A Tribute to Lorenzo Tañada, ‘Street Parliamentarian,’ Freedom Fighter

(The following is the message prepared by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in commemoration of the 110th birth anniversary today of Lorenzo Tañada, the founding chairman of the group and considered the “Grand Old Man” of Philippine Politics.)

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) joins the Tañada family and freedom-fighters nationwide in celebrating Ka Tanny’s 110th birth anniversary.

We celebrate Ka Tanny’s life by sharing with the Filipino people, especially the youth, the legacy of Bayan’s founding chair, and our Great Grand Old Man of Philippine Politics.

Ka Tanny earned the distinction of being the longest-serving senator in Philippine history. From 1947, he served as a member of the Senate for 24 years. But more importantly, it was outside the halls of the Senate that he gained distinction as one of the greatest leading and uniting figure in the “parliament of the streets.”

Ka Tanny’s name became synonymous with Freedom, Justice and Democracy as he stood at the forefront of the struggle against widespread poverty and inequality, corruption and tyranny, from the period he founded the Movement for the Advancement of Nationalism (MAN) up to the height of the anti-dictatorship struggle. Ka Tanny became one of the greatest enemies of the US-backed Marcos dictatorship. He organized the Anti-Bases Coalition and other groups that rallied public opposition to the presence of US troops in the Philippines.

In 1983, after Ninoy Aquino’s assassination, Ka Tanny became a leading personality of JAJA (Justice for Aquino, Justice for All). Earlier, he was also a leading figure in the formation of the People’s Movement for Independence, Nationalism and Democracy and the National Coalition for the Protection of Workers’ Rights.

When Ka Bert Olalia, Ka Crispin Beltran and other militant labor leaders were arrested, Ka Tanny was a loud voice in condemning the brutal attacks on trade unions. He was the first ever politician allowed to speak before a big demonstration of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU).

A year before the founding assembly of Bayan, he also led the formation of NAJFD (Nationalist Alliance for Justice, Freedom and Democracy). In 1985, the historic founding of Bayan, Ka Tanny became our founding Chairman.

Ka Tanny attended meetings and preparations of Bayan for the huge rallies that were often met with fascist force. As he arrives in a wheelchair pushed by Bayan secretary general Lean Alejandro, he would always be welcomed with warm smiles and applause. Ka Tanny would listen intently to the planning sessions and then he would lean forward and comment on the formations and conduct of the mobilizations. With Ka Tanny at the front line, there was always a feeling of assurance among the rallyists that even though the rally would be dispersed, there would be a Ka Tanny who would raise his mighty voice against such violence.

In spite of his advanced years, Ka Tanny is best remembered by Bayan as the distinguished parliamentarian who was at home in the streets.

Ka Tanny led Bayan Cental Luzon (CL) and Bayan national leaders and forces in the renowned Welgang Bayan against Marcos’ plan to build a nuclear plant in Bataan. Bayan and its allied organizations conducted several waves of campaigns to enlighten and rally the public against the nuclear plant. When Bayan CL decided to call for a welgang bayan, Ka Tanny went to Pampanga and there, despite being in his wheel chair, together with all the Bayan forces, stood in the middle of the street to protest. That day, no vehicles could be seen plying in the busy streets of Pampanga because everybody heeded the call for a massive strike.