My son and I, and the rest of our family thank you for joining us today in saying goodbye to Louie. We deeply appreciate your being here with us. You give us strength and comfort during these very painful days.
I would also like to take this occasion to thank everyone who wrote messages or statements, or called to extend their condolences. Their memories of Louie and his impact on their lives have touhed us greatly. My son and I, and our family appreciate the expressions of love and admiration. We will compile these as a testament to Louie’s life. Thank you very much.
Louie and I were married for 52 years. He was my best friend, my confidant, my soulmate and my lover. Both of us didn’t realize that we were married that long until we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversay. And we both said, “Wow! Has it been that long?”
Together we helped fight a dictator, took risks, accepted the challenge of starting international work in Europe, weathered political storms and worked together as part of the Negotiating Panel of the NDF – he as Chairperson and I as a member. And we also built up our family of three – he, me and our son. And now with our daughter-in-law and our grandsons.
Most of you know Louie for his work as a Negotiator or for his work as the Chief International Representative of the NDF.
But actually, the work he loved best was working and organizing workers, peasants, and sugar workers. His political awakening began when he helped the Hiyang Hiyang peasants fight against the warlord Gustillo in the late 1960’s. He was fearless in his stand for their rights, even when Gustillo’s gunmen cracked their guns at him.
He suppported the workers of the Victorias Milling Company, and took a stand for them even enduring the ire of his Bishop. But in fighting for the rights of the workers, he also politicalized many priests and Sisters in the Diocese of Bacolod.
In 1974, as an officer of the Church Labor Center, he helped the workers of the La Tondena Distillery when they went on strike. This was the first strike during martial law. It was successful and led to many factories going on strike. It also meant that there was again a warrant for his arrest.
Even when we were already here in the Netherlands, his commitment to the struggles of workers continued.
In the 1980’s, Filipiino seamen on a ship called the Tropwind, went on strike. The Philippine solidarity group here in the Netherlands, Filippijnengroep Nederland, immediately went to visit them to extend whatever help they could. Louie and I, as members of FGN, also, of course, joined the group. Together with other FGN members, we visited and supported the striking seamen. Louie would discuss with the trade union leaders who were helping the striking workers. They would plan how to help the seamen win their strike. Once, Louie and other members of FGN went to visit the seamen and stayed with them until – I think it was 5 or 6 in the morning. They returned to our home around 7AM. I made them coffee and some breakfast. Louie took a shower and went off to his work – no sleep at all. At that time he was working in a funding agency. When it was Christmas, we invited the striking seamen to our place to celebrate Christmas. Years later, he would still recall the days he spent with the striking seamen, regreting that they had lost the strike.
When Louie was asked to head the NDFP Negotiating Panel, he accepted the task even if he felt that others could do the work better than he could. He gave his all as Chairperson of the Negotiating Panel of the NDF. He studied the cases of other peace processes in other countries to learn from them. He met and discussed with other parties who were also undergoing similar processes.
Together with Joma Sison, Fidel Agcaoili and Romy Capulong, and later with Edre Olalia, they would draft the documents which we would later negotiate with the GRP. Negotiating wasn’t an easy job. He was firm and uncompromising in upholding the NDF positions. When there would be an impasse, he and Joma would meet with some members of the GRP Panel to try to come up with a solution. They always did.
However, when he turned 70, he felt that it was time for someone to replace him. That someone younger – and he felt, more capable than him. However, it was only 11 years later when his resignation was accepted, and he assumed the task of Senior Adviser. He held this position until his death. Fidel Agcaoili replaced him as Chairperson.
But even if he was no longer the Chairman, he would still study the documents and actively participate in the discussions – but more within the NDF peace team.
As Chief International Representative of the NDF, he would travel to different countries to participate in conferences and meetings with parties and liberation movements. He would come back with many stories of people he met and things he learned. The struggle of the Palestinian people was very close to his heart. Many of his close friends were Palestinians. As a matter of fact, he had one Palestinian friend who also loved to cook – like Louie. And this friend told Louie, “Louie, when we win the revolution, lets open a restaurant and you and I will be the cooks”. Unfortunately, that will never happen, as both of them have passed away.
In spite of his heavy schedule, Louie always found time to be with our only son. He would never miss our son’s school activities when parents were invited. He would cook meals when our son’s friends came. We would invite his friends to join us when we would go on holidays.
And as a grandfather, his greatest joy was watching his grandsons basketball games. We were the only grandparents who were regular basketball fans. He loved wearing the t-shirt of U-ball, which is the club of the grandsons.
Louie left us suddenly. Last June 6, he was watching Alcaraz playing tennis when he suddenly fell ill. He was rushed him to the hospital by ambulance. It turned out that he was having a massive brain hemorage. The doctors informed my son and myself that there was nothing else they could do for him. That he could go anytime. He was given comfort care. He was not in pain. He passed away at 9:05 the following day.
Louie left us suddenly. But his commitment to the revolution and to the Filipino people and the oppressed peoples of the world will be an inspiration and example to all.
Louie, we will go on without you. But we will miss you terribly.
