Labor leader Leonardo “Ka Ben” Perez passes away

Labor leader Leonardo “Ka Ben” Perez, 59, succumbed to lung cancer and passed away last night at 8:00 at his home in Marikina City.

He was president of the Alliance of Nationalist and Genuine Labor Organizations or Anglo, national council member of the Kilusang Mayo Uno, and vice-chairperson of Anakpawis Partylist-Marikina when he died.

Perez, “Ka Ben” to his comrades, hailed from a poor peasant family in Nasugbu, Batangas. He was not able to finish his elementary studies and took on various jobs as a youth to help meet his family’s needs.

Long-time activist

Ka Ben’s political involvement started in the early ’80s as a bus driver and active unionist at JD Transit Incorporated where he led in fighting and subsequently ousting the management union.

He was elected treasurer of the Bus Industry Alliance or Busina in the late ’80s and led successful strikes against bus companies until the early ’90s. He led Busina’s active involvement in big protest actions of the time.

Ka Ben was so poor, he would go to work and ply the Baclaran-Monumento route daily without leaving his family any money. He would only be able to send his family money by mid-day, using a trained pigeon to deliver a few hundred pesos.

He then became a jeepney driver plying the UP-Katipunan route. He led the formation of the jeepney drivers’ association there and became its president. One time, he and his co-drivers tied an abusive police officer to a lamp post for exacting kotong from them.

Unionist, labor leader

Afterwards, he worked for Living Art, a furniture company in Marikina City where he again formed a union. He led his co-workers in launching a strike in the company, against the low wages and intolerable working conditions there.

He was elected as an official of Anglo in the early 2000s. Before this, he actively participated in ousting the previous federation leadership which was exposed to have been betraying workers’ campaigns in exchange for sums from capitalists.

When Anglo president Wilson Baldonaza died in 2009, Ka Ben took on the federation’s leadership. He actively participated in the formation of Anakpawis Partylist’s chapter in Marikina, for which he was elected vice-chaiperson of the chapter.

He accepted the federation’s presidency despite jokes that his predecessors died holding the post. “Diyan tayong lahat patungo, una-unahan lang,” he would say. Then, trying to show his strength, he would narrate how he saved lives during typhoon “Ondoy.”

Loving family man

His wife Ka Lucy remembers him as a thoughtful and romantic husband. Whenever he goes on out-of-town trips, as is usual among activists, Ka Ben would always find time in the busy schedule to buy pasalubong for his wife.

He was very egalitarian with his four children, telling them to treat him as a kabarkada rather than a father. His children would as such tell him all their problems and issues and he could easily give them advice.

Ka Ben was tireless in explaining his advocacy for workers’ rights and social change to his wife and children. Ka Lucy became very supportive of his activism and joined him in encouraging their children to join activist groups.

One of his sons recall Ka Ben’s joking admonition for him to become an activist: “Huwag kang mahihiyang gumawa ng mabuti sa kapwa. Dahil pagdating naman sa kalokohan eh hindi ka nahihiya.”

Respected labor leader, beloved comrade

All his colleagues recall Ka Ben as a “joker,” one who always wants to make people laugh. He would always be at hand to deliver jokes even in the most serious meetings. “Parang magkakasakit kapag hindi nakapagbiro,” recalls a comrade.

He loves to make comrades laugh by imitating the sounds of trumpets and saxophones. Always ready to perform, he became an “instant emcee” and “instant singer” on many occasions. One time, he set comrades free from detention by acting like a lawyer.

Ka Ben may be a joker but he is very serious in advancing the struggle for workers’ rights and social change. Like many genuine labor leaders, he has repeatedly shunned bribe offers made by capitalists who want him to betray workers fighting for their rights.

As a labor leader, Ka Ben is hardworking and good at keeping the morale of his workmates high. He is a competent propagandist and tactician of trade-union struggles. He always shows resoluteness in solving problems and improving work.

Wake, tribute, final rest

Ka Ben is survived by his wife Lucy and his four children. His remains lie at the family residence in Barangay Tumana (Doña Petra) in Marikina City. His friends and comrades will hold a tribute for him on July 2 at 6:00 in the afternoon.

He will be laid to his final rest on July 3.