Jalandoni gave up everything, gave everything

It was a pleasant surprise to read in this paper about Luis Jalandoni as a "towering figure in the Philippine communist movement." He passed away on June 7 in The Netherlands at the age of 90.

- TONYO CRUZ

Born to a family of powerful landlords and sugar barons, Jalandoni gave up a comfortable life and his share of land to farmers and farm workers. He opted to join the priesthood. Bishop Antonio Fortich appointed him as the head of the diocesan Social Action Center.

Jalandoni then gave up his priestly vocation to become a full-time activist. He helped organize the Christians for National Liberation, and the National Democratic Front.

With Archbishop Jaime Sin of-ficiating, the former Fr. Louie wed the former Sr. Coni Ledesma (herself coming from a wealthy family) in 1974, formalizing a lifelong partnership marked by dedication to the preferential option for the poor and, yes, to a revolutionary cause.

Perhaps their most challenging assignment was to physically leave the country and people they have sworn to serve. Jalandoni and Ledesma would establish by the late 1970s the NDF international office in Europe to gather moral, political and proto-diplomatic support for the anti-dictatorship resistance and the revolution.

Jalandoni would be appointed as member and later chair of the NDF negotiating panel in peace talks with the Philippine government under Presidents Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Gloria Arroyo, Noynoy Aquino and Rodrigo Duterte.