BMFI

Even the Omnipotent Took Some Rest
19 October 2007
By Kaka / Normie

God created the heaven and the earth… on the seventh day, he rested.

The whole day of the Sumilao Farmers' 10th day of walk was devoted for rest. They spent most of their time to attend to their personal stuff. They stayed at the Sustainable Agriculture Center in Pagdaulan, Ampayon, Butuan City . They washed their dirty clothes and some even managed to have a reflexology session for them to feel better and be ready for yet another days' journey.

In the afternoon, they decided to have an evaluation and assessment on what had happened during the previous days, what were the challenges faced and will continue to encounter for the rest of their action, prospects available that can be maximized, and others.

As regards the three members of the marchers who were forced to go back to Sumilao, Bukidnon, though there was sadness on their faces, still, it was unanimously felt that it was just a matter of time. In fact, before they started the walk, even during the preparation stage, they found out some farmers who expressed their intention to join and participate in the action, were at the very onset cannot be concluded physically fit to walk for the more than 1,500 kilometers. But the leaders still allowed them, believing that they have the same cause, enough reason to join the walk and represent their loved ones in the struggle of the Sumilao farmers.

During their discussion, they reviewed the reason why they are doing this kind of action. They reminisced that the 1997 28-day hunger strike simultaneously held in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) national office at Quezon City Circle and in Magsaysay Park, Cagayan de Oro City, a peaceful action they learned from their Higaonon ancestors, received solidarity not only at the local level but also from abroad. Numerous civil society groups, media and legal practitioners helped in pressuring the government to have an immediate and favorable resolution of the plight of the MAPALAD farmers. Other government institutions had also expressed their support. In the House of Representatives and other local governments, resolutions were passed supporting the MAPALAD farmers and urging the national government to resolve the farmers' issues.

It was then that former President Fidel V. Ramos came up with a "win-win solution" -- that the disputed 144-hectare landholding was to be divided to both opposing parties, 100 hectares to be given and distributed to the farmers while the remaining 44 hectares to the Quisumbings. The Sumilao farmers were and still are not greedy, though clearly, as the law reveals, that the whole landholding should be given to the farmers, the Ramos solution was still a victory on the part of the farmers. Eventually, the Supreme Court invalidated such solution and reaffirmed Quisumbing’s right to own and possess the land.

There was in a sense an agreement between Quisumbing and the government that the former would develop the land into an agro-industrial and commercial complex within five years. But instead, the land was sold to San Miguel Foods, Inc. (SMFI) and the latter will use the land for the building of a world-class piggery. This was a clear insult to the farmers and to the tribes of the Higaonon…

And to this day, the Sumilao farmers are asserting their rights and now claiming the ownership and possession of the land which in the first place is legally theirs.

Sumilao Farmers meet ABS CBN's The Correspondents
20 October 2007

The following day, the farmers traveled another 31 kilometers from the City of Butuan to the municipality of Tubay. The usual morning rituals were observed and they started to hit the road at exactly 4 a.m. with a high spirit primarily because of the refreshment and rest they had the previous day.

The highlight for the day's journey was when the Sumilao farmers met ABS CBN's The Correspondents. It lifted more the spirits of the marchers because they knew that it was from a national television network and whatever will be the result of their discussion will be aired all over the whole country and thus popularize further the Sumilao farmers’ cause.

There were discussion and question-and-answer between The Correspondent's team and the Sumilao farmers. They comprehensively explained the history of their struggle, some important events took place as regards their plight, the 28-day hunger in 1997, and the reason why they came up with the strategy to walk from Bukidnon to Malacañang.

The Correspondents crew joined some stretch of the march and slept in Jabonga Parish where the marchers spent the night.

The Fellowship Continues

And of course, their journey of almost a thousand miles is easier because of the unwavering support and solidarity from various organizations and support groups. For the past days, the ALTERDEV, a non-government organization based in Butuan City, SAC Butuan, SOFA-AGUSAN, PAKISAMA-AGUSAN, PAFASMA, KAMMPE, GAMACE, KAIBAN-FSUU, LSG-FSUU, St. Ann Parish, AGOFAFED, Tubay Environmentalist Association, MSM, and individuals provided comfort, meals and other forms of assistance to the Sumilao farmers, and for journeying with the marchers in some parts the long walk.

(We are calling all support groups [individuals or organizations] to contribute to the everyday updates of the Sumilao farmers. We might forget some significant events or we might forget to acknowledge/include your organization in some articles, that's why we would like to request, if you have comments or suggestions, please feel free to send those to balaodmindanaw@gmail.com. Thank you very much.)