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Ka Bel’s long struggle ends; friends and foes mourn death
Crispin Beltran: My boss, my beloved labor and mass leader 
My boss, favorite labor and mass leader, kaibigan and pinakamamahal na kasama Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran died earlier today, a little before noon after sustaining massive head injuries. No he wasn’t felled by bullets by assassins sent by the military or the government; he died because he hit his head on the pavement when he fell off the roof of his house in Bulacan. He was fixing it, most probably because it’s the typhoon season and he didn’t want to risk water leaking through fissures or cracks and flooding his and Ka Osang’s house. Am trying to be calm about it, because in my grief I am angry. Angry because his death was so senseless — it’s silly even! Had his fall not been fatal and had he only broken a leg or a shoulder, the entire accident would have been turned into an anecdote, a cautionary tale - one of the stories one tells about the big hearted, kind, compassionate, but often stubborn great labor leader that he is. Was. I wonder how long it will be until I begin referring to Ka Bel in the past tense? But never mind my anger. What happened — his being on the roof, a 75-year old man with a hammer, doing household work and making sure his home and family were safe from the rains — is (was?) so like Ka Bel. He lived and worked from day to day always with meaningful intent, with purpose, with the aim to protect and defend those he cared for and loved the most. And that purpose extended (oh how it it did reach outward and forward like an undeniable force of nature!) beyond his family — he embraced the working class, the Filipino people, and even the poor and oppressed of other nations. He was a good guy. He liked to laugh- with others and even at himself. He laughed like a little boy with a good secret and he was tickled pink by it. He had a smile that made you forgive his sometimes outrageous comments (often directed against the likes of de facto president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, DOJ secretary Raul Gonzalez, national security adviser Noberto Gonzales and Executive secretary Eduardo Ermita as well as certain officials of the House of Representatives). He was self-effacing and self-deprecating when it came to his own achievements, and in his commitment and opposition against what he he referred to as ‘the evil government’ he was fierce and fearless. He was an internationalist, a man with the highest socialist ideals, and he lived and practiced what he believed in on a daily basis. He was a good father and husband, never mind that he was never a good provider. He shared what he had with others, be it the last crumpled P20 bill in his battered wallet, or his wide knowledge of history, politics and economics. Those who knew him best also knew better than to start a discussion with Ka Bel about the state of the nation or the state of the economy of whatever other country — Ka Bel loved discourse, and loved a healthy discussion. Read full article written by INA ALLECO SILVERIO
QUEZON CITY, Philippines - Crispin Bertiz Beltran once said that if he were to die, he wanted it to happen on the street, in the company of poor people protesting against injustice. Beltran, however, didn’t get his wish. On Tuesday, the veteran labor leader, at age 75, died in a hospital a few hours after an accident at his own house in San Jose del Monte town in Bulacan province. He climbed on the roof to fix a leak, but he fell and hit his head on the concrete floor. Beltran was supposed to go to the House of Representatives on that day to continue his legislative work for the poor. He was to deliver a speech and file a bill to repeal the expanded value added tax imposed on oil and power. But at 11:48 a.m., the Anakpawis party-list lawmaker was pronounced dead at the Far Eastern University Hospital in Quezon City, almost six hours after enduring severe head injuries. "Nagkaroon ng heartbeat, but the head injury is very severe, kaya tumitigil ang hininga niya (He had heartbeats, but his head injury was so severe, his breathing stopped)," Arnold Corpuz, the attending physician, said. Minutes after the leftist lawmaker died, condolences poured in, including those from political leaders who the fiery Beltran claimed caused the country’s problems. Malacañang officials said Beltran "represented the interests of our labor force and has been considered a vital figure in our country's modern political history." Cerge Remonde, Presidential Management Staff director general, and presidential spokespersons Lorelei Fajardo and Anthony Golez said the Palace would send its condolences to the Beltran family. They described Beltran as one of most respected labor leaders and House representatives in the country. His comrades from the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) grieved over the death of a "genuine revolutionary and fighter for the working class, the beloved leader of the Filipino people." "We grieve his untimely death, even as we vow to carry on his unfinished struggle," Renato Reyes Jr, Bayan secretary general said. "Ka Bel has made his mark in Philippine history through his courage, sacrifice, determination, and unflinching commitment to the people’s cause. His death will be as heavy as the Sierra Madre." Voice of the masses Senate President Manuel Villar Jr hailed Beltran for showing an example of true public service. Senator Francis Escudero, a former opposition legislator who worked with Beltran at the House of Representatives, said Beltran's passing away was untimely, saying the lawmaker could still have served the country well. "Hindi marapat at karapat-dapat na pumanaw siya dahil kailangan pa siya at marami pa siyang magagawa sa bansa (He should have not passed away yet because he is still needed and still has a lot of things to do for the country)," Escudero said. Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, said he admired not only Beltran's strong principles but also his simple lifestyle. House Speaker Prospero Nograles Jr and Deputy Majority leader Rep. Neptali Gonzales II also gave out their sympathies to the loved ones left behind by Beltran. Both lawmakers expressed their grief over the death of one they considered as the "voice of human rights and masses in Congress." Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez, deputy minority leader, said Beltran would be greatly missed not only by members of the minority but by everyone in the House. On the other hand, progressive bloc members of the House said they would continue Beltran's fight for workers' rights. Even Director General Avelino Razon Jr, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, mourned Beltran's loss. Behind bars Beltran, a longtime trade unionist and chairman of the Kilusang Mayo Uno, lived a daring and dangerous life. He never compromised his principles, even if it meant being put behind bars. He was a political detainee during Martial Law. He was again detained under the Arroyo administration for more than 15 months from March 2006 to July 2007. Because of heart problems, he had to be put under hospital arrest at the Philippine Heart Center. My boss, favorite labor and mass leader, kaibigan and pinakamamahal na kasama Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran died earlier today, a little before noon after sustaining massive head injuries. No he wasn’t felled by bullets by assassins sent by the military or the government; he died because he hit his head on the pavement when he fell off the roof of his house in Bulacan. He was fixing it, most probably because it’s the typhoon season and he didn’t want to risk water leaking through fissures or cracks and flooding his and Ka Osang’s house. Am trying to be calm about it, because in my grief I am angry. Angry because his death was so senseless — it’s silly even! Had his fall not been fatal and had he only broken a leg or a shoulder, the entire accident would have been turned into an anecdote, a cautionary tale - one of the stories one tells about the big hearted, kind, compassionate, but often stubborn great labor leader that he is. Was. I wonder how long it will be until I begin referring to Ka Bel in the past tense? But never mind my anger. What happened — his being on the roof, a 75-year old man with a hammer, doing household work and making sure his home and family were safe from the rains — is (was?) so like Ka Bel. He lived and worked from day to day always with meaningful intent, with purpose, with the aim to protect and defend those he cared for and loved the most. And that purpose extended (oh how it it did reach outward and forward like an undeniable force of nature!) beyond his family — he embraced the working class, the Filipino people, and even the poor and oppressed of other nations. He was a good guy. He liked to laugh- with others and even at himself. He laughed like a little boy with a good secret and he was tickled pink by it. He had a smile that made you forgive his sometimes outrageous comments (often directed against the likes of de facto president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, DOJ secretary Raul Gonzalez, national security adviser Noberto Gonzales and Executive secretary Eduardo Ermita as well as certain officials of the House of Representatives). He was self-effacing and self-deprecating when it came to his own achievements, and in his commitment and opposition against what he he referred to as ‘the evil government’ he was fierce and fearless. He was an internationalist, a man with the highest socialist ideals, and he lived and practiced what he believed in on a daily basis. He was a good father and husband, never mind that he was never a good provider. He shared what he had with others, be it the last crumpled P20 bill in his battered wallet, or his wide knowledge of history, politics and economics. Those who knew him best also knew better than to start a discussion with Ka Bel about the state of the nation or the state of the economy of whatever other country — Ka Bel loved discourse, and loved a healthy discussion. Read full article written by INA ALLECO SILVERIO
RED HOT. Ka Bel having a blood pressure checkup, wearing the color that signifies his passion for advancing the interest of the poor. (Photo from Ina Silverio)
