FFPS: Long live Ka Louie Jalandoni, hero of the Filipino fighting masses and the peoples of the world!
We hereby share a statement published by Friends of the Filipino People in Struggle (FFPS) on occasion of the passing of Ka Louie Jalandoni.
Friends of the Filipino People in Struggle (FFPS) extends its highest salute to Ka Louie Jalandoni — a man of peace, a steadfast revolutionary and a true internationalist. FFPS offers its condolences to his family, friends, the Philippine revolutionary movement, and the Filipino people, and joins them in mourning, while also taking inspiration from his extraordinary life to further advance our support for the Filipino people.
Throughout his life Louie has been many things. He first became politicized when, as a catholic priest, he lived among sugar workers on the island of Negros and learned of the deep poverty and hardship the workers lived in. His compassion for the oppressed and exploited led him to join the workers in their struggles against the local warlord, at great personal risk.
Louie further engaged himself with the struggles of the Filipino people amidst rising fascist repression under Martial Law in the 70s. He played a key role in founding the Christians for National Liberation (CNL), one of the founding allied organizations of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), and joined the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
In 1976, Louie went abroad together with his revolutionary wife Ka Coni to lead international relations work for the party and to expose the Marcos Sr. dictatorship’s brutal crimes in the midst of Martial Law. Ka Coni and Ka Louie worked closely together to build international solidarity through many challenges, and Ka Coni has carried on the work they began together.
Ka Louie’s contributions in the international work of the revolutionary movement in his almost 50 years abroad are invaluable. He played a vital role in establishing the NDFP’s international headquarters and as International Representative of the NDFP. As chief negotiator of the NDFP in peace talks with the reactionary government he always stayed true to the Filipino people’s demand for a just and lasting peace.
We in FFPS are especially grateful to Ka Louie for the guidance, advice and inspiration he has given us over the years. True to his humble and kind nature, he gladly made time and effort to join our events and member gatherings on many occasions, sharing his experiences and boundless insights about the Philippine revolution and the role of international solidarity amongst the peoples of the world. He greatly inspired us as the keynote speaker at our founding assembly and always expressed his appreciation for our growing efforts of solidarity with the struggles in the Philippines, especially from the youth. In the selfless and revolutionary spirit of Ka Louie, we will continue to expand and strengthen our solidarity work with the struggles of the Filipino people until a just and lasting peace in the Philippines is won!
Long live the selfless revolutionary spirit of Ka Louie!
Long live the NDFP!
Long live the fighting Filipino masses!
We invite organizations and individuals around the world to honor Ka Louie’s revolutionary life and legacy. Please also send us your solidarity statements, tributes, and commemorations as we continue to celebrate his contributions to the Filipino people’s struggle and the anti-imperialist struggle of the peoples of the world. Email us at contact@ffps.info
