Jose Luis Albert “Luis” “Albert” Nelle Camus Jr.
July 6, 1962 – December 24, 2020
“Sa isang bayang namumulat at lumalaban sa pang-aapi, lahat ng mamamayan ay itinuturing na potensyal na kaaway ng naghaharing uri.”
— Sipi mula sa isang artikulo ni Luis N. Camus Jr. sa Philippine Collegian, “Pag-aabuso ng militar sa kanayunan: Sa loob at labas ng bayan kong sawi”, Disyembre 13, 1979
Luis, or Albert to some in his class, attended grade school at La Salle Greenhills and then studied at the PSHS from 1974 to 1978.
Luis was a prolific poet and writer. That was how he started out in the movement. During his senior year in high school, he was the literary editor of The Science Scholar-Ang Lagablab, while concurrently serving as the editor-in-chief of Dalumat, PSHS’s Filipino literary magazine. His other literary involvements were with the Science Journal and Errata, both as features editor from 1977 to 1978.
Outside the campus, his leadership skills were demonstrated through the Children’s Library and Museum Incorporated (CMLI), a nationally distinguished academic organization promoting excellence in extemporaneous speaking, essay writing, and news writing. There, Luis held various key positions and garnered prestigious awards from 1976 to 1978.
It was in college that Luis became politically active. He was active with the Philippine Collegian, becoming a feature writer from 1979 to 1980, during the year Diwata Reyes was its editor-in-chief. This period was right smack into the resurgence of political activism, and the University of the Philippines was a national frontrunner in the move to re-establish university student councils – the key campus organizations abolished under Martial Law.
This was also the feverish period sparked by national student protests against the Education Act of 1980, which was unprecedented since the declaration of Martial Law.
He was an icon for a lot of students, especially as he was articulate and wrote well both in English and Filipino. With his charming mestizo looks and intellect, he soon became an admired campus figure. He spoke at rallies and was good friends with Lean Alejandro and other similar personas on campus.
A lot of students were under surveillance then. Luis was served an ASSO (Arrest, Search and Seizure Order). He disappeared from the scene in 1981 when he was kept at home by his family after he was detained for several days at Camp Crame. The military agreed for him to serve his ASSO at home.
He did not communicate with anybody for more than three months during his house arrest. A friend close to him, along with other comrades, planned to help him break out of his own home. However, in one secret phone call, Luis offered a short and cryptic message, discouraging them from “rescuing” him.
Luis agreed to leave the country because “the powers that were” threatened to hurt the ones he loved, departing for the US in 1981. The country may have well lost a potential leader who was highly committed to a cause he espoused. Plenty lost a comrade and a precious friend.
In late 1999, at the young age of 38, Luis died of a rare type of cancer called spindle cell carcinoma, one of 14 cases worldwide at that time. His ashes were flown back to the Philippines for inurnment shortly after.
At the time of his death, he was the youngest editor of PCWorld, an esteemed US-based tech magazine. There, he was much revered by colleagues who knew him, near or far. He was truly a genius at whatever he did, and compassionate with whoever he may be. He was a special person with a good heart. He was both funny and serious. He truly cared about the people and always wanted to make a difference in their lives. He was committed to the various causes that he took up, and touched the lives of so many in the short time he had.
On September 1, 2012, on the day Philippine Science pays tribute to its Martial Law martyrs and heroes, Luis would have turned 51.
— As written by Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Batch 1978
Hindi para sa iyo ang Paskong ito, Eddie Boy
Luis N. Camus Jr.
Hindi para sa iyo ang Paskong ito, Eddie Boy
ang kalamigan ng hanging Disyembreng
tumatalilis sa reta-retasong kurtinang
na barong-barong niyang dalawandipa
ay patuloy na nagpapaginaw sa mga kalansay
ng apat’napung milyong mamamayang
namumuhay sa ilalim ng dagim na langit
di kayang palabnawin ng isang hungkay na kapaskuhan.
