LEAN ALEJANDRO: ‘His death would not be in vain, the movement would redeem his sacrifice’
By Antoinette R. Raquiza, InterAksyon.com
September 30, 2012

It is a pleasure to be with old friends and was a real pleasure to read through many of the essays that the Foundation has compiled for the anthology. A few of the tributes were written fairly recently—but the vast majority of the 36 short pieces were written almost 25 years ago, when some of Lean’s good friends, still mourning his death, were moved to set pen to paper and commemorate their fallen comrade.

The anthology, which we hope to publish next year, is a long overdue synthesis of such works. Many were published in newspapers now defunct; almost all, therefore, surely fated to be lost had they not been tucked away, and safeguarded for years. It is appropriate that these writings be preserved in a book, in the same way that Lidy and some of Lean’s closest friends and colleagues thought it was appropriate, all those years ago, to establish a foundation in Lean’s name, dedicated to preserving his memory, advancing his work, and cherishing the flame of freedom and justice that he tried to keep lit.

But this collection will be more than a commemoration. It will also be a bit of a time capsule, memorializing the thoughts and predications of so many young activists, so long ago. Who were the people who wrote down these tributes and what was the relationship between their lives, Lean’s and the time they lived in? I thought it would be appropriate to reflect on these matters as a way of introducing this book project—and a good way to begin is by recalling where we stood at the time when Lean was gunned down and assessing where we now stand.

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