Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts Issue No. 28 August 26-September 1, 2001 Quezon City, Philippines |
Tearful
and Solemn Farewell to Zumel in the Netherlands BY
D.L. MONDELO UTRECHT, The Netherlands -- Almost
everyone present shed tears during the morning necrological service
and the evening memorial celebration here for Manong Tony Zumel
last August 17. They shed tears when the tributes were
delivered and when Manong's favorite songs (“Internationale”
and “Saan Ka Man Naroroon,
Sinta”) were sung and played. Zumel, honorary chairman of the
National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and former president of the
National Press Club, died August 13 in his
hospital bed here after a lingering illness. Present at the morning
necrological service at the Crematorium Daelwijk here were Zumel's wife Mela,
daughter Aya, brother former AFP Brig.
Gen. Jose Ma. Carlos Zumel, sister Rosario and sister-in-law Len,
comrades in the NDFP, close family friends, representatives of several
solidarity groups, political parties, the Filipino community in the
Netherlands, and many young Filipinos who simply knew Zumel as their
"manong." Everyone was dressed in white,
Barong Tagalog, or any light-colored dress, as
requested by Zumel's family. They had wanted it to be a
"celebration" instead of
mourning. The one-hour service that
started at exactly 9 a.m. opened with a tribute
from NDFP peace panel chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni. "In him, I felt that
revolutionary principles became alive. He embodied
these principles. Warmheartedness toward kasama, comrades from
other countries, friends, the masa and allies - he radiated it. Boundless
responsibility toward one's work. This was flesh and blood in him,"
Jalandoni said. "To all of us in the NDFP,
especially those of us doing international work,
who have been privileged to know Manong, his spirit of selfless service
to the people will live on and
inspire us to carry forward our struggle for national and social
liberation," Jalandoni added. Fr. Apolo de Guzman, chaplain for
Filipino migrants in the Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels
in Belgium, offered a fitting prayer that said Zumel offered his life in the
service of the downtrodden. After the prayer, Coni Ledesma, a
member of the NDFP negotiating panel, read
Zumel's short biography. With a firm voice, Coni said: "With
Manong's passing, the revolutionary
movement lost a great leader." "Comrade Antonio Zumel is an
outstanding communist. His contributions to the
advance of the Philippine revolution are significant. He dedicated the
best years of his life for the struggle to complete the new
democratic revolution and pave the
way for the working class to fulfill its historic mission of
building socialism and preparing the way for communism," declared
Julie de Lima-Sison, quoting the tribute to Zumel by her husband, Prof. Jose Ma.
Sison who couldn't be present at the morning service. "Comrade Zumel dedicated his
talent and skills as a journalist to the revolutionary
movement. He excelled in information and education work. He
carried forward the fine tradition of MarceloH. Del Pilar and Amado V.
Hernandez. The pen complements the sword of the Philippine revolution. "He shared weal and woe with
comrades and the masses and took the necessary
risks to life, limb and liberty... "I can say more about Manong.
But no matter how much I say, I can tell only
a part of his rich experience. No single person, not even someone like me
who is privileged with some vantage point and close comradeship with
Manong, can give a full account of
his revolutionary life and deeds. Thefull picture
can be approached only by the available records or collectives and
testimonies of many comrades," Julie concluded. The tribute from the Filipino
community in the Netherlands was delivered by
a representative of MIGRANTE Europe. "Manong Tony, like many of us
here, was a migrant. Whenever his physical strength would allow it, Manong Tony
would make sure that he was present in activities organized by Filipino
organizations," MIGRANTE Europe said. "The Filipino expatriate
community has always been in search of its
outstanding sons, daughters, father and mothers, those who have led
simple but productive, exemplary and meaningful lives abroad, those whose
patriotism and devotion to the people's cause never waned while in exile,
those whoseachievements may not be felt now but in the years and
generations to come. We need not look elsewhere. Here is Manong Tony Zumel - the Marcelo del Pilar of our generation. He is our
pride and honor. And he is finally
home, and at rest, among us, the Filipino migrant
community," MIGRANTE Europe stressed. Malaya "Aya" Zumel spoke
in behalf of her mother. She expressed thanks to
those mourning with them, especially to friends and comrades who eased
the pain of their and Zumel's
sufferings. Zumel’s brother, former AFP
general Jose Ma. Carlos Zumel spoke in behalf
of the Zumel family, expressing deep gratitude to those who took care
of his brother while in exile. He also expressed deep admiration for his
younger brother who had shown that he was willing to die for the principles
and vision that he believed in. Rev. Cesar Taguba of the
Ecumenical Ministry for Filipinos Abroad gave the
farewell prayer. He asked everyone to stand up and give Zumel a warm
applause. The applause lasted for several minutes. And as the choir started to sing
the "Internationale," Zumel's family led
those present in walking past Zumel's sealed, light-brown wooden coffin lying in the middle of the crematorium's main hall. As the "Internationale"
ended, one of Zumel's favorite
songs, "Saan Ka Man Naroroon, Sinta," was played. Almost
everyone cried.
As the song ended, wife Mela approached the coffin for the last time and
embraced it, then raised her clenched left fist, to say farewell -- to a
friend, husband, companion, lover and comrade. The memorial service held in the
evening of the same day at the Old Catholic
Church in the center of Utrecht drew a larger crowd of Filipinos,
friends, admirers and comrades. Blown up photos of Zumel were put
in front of the altar surrounded by Holland's
most beautiful flowers. Tributes were again delivered.
Prof. Jose Ma. Sison was present to read his tribute, which was read
earlier by wife Julie at the morning necrological service. However, in the
middle part of reading his tribute,
Sison had to ask Coni Ledesma to finish
reading, as he too could not contain his emotion. Songs that were sung were militant
and triumphant such as "Pagbabalikwas,"
"Bayan Ko" and "Awit ng Pag-asa". Ledesma announced that over 50
organizations, political parties and individuals
sent messages of condolences and solidarity, even
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. A representative of the Workers'
Party of Belgium gave a brief recollection
of Zumel. So did a former Dutch solidarity activist who became a close
family friend. Once again, Jose Ma. Carlos Zumel
fittingly eulogized his brother and
declared that he was overwhelmed by the tremendous expression of
grief over his brother's passing. The former AFP general said he respects
the cause that his younger brother had been fighting for. The NDFP International Information
Office here literally opened its doors
the whole day of August 17 to receive mourners. Inside the office, a huge photo
of Zumel was displayed on the bulletin board
alongside the huge NDFP flag. Flowers, mostly red roses, spread all over
the place, gave a red hue to the NDFP International Office. Bulatlat.com We want to know what you think of this article.
|