For the last two decades, the name Crispin B. Beltran has been associated with pickets, demonstrations, strikes, and generally everything connected to the militant labor movement. Not surprising with him being the chairman of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU). Since August of 2001, however, he has become known as something else a member of one of the biggest, most influential bastions of conservatism in the country, the House of Representatives. From 2001-2003, he was one of three Bayan Muna solons. From 2004 up to present, he now stands as the chairman and representative for labor and urban poor concerns of the Anakpawis partylist. Ka Bel breathes, lives and practices the politics of change and nationalism with the same fervor he does as a leader of the parliament of the streets.
But no less interesting than his politics is his personal life. His love life alone is the stuff of movies, megged by the late Lino Brocka or Ysmael Bernal, crossed with Jose Javier Reyes. Since 1956, Ka Bel has been married to the former Rosario Soto from Malolos, Bulacan. There's a joke circulating around activist circles that goes "Ka Bel is a voice who should be heard in the Lower House, but in his own house, it's Ka Osang whom he listens to."
This is their love story. Ka Osang is the product of a broken home. Her parents separated early in her childhood, and as the youngest among the three children, she was left to an elderly relative, her father's aunt who lived in Gagalangin, Tondo. Ka Osang grew up wanting for nothing she was given new dresses and jewelry whenever she asked for them.
But in exchange, she had to be obedient to the very strict, and sometimes unreasonable rules of her grandmother. She was entered in La Concepcion, a convent- school, and was told never to look at members of the opposite sex. "Wala talaga akong kaalam-alam sa mga lalaki nun. Si Papa lang at yung mga kapatid ko ang pwede kong kausapin." ("I knew the least thing about boys or men.The only males I was aware of were my father and my brothers.")
But the great aunt and the nuns combined were not able to curb the young girl's adventurous spirit. One morning, On November 10, 1956 she cut classes and together with a few classmates, sneaked into a moviehouse.
"Pinanood namin si Nida Blanca at si Nestor de Villa. Pero pag-uwi ko, nalaman na ni Lola ang ginawa ko. Matindi ang naging away," she says. (:|"We used to watch Nestor de Villa and Nida Blanca. When I got home, I found out that my grandmother already knew what I had done. There was a dreadful argument.")
In turned out that the Mother Superior herself came to the house and told her grandmother of what happened. Livid at being lied to, the grandmother slapped Ka Osang and told her to leave. And that's what she did. By 12 noonshe was wandering around Quiapo, with nothing but the clothes on her back and the other piece which her enraged grandmother threw at Ka Osang as she left the house.
In a daze, she entered into one of the taxis that was parked in front of Plaza Miranda. The driver was the man who would be her husband, the then 26-year old Crispin. "Napansin kong bata pa siya, at medyo tulala," was his first impression. ("I immediately noticed how young she was, and how lost she looked.") He asked her where she was going. Still reeling from her experience, she answered 'Derecho ka lang." (Just go straight ahead.") background image They had reached Monumento, but she still hadn't given Ka Bel specific directions. He stopped the taxi and turned to face her. Ka Osang remembers, "Naiinis na sya. 'Saan ba talaga tayo?" sabi niya. Ako naman, wala sa sarili, naiyak na. Sinabi ko na yung nangyari." (He started getting irritated. He kept asking me where it was really that I wanted to go. I started crying and told him the entire story.") Ka Bel was very sympathetic. She reminded him of his sisters back home in Bacacay, Albay.
He looked at her with compassion, and told her that he would drive her home. He also urged her to apologize to her Lola, "Masama magtanim ng galit sa kapamilya." (It's not good to harbor resentment against family.")
Ka Osang shook her head and made a move to get out. By then, night had fallen. Ka Bel refused to let her go "May masama pang mangyari sa iyo parang wala kang kaalam-alam sa mundo." ("Something bad might happen to you -- you look like you don't know anything about what goes on in the world." )
So he took her to his boarding house in San Juan where he lived with a few others, and told her to stay the night. She stayed there, in Ka Bel's room, for three days. "Tulala lang ako, nakatingin sa labas ng bintana. Kain, tulog, tatanga sa bintana, iiyak, matutulog. Sa susunod na araw, ganun na naman." ("I was almost catatonic. I would just stare out the window. I would eat, sleep, stare out the window. The next ay would be the same and the day after that.") She was alone most of the time, as Ka Bel drove the taxi all day, and at night attended school at the Asian Labor Education Center at the University of the Philippines. When he got home at night, she would already be asleep, on a low, wide bench that served as a bed, while Ka Bel had his own bed across the room.
"Ni hindi ko alam ang pangalan nya nun. Ang tawag ko sa kanya kuya," Ka Osang recollects, laughing.("I didn't even know what his name was.") Did she ever get a crush on him? "Wala akong pakialam talaga sa kanya nun, ang iniisip ko lang sarili ko. Pero napaka-maalalahanin niya."
("I really didnt care much about him at the time. I ws just looking out for myself; but I do remember thinking how thoughtful he was.") It was at that time when Ka Bel gave her what she calls his first gift. "Dilaw na sepilyong naka-kahon. May tatak na Good Morning." ("A yellow toothbrush in a box, with a label 'Good Morning" on it")
On the third day, Ka Osang wanted to go home But not wanting to further inconvenience Ka Bel, she left the house without telling him. "Nang malaman ng papa ko kung saan ako napunta noong naglayas ako, galit na galit siya! Pinuntuhan nila yung bahay ni Ka Bel, tapos binugbog siya. Wala naman akong magawa."
