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LOS ANGELES PAYS TRIBUTE TO
KA BEL
Reference:
Terrie Cervas
e-mail: sc@bayanusa.org
Los Angeles, CA--The conference room at the UCLA Labor Center was packed
with members of the Filipino community, allies and solidarity friends of
Ka Bel and the Philippine movement for nationalism and democracy Thursday
evening as they gathered to hold a tribute and memorial for Filipino labor
leader and legislator Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran who passed away from an
accidental fall on May 20.
The tribute entitled "KABAYANIHAN: Isang Gabi ng Luksang Parangal,
Pagpupugay at Pag-gunita sa Buhay at Pakikibaka ni Kasamang Crispin "Ka
Bel" Beltran" (HEROISM: An evening of tribute, salutation and memorial to
the life and struggle of comrade Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran) was a solemn
yet high-spirited evening sponsored by the US chapter of Bagong Alyansang
Makabayan (BAYAN) and the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS),
both alliances that Ka Bel himself served as Chairperson.
"It was very unfortunate that our former Chairperson Ka Bel was not able
to come to the U.S.,” said Terrie Cervas, regional coordinator for BAYAN-USA
in Southern California. “Labor leaders like Ka Bel and others have been
strategically barred by both the U.S. and Philippine governments from
coming here because these governments don’t want genuine militant labor
unionists from the Philippines to form alliances with the working class
here," she added. "Ka Bel is not just a nationalist, he is also an
internationalist who believes in forging ties between labor unions to
fight against a common enemy of the working class."
A representative from the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) flew in from the
Philippines direct from Ka Bel's funeral and shared a very personal story
about the life and struggle of Ka Bel.
"Ka Bel was from the peasant class, then he became a bus driver, a cab
driver, and then a union organizer" said Ka Orly who was nearly in tears
as he spoke. "He was a victim of state fascism and he fought against the
Marcos regime until he was arrested, but he was able to escape and then he
joined the New People’s Army." And then Ka Bel later became the Chair of
the KMU after the fall of Marcos.
Various cultural performances were also offered to commemorate the great
labor leader. A joint statement from the Los Angeles and San Diego
chapters of the youth group ANAKBAYAN was delivered.
The statement of the ILPS written by it's ICC chairperson Professor Jose
Maria Sison, was also shared at the event.
John Parker from the International Action Center who spoke on KPFK about
Ka Bel a few days after he passed away contributed his thoughts and also
read a brief statement. “Ka Bel will be sorely missed, but he is not gone.
Like stars in the night sky whose light we see reflecting billions of
miles away, long after their death, so too will the stellar life of Ka
Bell continue to inspire us until victory is won,” stated Parker.
Other attendees included representatives from Workers World Party, South
Central Farm, UCLA Labor Center, and Filipino community members from the
United Methodist Church, non-profit organizations, health care workers,
teachers, the food service sector and the film industry.
"Habi ng Kalinangan" or Habi-Arts, a Los Angeles-based Filipino arts
collective presented a mural of Ka Bel during the event. Habi-Arts members
said they dedicate the mural in honor of Ka Bel's advocacy and
contribution to the struggle of migrant workers.
The artwork will travel across the U.S. and the world according to a BAYAN-USA
representative. The first stop will be in New York City on Saturday where
another tribute for Ka Bel will be dedicated during the annual SANDIWA
National Filipino Youth Conference. Then it will also be on display at the
International Migrants Alliance (IMA), the Third International Assembly of
the ILPS in Hong Kong in mid June, and then it will also be displayed in
the Philippines afterwards.
The tribute closed as attendees raised clenched fists in honor of Ka Bel
and sung the working class hymn "The Internationale" in French, Spanish,
English, Nigerian and Pilipino.###
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