportunities to the marginalized sectors, Ka Bel was one of three members of the Bayan Muna (People First) Party to be elected to Congress. Later, he helped form the Anakpawis Party.

Ka Bel was also an internationalist. When the International League of Peoples’ Struggle was organized in 2001, he was elected its first Chairman.

His years as a trade unionist and political activist earned him the ire of Philippine presidents and military. He was imprisoned several times. In 1984, he made a daring escape from prison. His last imprisonment was in 2006, when he was imprisoned for a year and a half by the Arroyo regime. The campaigns and protests from around the world calling for his release helped much in securing his release. The international campaigns strengthened the staunch legal defense provided by people’s lawyers in the Philippines who are also leading members of the IAPL.

Through his experiences in the struggles of workers and other sectors of Philippine society, and as a political activist, Ka Bel saw and appreciated the work of people’s lawyers. He openly praised their work, recognized their contribution to the struggle, and encouraged young lawyers to become people’s lawyers. As chairman of the ILPS he attended the court hearings in Turkey in the case of the unjustly detained Deputy Chairman of the ILPS, Memik Horuz and saw again, the selfless work of people’s lawyers there. He attended the hearings and gave open support to the legal defense of ILPS Chairperson Prof. Jose Ma. Sison in Luxembourg.

The International Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL) joins the numerous tributes of trade unions, political parties, solidarity groups, and political organizations in the Philippines and outside, in extolling the exemplary life, work and struggles of Ka Bel, a proletarian, trade unionist, political activist, and internationalist. His unflinching principles and selfless dedication to the cause of the poor and oppressed give meaning to the work of and inspire people’s lawyers all over the world.#

28 May 2008; Reference: Rafael Jespers, Secretary General


 

Truck that brought Ka Bel to his final resting place, with Anakpawis Secretay General Cherry Clemente, KMU Secretary General Joel Maglunsod and Sen. Jamby Madrigal (partly hidden) and representatives from the workers and peasants he served so well.

MABUHAY SI KA BEL!
AGHAM- Samahan ng Nagtataguyod ng Agham at Teknolohiya Para sa Sambayanan
May 26, 2008

Ang AGHAM o Samahan ng Nagtataguyod ng Agham at Teknolohiya Para sa Sambayanan ay nakikiisa sa buong sambayanan sa pagluluksa sa pagkamatay ni Congressman Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran. Hinahangaan ng AGHAM ang walang humpay na pagsusulong ni Ka Bel sa karapatan ng mga manggagawang Pilipino at ng ibang bansa na magkaroon ng makataong pamumuhay. Kinikilala namin ang kanyang pagiging tunay na lider ng mga manggagawa at iba pang inaaping uri ng lipunan.

Isa sa mga tinututukan ng AGHAM ang kampanya para sa pambansang industriyalisasyon sa Pilipinas kung saan magkakaroon na ng puwang ang mga Pilipinong siyentista at inhinyero na ipamalas ang kanilang galing sa pagtuklas ng mga kaalaman at makabuluhang kagamitan para mapagaan ang buhay ng mga mamamayan, at katulong dito ng mga siyentista at inhinyero ang mga manggagawa na siyang nagsasapraktika at nagpapaunlad pa ng kaalaman. Naniniwala kami sa napakalaking ambag ng mga manggagawa sa pag-unlad ng agham at teknolohiya sa buong mundo. Ika nga, "walang kwenta ang mga hi-tech na makinarya kung walang manggagawang magpapaandar nito."

Napakalaki kung gayon ang ambag ni Ka Bel sa pagsusulong ng pambansang industriyalisasyon dito sa ating bansa. Sa ganitong pagtingin, tinatanggap din ng sektor ng agham at teknolohiya ang hamon na iniwan niya sa kanyang paglisan. Sa pagsusulong ng agham at teknolohiya sa Pilipinas, malaking tungkulin ng sektor na kinakatawan ng AGHAM ang pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga manggagawa at mga aping uri sa lipunan na siyang buong-buhay na pinaglingkuran ni Ka Bel. Makakaasa si Ka Bel at ang uring manggagawa na patuloy naming itataguyod ang agham at teknolohiya na maglilingkod sa sambayanan.

