BMFI

Day 13 update
The Miracle of 5 Loaves and 2 Fishes
22 October 2007

When we were young, we learned numerous miracles performed by God – among those were water turned into wine, blind man made to see, stone turned into bread, the leper was healed, and of course the miracle of the five loaves and two fishes where more than 5,000 people gathered to hear the word of God. During that time, the people were hungry but did not bring food with them. A boy came in front and said that he has five loaves and two fishes. The Lord multiplied the loaves and fishes and everyone was fed. Then when everyone was full, there were 12 baskets full of loaves and fishes left.

The story briefly narrated above may be related to the experience of the Sumilao farmers on their 13th day of walk, 22 October 2007. They journeyed two provinces, Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte, passing the municipalities of Tubod, Kitcharao and Alegria with a total walk of 33 kilometers.

One of the reasons why the Sumilao farmers gathered and decided to stage the long march was the decision of the Office of the President (OP) denying them their right over the 144-hectare land. The OP, in its decision dated 3 October 2007 and received by the farmers on 10 October 2007 (the very first day of the 60-day walk), said that the Sumilao farmers are not the real parties in interest in the petition for cancellation and/or revocation of the conversion order. The Sumilao farmers, though did not undertake the formal four-year training in law school, clearly understand the law. They assert, without any doubt, that they are the real parties in the case. The present petition is an original and distinct case, not arising out of the previous case (Fortich vs. Corona) though pertaining to the same land.

As the legal battle is given attention by the lawyers of the Sumilao farmers, the farmers are negotiating provinces, municipalities and barangays from Bukidnon to Manila. Obviously, for a two-month walk, they would be needing enough strength to reach their target destination. One of the sources of that strength is enough food. The Sumilao farmers started their action with very limited resources. They rely on donations and support from different like-minded groups and sympathetic individuals. And for the past 12 days, they survived.

On their 13th day, the Sumilao Farmers passed hundreds of by-standers and residents of different barangays in the three municipalities they traversed. Their journey for this day is quite more difficult compared to the previous days. Some parts of the road they negotiated were steep, and there was rain. On their way to Brgy. Alipi for their lunch, two resident farmers in Brgy. Canaway approached some of the Sumilao farmers and each handed a kilo of rice – a small and humble contribution to the cause of the marchers…

But how can the two kilos of rice suffice and fill the stomach of 51 marchers and a number of support groups? Just like in the miracle of the five loaves and two fishes, when the farmers reached Brgy. Alipi and had their lunch, they feasted with enough rice, complete with litson paksiw, tinolang isda and ginamos. Of course this was not a miracle, but this was the wonder and power of the words spoken by one of the Sumilao farmers – "Every step we take will bring the message of peace, equity and solidarity!"

The Fellowship Never Stops

Yet other members and additions to the Fellowship of the 144-hectare landholding in Sumilao, Bukidnon are St. Peter and Paul Parish and their catechists, especially those who prepared and served the meals of the marchers, Tina Albiso and Natividad Basil; Fr. Martinee Lagao of MST Congregation in Camiguin; Marga Farmer Irrigator Association; and those anonymous by-standers and residents who were shouting "Sulunga ang Malacañang!" (March to Malacañang!).

Of course ALTERDEV and PAKISAMA were with the marchers even from the start. But this day, the latter group's leader, Soc Banzuela, joined the march. The Fellowship never stops, in fact, the counting continues…

(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.)