KMU Chair Elmer Labog and KMP
peasant leader Willy Marbella vow to continue the work of Ka Bel
Manila City Mayor Alfredo Lim
and Ka Osang, Ka Bel's widow, with Sen. Jamby Madrigal, KMU Chair Elmer
Labog, Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, Anakpawis Rep. Joel Maglunsod and
Kabataan Rep. Mong Palatino
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IN HONOR OF CRISPIN "KA
BEL" BELTRAN
ON HIS FIRST DEATH ANNIVERSARY
By Prof. Jose Maria Sison
Chairperson
International League of Peoples' Struggle
May 20, 2009
The ILPS wholeheartedly participates in honoring Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran
as a great leader of the toiling masses, sincere and patriotic servant of
the people, on the occasion of the commemoration of his first death
anniversary.
The member organizations of the ILPS join in the commemoration at Ka Bel's
tomb at AMMAN Park, in the parade to Manila, in the program at Plaza
Miranda, in the fun run and photo exhibit, cultural presentation and other
activities of various organizations until May 28.
We are happy that Ka Bel is being honored by the city of Manila with a
marker at Plaza Miranda and the declaration of May 20 as Crispin Beltran
Day. We hope that before his second death anniversary the book in his
honor shall have been published and the building in his name and memory
shall have been built in Quezon city.
The ILPS takes pride in having had Ka Bel as first chairperson. During his
term, he pursued the anti-imperialist and democratic line of the people of
the world against monopoly capitalism and all reaction. He had long and
rich experience in the struggle of the toiling masses nationally and
internationally.
Ka Bel had always been firm in his objective to free the toiling masses
from oppression and exploitation. He devoted his mind and skills to
advance this objective. He wished passionately that under the leadership
of the working class national freedom, democracy and socialism would be
achieved.
Let us always cherish and propagate Ka Bel's exemplary life, spirit and
deeds as a priceless legacy to inspire and guide the current and
succeeding generations. Let us ensure every year and every day ways of
preserving and enhancing Ka Bel's legacy through study and action.
Ka Bel has broad relevance and influence. This is widespread among the
impoverished classes. This extends to the middle social strata. Even among
the enlightened sections and elements of the upper classes. All recognize
him as a sincere and true defender of the rights and interests of the
toiling masses and as a firm and heroic servant of the people.
He suffered vilification, threats to life, imprisonment and other
tribulations and difficulties in the course of fierce of struggles during
and after the Marcos fascist dictatorship. But these tempered and steeled
him even more as a servant of the proletariat and the entire people. He
proved so many times that he was not afraid of the oppressive and
exploiting classes and their underlings.
He escaped from imprisonment during the time of the fascist dictatorship
and he joined the armed struggle of the people in the countryside. He
returned to the labor movement after the fall of Marcos. He was also with
me in establishing the People's Party in 1986. With full courage, he led
the KMU after the kidnapping, torture and murder of Rolando Olalia and his
driver. Everyone admires Ka Bel because of his courageous and
conscientious service to the people and his simple style of living until
the end of his life.
He was an outstanding fighter for the rights and interests of the working
class and the people. In the trade union movement, he became the union
president of the taxi drivers and eventually the chairman of the largest
Philippine labor center, the Kilusang Mayo Uno (May First Movement). He
was in the forefront of strikes and other concerted activities of the
working class as well as in the protest mass actions on vital issues in
the so-called parliament of the streets.
He excelled as a member of Congress by pushing measures to uphold, defend
and promote the rights and welfare of the toiling masses and by exposing
the acts of treason, human rights violations and corruption of the Arroyo
ruling clique. Thus, respected institutions accorded to him awards and
honors. He received the award, Congressman of the Year for three
consecutive years (2003-2004-2005) and thus became installed in the Hall
of Fame. He was honored as the Filipino of the Year by the Free Press in
2005.
Not only in the Philippines but in the whole world, the people know the
record of struggles, sacrifices and achievements of Ka Bel. Written in
history are his contributions to the struggle of the working class to
achieve a new and better world of greater freedom, democracy, social
justice, progress and peace.
Long live the memory and legacy of Ka Bel!
Advance the new democratic revolution of the Filipino people!
Long live the anti-imperialist solidarity of humankind!