Inspirasyon ka namin Ka Bel!

Click here to read Ka Bel's Electric Dream by Dr. Giovanni Tapang

HOMAGE TO KA BEL,

HIGHEST THANKS TO THE GREATNESS OF HIS BEING
Thursday, 29 May 2008

Yesterday, Anakpawis Representative Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran was laid to rest at Angel of Meadows Memorial and Nature Park in Angat, Bulacan. Regardless of fatigue and distance, around 20,000 people from different places accompanied him to his final resting place, showed their grievances to his death, and promised to continue his struggle. Here is a homage for the greatness of a simple and warm-hearted yet brave and noble labor leader:

-Sr. Emelina Villegas, ICM
CTUHR Chairperson

I salute you Ka Bel up to heaven's high. In this time, where power and wealth runs this nation, Ka Bel demonstrated in words and deed, in the simplicity of his lifestyle, the greatness of serving others especially the workers and the toiling masses.

Ka Bel's kind is few. He was militant, his principle and commitment for justice, democracy and freedom were hard as steel, his patience was incomparable even in listening to others whose opinion and political consciousness differed from his. His life's direction was clear and strong in principle that he held right.

In the long time that we met and worked together in the labour movement, I've never seen him got tired of what he was doing, nor weakened in his resolve. He never regretted his choice.

In the midst of victory, he was jubilant and looked so sure of why; in times of failures & frustrations (there were aplenty of them in his life), he remained strong and hopeful. I visited him at the Philippine Heart Center where he was detained for 14 months, we never talked about his illness, but the numerous books he had read about the history of revolutions in various countries Europe. Be it in hospital, detention, halls of congress, streets and even in other countries, Ka Bel never ceased to conscienticize people about the true state of this country and its direct and indirect relationship to that of other countries, to the world.►►

In his life and death, Ka Bel left us a new standard if not measurement of greatness. He lived his life and sustained his family by being a worker. He died as a worker.

He fought hard in a society that is not only exploitative and oppressive but corrupt and dangerously pretentious. He was excellent in relating with other groups, organizations and individuals here and abroad to broaden the ranks of those who aspire and struggle for genuine change.

Ka Bel's life and death is a new school for today's youth. Knowledge propagates the real condition of society and humankind. The skills are what develop the person and the analysis and understanding of what is not being said and what is not being seen. What is important is the person and his/her being.

We feel sad thinking that we will not see, hear you and mingle with you again. But your thoughts and principle will remain aflame in our hearts and minds and in the hearts and minds of next generation. In your death, we will always be reminded that we need to get up when we stumble, that we need to be strong when tremendous hardships weaken our resolve and that we remain hopeful even in our lifetime we will not see the victory, because the greatness of being part of the struggle is not in the end but in how we should live and share our life while struggling for genuine change.

SO THANK YOU KA BEL.. THANK YOU FOR TOUCHING OUR LIVES..

So rest peacefully for you are experiencing now the new earth and new heaven that you have given your life with.

LONG LIVE KA BEL! LONG LIVE THE COMRADES THAT JOURNEYED WITH YOU

News Release
May 26, 2008
Reference: Randall “Ka Randy” Echanis, deputy secretary general, KMP and currently illegally detained at Palo, Leyte , Provincial Jail

Detained KMP leader pays tribute to Ka Bel.

The illegally detained leader of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) Randall “Ka Randy” Echanis, wrote a letter tribute for the late ANAKPAWIS Rep. Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran to pay homage to the great labor leader and express his condolences and sympathies to the family of Ka Bel.
 

Members of KMP will be joining the funeral march on Wednesday, May 28 and is supporting the call for a work stoppage on that day.
 