("When my father found out, he flew into a rage. He went to Ka Bel's house and beat him up. I couldn't do anything but watch.").....
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21 May 2008
The highest and most revered salute to Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran:
Working class hero of the people
“A hero serves the people to his very last breath.”
Jose Maria Sison
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For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV
It is with this inspiring message that the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU or May First Movement Labor Centre) and the whole Filipino working class mourn the sudden demise of Anakpawis (or Toiling Masses) Representative and KMU Chairperson Emeritus Crispin Beltran. He died at 11:48am at the Far Eastern University hospital in Quezon City today due to severe head injuries after falling 14 feet from the roof of his house, trying to do some repair work. He was 75.
Affectionately known as “Ka Bel” by the multitudes in factories, workplaces, urban poor, and migrant worker communities throughout the Philippines and solidarity networks around the world whom he staunchly served, he has withstood the test of time, pressure, even under political persecution, in standing up to injustice in whatever form to fight for national freedom and democracy in the Philippines, and for a just and fair society for workers and people of the world.
KMU expresses its deepest and sincerest condolences to the family of Ka Bel. We join all comrades and friends in honoring him for his countless contributions and achievements as a patriotic, anti-imperialist, and democratic worker, labor leader, lawmaker, and activist. His working class commitment inspires us to advance the fight for genuine, militant, and anti-imperialist unionism.
A PROFILE OF ANAKPAWIS REP. CRISPIN B. BELTRAN
Kilusang Mayo Uno
http://www.kilusangmayouno.org/files/profile_of_Ka_Bel.pdf
While we are enveloped in grief with the tragic loss of this highly esteemed comrade, KMU is reminded of the legacy he has left behind which resonates throughout the working class movement. From the time he worked as a young taxi driver and becoming a labor leader in 1955, Ka Bel was instrumental in continuing the labor movement’s militant tradition and helped found the KMU in 1980. After being arrested under the Marcos regime in August 1982, Ka Bel escaped in November 1984 and organized among workers and peasants in the countryside. He then selflessly stepped up into the chairmanship of KMU when Rolando “Ka Lando” Olalia was brutally murdered in 1987. He was the chairperson of KMU until 2003 when he was bestowed as Chairperson Emeritus of the organization.
As an elected representative of the party list group Bayan Muna (or People First) in 2001, then later Anakpawis (or Toiling Masses) in 2004 and 2007, Ka Bel steadfastly carried the interest of the workers to the halls of the Congress. Among the bills he has filed are the PhP 125 daily wage increase for private sector workers and PhP 3000 daily wage hike for public sector workers, the repeal of the Assumption of Jurisdiction, the abolition of the Electric Power Reform Act (EPIRA), the abolition of the oil deregulation law, a bill against massive labor contractualization practices and many others. At the time of his death, he was set to file a bill calling for the repeal of the extended value added tax for oil products which is causing very high prices of oil.
Ka Bel is also a true internationalist and carried the spirit of proletarian internationalism to his heart. He became the founding chairperson of the International League of People’s Struggle, as well as a leader and member of various international and regional formations. Unmindful of his old age and deteriorating health condition, Ka Bel traveled to various countries upon invitation of migrant workers and solidarity networks to speak at conferences, fora and meetings on the plight of the Filipino workers and the struggle of the working class against imperialist globalization.
KMU will pay its highest tribute to Ka Bel, a great labor leader and a courageous hero of the working class and people. The tribute will be held at the Philippine Independent Church (PIC) along Taft Avenue, Manila at 8:00 – 10:00pm on May 21 (Tuesday). His remains will stay at PIC until May 26.
Internment schedule:
May 20 funeral service at Funeraria Paz Memorial Homes;
remains to stay at Ka Bel’s residence for the night at Lot
16, Blk 30, Francisco Homes 3, San Jose del Monte,
Bulacan
May 21 Trade Union night. Tribute to be led by Kilusang Mayo
Uno.
3:00pm assembly at Plaza Salamanca, Kalaw, Manila to wait for
the remains of Ka Bel then short march to PIC
7:00 pm – public viewing
8:00 – 10:00 pm – workers’ tribute
May 22 Tribute by progressive party list groups sponsored by
Anakpawis, Bayan Muna and Gabriela Women’s Party
May 23 Tribute sponsored by youth groups Anakbayan and
others
May 24 Tribute sponsored by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
May 25 Tribute from Ka Bel’s family and relatives
May 26 remains to be brought to the House of Representative for
a tribute and will be brought back to PIC final tribute
sponsored by Anakpawis, KMU, COURAGE
(government employees’ organization), KMP (peasants’
organization) and others
May 27 cremation
Please join us in paying the highest honors to this selfless and dedicated man who served the Filipino people and the whole working class for more than five decades of his life.
Messages of solidarity and condolences can be sent to Mr. Elmer Labog, KMU Chairperson, at kmu.intl@gmail.com. We will read excerpts of your messages at tonight’s tribute to Ka Bel and at other tribute programs. We also wish to thank all those who have already sent in their messages. We have forwarded them to the family of Ka Bel and they are sending their appreciation for your solidarity during this trying moment of their lives.
Financial donations for the funeral service and other related burial expenses of Ka Bel are very much welcome. Please write us for inquiries on how you can forward your donation. You may also call KMU at (632) 421-1049, 421-0986 and 421-0768.
Thank you.
In solidarity,
Tess Dioquino, Secretary. International Department, KMU
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