We mourn his death. Even more, we extol his life.

Filipino workers in Hong Kong condole with the family, friends and colleagues of Cong. Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran for his passing. We grieve for the loss of the much-loved and respected Ka Bel.

Ka Bel is the epitome of a people's servant. His simple life and long record of upholding the rights of the Filipino workers - both at home and abroad - shows his devotion to the working class and other oppressed peoples.

He never wavered in his principles and he never let go of the peoples' struggles. Even when he was elected as congressman, he was never tempted by the powers and riches that his office could have brought him. He remained militant, uncompromising in principles and immersed with the people he served.

Until the end, he was a true unionist, a real activist, and a genuine patriot for the Filipino people's cause for freedom and democracy.

The support of Ka Bel to the plight of Filipinos abroad can never be denied up to his time as a member of the House of Representatives.

When he served as vice chairperson of the Committee on Labor and Employment, Ka Bel was one of the staunchest advocate for OFW rights inside the Congress. He came to Hong Kong several times as invited speaker to major events of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK) as well as to seek audience with the OFWs for our demands.

Thus, in the First Filipino Women Migrant Workers' Summit in HK in 2006, more than 100 organizations united in a resolution against his arrest and incarceration that time for concocted charges against him by the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo government. Even after his release, he was a constant target of political harassment by the GMA regime.

He's message then was clear: never give up. We never will.

Ka Bel has always been with the poor and has never let go of carrying the voice of the people.

On Sunday, Filipino workers in Hong Kong shall hold a mass and a program as tribute to Ka Bel. There will also be program within the week to be attended by local trade unionists, human rights advocates and other local people who recognize the contribution of Ka Bel to the struggle of the Filipino people as well as his strong solidarity to people in other countries.

Ka Bel shall always be remembered in the people's struggles. It will be so among the Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong.