Lean Alejandro
September 19 marks the 38th anniversary of the murder of Lean Alejandro, the young activist who helped bring down the Marcos dictatorship and whose heroic life we should be celebrating rather than merely marking the brutal manner of his passing.
Lean will one day loom large in Philippine history because, like so many who fought for our country and people, he dedicated his life to establish the full possibility of democracy in our nation, without any expectation he would be around to enjoy the fruits of the struggle.
Lean was a selfless youth leader brimming with ideas, his imagination fired by the dreams of his people, a people who have long longed for peace, prosperity, and the space to celebrate life’s simple joys – for working Filipino families to enjoy enough leisure time, to cook for friends and family, to read fiction, philosophy, and poetry, to play ping pong and support other oppressed nations in need of solidarity; to live full lives. Because by ‘full life’ Lean meant fighting for causes bigger than an individual’s personal goals.
The Constantino Foundation continues to elevate the legacy of Lean not only because of what he symbolizes—the eternity of youth inherent in all of us, whatever our age, the enduring capacity to love and to rage against injustice, which some of us can of course choose to ignore by courting consumerist illusions and empty, steady decay.
The Foundation lifts up the name of Lean Alejandro. His life represents the unbroken line of young Filipinos choosing to fight for a better tomorrow by living lives that reflect the future they wish to build today: The youth, who go out of their way to prepare food for the hungry. Young Filipinos fighting for mobility and the rights of commuters, to make visible the invisible class—people with disabilities. Young Filipinos fighting to protect our natural and national heritage—from the propagation of native trees to the preservation of our culture in built structures, food, and ecosystems. Young Filipinos who carve out time to teach children how to read and excel. The youth who fight to advance and defend the rights of the Queer community, and those who seek to end domestic violence, sexual violence, the violence of poverty, and the violence of climate change. Young Filipinos fighting to end impunity and to bring to justice all responsible for the plunder of our national wealth.
The youth: you are legion and they, the marauders, are few.
It is our view that Lean Alejandro sits among the nation’s mightiest heroes, among them the Katipunan revolutionary intellectual Emilio Jacinto, whose 150th birth anniversary this year should be marked daily with great fanfare. Alas, save for the few in government valiantly making an effort to honor the great hero, top officials appear indifferent to the need—the opportunity!—to draw inspiration from the towering example of Jacinto.
Over a century ago, Jacinto gave the Filipino youth today the torch to guide them during dark days of open thievery: “A life that is not spent in the service of a great and noble cause is like a tree without shade, if not a poisonous weed.”
Thus, said Lean Alejandro, “The line of fire is the place of honor” as he fought for social liberation in classrooms and in the streets, animated by the words of Emilio Jacinto who had called on Filipinos to take sides as he wrote over a hundred years ago the one yardstick we must now all live by: “Champion the oppressed and defy the oppressor.”
So, let us roar.
Renato Redentor Constantino
Managing Director, Constantino Foundation
Renato Constantino
Apolinario Mabini
Gloria Capitan
Letizia’s very much around
It’s been nine years since Letizia Roxas Constantino passed away on 27 June 2016. But the memory of her life, and how and why she lived it to the fullest—it’s not only intact; we are determined to ensure it flourishes.
The exhibit, Letizia: A Life In Letters, is just one among many initiatives we have in store. The launch this August of a special hardbound edition of The Philippines: A Past Revisited, to mark the 50th anniversary since the book was published, is another. Renato wrote the book with Letizia, and how and why they did so is explained in a new introduction that comes with the book, along with a host of other lovely features.
When someone is called a writer, we tend to think of a novelist, a poet, or a journalist. Indeed, over so many decades Letizia wrote and edited countless books and analytical articles for newspapers and magazines. But it was letters to family, friends, and self, that she wrote most, in the she preferred: with brevity, clarity, and grace.
Letizia’s craft, as her friend, the feminist scholar Inday Ofreneo, described, might be called feminine writing, something all of us can learn, re-learn, and integrate in our lives. Especially men.
Julio Nakpil
We remember today Julio Nakpil, born on 22 May 1897. He was a composer and, as a general in the Philippine Revolution, belongs to the pantheon of giants of the Filipino nation. Nakpil adopted the clandestine name J. Giliw. He led a full and meaningful life serving his people. His letter, dated 28 September 1897, is most interesting. Nakpil wrote the letter as the head of the revolutionary movement’s High Council to raise funds for the Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan four months after assassins carried out the order of Emilio Aguinaldo to execute Andres Bonifacio. According to the historian Jim Richardson, “Nothing in Nakpil’s letter alludes to the ‘Republica Filipina’ of which Aguinaldo had been elected president at the Tejeros convention in March.” Just as interesting, Nakpil was writing from Sta. Ana, which, said RIchardson, was “even closer to the seat of Spanish power” compared to late 1896 when the Sanggunian was based in Pasig. Even more interesting, one might expect the recipient of Nakpil’s fundraising letter to be “a wealthy resident of Sta. Ana, or of another suburb or town nearby.” But the letter’s addressee was Cipriano Ortiz, “the parish priest of Paete, Laguna, a Franciscan friar and, presumably, a Spaniard.” *
Julio Nakpil would eventually marry the Katipunan’s Lakambini, Gregoria de Jesus, the wife of Andres Bonifacio. They had eight children. (Two died in their infancy.) Nakpil would write in his memoirs about Aguinaldo’s orders to assassinate not just Bonifacio but also Gen. Antonio Luna.
