Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran in Winnipeg remembered

by Levy Abad

In Philippine history, most people know the late Honourable Crispin Beltran or Ka Bel, as a member of the Philippine House of Representatives. Ka Bel, as he was called by members of the Kilusang Mayo Uno or May First Movement, became a member of the 13th and 14th Congress of the Philippines by winning as the Anakpawis Party list (toiling masses) Representative. He became the chair of Kilusang Mayo Uno(1987-2001) when Ka Lando Olalia was murdered in 1986 by fascist elements during the time of President Corazon Aquino (Manggagawa: Noon at Ngayon, p. 94). If one lists the achievements of Ka Bel as a working-class leader, anti-imperialist, and internationalist, one will run out of space. Ka Bel began serving the cause in 1955 when he was elected as the first President of the Yellow Taxi Drivers Union and the Amalgamated Taxi Drivers Federation, a position he held until 1963 (Source: Foto Callejera Filipinas).

Memories of Ka Bel

At the May 1st rallies in the 90s, I remember Ka Bel telling stories of being part of the revolutionary underground during the Marcos dictatorship. Google has a lot of information about him.

Despite his popularity, Ka Bel remained well-grounded. I fondly recall when I was eating with Ka Bel in a small carinderia behind the old office of KMU on Earnshaw Boulevard, Manila, in the 90’s. A KMU supporter dropped by and donated a cavan of rice. Ka Bel promptly stood from his seat and lifted the cavan of rice on his shoulders to carry it to the third floor, where KMU had its office. What I saw left a mark on my memory as to the kind of leader Ka Bel was. What he believes, he shows in action.

I was a member of Tambisan sa Sining (Interaction in Arts), the cultural arm of KMU-National. As cultural activists, we performed workers’ songs as well as organized. Oftentimes, we performed after Ka Bel delivered his speech at various events. His favourite marching song was Sumulong ka Anakpawis. The line goes, “Sumulong ka Anakpawis. Huwag alintanain ang sugat sa diddib. Wala ng ibang nakalulunas, sa iyong mga paghihirap, kundi ikaw sa iyong mga palad.”

Ka Bel in Winnipeg, 2008

I emigrated to Canada in 2006 for better opportunities and moved to Manitoba in 2010. This province is significant in the history of the working class. It is where the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike happened. This is also where I became a member of Migrante Manitoba, a Canada-wide Filipino Migrant organization advancing migrant rights and welfare. To my surprise, I learned from a fellow activist that Ka Bel visited the province in 2008 as part of a human rights campaign to expose the gruesome violations of human rights by the Gloria Macapagal regime (L. Abad, Giving Back Paying Forward, Filipino Labour Leaders of Winnipeg 1968-1998, p. 52).

I often remember Ka Bel and other comrades while working. Sometimes, senior members of the community express sympathy when they learn that I do a regular job instead of working as a business executive. They would ask me if I’m happy where I am in life. With all honesty, I explain to them that I’m satisfied being part of the working class and as a shop steward of our union. I profoundly appreciate serving the working-class movement. I have witnessed with my own eyes what happens to members of the working class when they become an appendage of the ruling system.

Revolutionary memory of Ka Bel lives on

I have read about the lives of great working-class leaders, but I always go back to my memory of Ka Bel, who was a well-respected leader in the movement, and yet, on a few occasions, I ate beside him in that small carinderia behind the old KMU office in Manila.

Serving the Philippine working-class movement is a great opportunity to contribute something of relevance. In my case, as a songwriter, I wrote songs with my comrade, Danny Fabella. Among them were the KMU song - Awit ng KMU, and Martsa ng Proletario. One song that I wrote in the 90s was Awit sa Bayani (Song for a Hero), which, according to my friends in the labour movement, has been used many times as a song tribute in remembering Ka Bel.

Long live Ka Bel! Long live his revolutionary memory! “Marami pang dapat imulat kasama, lipuna’y puno ng problema, sa paghinto ng tibok ng puso mo, kami ang magpapatuloy.”