THE NATIONAL Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) renders full honors to Baltazar Bal Pinguel, the firebrand of the First Quarter Storm!
Ka Bal served the people through the national democratic movement as best as he could, in hard struggle and self-sacrifice.
Hailing from a poor family in Samar, he became an activist while studying Political Science at the University of the Philippines in Diliman. He later joined Kabataang Makabayan (KM) and was its designated spokesperson because of his exceptional oratorical skills. He led demonstrators to the US Embassy or Malacañang where the demonstrators often ended up clashing with anti-riot policemen and Metrocom troopers.
When martial law was declared, he was one of hundreds of activists who went underground or joined the armed struggle in the countryside.
Ka Bal was first assigned to do guerrilla zone building in Southern Tagalog. He was later arrested, tortured and imprisoned at Camp Vicente Lim in Laguna. Shortly after, he took part in a daring escape and rejoined the revolutionary mainstream.
In 1974, he was assigned to Samar where he served as the political officer of one of the first NPA guerrilla units, and became a member of the first District Committee in the island. By the end of the 1970s, Samar had the distinction of leading the way in advancing the armed struggle against the US-Marcos dictatorship nationwide.
Arrested again in 1980 in Cebu City, he was detained for five years at Camp Bagong Diwa before being released in 1985. Upon release, he helped found the Partido ng Bayan. In 1989, suspected military agents attempted to abduct him, so he sought political asylum in the US in 1992. There, he became involved in various justice and peace campaigns as program director at the American Friends Service Committee, and as one of the leaders of United for Peace and Justice, a broad US-based coalition against the American invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Ka Bal continued to serve the national democratic movement in various capacities. An adviser to BAYAN-USA, he last joined his fellow activists in a rally in front of the Philippine consulate in New York City to protest the dictator Marcos burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Ka Bal’s untimely death cannot erase his legacy as a fiery agitator and propagandist who scorched the oppressors and exploiters and enlightened and enlivened the masses. Ka Bal passed away on June 10.
[Ang Bayan is the official newspaper of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Ang Bayan is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Hiligaynon, Waray and English. Download Ang Bayan from the Philippine Revolution Web Central at www.philippinerevolution.info. Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
https://www.philippinerevolution.info/ang_bayan/20170621-tribute-to-bal-pinguxade/
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