Lorenzo M. Tañada: Filipino hero and nationalist

There was a time when the Philippine Senate was a pantheon of intellectual and political giants – Manuel L. Quezon, Jose P. Laurel, Claro M. Recto, Jose W. Diokno, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino and definitely, Lorenzo M. Tañada. That was the time the Philippines was the showcase of democracy in the whole of Asia. 

Tañada was born in Gumaca, Quezon on  Aug. 10, 1898. Last week was his 120th birth anniversary. He first made himself as the foremost graftbuster in Philippine politics. He was chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon when the committee was still known for its unblemished reputation; and, its chairman was considered the icon of integrity. He ultimately became the foremost nationalist in this country.

The term “blue ribbon” is a symbol of high quality from the “Blue Riband,” a prize awarded for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by passenger liners and prior to that from Cordon Bleu, which referred to the blue ribbon by a particular order of knights.

Once the most powerful committee in Congress, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has fallen far from its pedestal during the Tañada era.

Tañada was also known for his religiosity. It is said that all his dealings were guided by the philosophy ingrained in him by his mother “...fear of God is the start of wisdom.” He spent his early and formative years in De La Salle, Manila where he finished his elementary and high school education. During those early years, he already showed signs of activism and nationalism.

As an elementary student, he joined a protest against his school’s principal who had ordered his students to stay during the weekends to build a playground which prevented them from going home to their parents. Tañada once reminisced that practically all the older students were sons of foreigners or mestizos. Only two of his classmates were brown skinned. He then decided to form an all-Filipino trio to participate in the school’s sports activities. He said: “I believe that started my obsession with nationalism.”

There is an article in the book 100 The Future Begins Here which was published to celebrate the 100th anniversary of De La Salle in the Philippines. It features the most outstanding graduates of La Salle. Here is what was included about Tañada:

“During the launching of the Lorenzo M. Tañada CHIMES in 2001, then Rep.Wigberto Tañada described his father as one who belonged to a rare species of politicians who were also statesmen, having served 42 years in public office, the longest as a  four-term Senator from 1947-1971 who fought against incompetence, abuse, and what he termed “...the scandalous neglect of the national welfare  by politicians who made use of the positions entrusted to them for self-aggrandizement.”  Rep. Tañada further said: “The drawn guns of martial law could not cut short his devotion to duty to country and people. He was 70 when he took up the dangerous cause of civil liberties and freedom, serving as a human rights lawyer for some of the most famous political prisoners of that era like Ninoy Aquino and Jose Diokno.” 

“If there is one principle that enabled my father to live with himself, it is the principle of nationalist service. It was the virtue and work ethic that sustained his unblemished record in public office. And if there is one institution that he owes his strong moral foundations to, it is his old school, De La Salle. It is his alma mater.”

“My father has always proudly ascribed his Christian philosophy and outlook to De La Salle, where he finished high school in 1918 . It is his alma mater that helped mold the virtues that were to define his life.

“He is with us today in spirit with the establishment of the CHIMES award in his singular honour. This award is based on the very ideals that were fostered in him and which embody what DLSU truly stands for – the Common Good, Honesty, Integrity, Meritocracy, Excellence and Service.”

Together with Claro M. Recto, Tañada became one of the most prominent advocates of Philippine nationalism. He once wrote: “Nationalism is the primal virtue of the citizen, that virtue which prompts him to place the common good of his people above private and personal good, above the interest of his party, that virtue that makes him willing, nay, glad to sacrifice himself that the nation may live.”

Columnist Conrad de Quiros once wrote: “You want to know the twists and turns of Philippine nationalism since 1898, all you have to is look at the life of Lorenzo  Tañada. The man did not only have a long life, he lived a full life, one immediately woven into the life of his country. Each time the story is told of his country’s struggle to be free, you’ll find Ka Tanny’s life stretched across it like a running commentary.”

Bobby Tañada once said that one of his father’s favorite poems  was Enemy of the Sun written by the Palestinian poet Samith al-Qasim. I looked up that poem and it has also become one of my favorite poems. It is so descriptive of Tanada’s indomitable spirit and love of his people. Here is an excerpt from the poem:

I may if you wish lose my livelihood, I may sell my shirt and bed

I may work as a stone cutter, A street sweeper, a porter

I may clean your stores, Or rummage your garbage for food

I may lay down hungry, O enemy of the sun, But, I shall not compromise

And to the last pulse in my veins, I shall resist.

Let us pray that the Filipino people  may yet find another Lorenzo M. Tañada

Tañada website

If anyone wants to know more about Tañada, one of the best sources is the website Lorenzo M. Tañada: A Centennial Birthday Tribute to a Filipino Hero: 1896-1998, a cd-rom, a joint project between De La Salle University and Information Imagine Inc. and redeveloped by Star Canada. 

Creative writing classes for kids and teens

Young Writers’ Hangout on Aug. 18, Sept. 1 and 15 (1:30 pm-3 pm; stand-alone sessions) at Fully Booked BGC.  For details and registration contact 0945-2273216 or [email protected].

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