Comrade Antonio Zumel honored
A number of memorial meetings were held for the esteemed revolutionary leader Comrade Antonio Zumel who died on August 13.
Comrade Zumel was known as a revolutionary newspaper man and leader even during the 1970s. He was a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines Central Committee, chaired the National Democratic Front from 1990-94 and served as its honorary chairman since 1994. He was the NDFP's senior adviser from 1992. In 1972, Ka Zumel was among the newspaper men who left their relatively comfortable lives and established careers to join the revolutionary underground movement fulltime to fight the US-Marcos dictatorship. He was among the first members of the editorial staff of Liberation (the NDF's official publication) and the Balita ng Malayang Pilipinas (the NDF news agency). He also served as editor of Dangadang (revolutionary mass paper of Ilocos-Monta�osa). Before he was assigned to Europe in the latter part of the 1980s, he was a member of the Party's National Propaganda Commission and the editor of Ang Bayan. He died from an aggravated kidney ailment, diabetes and heart complications.
On August 17, various revolutionary and progressive organizations both in the Philippines and in The Netherlands paid tribute to him .
In the Philippines, about 1,000 relatives, friends and comrades of Ka Zumel and even officials of the reactionary government attended the "Parangal ng Bayan" (People's Tribute) conducted in his honor. They gathered at the Church of the Holy Sacrifice at the University of the Philippines in Diliman and rendered their tributes and farewells to the revolutionary leader.
Ma. Luisa Zumel Lopez, Comrade Zumel's eldest sister, spoke for the family. Ka Zumel's colleagues in media, as well as his former comrades in the underground movement who are now professionals or part of the legal democratic movement also paid tribute. The government's chief peace negotiator Silvestre Bello and panel member DAR Sec. Hernani Braganza likewise attended the gathering.
A mural featuring Comrade Zumel was prepared for the occasion by progressive artists. Photographs from as far back as his youth were exhibited.
It was close to midnight when the gathering closed with a video presentation that featured his life and struggle.
At the Crematorium Daelwijk in Utrecht, The Netherlands, Ka Zumel's siblings and relatives, including former AFP Brig. Gen. Jose Ma. Carlos Zumel, gathered for an interment service. With them at the service were Ka Zumel's comrades in the NDFP, close friends, representatives of various organizations and parties and the Filipino community in The Netherlands.
Chief NDFP negotiator Comrade Luis Jalandoni gave the opening remarks at the service. In his tribute, Comrade Jalandoni said that revolutionary principles were very much alive in Ka Zumel: in his warm camaraderie with comrades, friends, the masses and allies and in fulfilling to the utmost his responsibilities, within or outside the country.
"With his passing, the revolutionary movement has lost a great leader," said Comrade Coni Ledesma, who narrated his life story.
Comrade Julie de Lima-Sison added, "He was an exemplary communist. His contributions in advancing the Philippine revolution were invaluable." She said that "Ka Zumel offered his talents and capabilities as a newspaper man to the movement. He was excellent in information and education work. He followed in the brilliant tradition of Marcelo H. del Pilar and Amado V. Hernandez. The pen complemented the sword of the Philippine revolution."
The service featured prayer offerings from communities of migrant Filipinos and a message of tribute from Ka Zumel's family and siblings. After this, the late revolutionary leader's favorite songs were played.
That evening, more Filipinos, friends, admirers and comrades gathered at the old church in Utrecht to pay tribute to Ka Zumel. More than 50 organizations, political parties and individuals from within and outside the country sent messages of condolence and solidarity, including Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Among those who gave touching speeches was Comrade Jose Ma. Sison. Former AFP General Zumel also once more paid tribute and expressed awe at the outpouring of sympathy for his revolutionary brother's passing.
The whole day of August 17, sympathizers and mourners poured into the NDFP International Information Office in Utrecht.
According to comrades, Ka Zumel's last public speech read at the Solidarity Conference for a Just and Lasting Peace in April was a virtual farewell. He said: "Those of us who joined the movement in its infancy in the late 1960s or early 1970s are getting on in years. Among the most senior in years compared to the young people in our movement, I am myself approaching my 69th year and will soon be gone. Those of us who are getting on in years can only look with satisfaction and pride on the swelling ranks of the revolutionary movement that now fights for our people's national and democratic rights-and in the future, for socialism."
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