Hindi para sa iyo ang Paskong ito, Eddie Boy
Sa kabila ng ilang regalo ng proyektong pinagkaunlaran
na nakabalot sa laso ng mga ng mga sementadong daan
nariyan pa rin ang mga purok ng mga iskwater at maralita
lungga ng dagang tao pilit na pinagtatagpo
sa likod ng silaw ng dagitab
at kintab ng maskara ng siyudad.
Hindi para sa iyo ang Paskong ito, Eddie Boy
Niyebe man ang ipadala mula sa korporasyong dambuhala
ay hindi pa rin makakadilig sa lupang tigang sa bunga.
Pawis at dugo lamang
Ng magsasaka’t manggagawa ng bayan
ang tunay na makalikha sa isang Paskong
dapat ikasiya ng iyong pamilya.
Hindi para sa iyo ang Paskong ito, Eddie Boy
Walang inialay na Pasko
sa higit apat na raang paskong nagdaan
wala pang inialay sa iyo
o sa apat na milyong Pilipinong
kaakbay mo sa landas ng paghihikahos.
Hayaan na lang magsilang tayo ng sanggol
ang paslit ng pakikibakang siyang mesiyas
sa darating na pagbuhos ng dugo.
Historical timeline and milestones
- Literary editor of The Science Scholar-Ang Lagablab
- Editor-in-chief of Dalumat, Filipino literary magazine, Philippine Science High School
- 1976-1978: Various positions, Children’s Library and Museum Incorporated (CMLI)
- 1977-1978:
- Features Editor, Science Journal
- Features Editor, Errata
- Editorial Staff, Philippine Collegian
- Managing Editor, PCWorld (USA)
As remembered by family and friends
“Albert lived by his values and principles. As a teen, he was working in the underground fighting against the Marcos dictatorship. He paid a high price. He was exiled away from his family to the United States. He had many accomplishments, including graduating at the top of his class in high school at 13. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of San Francisco. He won a writing contest at 17 for a Master’s scholarship in Creative Writing at Stanford University and held national power-lifting titles in the Philippines. He was a pioneer and early expert in desktop publishing and was the youngest managing editor of the biggest computer magazine, PCWorld. Albert didn’t want to be remembered for his accomplishments. He wanted to be remembered for his treatment of people with dignity, respect, and love. He was an inspiration. He had so much to give to the world. — Martha, Luis’ wife (An excerpt from My Hero, My Son by Letty Jacinto Lopez, published in the Philippine Star on February 12, 2002)
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“Luis Camus’s sharp intellect was matched by his deep love for the dispossessed and his commitment to their deliverance.” — Boyette San Diego, Luis’ co-writer at the Philippine Collegian
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In Memoriam: Luis Camus
Remembering a behind-the-scenes giant at PCWorld
January 20, 2000
“Unless you’re a connoisseur of mastheads, you’ve probably never seen the name Luis Camus. His work as PCWorld’s managing editor mostly took place behind the scenes. For once, we’d like to give Luis public recognition commensurate with his importance to this magazine, and to all of us. Luis lost his battle with cancer a few days before the turn of the millennium. He was only 38.
As Luis’s colleagues and friends, we at PCWorld grieve along with Marty Maxwell, Luis’ loving wife, knowing that her loss is even greater than our own.
Managing editors have tough jobs and are often tough to deal with. Come what may, issue after issue, managing editors must get the magazine out the door on time. High pressure–both feeling it and applying it–come with the territory. As a barrel-chested, former power-lifting champion, Luis could have used his imposing physical presence to intimidate laggards. He chose to do just the opposite. Luis’s gentle, buoyant spirit drove the editorial process better than any taskmaster ever could. He didn’t have to make people do things because, once they knew Luis, they couldn’t help wanting to do things for him. Luis inspired this feeling throughout his years at PCWorld.” — Phil Lemmons, Editorial Director
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