Below is the full letter tribute of Ka Randy to Ka Bel:
 

Kay Ka Osang, butihing kabiyak ni Ka Bel, Kay Ka Ofel, mga apo, sa buong pamilya at mga kamag-anak ni Ka Bel,

Ipinapaabot ko po ang aking taus-pusong pakikiramay at pakikidalamhati sa pagpanaw ng minamahal nating si Ka Bel- tunay, magiting, subok at matapat na lider ng uring manggagawa at masang anakpawis. Patunay nito ang mahigit 50 taong tuluy-tuloy na pagkilos at paglilingkod niya sa masang anakpawis.
 

Sa edad na 20 taon ay nagging aktibista na si Ka Bel sa hanay ng manggagawa hanggang sa nagging lider ng progresibong union at pederasyon kabilang ang pagiging tagapangulo ng Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU). Naging bilanggong pulitikal din siya noong panahon ng Martial Law, tumakas sa piitan at tumungo sa kanayunan upang doon ipagpatuloy ang gawaing pag-oorganisa at pakikipamuhay sa mga magsasaka at masang anakpawis.
 

Hanggang sa huling sandali ng kanyang buhay ay patuloy siyang naglingkod sa sambayanan bilang progresibo at militanteng kinatawan ng masang anakpawis sa reaksyunaryong Kongreso. Siya ang tunay na kinatawan at tinig ng mga Anakpawis at itinaguyod ang makauring interes nila.
 

Ilan sa mga mahahalagang panukalang batas na kanyang pinangunahan ay ang P125 na pagpapataas sa sahod, ang P3000 wage increase para sa mga kawani ng gobyerno, ang HB3059 o Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill at ang pagpapawalang- bisa sa EPIRA at Oil Deregulation. Mariin din niyang pinangunahan ang pagtutol sa extension ng anti-magsasaka at huwad na CARP.
 

Lalong tumitingkad ang kahalagahan at kabuluhan ng mga panukalang batas na ito sa harap ng matinding krisis sa kabuhayan, kahirapan, kagutuman at pambubusabos na dinaranas ng sambayang Pilipino dulot ng mga mapaminsala, anti-mamamayan at makadayuhang programa at patakaran ng rehimeng Arroyo.
 

Nabigla ako nang malaman ko ang balita sa pangyayari kay Ka Bel. Hindi ako makapaniwala. Kasalukuyan ako noong nakikipag-usap sa isang abogado nang ibalita sa akin ng "Mayor" sa aming piitan ang narinig niyang balita na naaksidente si Ka Bel.
 

Kilala nila si Ka Bel dahil noong Pevrero ay dinalaw ako ni Ka Bel ditto sa Leyte Provincial Jail kasama sina Rep. Teddy Casiño ng Bayan Muna at si Ka Paeng ng KMP at Anakpawis. Sa katunayan, ito ang nagging huli naming pagkikita at pag-uusap. Hinding-hindi ko malilimutan ang okasyong iyon. Niyakap at pinasalamatan ko siya. Nagawa niyang dumalaw upang ipahayag ang kanyang pagsuporta sa aking kalagayan sa kabila ng layo at kahirapan sa biyahe. Ganyan si Ka Bel- sanay at napanday na sa kahirapan, mga sakripisyo at malapit sa mga kasama. Palaging masaya at nakangiti.
 

Sa kanyang pagpanaw ay naalala ko ang isang tulang sinulat ni Prof. Jose Maria Sison, ang "What Makes a Hero". Dito'y sinabi niyang dumarating ang kamatayan sa mga rebolusyunaryo na maaring dulot ng armadong labanan, pagkakasakit o maaring dahil sa katandaan. Pero ang higit na mahalaga ay inalay niya ang kanyang buong buhay para sa sambayanan. Si Ka Bel ay isang tunay na bayani ng sambayanang Pilipino. Hinding- hindi siya malilimot.
 

Walang ibang paraan upang maipakita at maipahayag natin an gating matinding kalungkutan sa pagpanaw ni Ka Bel kundi ang ipagpatuloy ang kanyang ipinaglaban, adhikain, at prinsipyo hanggang sa makamit ng masang anakpawis at ng buong sambayanan ang tagumpay!
Muli, ang aking taus-pusong pakikiramay sa buong pamilya, mga kamag-anak at sa lahat ng mga nagmamahal kay Ka Bel.
 