Manila City Mayor Alfredo Lim
Senl Jamby Madrigal
KMU Chair Elmer Labog
Mayor Lim and Rep. Satur
Ocampo, Sen. Jamby Madrigal, Rep. Mong Palatino, Rep. Joel Maglunsod, Ka
Osang and KMU Chair Elemr Labog
Ka Osang, widow of Ka Bel
Ramily and relatives of Ka Bel
KMU Chair Elmer Labog with
Australian union leader Peter Murphy
Ka Osang
=
==
Mo. Mary John Mananzan
ZTE whistle blower Jun Lozada
On His 1st Death
Anniversary, ‘Ka Bel’ Honored as ‘Man of the Century’ PUBLISHED ON May 20, 2009 AT 5:05 PM
By CHARMAINE LIRIO and GLAIZA MAY MUZONES
Bulatlat
QUEZON CITY, Philippines – Farmers and workers gathered today at the main
gate of the House of Representatives to pay tribute to the late Rep.
Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran of Anakpawis.
Beltran died exactly one year ago from severe head injuries after he fell
off the roof of his home in Bulacan. He was plugging leaks of the roof
when the accident happened. He was 75.
“Si Ka Bel ay tunay na huwaran sa pagsusulong ng interes ng masang
anakpawis,” Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU or May 1st Movement) secretary-general
Wilson Baldonaza said. (“Ka Bel is a genuine example of one who advanced
the interest of the masses.”)
As part of the commemoration of Beltran’s first death anniversary, KMU,
Bayan Muna (People First), Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP or
Peasant Movement of the Philippines), Anakpawis (Toiling Mases), Amihan
and other regional groups gave him a plaque of recognition, dubbed Gawad
Kanayunan, honoring him as “Man of the Century.” The plaque was accepted
by his daughter Ofelia Beltran-Balleta.
The groups also remembered Beltran as a simple man from Albay, a good
husband and father, and a brave representative of the masses.
“Ang mahigit 50 taon ng simpleng pamumuhay ni Ka Bel sa pakikibaka at
uring anakpawis ay hindi nasayang,” Balleta added. (“Ka Bel’s more than 50
years of simple living for the sake of the struggle and the toiling masses
did not go to waste.”)
Alongside the celebration, the groups also called for the passage of the
Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill and the P125 wage increase bill. Both bills
were filed by Beltran.
At the age of 14, Beltran was already working in the fields. He was,
however, forced to go to Manila because of poverty, Balleta said.
In Manila, Beltran became a messenger, janitor and a taxi driver. As a
taxi driver at 23, he led the Amalgamated Taxi Drivers Union.
He was imprisoned during martial law and during Arroyo’s “State of
Emergency” in 2006.
Beltran was elected Anakpawis representative in 2004 and authored several
bills for the farmers’ and workers’ sectors. He also endorsed several
impeachment complaints against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
He was awarded Most Outstanding Congressman from 2002-2005 and was a
member of the Congressional Hall of Fame. (Bulatlat.com)
Andres Bonifacio, Crisanto
Evangelista, Felixberto Olalia, Crispin Beltran: workers all
Anakpawis Rep. Joel Maglunsod
KMU Secretary General
"Huwag na huwag
n'yong bibitawan ang advocacy sa kalikasan sapagkat ang kalikasan ang
kinabukasan nating lahat. Hindi lang ang kabuhayan ang winawasak ng mga
ganid na pumuputol ng mga puno, pumapatag sa mga kabundukan, at nagnanakaw
ng mga mineral na yaman ng ating bayan, kundi ang kinabukasan ng mga anak
natin at magiging anak nila...Kapag lumaya na ang Pilipinas sa pang-aapi
at pagsasamantala, ang dami nating kukumpunihin sa ating kapaligiran na
sinira ng mga dayuhan at mga galamay nila rito sa ating bayan."
MANILA, Philippines - Mayor Alfredo Lim has declared May 20 of every year
as “Beltran Day" in the city of Manila in honor of the late Anakpawis
party-list Representative Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran.
By issuing Executive Order No. 11 designating a day to commemorate the
militant lawmaker, Lim hopes to encourage the people of Manila to launch
civil activities to call to mind the very “significant lessons" left by Ka
Bel, a respected labor leader.
Beltran died last year in a freak accident while fixing the ceiling of his
house.
Lim also agreed that a bust of the late lawmaker be placed in one of the
pillars in Plaza Miranda.
Ka Bel’s party-list coleague Rep. Joel Maglunsod said Thursday that
members of Anakpawis, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas,
drivers’ group PISTON, urban poor group Kadamay, state workers’ group
COURAGE and other progressive organizations would be launching
simultaneous activities on the first death anniversary of the late labor
leader.
Meanwhile, rural folks groups are set to bestow Ka Bel the honor of
“Filipino of the Century" in a symbolic action in front of the House of
Representatives.
