Nick Atienza has died

Just  few minutes ago, I received a text message bearing terrible news: the legendary activist, professor and leader Monico “Nick” Atienza has passed away.

Atienza was in comatose since Dec. 23, 2006 until his death today.

Who is this person loved and admired by many? Find out from this Bulatlat story by Alex.

His colleagues sent out a letter this year that sought financial contributions for Atienza’s continued medical care. Part of it reads as follows:

Atienza was the president of the First Quarter Storm (FQS) Movement, an organization of activists in the 1960s and 1970s. In various ways, he has continuously helped and inspired activists of people’s organizations and institutions, especially the youth and students.

As a political prisoner during martial law, Monico was heavily tortured and held in solitary confinement. Government intelligence claimed that he was a ranking member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines and head of its National Organization Department when he was arrested in 1974. Released in 1977, he went back to the university.

As secretary-general of the militant Kabataang Makabayan (Patriotic Youth) in the late 1960s, he was among the indefatigable architects of the youth and student activism that eventually expanded to help establish today’s formidable progressive mass movement in the Philippines.

In 1987, he survived an assassination attempt by a death squad of the Philippine military which claimed the lives of two colleagues. Monico’s health, already deteriorated by the torture in 1974, all the more worsened with the injuries he sustained in the incident. A shrapnel remains imbedded in his head and a leg wound would not heal to this day.

Photo courtesy of the FQS Movement.