Pinakamataas na pagpupugay kay Ka Bel-subok at matapat na lider proletaryo at masang anakpawis.
Mabuhay ang uring manggagagawa!
Mabuhay ang sambayang Pilipino!
Ibagsak ang Imperyalismo, Pyudalismo at Burukrata-Kapitalis mo!
Mabuhay si Kasamang Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran!

Randall Echanis
Detenidong Pulitikal
Leyte Provincial Jail, Mayo 23, 2008

*Ka Randy was illegally arrested and detained last January 28 in Negros Occidental while attending a peasant consultation for Genuine Agrarian Reform for the National Rural Congress II called for by the Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). He was illegally transferred to Palo, Leyte and trumped up charges are being filed against him.

Internment at the Angel of Meadows Memorial and Nature Park

Angat, Bulacan

Downloaded from: www.philippinerevolution.net

Ka Bel: Proletarian internationalist,

hero of the working class and the Filipino people

Message of the Central Committee
of the Communist Party of the Philippines

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) pays the highest tribute to Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran, a great hero of the international proletarian movement, the international anti-imperialist movement, the militant workers' movement in the Philippines, the toiling masses and the Filipino people. The entire CPP and the revolutionary movement it leads salute him as a fine and valiant proletarian leader.

His death on May 20, 2008 at the age of 75 is mourned by the oppressed. Along with the rest of the Filipino people, the CPP conveys its deepest sympathies to his bereaved wife Ka Osang and his family, friends and comrades in the struggle. The Filipino people likewise celebrate the victories they have won with Ka Bel. These triumphs provide great inspiration, strength and enthusiasm to carry on with the struggle.

In the veins of Ka Bel flowed the blood of Gat Andres Bonifacio and all the Filipino revolutionary heroes. Like our revolutionary ancestors, Ka Bel laid down his life for the cause of the toiling masses and the entire people against oppression, exploitation, plunder and bondage by foreigners, tyrants and rapacious elements. He offered his life and talents in advancing the struggle of the working class, the toiling masses, the Filipino people and the peoples of the world.

In the face of myriad sacrifices and trials, his steadfastness and enthusiasm never waned in championing the interest of his class and of the Filipino masses, in pursuit of a sovereign, just and prosperous future. Be it in the picket lines or in the halls of Congress, in the streets or in peasants' fields, in rallies or in gatherings, Ka Bel had always been a true fighter who stood firm, daring and vigorous in waging the struggle for national liberation, democracy and socialism.

At a young age, he served as a courier for the patriotic guerrilla forces fighting the Japanese occupation during the Second World War. In his youth, he farmed and eventually found work as a janitor, gasoline boy, messenger, bus driver and taxi driver. At the age of 20, along with his fellow drivers at the Yellow Taxi Driver's Union, Ka Bel staged a strike opposing the company's unjust policies. Three workers were mercilessly killed and many others wounded when police forces brutally dismantled their picket line.

His fellow workers recognized Ka Bel's bravery, strength and militancy and elected him union president. Ka Bel was among the pioneer organizers of Amalgamated Taxi Drivers Federation, and served as its president from 1955 to 1963. During the time of intense anti- communist witchhunts and repression of the legal democratic movement in the 1950s, Ka Bel stood strong in defense of the oppressed.

From 1963-1972, Ka Bel served as vice president of the Confederation of Labor Unions of the Philippines (CLP) that he founded with Felixberto "Ka Bert" Olalia, Feliciano Reyes and Cesar Lacarra, all militant labor leaders. He was also one of the founders of the Philippine Workers Congress, Katipunan ng Samahan ng mga Manggagawa (KASAMA), PACMAP and other workers' organizations. The workers under their leadership relentlessly fought against capitalist oppression and exploitation as well as Marcosian repressiveness until martial rule was declared.

