Democrito Mendoza

Democrito "Kito" Tolo Mendoza (July 31, 1923 – January 12, 2016) was a Filipino Visayan lawyer and trade union leader from Cebu, Philippines. He was considered one of the founders of the country's labor movement and champion of Filipino workers' rights in the country being the founder of Associated Labor Union. In the international scene, he founded the ASEAN Trade Union Council. In 2005, he was awarded Presidential Merit Award by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Early life Democrito Mendoza was born in Barangay Poblacion, Liloan, Cebu on July 31, 1923. He was the youngest of ten children of Manuel Mendoza y Pepito (March 23, 1883, Liloan, Cebu - October 18, 1961, Cebu City) and Magdalena Tolo y Cañete (July 22, 1881, Liloan, Cebu - May 21, 1971, Cebu City). He was baptized on August 4, 1923 at San Fernando El Rey Parish in Liloan by Victoriano Rallos, with Lázaro Ramas as his godfather. He acquired a law degree at the University of the Visayas in 1952.

World War II During the outbreak of World War II, he joined the resistance movement against the Japanese and became a guerilla fighter, which earned him distinction as a bemedalled Filipino veteran. The United States Army's America Division awarded him the Gold Cross for his military service as an officer of the US Army Forces in the Far East that he demonstrated in Cebu against enemy forces during the liberation campaign between March 26 to April 19, 1945. He was also a military reservist in the Armed Forces of the Philippines with the rank of colonel. Promoting core labor standards, he called for the observance of including the right to organize, to bargain collectively, and to strike. He also called for the ban on the use of child labor. that was established in 1975 He pioneered the establishment of labor centers in Quezon City, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao City.

OPASCOR Mendoza was key in transforming the National Arrastre and Stevedoring Corporation into a workers' enterprise called the Oriental Port and Allied Services Corporation (OPASCOR). The operator at the Cebu International Port responsible for overseeing shipments

In 2002, then Senator John Osmeña initiated a legislative inquiry into the alleged diversion of company's funds into Mendoza's family-owned businesses.

Later years In 2008, he authored an autobiography entitled "Shapes of Memory".

He died in Cebu City on January 12, 2016 at the age of 92. Moreover, the Senate also passed Resolution No. 114 on February 1, 2016 "expressing sympathy and sincere condolence of the Senate" on his demise.

Awards and recognition The House Resolution No. 1051 filed in April 2015 in his honor by Benguet Representative Ronald Cosalan and to give congressional recognition for his work in advancing the country's labor movement and defending and upholding the interest of Filipino working class stated, "Mendoza's unwavering work, advocacy, inspiration and his love for the workingmen has challenged not only the Philippine government but also governments around the world." In June 2015, the House of Representatives approved the resolution.

Mendoza had been the recipients of several awards, including three presidential recognition. In 1998, then President Fidel V. Ramos conferred upon him the Labor Leader of the Year. Later, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo awarded him with the Order of the Golden Heart in 2002 and the Presidential Merit Award in 2005.

Publication

Shapes of Memory: Memoir of a Freedom Fighter and Trade Unionist, Associated Labor Unions - TUCP/Oriental Port and OPASCOR, 2007