Rest in Power, Ka Dodong.

On the occasion of his passing, Partido Sosyalista pays tribute to Francisco "Ka Dodong" Nemenzo Jr., lifelong socialist activist and academic, who helped lay the foundations for the Filipino progressive movement.

An activist since the 1960s, courageously opposing Martial Law and the dictatorial regime of the late Marcos Sr, Ka Dodong was often on the frontlines of the struggle for a more just society. Since then, he has been instrumental in the formation of socialist organizations and united front initiatives, including Bukluran sa Ikauunlad ng Sosyalistang Isip at Gawa (BISIG) during the late 80s and the first Laban ng Masa during the 2000s. He has also written extensively about Marxism in the Filipino context, implemented a university-wide program which fully integrated important topics of nationalism and critical thinking in the curriculum during his long tenure in the University of the Philippines, as former President and Professor Emeritus of Political Science.

Ka Dodong spent much of his life and final years advocating for the open embrace of socialism and the proliferation of leftist experiments and initiatives. He frequently spoke and wrote about the importance of critically assessing leftist thought and theory, the imperative of the left to chart an independent path, and embracing internationalism and solidarity.

As he wrote in 2012,
"Let every tendency within the Democratic Left pursue the path they deem correct. At this particular, tactical diversity is permissible and should even be encouraged. The issue over tactics cannot be resolved through debate. Only the outcomes of various approaches will decide. History is the ultimate judge. To bind all tendencies to a particular line will needlessly divide the movement. All that is needed now is for leaders of divergent tendencies to hold fraternal dialogues to “compare notes” and assess which line is contributing to the revitalization of the whole movement."

Ka Dodong Nemenzo was a friend and comrade of Partido Sosyalista. He is survived by his family and comrades, including wife of 65 years Ka Ana Maria "Princess" Nemenzo, a member of the party.

In 2022, while supporting the presidential candidacy of Leody de Guzman, he wrote,
"Our primary loyalty should be to the socialist movement, not to our organization. The party brand is of no importance."

In honor of his and other comrades' legacy, Partido Sosyalista remains unfaltering in its pursuit of a socialist vision.