Ka Bel stood unfazed by the reign of state terror under the USMarcos dictatorship. He played a significant role in the formation of the Federation of Unions in Rizal and of the Philippine Nationalist Labor Organization (PANALO) that was later transformed into the Alliance of Nationalist Genuine Labor Organizations (ANGLO). These were all part of the preparations for the establishment in 1980 of a center for a genuine, fighting, anti-imperialist and militant labor movement in the Philippines—the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) or the May First Movement. Ka Bel served as the first secretary general of KMU and Ka Bert Olalia, the chairperson. In the 1980s, KMU's membership swiftly ballooned from 100,000 to half a million workers.

Marcos felt seriously threatened by the growing strength of the KMU and the labor movement it headed. He attempted to suppress the KMU. In August 1982, he ordered the arrest and detention of Ka Bel and Ka Bert. They, however, remained symbols of the genuine, patriotic and militant labor movement, and even behind bars, stood as strong symbols of the opposition against the US-Marcos dictatorship.

Ka Bel manifested his bravery and resistance to the Marcos dictatorship when he managed to escape from his military guards in November 1984. He joined the armed revolutionary movement in Central Luzon where, as a member of the New People's Army, he vigorously aroused, organized and mobilized farmers in the countryside. "Ka Anto" was his nom de guerre, drawn from the nickname of Crisanto Evangelista, a great labor leader and founding chair of the Communist Party of the Philippines in 1930. Ka Bel contributed immensely in forging a stronger worker-peasant alliance in the area.

When Marcos was ousted and the political situation turned relatively favorable for the open mass movement, Ka Bel surfaced and became active once again in KMU. He took over as chairperson following the brutal killing by the military in November 1986 of Rolando "Ka Lando" Olalia.

Ka Bel was also one of the founders of Partido ng Bayan (PnB) or People's Party under which he ran for senator in 1987. Amid the repressive terror campaign and massive poll fraud by the ruling rotten politicians and the military forces, Ka Bel and the rest of the slate lost in the elections. He was also a National Council Member of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) or the New Patriotic Alliance which he chaired from 1993 to 1999.

Ka Bel remained KMU's chairperson until 2003, after which he was proclaimed KMU's Chairman Emeritus in recognition of his remarkable leadership and the inspiration he provided the workers.

As a labor leader, Ka Bel was active in supporting the workers' struggles and championing the cause of the oppressed people in the country and abroad. He was frequently invited to participate in conferences in a number of countries and international forums. He persevered in the struggles of the world proletariat and the international solidarity of oppressed peoples against imperialist plunder, bondage and oppression. Ka Bel was the first chairperson of the International League of Peoples' Struggle and its International Coordinating Committee in 2001 and became its Chairman Emeritus in 2004.

Ka Bel also served as vice president of Bayan Muna (BM) party from 2001 to 2003 and sat as one of its representatives in Congress after BM got the most number of votes in the party-list elections. Ka Bel likewise became the chairperson of Partidong Anakpawis upon its founding in 2004, and consequently became its representative in Congress from 2004 to 2007 and again from 2007 until his death.

As a representative in Congress, Ka Bel along with other progressive representatives was famed for his relentless criticism of the rotten ruling system and corrupt rule, in drafting bills and resolutions that promoted the national and democratic interests of the toiling masses and the Filipino people.

Foremost among the bills he filed was one calling for a P125 increase in the daily minimum wage of workers that was approved by Congress in 2007 after seven years of struggle. This was, however, later blocked by Gloria Arroyo and returned to Congress for the final kill by her minions.

Until his last days, Ka Bel pursued this bill especially in the face of the worsening poverty and hunger caused by the regime's proimperialist and antipeople economic policies. On the day he died, Ka Bel, together with the other progressive solons, were preparing to pass a resolution calling for the removal of the EVAT from electricity charges. He was likewise active in pushing for the passage of the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill and deterring the Arroyo regime's maneuver to extend the bogus and pro-landlord Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Within and outside the halls of Congress, Ka Bel was relentless and vigorous in his conviction to fight the rotten and puppet Arroyo regime. He was among the active proponents of the impeachment case against Arroyo in 2005. In October 2007, Ka Bel exposed the bribery attempt by members of Gloria Arroyo's party on him and other oppositionist solons. They were offered several millions of pesos to support the fake impeachment case that was aimed at sabotaging the filing of the genuine and new impeachment case against Arroyo. He always joined rallies and similar protests in the streets, especially for the welfare of the workers and the toiling masses.

