TODAY WE honor an exemplary scholar and freedom fighter who, as Jose
Maria Sison once said, "consistently placed himself on the progressive
side of issues."
Dean Malay was remarkably conscious of his urgent responsibilities
in a way that was at once confident and modest. he took his time to
listen to 'our time' with struggle and hope.
He started out as a liberal and he showed how a true liberal eventually
becomes suspicious of being liberal. He engaged in the struggle of
ideas, standing for the sharpest and realizing these bear on his own
practice.
Dean Malay played a significant role in the lives of the activists
of the First Quarter Storm. As Dean of Sudents, he gave his unconditional
support to those who committed themselves to the cause of freedom—a
cause that he himself embraced, and with passion, which a few academics
of his time could match.
At a time when activists and civilians are being killed in the name
of 'strategic wars,' we are moved by how Dean Malay fought against
human rights violations in the dark years of the Marcos regime and
psuedo-democratic regimes hence.
In our continuing struggle against an educationak system that remains
to be colonial, commodified and exlusionary, we are grateful for Dean
malay's vision and empowered pedagogy.
And for all that he searched, and fought for, and risked, we are
humbled. Yet, we are also impassioned by what must be heard, thought,
and done.
For his was a voice that sincerely persuaded and never failed.
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