Tuloy ang laban ni Ka Bel!

Cultural workers under Kulturang Ugnayan ng Makabayang Sining Anakpawis (KUMASA) pay tribute to Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran, one of the pillars of Philippine trade union movement.

Below is a poem read in a performance by KUMASA during Ka Bel's last night tribute on May 27, 2008 held at the Philippine Independent Church, Manila.


Ang matandang hangal na nagkumpuni ng bubong

matapos ang ilang araw
at magdamag na pagbayo ng unos,
isang pitumpu't limang taong
matandang lalaki
ang umahon sa bubong ng kanyang bahay.
nangunyapit sa hagdan ang isang kamay,
ang isa'y sa martilyo't alkitran;
tinataya ang panimbang,
gumegewang.
di yata't marupok ang aluminum na baytang
o sadyang mahina na
ang buto't kalamnan ng matandang
nagpupumilit humakbang.

sa tuktok,
panandaling minalas
ang unang saboy ng
larawa't liwanag ng umaga.
pumikit,
suminghap,
lumanghap.

kumalang ang magaspang at ugating kamay
sa 'di pa gasinong mainit na bubungan.
nilapat ang bitbit.
at waring isang umagang pagdarasal,
lumuhod
pinilit umapuhap.
kinakapa,
sinisipat ng kanyang malamlam nang paningin
sa yerong sahig
ang kahit ga-butil na butas.
"alkitran lang ang katapat n'yan!"
pabulong n'yang bulas.

umuusod patagilid,
nakaluhod na dumadais,
muli pang umaapuhap
kumakapa, sumisipat
sa mainit na sahig
ng mga siwang,
ng mga pakong awang.

makailang pukpok ay paghingal
malakas ang pintig sa sentido.
matitigilan
titingala
hihinga ng malalim.
at muling maglalapat ng alkitran
hanggang maubos,
pupukpok sa mga siwang at dugsungan.

sumisidhi ang pintig,
bumubukal ang pawis
sa kat'wang malaon nang hinalit magpagal.

hapo,
papanaog na sa hagdan,
bitbit ang martilyo
nawalan ng panimbang.
sa labing-apat na talampakang taas,
semento ang sumambot,
nabitawan ang martilyo
tinakasan ng ulirat
at pinanawan ng hininga
ang lalaking sa katandaa'y
nagpilit magkumpuni ng bubong.

hindi na marahil tatagas
ang tubig sa bubong.
hawak ng kanyang mga anak
ang martilyo
upang muling magkumpuni
sakaling ula't bagyo'y muling bumunghalit.

May Day 2008 Images

Power up at sound check



Backstage


Performances

May Day e-poster2008

The worker-based cultural alliance KUMASA raises its fist with their comrades-in-arms in the commemoration and celebration of May Day 2008.


"Fight for a Proletarian Culture!"

KUMASA Holiday Greetings for 2008

Performances at the 2nd Gawad Eden Marcellana

KUMASA performed the opening and finale at the Second Gawad Eden Marcellana, on December 11, 2007 at Saint Cecilia Music Hall, Saint Scholastica's College, Manila.

An a capella rendition of "Lupang Hinirang" was sung by KUMASA for the opening. The group sung for finale their own arrangement of Jess Santiago's "Kalapating Bughaw".

Gawad Eden Marcellana is produced by KARAPATAN-Southern Tagalog and Southern Tagalog Exposure in honor of women human rights defenders and activists. Renowned theater and film director Bonifacio Ilagan directed this year's Gawad Eden.

KUMASA also performed during the First Gawad Eden Marcellana on 2004, held in Saint Paul's College, Quezon City.

(Photos courtesy of Tess Dioquino.)

KUMASA prepares for Trade Union Cultural Festival 2008

As part of the take-off campaign for May Day 2008, KUMASA will launch a week long Trade Union Cultural Festival on April 2008.

Watch out for more details.

KUMASA performs at Anakpawis National Convention

KUMASA performs today, 5 February 2007, at the Anakpawis Partylist National Convention held at Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

Nine (9) KUMASA members rendered three musical pieces in the day-long convention. The pieces are Anakpawis Hymn, Awit ng Pag-Asa, Manggagawa (by Jose Corazon de Jesus).

The convention was attended by almost two thousand delegates coming from the different regions in the Philippines.###