Ka Bel was awarded the title Filipino of the Year in 2002 by the Philippine Graphic Magazine in recognition of his tireless support for the welfare of the majority of power consumers and other of impoverished Filipinos. The same title was awarded to him by the Philippines Free Press in 2003 in his determination to take on the interest of the toiling masses. Every year, he was chosen as the Most Outstanding Congressman from 2002 until 2005. In 2006, he was included in the Congressional Hall of Fame.

In spite of the countless awards he received, Ka Bel remained an honest and humble worker, servant and people's warrior. Inside an institution of the rotten system filled with billionaires and crooks plundering the nation's wealth, Ka Bel took home not a single centavo for himself. In the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth he submitted as a Congressional representative, he declared as personal "assets" his two barong tagalog, a few other clothes, a pair of eyeglasses and cabinets. He died the poorest among all congressmen.

Because of the militancy Ka Bel and the other progressive representatives displayed in the streets, in various arenas of protests, and even within the halls of Congress, Malacañang never stopped persecuting them by filing trumped-up charges against them.

The Arroyo regime arrested Ka Bel on February 25, 2006 and detained him for one and a half years. His body was weakened by incarceration and state repression so he was transferred to hospital detention. Ka Bel was only freed after 15 months when the Supreme Court junked the baseless rebellion cases filed by the regime against him and over 50 other progressive leaders and activists.

Upon his release and return to Congress, Ka Bel did not waste a single day and continued his fight against the Arroyo regime and the rotten system and in championing the cause of the toiling masses.

Ka Bel died in the midst of intense struggle and tireless resistance against repression, bondage and cruelty under the US-Arroyo regime and the entire semicolonial and semifeudal ruling system. In spite of his age and weakened constitution, Ka Bel remained very active in attending conferences and meetings here and abroad to strengthen the unity of the Filipino people and raise their militant consciousness and determination to end the rule of the puppet, brutal and rotten Arroyo regime.

He left us a golden legacy of militant struggle. Like his predecessors Ka Bert Olalia, Ka Lando Olalia, Ka Amado Hernandez, Ka Crisanto Evangelista and Ka Isabelo delos Reyes and other Filipino labor leaders, the memories and spirit of Crispin "Ka Bel" Betran will forever remain etched in the Filipino people's collective memory.

His story is a wellspring of inspiration. His humility and simple living, courage and determination to fight marked his unwavering service to the masses in his desire to change, end exploitation and advance the struggle for national liberation and democracy.

Like many others from the toiling masses, he died while repairing his humble abode. In life and in death, he was a model of simple and dignified living and faithfulness to principles and struggle.

With clenched fists, the hundreds of thousands of members of the Communist Party of the Philippines, Red fighters of the New People's Army and the millions of revolutionary people in the cities and countryside accord the highest tribute to Ka Bel.

Long live the memory, aspirations and struggles of Ka Bel!

Long live the working class!

Long live the toiling masses!

Love live the Philippine revolution!
 

"With clenched fists, the hundreds of thousands of members of the Communist Party of the Philippines, Red fighters of the New People's Army and the millions of revolutionary people in the cities and countryside accord the highest tribute to Ka Bel."

-- From the message of the CPP Central Committee posted in their website at www.philippinerevolution.net

■   CPP members, NPA fighters to raise clenched fists and weapons on Wednesday noon in salute to Ka Bel

BONUS TRACKS

They waited for hours to view the march and the caravan from the
Batasan in Quezon City  to Angat, Bulacan and bid farewell to a great leader of the working class

And this one biked through all the rough and tumble and the twists and turns of the 50-km road from the Batasan to Angat, emerging triumphant in the end at the AMMAN Park, the final resting place for the mortal remains of Ka Bel.

Reminds us of the twists and turns in the life-long struggle of Ka Bel, partnering with the basic masses, to serve the people wholeheartedly and entirely, accumulating significant victories along the way.

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