Announcement from Anakpawis National:

Mga kasama,

Magtatatak tayo ng mga pulang t-shirt na gagamitin para sa huling martsa para kay Ka Bel sa darating na may 28. Sa lahat ng mga nais matatakan ang kanilang mga tshirt, pakidala na lamang ang mga ito bukas ng gabi sa Philippine Independent Church. Hanapin si Matthew o Mark. Tulong-tulong na lamang tayo sa pag-asikaso nito. Maraming salamat!

Mayo 25, 2008

KUWINTAS NG SAMPAGUITA PARA KAY KA BEL
Joi Barrios, BAYAN (Bagong Alyansang Makabayan)

Handog namin sa iyo, Ka Bel,
Ay kuwintas ng sampaguita.
Hindi lamang duguang rosas
na nagsasaad ng pagluluksa,
Hindi lamang orkidyas,
Na nagpapahiwatig ng kadakilaan
Kundi sampagita na marahil
Ay iyong isinabit
noong mga taong namasada,
Sampagitang nagpukaw ng pagtula
Ng mga kapwa bayani,
Sampagitang handog ng maralita
Bilang sagisag ng dalisay na pagmamahal sa sinisinta.
Sampagitang ang kabiyak na ilang-ilang
Ay inangkin na ng kapitalistang
Habang buhay mong kinalaban.

Handog namin ay sampaguita
Pagkat tulad mo,
Kaming lahat ay manggagawa
Na ngayo’y nagpupugay.
Mula sa kalye at pabrika,
Mula bukid hanggang tahanan ng iba, sa ibang bayan,
Mula silid-aralan hanggang opisina hanggang ospital,
Pinupuhunan ang lakas,
Para sa kitang di makasapat-sapat.
Isinasanla ang dunong,
Para sa kaunting pantawid gutom.
Lahat kami ay manggagawa,
kaya’t iyong pinaglaban.

Ano nga ba ang isang buhay
Na inalay sa kilusan?
Sa uring pinanindigan?
Sa bayan? Sa bayan?
Masdan ang kuwintas ng sampagita,
Na tinuhog sa madaling-araw,
At inalako ng batang manggagawa sa lansangan.
Bawat bukong ay pangako ng pamumukadkad
Bawat talulot ay halimuyak.
Kuwintas ka ng sampaguita,
Kasamang may mapagkalingang palad sa kasama,
Bayaning ang alaala ay bulaklak sa pakikibaka.

‘KAKA’
ni Noel Sales Barcelona

Para sa alaala ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran (Enero 7, 1933 – Mayo 20, 2008)

Nang bagong aktibista pa lamang ako
Laging sinasabi ang mga katagang
Simpleng pamumuhay, puspusang pakikibaka.

Hindi matalos ng isip
Ang kahulugan ng mga kataga
Hanggang makilala kita.

‘Di man nagkasama nang matagal
Ngunit sa pakiramdam—
Matagal na kitang nakakatalamitam:

Sa tuwing makikipag-usap sa maralitang tagalungsod
Sa tuwing makakarinig ng taghoy ng batang walang malamon
Sa tuwing dumaragsa sa lungsod ang biktima ng militarisasyon
Sa tuwing ang sinasabi ng magbubukid lupa niya’y kinumpiska ng poon.
Sa tuwing mauulinig ang yabag ng libu-libong paa sa tuwing mobilisasyon.

Nakikita ko ang pagiging tunay mo
Sa tuwing naririnig ang talumpati
Ng mga pulitikong nagpapakabundat
Sa pera ng publiko.

Magkano nga lamang ba ang kabuuang
Halaga ng mga pag-aari mo, ha
Kakang Crispin? Wala pa yatang P60,000.

Bakit? Gayong tatlong taon
Ang pananatili mo sa bahay ng mga poon?
Isa lamang ang sagot, Kakang Crispin:

Hindi mo magawang nakawan
Ang katulad mong walang-wala rin.
Ang katulad mong busabos din.

Ginto kasi ang puso mo
Busilak gaya ng langit
Sa tuwing sisikat ang araw.

Naalaala ko tuloy sa iyo
Ang tula ni Bonifacio
Gaya mong proletaryado:

Aling pag-ibig pa ang hihigit kaya
Sa pagkadalisay at pagkadakila
Gaya ng pag-ibig sa tinub’ang lupa?
Aling pag-ibig pa? Wala na nga, wala.