Militant workers will also launch simultaneous union walk-outs alongside
film showings and forums in different communities and jeepney terminals.
Several government agencies will also mount exhibits in honor of the late
congressman, Maglunsod said.
He also called on his fellow congressmen and the Filipino people to relive
the examples of Ka Bel who, up to his last breath, had crusaded for the
rights and welfare of the toiling masses.
"Ka Bel had fought for genuine social change that will liberate the
toiling masses from the bondage of chronic unemployment, hunger and
poverty. All the fiery speeches he delivered during his time called for
national industrialization and genuine agrarian reform. We must learn from
his examples and do our best to fight for genuine social change,"
Maglunsod said. - GMANews.TV
Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo
Kabataan Rep. Mong Palatino
ZTE-NBN whistle blower Joey de
Venecia
KMP Deputy Secretary General
Willy Marbella
x
Video: Anakpawis Rep. Joel Maglunsod Vows to Live Up to Ka Bel’s Ideals
Joel Maglunsod, a labor leader from Southern Mindanao, has been fighting
for the cause of the Filipino masses for decades now. Recently, after a
Supreme Court decision that effectively relaxed the rules of the
party-list system in the Philippines, he was given a seat in Congress
representing the same party led by the late Crispin Beltran of Anakpawis
(Toiling Masses).In this Bulatlat.com video interview, Maglunsod promises
to emulate Ka Bel.
JOINT STATEMENT ON KA BEL’S
FIRST DEATH ANNIVERSARY:
In Memory of Ka Bel, Tuloy ang Laban!
31 May 2009
Life and death, youth and maturity, hope and grief, sunrise and sunset --
these are the cycles of life which govern our existence, made more worthy
and more meaningful when lived in the struggle for a just and peaceful
society. Such was the life of Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran, with his
unwavering commitment of service to the toiling masses and the oppressed
and marginalized sectors of Philippine society which he held onto until
his last breath. He died a year ago, on May 20, 2008, from severe head
injuries after he fell off the roof of his house, which he was trying to
repair.
Ka Bel did not get his wish that he die in the streets fighting against
tyranny and exploitation. However, he did not die in vain because it is
not the manner of death that makes one a hero. His whole life that he
willingly offered in the service of the Filipino people and other
struggling peoples of the world makes him a hero.
Anakpawis Partylist Representative Crispin B. Beltran, avowed as the
“grand old man of Philippine labour," led a very simple and exemplary
life. Even the manner of his death manifested his simplicity and
frugality. On the day of his sudden death, his daughter Ofelia Balleta
said that he was "hands-on with household work" which only reaffirmed his
respect for honest labour and for work done with one's own hands.
Ka Bel demonstrated to an astonished nation that electoral politics and
struggle was not the monopoly of traditional elitist politicians. He
proved that it was possible to be above corruption, in fact, he remained
poor while serving in Congress, in spite of the trappings attached to the
title of a congressman, the generous staffing budget, and the access to
pork barrel funds. He continued to live a poor man's life, even when he
was already on his third term in Congress. His unpainted house in San Jose
del Monte, Bulacan was his first house, bought with a loan from the
Government Service Insurance System, of which he paid P5,000 a month in
amortization.
Ka Bel received the Congressman of the Year Award for three consecutive
years, 2002-2005, and was installed in the Congressional Hall of Fame. He
was also honoured in 2005 as the Filipino of the Year by the Free Press.
On the first anniversary of his death, the Mayor of the City of Manila
declared May 20 of every year as “Beltran Day” and hoped that the people
of Manila would launch activities to remember the lessons left by Ka Bel.
MIGRANTE B.C. and The Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights
(CP-SHR) take pride in having hosted Ka Bel on his visit to Vancouver, a
visit that turned out to be his last overseas trip, done a month before he
met with his fatal accident. Ka Bel was one of the three progressive
members of the Philippine Congress who visited Canada from April 4 to 18,
2008. Central to their visit were their appearance before the Canadian
House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International
Development and meetings with federal party caucuses, as well as reaching
out to the Filipino communities in Winnipeg, Vancovuer, Toronto, Montreal
and Ottawa. Ka Bel's health was very fragile, yet he was sharp, cheerful
and in very high spirits. A Filipino nurse, his godson in marriage, looked
after Ka Bel’s health and medical needs from his arrival in Vancouver
until his departure from Canada.
We will always remember him, his stories, his laughter and his words of
wisdom.
