Leandro Alejandro
Encyclopedia
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
.
Lean studied at the University of the Philippines
and was described by his contemporaries as an intellectual rebel. He became a member of the League of Filipino Students and was elected chairperson of the University Student Council
(USC) in 1983-84. He was presiding over the first meeting of the USC in the afternoon of August 21, 1983 at Vinzon's Hall, the day Ninoy Aquino was shot
.
He was also a writer of the Philippine Collegian, where he wrote articles critical of the Marcos
administration. In 1985, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) was established and Alejandro became its secretary-general. Alongside Tañada and the other BAYAN leaders, Alejandro would be at the frontlines of the parliament of the streets during the 1980s.
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 C. Aquino's
sister-in-law
. He lost in his bid amid reports of election irregularities. 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.
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, remix
ed the tune of U.P. Naming Mahal
in a contemporary rock
version and gave it a new and more "nationalistic sounding" lyrics.
Student Leader
A student leader is typically a college student who serves in a leadership position on their campus. The term student leader can also refer to high school students.-Examples:A student leader could be any of the following:* Resident Assistant...
, and a Left-wing nationalist
Left-wing nationalism
Left-wing nationalism describes a form of nationalism officially based upon equality, popular sovereignty, and national self-determination. It has its origins in the Jacobinism of the French Revolution. Left-wing nationalism typically espouses anti-imperialism...
in the mold of Lorenzo Tañada
Lorenzo Tañada
Lorenzo Martinez Tañada was a Filipino politician. Elected to the first Philippine Senate in 1947, he was the longest-serving senator in Philippine history. He served as a Philippine senator for 24 years.-Early life:...
, Jose Diokno
José Diokno
Jose "Pepe" Wright Diokno was a Filipino nationalist. He served as Senator of the Philippines, Secretary of Justice, founding chair of the Commission on Human Rights, and founder of the Free Legal Assistance Group....
, and Ninoy Aquino
Benigno Aquino, Jr.
Benigno Simeon "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. was a Filipino Senator and a former Governor of Tarlac. Aquino, together with Gerry Roxas and Jovito Salonga, formed the leadership of the opposition to the Marcos regime in the years leading to the imposition of martial law in the Philippines...
.
Lean studied at the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
and was described by his contemporaries as an intellectual rebel. He became a member of the League of Filipino Students and was elected chairperson of the University Student Council
UP Diliman University Student Council
The University Student Council of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City is the official student representative body of the Philippines' premiere institution of higher learning. As such, it represents the interests of the students within and outside the University...
(USC) in 1983-84. He was presiding over the first meeting of the USC in the afternoon of August 21, 1983 at Vinzon's Hall, the day Ninoy Aquino was shot
Assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr.
The assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr., former Philippine Senator, took place on Sunday, August 21, 1983, at the tarmac of Manila International Airport...
.
He was also a writer of the Philippine Collegian, where he wrote articles critical of the Marcos
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
administration. In 1985, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) was established and Alejandro became its secretary-general. Alongside Tañada and the other BAYAN leaders, Alejandro would be at the frontlines of the parliament of the streets during the 1980s.
After the People Power Revolution of 1986, Alejandro decided to enter mainstream politics and bring the movement's ideals to Congress
Congress of the Philippines
The Congress of the Philippines is the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines. It is a bicameral body consisting of the Senate , and the House of Representatives although commonly in the Philippines the term congress refers to the latter.The Senate is composed of 24 senators half...
. He ran for the congressional
House of Representatives of the Philippines
The House of Representatives of the Philippines is the lower chamber of the...
seat of the Malabon-Navotas district against Tessie Aquino-Oreta, President
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Corazon C. Aquino's
Corazon Aquino
Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
sister-in-law
Sister-in-law
A sister-in-law is the sister of one's spouse, the wife of one's sibling, or sometimes the wife of one's spouse's sibling...
. He lost in his bid amid reports of election irregularities. 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
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
. 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
Philippine Army
The Philippine Army is the ground arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Tagalog is Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas. On July 23, 2010, President Benigno Aquino III appointed Maj. Gen...
, 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.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
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
of this play, remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed the tune of U.P. Naming Mahal
U.P. Naming Mahal
U.P. Naming Mahal is the university hymn of the University of the Philippines. The melody for the song was written by Nicanor Abelardo, an alumnus and former faculty member of the U.P. College of Music. Abelardo is considered to be one of the Philippines' greatest musicians...
in a contemporary rock
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
version and gave it a new and more "nationalistic sounding" lyrics.
See also
- University of the PhilippinesUniversity of the PhilippinesThe ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
- People Power Revolution
- UP Diliman University Student CouncilUP Diliman University Student CouncilThe University Student Council of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City is the official student representative body of the Philippines' premiere institution of higher learning. As such, it represents the interests of the students within and outside the University...
- U.P. Naming MahalU.P. Naming MahalU.P. Naming Mahal is the university hymn of the University of the Philippines. The melody for the song was written by Nicanor Abelardo, an alumnus and former faculty member of the U.P. College of Music. Abelardo is considered to be one of the Philippines' greatest musicians...