Notes from the Philippine Underground

by Francisco Nemenzo

Francisco “Dodong” Nemenzo was an outstanding critical intellectual of the Philippine Left. On the one hand, nothing disheartened him more than rampant silence, apathy, and servility among the intelligentsia. On the other hand, he also disliked the drama that often came with polemics and preferred to debate on the basis of quiet logic and unadorned facts. More than anything, what lifted up his spirits were principled disagreement, lively intellectual engagement, and the productive driving force of dialectical contradiction. Imbued with a truly scientific attitude, he cultivated the habit of asking uncomfortable political and ideological questions in the face of general conformity. However, beyond the purely intellectual, his personal warmth and openness as a comrade was truly limitless and utterly generous. This collection of essays should give an idea of what he was as an important thinker and passionate fighter for social justice and equality. — Ramon Guillermo (Center for International Studies, University of the Philippines)

***

Deeply personal and political, impassioned and analytical, sweeping and granular, Notes from the Philippine Underground is a collection of iconic essays by one of our country’s most iconic revolutionary intellectuals. Francisco Nemenzo was always clear-eyed, far-sighted, and sanguine in his discussion of the indigenous origins, “growing pains,” crises, and divergent pathways of Philippine Marxism and the Philippine Left; his diagnosis of the Marcos dictatorship and EDSA restoration; and his prognosis regarding the once and future struggle over democracy. Inspiring. — Caroline S. Hau (Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University)

368 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2024

Reviews

[Edwin B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally finished reading this collection of essays written by the late and revered Dodong Nemenzo, published upon his death at the age of 89 in 2024. Dodong is a towering figure in the Marxist movement in the Philippines, a distinguished academic and intellectual, and former President of the University of the Philippines. He was at the center of the struggle for social justice and reform, and a leading contributor and unifying personality towards a vision and strategy for socialism in the Philippines. Dodong, ¡Presente!

[Dean Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is somewhat cheating because I still technically haven’t finished it yet, but, I just want to say that the Luis Taruc chapter is amazing. Go check this book out!