Benjamin Garcia, better known as Ben Tumbling, was one of the Philippines' Most Wanted personalities in the early 1980s. Prior to reaching a state of notoriety, Ben was a movie stuntman. However, police brutality allegedly pushed him to a life of crime. He was fatally shot during an encounter with police officers in Manila on March 13, 1981. Although law enforcers considered him as a hardened criminal, people from the poor communities of Malabon looked up to him as a beneficent Robin Hood figure. The widespread grief apparently inspired a poem that is inscribed on the marker of his grave at the Malabon Cemetery. A transcript of the poem and its English translation follows.
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| Image Credit: Video48 |
Ikaw ba'y masama o isang dakila
Bakit ba marami ang sa yo'y humanga
Mga matatanda, dalaga at bata
Sa pagkamatay mo'y ayaw maniwala
Bakit di marinig sa bibig ng tao
Na kay Ben Garcia'y napopoot ako
Bakit si Ben Tumbling ay naging idolo
Gayong sa balita ay pusakal ito
Bakit ba kay rami ang mga nalungkot
Ang iyong buhay agad na natapos
Bakit maraming nag magandang loob
Nag-abuloy sayo ng katakot-takot
Ang alaala mo ay magiging aral
Sa taga Malabon at karatig bayan
Ang dalamhati nila kung nasaan ka man
Sana ay kamtin mo ang kapayapaan.
Are you an evil or a great one?
Why are so many people impressed by you?
Elderly, young women and children
Don't believe in your death
Why can't it be heard from people's mouths?
The words "I hate Ben Garcia."
Why Ben Tumbling became an idol
And yet the news says he is someone inveterate
Why are there so many sad people?
That your life abruptly ended
Why are there so many good-hearted people
Who donated a lot to [your bereaved family]
Your memory will be a lesson
To the people of Malabon and neighboring towns
Their grief wherever you are
I hope you find peace.
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| Image Credit: Video 48 |
In 1985, Amazaldy Film Production released Ben Tumbling: A People's Journal Story starring Lito Lapid in the title role. The theme song, Pareng Ben (Tagalog: My Buddy, Ben) seems to explain why Ben met such a tragic fate. Composed by Ernani Cuenco with lyrics by Snafu Rigor, the song was performed by Bing Rodrigo. Another hit song of his, Gintong Araw (Tagalog: Golden Sun), is also featured in the movie soundtrack.
Video Courtesy of YouTube / limva123
PARENG BEN (LYRICS)
Sa hangad mong makatulong sa iyong kapwa
Tinahak mo ang landasing labag sa tama
At lumisan sa isip ang wastong katwiran
Naanod sa agos ng makasalanan
Tinahak mo ang landasing labag sa tama
At lumisan sa isip ang wastong katwiran
Naanod sa agos ng makasalanan
Batas ng lipunan pilit mong tinanganan
Sa labis na pasakit na iyong dinaanan
Batid kaya ng langit ang kamalian?
Unawain kaya ang iyong kapalaran
Pareng Ben, ganyan ang buhay
Kung minsa'y mailap ang ligayang tunay
Pareng Ben, ginto ang buhay
Bawat saglit may aral na tinataglay
[Instrumental]
Sa katibayan ng iyong paninindigan
Nilason ng iyong diwa sa makatarungan
Naligaw man ang puso, isip, damdamin
Batas pa rin ang ilaw natin sa dilim
Pareng Ben, ganyan ang buhay
Kung minsa'y mailap ang ligayang tunay
Pareng Ben, ginto ang buhay
Bawat saglit may aral na tinataglay
Kung minsa'y mailap ang ligayang tunay
Pareng Ben, ginto ang buhay
Bawat saglit may aral na tinataglay
Pareng Ben, ganyan ang buhay
Kung minsa'y mailap ang ligayang tunay
Pareng Ben, ginto ang buhay
Bawat saglit may aral na tinataglay
Kung minsa'y mailap ang ligayang tunay
Pareng Ben, ginto ang buhay
Bawat saglit may aral na tinataglay
Pareng Ben, ganyan lamang ang buhay
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
With your aim to help others
You took the wrong path
And the proper reason left the mind
Drifted in the current of sinners
You took the law of society in your hands
With the immense pain you went through
Does heaven knows the wrongdoings?
Will it understand your destiny
Like Ben, that's life
Sometimes true happiness is elusive
Like Ben, life is gold
Every moment has a lesson in it
[Instrumental]
In defending your stand
Your spirit has poisoned the just
Even if the heart, mind, emotions are lost
Law is still our light in the dark
My buddy, Ben, that's life
Sometimes true happiness is elusive
My buddy, Ben, life is gold
Every moment has a lesson in it
My buddy, Ben, that's life
Sometimes true happiness is elusive
My buddy, Ben, life is gold
Every moment has a lesson in it
Like Ben, that's just life
Video Courtesy of YouTube / SAUL SLASH IDIO
OTHER NOTES:
Rod Navarro (as himself) is in a studio hosting a program airing on Radio Philippines Network's DWWW (630 kHz). After delivering the latest news about Ben Tumbling, Navarro played an LP recording of Gintong Araw. Navarro dedicated the song to Ben Tumbling. At the same time, Ben was driving a car with a radio tuned to the program. He stopped at a telephone booth and made a call to get the host's attention. The host then suggested for him to surrender. The former even volunteered to act as a mediator between Ben and the authorities.
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