Leandro Alejandro
| Leandro Legara Alejandro | |
|---|---|
 Lean Alejandro (standing with a microphone) during a students' protest against Marcos | |
| Born |
July 10, 1960 Navotas, Metro Manila, Philippines[1] |
| Died |
September 19, 1987 (aged 27) Manila, Philippines |
| Other names | Lean Alejandro |
| Alma mater | University of the Philippines |
| Organization |
Colegium Liberium Philippine Collegian Anti-Imperialist Youth Committee Youth for Nationalism and Democracy UP Diliman University Student Council Center for Nationalist Studies People's MIND Justice for Aquino, Justice for All Nationalist Alliance for Justice, Freedom and Democracy BAYAN Communist Party of the Philippines |
| Movement | People Power Revolution |
| Spouse(s) | Lidy Nacpil-Alejandro |
Leandro Legara Alejandro (July 10, 1960 – September 19, 1987), known among activists and street parliamentarians as Lean, was an activist, a student leader, and a Left-wing nationalist in the mold of Lorenzo Tañada, Jose Diokno, and Ninoy Aquino.
Education
Lean studied at the University of the Philippines at first as a Chemistry major. He later shifted to Philippines Studies. He was a member of Collegium Liberium.
Activism
On his first year at the University of the Philippines, Diliman campus he joined the Colegium Liberum (CL). He was also a feature writer of the Philippine Collegian, where he wrote articles critical of the Marcos administration. He was described by his contemporaries as an intellectual rebel. He played a key role in the formations of different nationalist organizations. From the formation of the Anti-Imerialist Youth Committee (AIYC), then as the founding Chairperson of a national youth and student umbrella organization, Youth for Nationalism and Democracy (YND) founded in August 17, 1980. He was elected chairperson of UP College of Arts & Science Student Council in 1982-83 then University Student Council (USC) in 1983-84. The establishment of the Center for Nationalist Studies (CNS) 1983.
He also played a key role in the formations of broad multi-sectoral organizations during Marcos Martial Law time. PAPA during the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1981. People's MIND in 1982 against the fraudulent Marcos national referendum. The formation of Justice for Aquino, Justice for All (JAJA) 1983 after Sen. Benigno Aquino was assassinated on his return to the Philippines. Nationalist Alliance for Justice, Freedom and Democracy (NAJFD) 1984. In 1985, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) was established and Alejandro became its secretary-general. Alongside Ka Bert Olalia, Lando Olalia, Crispin Beltran, Ka Pepe Diokno, Sen. Lorenzo Tañada and the other prominent Filipino nationalist leaders, Alejandro would be at the frontlines of the parliament of the streets during the 1980s.
1987 Elections
After the People Power Revolution of 1986, Alejandro decided to enter mainstream politics and bring the movement's ideals to Congress. He ran for the congressional seat of the Malabon-Navotas district against Tessie Aquino-Oreta, President Corazon Aquino's sister-in-law. He lost in his bid amid reports of election irregularities.
Assassination
On September 19, 1987, after the failed coup attempt led by Col. Gregorio Honasan, Alejandro announced plans for a major demonstration against the return to fascism. Returning by car to the headquarters of BAYAN, he was fired upon by a gunman, instantly killing Alejandro. One suspected that the assassination had been in the angle of Marcos loyalists from the Philippine Army, but no one was arrested for the assassination.
Legacy
The Leandro L. Alejandro Foundation (LLAF) was founded after the murder in 1987, stimulating the peace process under president Fidel Ramos. Organized in the early nineties as a peace network, Alejandro's widow Lidy Nacpil-Alejandro played an important role.[2]
In 1997, A musical play entitled "Lean" was held to commemorate the 10th year since Alejandro's assassination. In this play, Gary Granada, the one who made the libretto of this play, remixed the tune of U.P. Naming Mahal in a contemporary rock version and gave it a new and more "nationalistic sounding" lyrics.
See also
- University of the Philippines
- People Power Revolution
- UP Diliman University Student Council
- U.P. Naming Mahal
References
- ↑ "Mayor Joseph Victor Ejercito". City of San Juan. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
- ↑ "Leandro L. Alejandro Foundation Archives". International Institute of Social History. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
External links
- "Lean: A Filipino Musical"
- 04.UP Naming Mahal from "Lean: A Filipino Musical"
- The Killing of Lean Alejandro (9/19/1987)
- Leandro L. Alejandro Foundation at International Institute of Social History
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