Honorable Ka Bel and our children

“Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant,” (Mark 10:43)

Crispin Beltran spent his entire life to serve. A true diakonos, he lived and died for all Filipino workers and laborers. He lived and died as one, a true model and a genuine believer in the dignity and real worth of labor.

When he entered Congress, he did not allow the rawness of power and the greed of countless others around him to change his lifelong practice of authentic service.

One remembers him in his work, often serious, even angrily lashing out at those who usurped power and wealth at the expense of labor and justice. One cannot forget him from jail or from his hospital bed, battling not only bouts of high blood pressure but government and military pressure vs. those they presumed were “enemis of the state.” Oh, how Ka Bel’s life and faith showed them who genuinely loved the people, who was truly the friend and supporter of the masses!

Congress could have been his passage to worldly fame, wealth, and power. This country has seen how many proclaim they are the servants of the people only to change overnight once they have entered the mortal halls of power and wealth.

Ka Bel chose to remain honorable. He clearly cut himself above those who call themselves nationalists and those who continued to see themselves as champions of the masses but who have, in fact and in practice, abandoned service for the people in favor of lucrative jobs, positions, and privileges.

In fitting tribute to one of the greatest authentic and honorable Filipino leaders, Ka Bel’s life should be immortalized in history and his story told and retold across generations, especially to our children.

But is there hope for our children? Is there any happy story or ending for our poor children? asked a concerned NGO participant of the recently-concluded PHILSSA National Sharing, Reflection, Planning Workshop on Children’s Concerns at the Institute of Religion and Culture in Guadalupe, Cebu City last May 26-27.

She and other participants were affected by the various regional reports about the vulnerability of the children, how poverty, hunger, and disasters have driven them to work and be abused or to survive and be constantly exposed to stressful environments affecting their health, their present and future, and especially their young tender hearts.

The Philssa workshop agreed to 1) continue with advocacy and information dissemination about children’s concerns and issues, 2) build and expand partnerships for the promotion of children’s welfare, 3) work towards direct and wider participation and empowerment of children to respond to their challenges, 4) support the promotion of children development agenda (including having a children’s summit that will analyze the situation and result in an action plan for children), and, 5) continue to campaign for improved services and responses for children throughout the country.

Will these efforts make a positive dent on the lives of our poor, vulnerable children? The exclusion and vulnerability of the children and their sad tales are songs that have repeatedly been played and heard for decades and even centuries. One can enumerate as well the global and local efforts and initiatives to respond to the needs of the children, of the poor.

“Why don’t we all try, personally, to improve the life of one child at a time?” Expand that to “love your neighbor as you love yourself.” The challenge is to serve even just one child, one poor at a time. Is it possible for us all to offer our lives to make one child, one poor happy, even for just one brief moment in our lifetime, in their lifetime?

Ka Bel knew and practiced these with those he loved and served. Would you like to serve the greatest servant of them all, our Lord, our God, by starting a life of service for even just one child, even just one poor, one neighbor in your midst?

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