One of the most tragic events that can befall a labor federation, and any organization and movement for that matter, is when its great leaders would split to the great damage and prejudice of the general membership. But the very unfortunate parting of ways between the venerable Democrito “Kito” Mendoza and former Senator Ernesto “Boy” Herrera did shock the labor front and brought untold sadness and disappointment among us Cebuanos, who hold these two pillars of the country’s trade union movement in high esteem. It would seem that an earthquake struck the ALU-TUCP and has caused too much pain upon all Visayan-speaking people who loved both the TUCP President and its Secretary General.
The Labor Department is caught between the virtual “Schylla and Charibides,” and DOLE was so confused that it decided to send to the ongoing ILO Conference in Geneva, neither Manoy Kito nor Sen. Boy as head of the workers’ delegation, but a young Mindanaoan, Atty. Sonny Matula, who is the new President of the FFW (Federation of Free Farmers). Since the 70s, during the time of Secretary Blas Ople, it was always the TUCP President, Mendoza, or if he declines, the TUCP Sec-Gen Boy Herrera who was sent to Geneva each year. This was consistently followed by secretaries Quisumbing, Confesor, Drilon, Brillantes, Trajano, Laguesma, Sto. Tomas, Brion, and Roque, except only the time of Sec. Bobet Sanchez (bless his soul), when he opted to send the KMUs to ILO.
The country’s labor movement, aside from being too small vis-a-vis the size of the labor force, is largely fragmented. The left front is led by KMU and other so-called progressive groups like the Bayan Muna, while the right is being led by TUCP, and the center by the FFW. Only in theory, the right flank is said to be aligned with the US and Western Europe ideology of capitalism, while the left allegedly adheres to the dialectic materialism of the socialists. The FFW was organized by the Jesuits and follows a Christian approach to labor relations, which rejects both unbridled capitalism and the adventurist highly adversarial tactics of socialism. The truth of the matter is that trade union politics, like that of our Filipino brand of politics, is generally personality-centered, and not ideology-based.
One of the usual tragedies of a Filipino movement is the curse of fragmentation and factionalism. This is not really a Filipino invention though, we must hasten to remind one and all. Even from the book of Genesis, there was already a split between Adam’s sons, Cain and Abel, which led to first murder of Abel by his own brother, Cain.
We were told by a supposed neutral observer inside the TUCP that the grand old man, Noy Kito, has resigned due to old age and failing health, with heart problem and all. And so, by virtue of TUCP’s Constitution and By-Laws, the Secretary- General had to take over. But soon, some members of Noy Kito’s family allegedly pressured the old man to take back the presidency. Well, the rest are too lurid that, in my highest respect for both of them, I cannot share them with you.
There is no debate that Noy Kito Tolo Mendoza, along with his cousins Januario Tolo Seno, Cecilio Tolo Seno and Claudio Tolo founded and built ALU from scratch way back in the ‘50s. They nurtured ALU with their sweat, tears and blood, until President Marcos and his government helped ALU to start establishing a National Labor Center, the TUCP or the TRADE UNION CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES. Marcos even allowed them to buy a government lot near the Quezon Memorial Circle in Diliman to become the headquarters of TUCP. Marcos needed a strong leader like Noy Kito who was a World War II veteran like him to lead the rightist against the rising popularity of the KMU.
But Boy Herrera, like the late Cerge Remonde, and perhaps even more than Cerge, had contributed much to the growth of both ALU and TUCP. Boy and Cerge were both my co-alumni of UV. They were Noy Kito’s PR men and training gurus. They were young and dynamic who could speak and write well. They attracted the young adherents to ALU-TUCP. These two made their names in ALU and TUCP. At times, they outshone the masters and had more rapport with the general membership, as opposed to the more military type Noy Kito and the professorial brothers Seno, and the aloof, Noy Odiong Tolo. Boy and Cerge were personable, passionate, aggressive, and articulate with our usual Visayan twang. Boy became a senator and Cerge a Cabinet member, yes, upon the endorsement of Kito. But in fairness to them, they have their own merits, too.
We do not want to prejudge who is at fault and who is the victim. They are both honorable men. They have brought honors to Cebu and to our common alma mater. They have enriched the coffers of TUCP and led the ALU TUCP with great distinction and valor. But, to paraphrase Mark Anthony on the death of Caesar, men have lost their reason and judgments have fled to brutish beasts. Thus, I must pause for any reply.