His visit, together with that of Ka Luz Ilagan and Ka Satur Ocampo, was
significant in the history of Filipino organizing in Vancouver. Migrante
B.C. and the Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights trace their
formations to the small Vancouver Support Committee for the Philippine
Solons' Tour which was organized to take care of Ka Bel, most especially,
and to organize communty events for the visiting delegation. We mourn his
passing but we feel privileged to have been with him for what would turn
out to be the very last time.
Ka Bel lives. Because we honour his memory and his legacy everyday in our
organizing work within the Filipino community and in the struggle for
their rights and welfare. Ka Bel lives. Because we continue the work in
forging international solidarity to support the movement for democratic
and nationalist change in the Philippines. Ka Bel lives. For we have built
his memorial in our hearts.
Ka Bel, hindi namin kayo malilimutan. Higit sa lahat, di namin malilimutan
ang inyong magiting na buhay at halimbawa sa paglilingkod sa pinaka-aba at
maralita ng ating lipunan, at ang iyong marubdub na pakikibaka para sa
pambansang demokrasya!
Tuloy ang laban! Continue on with the struggle!
Mabuhay si Ka Bel! Long live Ka Bel!
Mabuhay ang Pandaigdigang Pagkakaisa! Long live international solidarity!
BY:
MIGRANTE B.C. and
The CANADA-PHILIPPINES SOLIDARITY
FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (CPSHR)
++++++++++++++++++
Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights (CPSHR)
is a member of the Stop the Killings (STK) Network-Canada; the
International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS); and the International
Migrants Alliance (IMA). It is also a coalition partner of the Global and
Societal Ministries BC Conference of the United Church of Canada and a
proud member of BAYAN-Canada.
address: 202-4989 Duchess St. Vancouver, Canada V5R 6E5 email:
cps_hr@yahoo.ca
Filipinos and Canadians working for the promotion and defense of human
rights in the Philippines.
Message on the first death
anniversary of Ka Bel
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) joins the Filipino people in
commemorating the first death anniversary of our beloved leader Crispin
“Ka Bel” Beltran, former chairman of the Kilusang Mayo Uno, BAYAN and the
International League of People’s Struggle (ILPS).
Ka Bel lived a life of service to the people and an unwavering struggle
against oppression. His contributions to the Filipino people’s movement
for genuine freedom and democracy will forever be acclaimed by generations
to come.
A year after his passing, the problems that Ka Bel fought against remain,
some more vicious than ever. Had he been alive today, Ka Bel would
certainly be at the forefront of the fight against the continued sell-out
of Philippine interests and the continuing poverty besetting our people.
As a member of the House of Representative, he would have certainly raised
his mighty voice against Charter change and the moves to perpetuate Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo.
As a staunch anti-imperialist,
Ka Bel would definitely protest the 10th year of the RP-US Visiting Forces
Agreement, the acquittal of rapist Daniel Smith, and the continuing
subservience of Arroyo to foreign interests.
Ka Bel would be sad and angered at the human rights abuses that happen to
this day. He would be outraged at the continued denial of these crimes by
the Philippine government. Ka Bel would be among the first to oppose Gen.
Jovito Palparan’s entry into Congress.
Ka Bel is no longer with us but his selfless spirit continues to motivate
workers, peasant and the youth who are struggling for a better
Philippines.
The best way for us to honor Ka Bel is carry on his unfinished work in the
mass movement, to see to it that the struggle of the oppressed continues
to advance. The best way to remember Ka Bel is to intensify the struggle
for genuine freedom and democracy.
LONG LIVE THE MEMORY OF KA BEL!
VICTORY TO THE FILIPINO PEOPLE’S STRUGGLE FOR NATIONAL DEMOCRACY!
May Isang Tanong
tanong ng mga manggagawa, bibigyang-linaw
( Mayday Productions,2009)
May Isang Tanong #1 " Maikling Paliwanag sa Krisis sa Trabaho"
Panayam kay Sonny Africa
Research Head, IBON Foundation
Tampok ang pagkawala ni Ka Bel
nitong nagdaang Mayo Uno (2009). Sa loob ng maraming dekada, kinatawan
niya ang kilusang paggawa, at itinaas niya ang sulo ng
pambansa-demokratikong kilusan at ng pandaigdigang pakikibaka laban sa
imperyalismo.
Patuloy ang pagpupugay sa kaniya ng sambayanang Pilipino. Bawat
pagkakataon na nangunguna ang uring manggagawa sa laban ng mamamayan, at
nagkakaisa at kumikilos ang mga inaaping sektor, buhay ang kaniyang
alaala.
