Economist Alejandro Lichauco passes away at 87

Economist and retired University of the Philippines professor Alejandro Lichauco is dead. 

Lichauco died at 3:17 a.m. Friday at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City at age 87, Bulatlat.com reported.

Bulatlat quoted his nephew Lorenzo Lichauco as saying the economist succumbed to multiple organ failure stemming from pneumonia.

Lichauco was a Harvard economics and law graduate, and represented Rizal's first district in the 1971 Constitutional Convention but opposed the final version of the charter.

He served in government, working at the Philippine Chamber of Industries, Congressional Economic Planning Office and what is now the National Economic and Development Administration.

Lichauco's remains are at the Mt. Carmel Shrine in New Manila, Quezon City. His remains will be cremated on Monday morning.

Think tank IBON Foundation described Lichauco as a "staunch anti-imperialist, progressive thinker, not just during the heady anti-colonialism years but throughout the so-called era of globalization until today."

Nationalist


^{Alejandro Lichauco. Photo from Bulatlat.com}

IBON said Lichauco worked with Claro M. Recto in the Nationalist Citizens' Party in the 1950s, and helped formed the Movement for the Advancement of Nationalism (MAN) in the 1960s.

The MAN included Lorenzo M. Tañada, Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison, Jose Lansang, Renato Constantino, and Francisco Nemenzo Jr.

After the 1986 EDSA-1 revolt, Lichauco wrote books and articles pushing nationalist economics to solve poverty and underdevelopment.

He also became a board member of IBON Foundation, and was part of the first batch of the IBON Board from 1982 to 1986.

"From the 1990s until his passing, Mr. Lichauco was consistent in opposing the neoliberal globalization offensive through his writings and sharing of ideas with progressives and activists," it said.

"IBON Foundation is grateful for all of Mr. Lichauco's contributions to the continuing struggle for Philippine sovereignty and national independence, and is proud to have had Mr. Lichauco as a board member. We are deeply saddened by his passing and send our sincerest condolences to his family and colleagues," it added.

Meanwhile, Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Ma. Sison conveyed his condolences to Lichauco's family and friends, saying he had worked closely with him since the early 1960s.

"Exploitation and oppression are ever escalating and must be ended. State terrorism and wars of aggression are ever on the rise and must be stopped. The works of Alejandro Lichauco shed light on the problems that we face and the road that we must traverse in order to achieve full national independence, democracy, economic development, social justice, people’s solidarity and peace," he said. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News