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Issue Number 31, October 2008
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Kapatiran Issue
No. 31, October 2008
NEW ZEALAND FRIENDS REMEMBER KA BEL
What an amazing man – full of life , full
of good humour, full of rigorous determination for the
working class.
I first met Ka Bel in 1991 when I accepted an invitation
as Secretary of the South Island Clothing Trades Union to
attend the KMU’s International Solidarity Affair.
It was a very special trip for a number of reasons.
It was my first trip to an Asian country where the
poverty and oppression I encountered first hand was
countered by the huge optimism and loving character of
the comrades I met who had a vision for a more democratic
socialist country. It was clear that Ka Bel as Chairman
of KMU had huge respect and mana and was providing vital
leadership.
Looking back he knew way more than I did at that time of
the immense important solidarity links had for the trade
union movement internationally.
I got more from the trip than the KMU got from me.
I was coming from a country that at the time had 100
years of protected regulated wage bargaining with Unions
placed at the centre of that negotiating system that had
enjoyed decades of compulsory Union coverage. All that
was about to be stripped away by the introduction of the
Employment Contracts Act on May 15 1991.
Clearly the workers struggle that the Philippine people
had been waging for decades proved to be a hugely
valuable learning experience for me. I learned so much
about basic worker organisation like site organizational
strategies, delegate development, education and training
and of the important need to raise workers political
consciousness.
For that I thank you, Ka Bel.
I also thank you for you good humour and company when we
shared time with you during your 1999 visit to Aotearoa.
I shall never forget the exhilaration and sheer pleasure
on your face when you and I were totally inconvenienced
by the Ansett pilots’ strike in Dunedin. We were
queued to board for our trip back to Christchurch when
all of a sudden all the TV screens displayed all
departure and arrivals flights as cancelled.
Ka Bel had thought I was joking when prior to departing
for Dunedin I alerted him to the possibility of this
strike action. When it actually happened he was beside
himself with pleasure – his expression totally
perplexing to the other travelling public.
I got a bonus that day – I got to spend more time
with Ka Bel – we were taken back to Dunedin, put up
in a hotel and had a delightful dinner together where I
bought the wine and he recounted stories of his many
encounters with the Philippine authorities.
Well I raise my glass once again to you comrade.
You’re the epitome of a true working class
hero and it was a pleasure and privilege to have known
you and the teachings and leadership you have given to me
(albeit in brief encounters) and to others like Denis
Maga and other comrades is clearly living on. This is
your greatest legacy – you can rest easy now
comrade.
In Unity
Paul Watson
Southern Region Secretary
National Distribution Union
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