Grex Lagman
recalls his fave uncle ‘Ka Popoy’: He was so freaking cool
For ex- Albay congressman Grex Lagman, late labor
group leader Filemon “Ka Popoy” Lagman was quite simply the coolest “tito” on
earth.
“To many activists, laborers, clients, his comrades
and the media, he was ‘Ka Popoy’ Lagman.
But to an 8 year old kid, he was Uncle Ching–the
coolest uncle ever!” Grex wrote on his Facebook Monday (February 6) and he paid
tribute to his kin on his 16th death anniversary.
So what made Uncle Ching cool? His survival skills,
for one.
Grex fondly described his tito as a “motorcycle
riding dude with stories of camping out in the mountains, getting by with just
tree barks and leaves and the occasional rat!”
“I learned to ride a 400cc motorcycle when i was 10
years old because of uncle Ching. I mean, i drove his black Honda around
Marcelo Green Village in Parañaque–by myself! How cool can this uncle be?!?” he
recalled.
Ka Popoy, brother of incumbent Albay 1st district
Rep. Edcel Lagman, was assassinated on February 6, 2001.
“Uncle Ching was shot at at the Bahay ng Alumni in
UP. My dad lost another brother that day. I lost my favorite uncle,” Grex
wrote.
“Uncle Ching was the true working class hero. He
organized both Sanlakas and PM–both winning seats in Congress. His legacy lives
on even as his death at 47, sixteen years ago, was not in vain,” he stressed. #
Edcel Grex Burce Lagman
Pebrero 5, 2017
To many activists, laborers, clients, his comrades
and the media, he was"Ka Popoy" Lagman.
But to an 8 year old kid, he was Uncle Ching--the
coolest uncle ever! A motorcycle riding dude with stories of camping out in the
mountains, getting by with just tree barks and leaves and the occasional rat! 😊He
would stay with us for 2, 3 days... then we would invariably have a deal: if i
am able to convince mama and papa to go with him in the "mountains",
he will gladly take me. Of course, i always was in tears when "no
deal" was my parents' standard answer. Haha
I learned to ride a 400cc motorcycle when i was 10
years old because of uncle Ching. I mean, i drove his black Honda around
Marcelo Green Village in Parañaque--by myself! How cool can this uncle be?!?
On Feb. 6, 2001, in the law office my dad set up
with him, i heard the most shocking news from my father. Uncle Ching was shot
at at the Bahay ng Alumni in UP. My dad lost another brother that day. I lost
my favorite uncle.
Uncle Ching was the true working class hero. He
organized both Sanlakas and PM--both winning seats in Congress. His legacy
lives on even as his death at 47, sixteen years ago, was not in vain.
God bless your restless, revolutionary soul, Uncle
Ching...😇
(March 17, 1953 Tabaco, Albay -- February 6, 2001
Quezon City)