Readers are encouraged to listen to Nakpil’s compositions, which are available on Spotify and Apple Music. Just type “Julio Nakpil” and look for his albums. According to BahayNakpil.org, “Several of Nakpil’s compositions were inspired by the revolutionaries’ struggle to regain freedom for the country. An admirer of Jose Rizal . . .” Nakpil wrote Pahimakas (1897), “a funeral march commemorating Rizal’s execution” while the piece Pasig Pantayanin (1898), he dedicated to the revolutionary forces.” Nakpil also wrote Pamitinan (1897), a song for revolutionaries “who went into hiding because of persecution.” Nakpil enlarged his Himno Nacional later into a grand march “to be played at the Rizal Monument, and changed its name to Salve Patria (1896).” Nakpil died on November 2 1960.
(Main image of the hero is from BahayNakpil.org and the poster art and layout is by Rica Dominguez)
Remedios “Kumander Liwayway” Gomez-Paraiso
With thanks again to the artist, Johnny Guarin, who made the original Alas ng Bayan paintings in the tradition of tarot cards, five aces in all even if there should only be four in any deck. Because women do not have to abide by society’s often men-imposed restrictions.
Karina Constantino David
Nina to friends and family, and to her parents Renato and Letizia who together established the Constantino Foundation, Karina Constantino-David passed away on 7 May 2019. She is sorely missed. #aPastRevisited #InangLaya #ConstantinoFoundation
RC Constantino
In remembrance of nationalist, activist, much loved husband, father, and friend, RC Constantino, who passed away a year ago on this day. He is badly missed. #RCrevisited
Karina David
Today, March 19, would have been the 79th birthday of feminist, composer, and former head of the country’s Civil Service Commission Karina Constantino-David. She is sorely missed.
Renato Constantino
#RenatoConstantino wrote this in 1968. Is it still relevant? Today, March 10, is his 106th birth anniversary. #aPastRevisited #RememberBetter
Henry Cabot Lodge
A reminder on this day, 4 February, the 126th anniversary of the Filipino-American War, a badly taught chapter, if it is brought up at all, in Philippine (and U.S.) history. The U.S. is no longer our enemy. But neither is it our friend. #TheContinuingPast #RememberBetter
Pedro Abad Santos
“The workers must rely on nobody but themselves!” said Pedro Abad Santos, born 31 January 1876 in San Fernando, Pampanga. We #RememberBetter thanks to Lost Graves, Found Lives, A History and Memoir by Agapito Labalan del Rosario and Rosario Cruz-Lucero. #TheContinuingPast
Andres Bonifacio
Words to ponder from Andres Bonifacio, Supremo and the country’s first president, born 30 November 1863. #aPastRevisited
Love Revisited
On this day in 1943, Renato and Letizia became one. Today, we celebrate the love that paved the way for all of our other loves to flourish: love for family, love for country, love for our people. (Isabel Allende was one of Letizia’s favorite novelists.) #aPastRevisited #LoveRevisited #LoveAlways (21 Nov. 2024)
RC Constantino
Renato Constantino, Jr., activist, warrior, and friend known to many as RC, was born 15 September 1944. His love of country, integrity, and sense of agency is so badly missed. #TheContinuingPast (15 Sept 2024)
Pasts Revisited
True nationalism, as espoused by Renato Constantino who passed away 25 years ago on this day, 15 September 1999. The cover of many of his books, like #aPastRevisited, was designed by his son, RC. (15 Sept. 2024)
Renato Constantino
Today we mark Renato Constantino’s 20th death anniversary with what he wrote in 1971. His words still ring true today. #RenatoConstantino #PastRevisited #ContinuingPast #ConstantinoFoundation #APastRevisited #TheContinuingPast
Isabelo “Kapitan Bikong” del Rosario
Isabelo “Kapitan Bikong” del Rosario was born 8 July 1878, and hanged in 1901 for resisting U.S. forces whose intent he saw early: “Den la sasaup, sasakup la” (They are not here to help us, they are here to conquer us.) Apung Bikong played Danza Habanera de Filipinas on his violin as he walked to the gallows in Mexico, Pampanga. A U.S. soldier tried to grab his instrument but Apung Bikong smashed his violin on the ground, a last act of defiance before he was executed. He was 22, a Katipunero who fought against Spanish rule, and a good friend of the heroes Pedro and Jose Abad Santos. #aPastRevisited #MabuhayKapitanBikong #KnowYourHeroes (From Lost Graves, Found Lives by Agapito Labalan del Rosario and Rosario Cruz-Lucero, Bughaw-QC, 2022; painting by Alvin M. Dunga, 2021)
Karina Constantino-David
Karina Constantino-David passed away on 7 May 2019. She is missed so much. We keep her memory alive by fighting for the change she espoused. #InangLaya
Letizia Roxas Constantino
We commemorate the 104th birth anniversary of one our founders, Letizia Roxas Constantino, with a lovely reminder written in her very own handwriting. #TheContinuingPast
Gregoria “Oriang” de Jesus
Never forget our ancestors. Gregoria “Oriang” de Jesus. Bayani. May 9, 1875 – March 15 1943. Painting by Johnny Guarin. #AlasNgBayan #aPastRevisited #Oriang #Bayani
Emilio Jacinto
The young revolutionary Emilio Jacinto was born on this day 148 years ago. His words, his life still intensely relevant today, as depicted in a magical detail in one of the Constantino Murals where he confers with another great, Lean Alejandro (born July 10, 1960). #aPastRevisited
