FIDEL AGCAOILI: A "RED SALUTE" TO A PATRIOT
By Kat Ulrike
At first, this note expressed condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues-in-struggle of the late Comrade Fidel Agcaoili in his passing last July 23, 2020 in Utrecht, the Netherlands.
For decades, Cde. Fidel contributed time, talent, blood, sweat, and tears all to advance the Filipino people's cause to achieve national and social liberation, all as part of advancing the struggle for the emancipation of the working class from Capitalist exploitation and Imperialism.
And despite the risks and challenges he faced, be it his sacrifice from a life of comfort and luxury, or his imprisonment during marital law, to those of various threats from state forces, he remained firm and dedicated to the cause he stood for, continuously drew inspiration from the Filipino people's struggle, ever displaying militance, courage, and a tireless struggle.
Cde. Fidel also served as key person in peace negotiations between the NDF and the GRP. From these negotiations he helped in forging and signing key agreements between the NDF and the GRP including agreements which served as foundation and framework of peace negotiations which remain in effect until present.
He was also served as an inspiration for Filipino migrant workers in organising and participating in the struggle, and a known figure in the anti-imperialist movement, working tirelessly to forge international solidarity among peoples from various nations all in fighting against imperialism and for the right to self-determination.
With all these and more from his life and works would say he is worthy of praise and emulation. Always patient in explaining things and readily respond to questions, he remained calm with positions all reasonable and deeply rooted in theory and history. With this, even those from the other side of the fence recognise his tireless work, putting the interest of the people despite the fact that he exposes harshly the ever-continuing oppression and exploitation and the lies peddled by the order.
But despite his passing, his lifelong contributions in the struggle for human rights, social justice, and national liberation has kept his legacy alive and youthful in today's generation of patriots and revolutionaries. As what Mao Zedong said, that the death of a revolutionary is as heavy as that of a mountain, heavy out of his dedication despite the perils and challenges brought upon him, still, what he did is indeed a really good fight.