The Day They Shot Carlos Rodriquez

The Day They Shot Carlos Rodriguez

Levy Abad (Singer-Songwriter)

I remember vividly when I bought a capo in one of the music stores in Toronto and gave it to Jess Bartolome, a famous folk musician from the Philippines who was touring during that time with his brothers, Kuya Heber and Levi, members of Banyuhay (Metamorphosis). They invited me to be their front act for their concerts in Toronto (October 2, 2010) and Mississauga (October 30, 2010). Lolita and the Boys and Mike Hanopol were also featured in these concerts.

I asked Jess a favour to bring home to the Philippines the capo as a present to my friend Dani Fabella, poet/singer / songwriter.  Few weeks later I communicated with my friend Dani through Facebook if he got the capo that I sent him as a present.  Dani told me he got it but it did not last long. He said that for some strange reasons, when he used it at the wake tribute for Carlos “Kaloy” Rodriguez, our common friend, it broke into pieces.  Dani made a joke that maybe Carlos was making a paramdam or ghostly presence.

I was shocked to learn that my buddy in organizing the provincial union of government employees in my home province was gunned down on November 12, 2010. This thing happened during the early years of Pres. Benigno S. Aquino administration.  Political killings intensified with the regime of Gloria Macapagal -Arroyo where 1,190 activists were extra judicially killed. The killing of Kaloy is a continuation of the policy to silence the struggle of the people against privatization as part of the Neo-Liberal agenda.  Kaloy was a good person and a tireless organizer for the welfare of workers.  He was the Chair of the Nagkakaisang Lakas ng Mangagawa ng Calamba Water District (Union of Workers of Calamba Water District). He was the 7^th victim of extra Judicial killing in Southern Tagalong under the present administration as of that time.

We were buddies in organizing the provincial water districts of the province from 2003 to 2005. We went about gathering leaders of different water districts for discussion on the evils of privatization. He helped a lot in organizing and reviving COURAGE (Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees) Chapter in the province. I remember going with him to attend meetings on Collective Negotiation Agreements (CNA) to improve the situation of government employees. He was one of the selfless persons whom I have known. If the meeting that we are going to attend is all about the struggle to improve the working man’s condition, you can bet that Kaloy will be there.

I left the Philippines way back in December 2006 and bid farewell to brothers and sisters in the Democracy and Human Rights Movement.  I immigrated to Canada to look for better opportunities.  While in Ontario, I learned about the continuous extra judicial killings and I dreaded the day that I will hear another buddy in the union struggle would be targeted.   Sure enough the minions of Neo- Liberalism went to my home province and gunned down Carlos.

Here in Winnipeg, everytime I drive near the Canadian Human Rights Museum (CMHR), I remember all the activist friends  whom I have met and shared happy moments with in the parliament of the streets.  During those days, we were always discussing about how to improve the lives of people.  Most of us were volunteers; some were full time organizers just relying on the support of the community to survive. As far as I can recall, I lost more than ten buddies.  It was for and because of them that I wrote a song tilted “Down at the Forks:”

                                                Down at the Forks I remember my friends

                                                Who perished in the struggle for freedom

                                                Down at the Forks I reckon the moments

                                                When we wage struggles for rights

                         

                                                I remember the days of movement and triumph

                                                Remember compassion and counting the cost

                                                Patience and vision and the role that we played

                                                In the barricades of peace

                                                Down at the Forks there’s a beacon light

                                                There is a guiding star that shines so bright

                                                There’s a glowing candle in the dark

                                                Leading down the road to peace

                                                Down at the Forks I cried in silence

                                                Vowing Never again to be silent

                                                Down its sacred ground I wrote this song

                                                For comrades who disappeared

                                               

                                                Down at the Forks shed tears of remembrance

                                                For friends tortured, killed, disappeared

                                                Down its holy ground I remember the lives

                                                Lives offered for peace

                                             

In the late 2013, I met with Kelly Moist who chairs CUPE –Manitoba to talk about her visit to the Philippines and her integration with government union counterpart.  I was surprised to hear that even Kelly was so touched by the story of Kaloy. She relayed to me how she empathized with the mother of Kaloy Rodriguez. She realized that the nature of the struggle in the Philippines is intense and she stands in solidarity with our peoples’ fight for self-determination and the improvement of the working peoples’ condition.  I never stopped to be amazed and at the same time affected by this tragic incident that I am resolved to write a song titled “The Day They Shot Carlos Rodriguez Down,” as a tribute to a good comrade and buddy.  For now, I have to finish this article as one of my simple tribute to honour and celebrate his life as a true servant of our people.

(Published on Pilipino Express online edition-December 16, 2014)