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Tearful and Solemn Farewell to Zumel in the Netherlands

BY D.L. MONDELO
Bulatlat.com

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

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