“How now do we, once-upon-a-time FQS activists, measure in the lifetime challenge of nurturing the FQS fire to always keep it burning? And how do we pass it on burning even brighter to the youth of today and the younger generations?” so wrote Benedicto Solang in his book Dap-ay Discourse Uno: Activist Perspective of Cordillera History and Social Change.
FQS activist, Benedicto Solang died suddenly on January 26, 2018, while attending a conference at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City. His sudden death occurred on the 48th anniversary of the historic First Quarter Storm.
Benedict Solang, an Elder in the Advisosry Council of the Cordillera People’s Alliance was an activist for genuine people’s development and indigenous people’s rights, for national democracy and socialism, and a world without discrimination.
He was an AB Graduate of Anthropology and Masters in Environmental Planning at UP Diliman.
Today, the Filipino youth are called to nurture the FQS fire to always keep it burning and keep it burning even brighter, as Ka Ben Solang so eloquently states in his book, Dap-ay Discourse Uno.
As an activist for genuine people’s development and indigenous people’s rights, his expertise would definitely have served the program for social and economic reforms of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. The NDFP Draft for the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER) is about to be publicly launched on February 8, 2018. The contribution of Ka Ben Solang would have been most relevant.
As an activist for national democracy and socialism, his commitment and talents have served the Filipino people’s struggle for genuine democracy and independence. His striving for a world without discrimination has contributed to the people’s struggle for a just and lasting peace.
The NDFP mourns Ka Benedict Solang’s sudden death. We convey our heartfelt condolences to his family, relatives, kasama, fellow FQS activists, and the Cordillera people.
Long live the inspiring legacy of FQS activist Ka Ben Solang!
Long live the People’s Democratic Revolution!
Luis G. Jalandoni
Member, National Executive Committee
National Democratic Front of the Philippnes
