(Transcribed Video tribute University of the Philippines, Dec 29, 2024)
Good evening from Bangkok, comrades, colleagues, and friends.
I deeply regret not being there with you at this memorial for our dear Ka Dodong Nemenzo.
I think there are certain qualities that Dodong had as an activist that many of us he has left behind have really cherished.
One was his unshakeable confidence that socialism was the wave of the future. I do not know if he had inner struggles, especially after the collapse of the Soviet Union, China’s becoming capitalist, and the rise to ideological hegemony of neoliberalism, but he always projected this confidence outwardly. It was a posture from which many of us derived strength. I knew that I did, for I did have my inner struggles and doubts about the direction of history, about the relevance of socialism for humanity’s future. Today, as capitalism, and not only its neoliberal version, lurches from crisis to crisis, and is increasingly devoid of legitimacy, it is clear that Dodong was right, that, to invert Margaret Thatcher’s famous last words, “there is no alternative to democratic socialism.” The future is democratic and socialist—if not red, at least pink. Of that there is no doubt, though, of course, how we get there is another matter.
Another of Dodong’s admirable qualities was his flexibility. He was never doctrinaire about the allies and methods of the struggle. Someone from the elite was not to be dismissed simply because he or she belonged to that class. Similarly, while the military was a ruling class institution, this did not make all soldiers as individuals hopeless from the perspective of being allies of the revolution. Indeed, at times, conditions of political and institutional disarray might make some sectors of the military allies. Related to this was Dodong’s view that a coup should not be dismissed outright as a weapon, especially if it was tied to a popular mobilization. A keen student of Lenin’s tactics during the November Revolution, Dodong taught us that whether or not a method of struggle was valid depended on condition, time, and place. While others contributed to the idea, Dodong was central in the formulation of the concept of a “transitional revolutionary government,” or TRG, a ruling coalition put in place during period of profound crisis of an elite democracy by a progressive alliance that includes rebel soldiers that would set the stage for a revolutionary democratic rule.
A third much admired characteristic of Dodong was his never letting political differences get in the way of a friendship. Of course, there are hopeless reactionaries or fascists, but when it came to most political actors, especially those who share a common goal, his view was that life is too short to maintain permanent enmities. Unfortunately, that is a wisdom that many on the left have not learned or displayed. This is not to say that Dodong’s personal relationships were based on political calculation. He was naturally warm, engaging, and witty. His congeniality was infectious.
When I was convinced by my good friend, Professor Caroline Hau, to write my memoirs, there was no doubt that among the people it would be dedicated to were Dodong and Princess, his lifetime companion and comrade, a leading activist and academic personality in her own right. I believe he was able to read the draft I provided him and Princess a few months ago and had a chance to enjoy its dangerous mix of political adventures, misadventures, and racy revelations, and its cast of villains, clowns, and notable personalities. When I heard his condition was deteriorating in the first week of this month, I wrote to Ateneo de Manila University Press to request if they could possibly provide an advance printed copy, specifically for Dodong. Rica Bolipata Santos, the director of the press, kindly acceded and said they would rush making an advance copy, and they delivered it on Dec 15, four days before he departed. I don’t think he got to see it, much less read it. But I would just like to show you the cover of the advance copy for Dodong and its dedication page.
For
-Princess and Dodong Nemenzo, who’ve never given up on the dream,
-the late Jose Maria Sison, a towering figure despite our differences,
-the late Hugo Chavez, an unforgettable class act against empire,
-and The Lost Generation, who made a difference.
As you can see from the dedication, I have learned from our dear departed friend: life is too short to allow differences to get in the way of respect and reconciliation.
In conclusion, let me extend once more my deepest condolences to Princess, Fidel, Gemma, and the rest of the Nemenzo clan. Thank you for sharing Dodong with us.