Teacher
After the fall of Marcos, Ka Bay decided to teach literature and journalism at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP). According to the CPP message, Ka Bay taught journalism for the Filipino people and helped in organizing teachers, employees and students.
Mar Villa, former student of Ka Bay and now a teacher at the PUP, praised Ka Bay’s humility and simple living. Villa said that Ka Bay would lend them books to read and would even give them a few pesos to buy some food. “Mataas ang respeto namin sa kanya. Ang kaligayahan para sa kanya ay hindi materyal na bagay” (We have high respect for him. Happiness for him is not material wealth.)
Communist
De Jesus likened Ka Bay to the “matandang hangal” (foolish old man) described in one of Mao Zedong’s famous writings. Like the character in Mao’s story, which was an adaptation of an ancient Chinese folk tale, Ka Bay was persistent in removing the three basic problems in the Philippine society—imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat capitalism.
Fictionist Joey Munsayac said that Ka Bay became a fighter in the cultural sphere. “Ipinahinga man niya ang Armalite, ginamit niya ang kanyang sampung daliri at inutusan ang mga salitang maging sandatang pupukaw sa maralita at inaapi” (Although Ka Bay laid down his Armalite, he used his ten fingers and commanded words to become weapons that will agitate the poor and exploited.)
During the Second Great Rectification Movement in the early 1990s, the CPP message related, Ka Bay remained firm in upholding the Party’s basic principles. He opposed and exposed the counterrevolutionaries who initiated the split.
Ka Bay, according to the same message, was always active in discussions. Sometimes, when making a point, Ka Bay would quote Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin and Mao Zedong. The CPP is guided by the theories of Marx, Lenin and Mao. After every debate, he was the first to unite the comrades with opposing views.
Ilagan said of Ka Bay, “Laging sariwa ang pag-iisip kung ang pag-uusapan ay rebolusyong Pilipino” (Ka Bay’s mind is always fresh when it comes to matters of the Philippine revolution.)
Tala Isla Contreras, a close friend of Ka Bay, described the latter as “dakilang mangingibig ng Bayang Pilipinas” (a great lover of the Filipino people.)
Munsayac said Ka Bay is an intellectual from the ranks of the toiling masses. “Natutuwa ako na hindi siya bumitiw. Mula April 7, 1971 nang siya ay sumumpa, naging komunista siya hanggang sa huli” (I am happy that he never slipped away. Since he made a pledge on April 7, 1971, he had been a communist until the end.)
A Life for the majority
In her speech, Malaya, daughter of Ka Bay, related the sacrifices of her father and their family for Ka Bay’s principles.
“Noong una, hindi ko maintindihan bakit ayaw na ayaw ni Tatay na umalis sa Tambunting,” Malaya said. (At first, I could not understand why Tatay was always resistant to the idea of leaving Tambunting.) Tambunting, an urban poor community in Manila, is where Ka Bay’s family lives. “Iyon pala ang paraan ni Tatay para ipagpatuloy ang pakikibaka niya. Marami siyang tinanggihang oportunidad para sa mas maginhawang buhay. Sila (Ang mga mahihirap) kasi ang mga taong gustong makasama ni Tatay.” (Staying at Tambunting is his way of continuing the struggle. He had denied many opportunities to have a more comfortable life. Tatay wanted to be with the poor.)
After finishing college, Malaya said his father egged her on to teach at the PUP. His Tatay told him, “Hindi ka lang para sa iilan, para ka sa karamihan. Malaking serbisyo sa bayan ang pagtuturo sa PUP.” (You are not only for a few people, you must live a life for the majority of Filipino people. Teaching at PUP is a great service to the nation.)
Indeed, Malaya and many others have seen in Ka Bay what a life dedicated to the Filipino people means. (Bulatlat.com)
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