FIRST QUARTER STORM NETWORK – U.S.A.

PRESS STATEMENT

December 7, 2007

IN MEMORIAM

Monico Atienza, FQSM Leader

“Rage. Rage against the dying of the light.”

Monico “Ka Togs” Atienza passed away peacefully lastDecember 5, 2007 in the Philippines after a long andarduous struggle to live and serve.

A staunch nationalist and a revolutionary, he leftbehind tons of work that will forever serve as hislegacy to his friends, comrades and his belovedpeople.

He dutifully served as the president of the FirstQuarter Storm Movement (FQSM) when it was organized in2001. During and before this time, from 1986 to 2001,many impostors and fly-by-night leaders like GeneralVictor Corpus, Rolly Kintanar and others tried to usethe FQS legacy for their selfish political ends.

We, participants in the FQS and the founding of ILPS in May 2001 in The Netherlands, decided to form the FQSN in the United States to continue its fine legacy of militant struggle and service to the people.

We were fortunate to coordinate our activities with themain group in the homeland. It was a rare occasion in 2005 that FQS veterans inthe US and Canada got together during an ILPSConference in Vancouver and shared experiences. Many

remembered Monico and his steadfastness in prisons,his works in the academe, his good works in literatureand wished him and others well.

Teaching and writing were his passions. He loved most the Filipino language and as a Batangueño was fired upby the legacy of his fellow Batangueños likeApolinario Mabini, Miguel Malvar, Claro Mayo Recto,Jose Diokno, and, most of all, the poet Jose Corazonde Jesus.

Monico, you will be greatly missed. We pay you ourhighest tribute. Your life devoted to serving thepeople is worth all the gold in the world.

Mabuhay ka!•

First Quarter Storm Network (FQSN) – USA

December 7, 2007