Joma celebrates 70th birthday, five decades of struggle

By Loui Galicia, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau 02/09/2009 4:55 PM

A very big celebration was held by supporters of Jose Maria Sison last Saturday in Amsterdam for his 70th birthday.

More than his birthday however, the event also marked the Communist Party of the Philippines' founding chair's 50 years of service to his comrades.

Early on Saturday, many Pinoys were already very busy making sure that the event will be an unforgettable and perfect "night for Joma".

Many contributed authentic Pinoy food like kaldereta, daing na bangus and Joma's favorite which is lechon.

The highlight of the night was an intense and touching cultural show depicting the five decades of Sison's participation in the “struggles of the Filipino people.”

More than 150 people arrived at the Nassau Church to greet Sison, showing his popularity among people from all walks of life, whether Pinoy, white, young or old.

One of them is a translator who only met Sison when he translated some of Joma's works in the Dutch language for a Belgian workers’ group.

"I was very impressed by his writings. He's just very friendly, very kind and it is a miracle that such a modest man can have so much influence," Jan Bentjes told Balitang Europe.

Although an intellectual, who always sounds very political and deep, Sison's appeal also apparently extended to the young.

One of his avid fans is a 19-year-old Pinoy who, instead of going out with friends of his age during weekends, chose to join and help in the projects of activists.

"Si Joma Sison ay isa pa rin figure para sa mga kabataang kumikilos para sa pambansang demokrasya at saka kalayaan. Sa mga kabataan lagi nating maalala ang mga ginagawa ni Joma ilang dekada na ang nakaraan kaya eto pa rin inspirasyon ito at yung mga gawain niya. Kaya sineselebrate ang kanyang karaawan, hindi lang karaawan. Mas tungkol ito sa ilang dekada nang laban ni Joma para sa kalayaan," Noel Saturay said.

Saturay said he already read some of Sison's works without knowing who the author was.

"Noong lumalaki ako marami akong nabasa na sinulat ni Joma. Hindi ko alam na siya ang nagsulat noon. Habang lumalaki ako nakilala ko si Joma sa pangalan at mga pictures niya sa mga libro tapos noong dumating ako dito nakilala ko si Joma," Saturay said.

There were also those who arrived from the Philippines to personally bring messages from Sison's allies there.

"Malaki ang guidance na binigay ni Joma sa working class movement. In terms of theoretical knowledge and practical know-how sa pagtatayo ng organization, lalung-lalo na sa usapin ng edukasyon ay malaking ambag ang ibinigay ni Prof. Jose Maria Sison sa buong kilusang paggawa," said Elmer Labog, Kilusang Mayo Uno chairperson.

Most of all, Sison's wife, daughter and his very close friends such as Luis Jalandoni and wife Connie Ledesma, Fidel Agcaoili and Ruth de Leon were also all there.

"Sana'y mas magbigay siya ng panahon para pangalagaan ang kanyang kalusugan at para mabuhay siya ng matagal at para makapagsilbi siya sa ating mamamayan ng mas mahusay pa kaysa dati," Juliet de Lima said as her birthday wish for her husband.

There were no gifts this year for Sison because his group requested that donations be given instead to his legal defense fund.

For his part, Sison said he is giving a gift to those who continue to believe and support him. The first two of four volumes of his new book is set be launched in the Philippines next week.

as of 02/09/2009 5:05 PM

SOURCE:WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/02/09/09/joma-celebrates-70th-birthday-five-decades-struggle-0