Ulit-ulitin mang basahin ng isip
At isa-isahing talastasing pilit
Ang salita’t buhay na limbag at titik
Ng sangkatauhan ito’y namamasid.

Banal na pag-ibig! Pag ikaw ang nukal
Sa tapat na puso ng sino’t alinman,
Imbi’t taong-gubat, maralita’t mangmang,
Nagiging dakila at iginagalang.

Pagpupuring lubos ang palaging hangad
Sa bayan ng taong may dangal na ingat;
Umawit, tumula, kumatha’t sumulat,
Kalakhan din niya’y isinisiwalat.

Walang mahalagang hindi inihandog
Ng may pusong mahal sa Bayang kumupkop;
Dugo, yaman, dunong, katiisa’t pagod,
Buhay ma’y abuting magkalagot-lagot.

Bakit? Alin ito na sakdal nang laki
Na hinahandugan ng buong pagkasi?
Na sa lalong mahal nakapangyayari
At ginugugulan ng buhay na iwi?

Ay! Ito’y ang Inang Bayang tinubuan,
Siya’y ina’t tangi na kinamulatan
Ng kawili-wiling liwanag ng araw
Na nagbigay-init sa lunong katawan

Sa kaniya’y utang ang unang pagtanggap
Ng simoy ng hanging nagbigay-lunas
Sa inis na puso na sisinghap-singhap
Sa balong malalim ng siphayo’t hirap.

Kalakip din nito’y pag-ibig sa Bayan
Ang lahat ng lalong sa gunita’y mahal
Mula sa masaya’t gasong kasanggulan
Hangang sa katawa’y mapasalibingan.

Ang nangakarang panahon ng aliw
Ang inaasahang araw na darating
Ng pagkatimawa ng mga alipin,
Liban pa sa bayan saan tatanghalin?

At ang balang kahoy at ang balang sanga
Na parang niya’t gubat na kaaya-aya,
Sukat ang makita’t sasaalaala
Ang ina’t ang giliw, lumipas na saya.

Tubig niyang malinaw na anaki’y bubog,
Bukal sa batisang nagkalat sa bundok,
Malambot na huni ng matuling agos,
Na nakaaaliw sa pusong may lungkot.

Sa aba ng abang mawalay sa Bayan!
Gunita may laging sakbibi ng lumbay.
Walang alaala’t inaasam-asam
Kundi ang makita’y lupang tinubuan.

Pati ng magdusa’t sampung kamatayan
Wari ay masarap kung dahil sa Bayan
At lalong maghirap, O! himalang bagay,
Lalong pag-irog pa ang sa kanya’y alay.

Kung ang bayang ito’y nasasapanganib
At siya ay dapat ipagtangkilik
Ang anak, asawa, magulang, kapatid
Isang tawag niya’y tatalikdang pilit.

Datapwat kung ang bayan ng Katagalugan
Ay linapastangan at niyuyurakan
Katuwiran, puri niya’t kamahalan
Ang sama ng lilong taga-ibang bayan.

Di gaano kaya ang paghihinagpis
Ng pusong Tagalog sa puring nilait?
Aling kalooban na lalong tahimik
Ang di pupukawin sa paghihimagsik?

Saan magbubuhat ang paghihinay
Sa paghihiganti’t gumugol sa buhay
Kung wala ding iba na kasasadlakan
Kundi ang lugami sa kaalipinan?

Kung ang pagkabaon niya’t pagkabusabos
Sa lusak ng daya’t tunay na pag-ayop
Supil ng paghampas, tanikalang gapos
At luha na lamang ang pinaaagos?

Sa kaniyang anyo’y sino ang tutunghay
Na di aakayin sa gawang magdamdam?
Pusong naglilipak sa pagkasukaban
Ang di gumugol ng dugo at buhay.

Mangyayari kaya na ito’y malangap
Ng mga Tagalog at hindi lumingap
Sa naghihingalong Inang nasa yapak
Na kasuklam-suklam sa Kastilang hamak?

Nasaan ang dangal ng mga Tagalog?
Nasaan ang dugong dapat na ibuhos?
Baya’y inaapi, bakit di kumilos
At natitilihang ito’y mapanood?

Hayo na nga kayo, kayong nangabuhay
Sa pag-asang lubos na kaginhawaan
At walang tinamo kundi kapaitan
Hayo na’t ibigin ang naaabang bayan.

Kayong natuy’an na sa kapapasakit
Ng dakilang hangad sa batis ng dibdib
Muling pabalungi’t tunay na pag-ibig
Kusang ibulalas sa Bayang piniit.

Kayong nalagasan ng bunga’t bulaklak
Kahoy n’yaring buhay na nilanta’t sukat
Ng bala-balakit makapal na hirap
Muling manariwa’t sa Baya’y lumiyag.

Kayong mga pusong kusang [niyurakan]
Ng daya at bagsik ng ganid na asal,
Ngayon ay magbango’t Baya’y itangkakal
Agawin sa kuko ng mga sukaban.

Kayong mga dukhang walang tanging [palad]
Kundi ang mabuhay sa dalita’t hirap
Ampunin ang Bayan kung nasa ay lunas
Pagkat ang ginhawa niya ay sa lahat.

Ipaghandog-handog ang buong pag-ibig,
Hangang sa may dugo’y ubusing itigis,
Kung sa pagtatanggol buhay ay [mapatid]
Ito’y kapalaran at tunay na langit.

Kaya nga, Kaka,
Hindi namin malilumutan
Bawat guhit ng iyong mukha
Laluna, iyong kaisipan mong
Singlantay ng gintong binuli
Nang dekadekada mong pakikibaka.

Hindi kami tutugot
Lalaban kami, hanggang hininga’y malagot—
Hanggang ang rohong bukas, ay ating maabot!
 

Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, former President Joseph Estrada

and incoming Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano

Long live the memory of Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran, outstanding fighter for national and social liberation, beloved leader of the Filipino working class and people
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
May 21, 2008

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan pays its highest tribute to our former chairman, Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran after his untimely passing on May 20, 2008. We give our most heartfelt condolences to the family, comrades, friends and the millions of supporters who are grieving the loss of an outstanding fighter for national and social liberation and a beloved leader of the Filipino working class and people.

The Filipino people mourn the loss of a towering figure in the Philippine labor and people's movement. Ka Bel holds the distinct achievement of being chairman of the Kilusang Mayo Uno, the multi-sectoral Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, the partylist Anakpawis and the International League of People's Struggle.

Before holding these important positions in the mass movement, Ka Bel was a courier for the guerilla movement against the Japanese occupation in World War 2, a taxi driver and union leader in the 50's, and a leader of the labor sector from the 60's onward, before becoming a lawmaker.

Ka Bel was detained during Martial Law but managed to escape the fascist dictatorship and continue the struggle in the underground movement. He continued his activities during the Aquino, Ramos and Estrada administrations, often leading huge protest actions for workers demands, human rights, and a host of multi-sectoral issues.

Ka Bel was also detained and placed under hospital arrest for 16 months under the fascist Arroyo regime. He was arrested based on a 20 year old warrant and charged with the non-bailable crime of rebellion in 2006. The Supreme Court has ordered the trumped up charges dismissed.

Time and again, the powers that be sought to suppress the fiery resistance of Ka Bel. None succeeded.

Ka Bel was loved by the people he served. His determination, sacrifice and simple living inspired others, especially when he upheld these same values while serving in the House of Representatives. Ka Bel would not be bribed nor bought. He was poor, yes, but only in terms of assets and liabilities. What he gave up in wealth, he more than made up for in terms of honesty and integrity.

He was also steadfast in his beliefs. Ka Bel believed that a better world is possible and that this could be achieved only through the united struggle of oppressed peoples here and abroad. He believed that imperialism and reaction can be defeated and that a bright socialist future awaits the toiling peoples of the world. He was a staunch patriot who believed that the Philippines should be freed from the scourges of imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat capitalism.
We grieve the loss of Ka Bel. His death is as heavy as the Sierra Madre. He lived a life ever-dedicated to the liberation of the Filipino people and the emancipation of the working class.

We offer our most militant salute to our beloved Ka Bel!
 

Saturday, May 24, 2008

THE OTHER VIEW
By Elmer A. Ordoñez
Homage to Ka Bel

I first saw him at dusk with a group of armed men coming up to the hut where I was waiting with my guide in Central Luzon in 1985. It was the dry season but the paddies were green with growing palay, thanks to irrigation managed by farmers tilling fields abandoned by absentee landlords.

The leader of the “armed propaganda unit” was a young man, former student leader in San Fernando. My guide, Ka Mely, was a 29-year-old married woman with two children to a former HMB fighter who joined the NPA upon his release from prison.

Following the young leader up the ladder was an older man who went straight to the batalan to wash his face. He looked familiar—from pictures I saw in Montreal—and I smiled at him. He smiled too, his face still wet. Kumusta, we said almost at the same time. Then he asked “How are our kasamas in Canada?” I realized he was the head of the KMU whose secretary, a young lawyer, came to Montreal and spoke to Quebec labor unionists a year before. He gave a slide show of KMU in mass actions.

In 1982 Ka Bel was arrested but in 1984 he escaped from detention and did organizing work in the countryside. He was given a Thompson as an APU member. Ka Mely told me I could go with the group in moving from barrio to barrio at night. My interest in this “exposure” was cultural work and thereby life in a “Red area.”

Ka Bel and I shared the same papag for several nights when we could talk until drowsiness set in. He was interested in solidarity work of Filipinos in North America. Since he joined the group, he said, he no longer had to wake up several times at night to relieve himself. His kidney condition had improved in the countryside.

After EDSA I saw Ka Bel again at BAYAN mass actions. In a rally at the Welcome Rotunda, a group of policemen led by an officer whose shirt was left untucked closed in when Ka Bel’s turn came to speak. The officer kept asking if the speaker was Ka Bel. Nobody answered him; instead the rallyists closed ranks and prevented the police from penetrating the tight cordon around Ka Bel. Next thing I knew he was lost in the crowd.

Every time we saw each other in rallies he would ask about our “kasamas” in Canada. I had to keep reminding him I was already home for good. He attended the UP Press launching of my book Diliman: Homage to the Fifties in 2003. As he presented his copy for my autograph he pointed out to me a glaring error where I wrote “he wasn’t of peasant stock but a labor leader from Manila.” He made a sound of mock peevishness. And I was profuse with apologies.

Indeed many urban workers have come from impoverished rural areas. As his chief of staff Lu Roque wrote: “Ka Bel worked as a farm hand and janitor to support his studies. He then worked as a gasoline boy, messenger, bus driver, and later on, taxi driver. At age 20, he joined his fellow drivers in a strike against unfair labor practices. The police attacked their picket line, injured many and claimed the lives of three protesting workers. Since then, Ka Bel vowed to fight alongside the working class.”

Thus did Ka Bel make his revolutionary leap, a class stand that sustained him through the years as top labor leader from 1955 to 1982, briefly as a Red fighter, as Partido ng Bayan senatorial candidate in 1987 getting 1.52 million votes, as Bayan Muna partylist elected representative from 2001 to 2003, and as Anakpawis representative from 2004 to the time of his death.

He was harassed along with other progressive party-list members with trumped up charges and arrests by a regime that could not abide the presence of Left members in an oligarch/warlord-controlled Congress. But now that Ka Bel is no more the ruling class would pay tribute to him, as in the case of revolutionary writer Ka Amado Hernandez who, then “safely dead,” was posthumously named National Artist for Literature in 1973.

As parliamentarian Ka Bel lived simply with his family in a one-story house in a low-cost subdivision. He used his “pork barrel” (when not blocked by the Palace) for the benefit of the poor. He did not enrich himself as many members of Congress have done. He owned no car with plate no. 8. His assets amounted to P50,000 including “two barongs, shirts, and eyeglasses.”

Paalam, Ka Bel, you truly lived the life of service to the people.
 

AWIT KAY KA BEL
Titik at Musika:Danny Fabella


Tulad ng bituin sa kalangitan
Alaala mo ay magniningning
At sa kalupaan tulad ng bulaklak
Simulain mo'y mamumukadkad

KORUS:

Sa iyong pagpanaw sa mundong ibabaw
Mabubuhay ka nang walang hanggan
Kailanpaman ang 'yong halimbawa
Kailanpaman ay kahanga-hanga
Kailanpaman ang 'yong katapatan
Kailanpaman di mapapantayan
Kailanpaman bayaning huwaran
Ng sambayanan

Habilin mo ay 'di kaliligtaan
Aawiti't pahahalagahan
Ang iyong kataga ay aming panata
Bibigkasin hanggang laya

Ulitin ang KORUS

 

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