BMFI

Nov. 25 update:
196 Kilometers Left to Manila

On 23 November 2007, the Sumilao farmers left Sta. Elena at 4 a.m. With an update coming from PAGASA Weather Bureau that Super Typhoon Mina will hit Quezon province, they decided to walk until they reach Gumaca, Quezon. They were supposed to walk until Lopez, Quezon but they have to avoid the chances of being stranded in flooded venues because of the typhoon. The original 32 kilometers for the day turned out to be 52 kilometers. They walked what would have been a two-day march by not stopping in Calauag and Lopez Quezon. In these municipalities, the facilities are not equipped for possible problems like heavy rains and flood. Signal number 2 is up in Quezon province and is expected to raise to signal number 3 by 7 p.m. They walked at a steady yet faster pace – they call this double step. This was not the first time they did this. In some stretch of their Mindanaw, Visayas and Bicol legs, they too had their double step march, to avoid getting caught in bad weather, and to ensure they arrive in their point of destination on time or ahead of time.

On their way to Gumaca, they met no rains but the sky was cloudy and the winds were strong. While walking under the canopy of tall trees, the marchers had to run for fear that the trees might fall.

They arrived in the municipal hall of Gumaca around 5 p.m., two hours before the eye of storm Mina would hit Manila. Since they were one day ahead of their schedule, the locals from the municipality were quite surprised and were not able to prepare things the farmers would need. This caused a little panic and some misunderstanding. Fortunately, through the initiative and resourcefulness of Gumaca Vice Mayor Carmela Josefa R. Lavides, the problems were solved. They were supposed to rest and sleep at the covered court but due to the storm, the vice mayor offered her and some councilors' offices for the resting place of the marchers.

The support groups were not able to meet and welcome the Sumilao farmers because they arrived a day ahead, no thanks to the coming storm. It was expected that a number of farmer organizations from the province will visit them. The DAR provincial office and the San Diego Parish Church, however, visited the marchers to show their solidarity.

The Sumilao farmers were all tired and angry. They were tired because of their pace and the distance they traversed. Right after they ate their dinner, they all went to sleep. And they were angry with the DAR for not acting on their case. They asked how many storms they would have to brave before the 144-hectare land is returned to them.

The following day, the Sumilao farmers decided to conduct their usual Reflection and Learning Session at the Gumaca town hall. The vice mayor and some locals from Gumaca advised them to stay for at least another day because the weather was unstable.

The advisory of PAGASA was still the same. They maximized the opportunity to attend to their personal concerns and, in the afternoon, had their Learning Session.

A few minutes after they took their lunch, they all gathered and convened to discuss their issues, strengthen their ranks and share their personal thoughts and experiences. Everyone was given the chance to talk. They all actively participated in the discussion.

One of the highlights of their discussion during the Learning Session was that they really have to depend among themselves because their medic left due to the storm. They have to strengthen their paramedic team, though with a very minimal know-how, on giving first aid and medical treatments to their fellow marchers. The good thing is, Dr. Grace Bag-ao is constantly and regularly communicating with the team. The paramedic team is receiving phone calls at least twice a day from Dr. Bag-ao, asking their condition and reminding them of their vitamins. Dr. Bag-ao may not be physically with the marchers, but the Sumilao farmers can still feel her tender loving care. The farmers are praying for her faster recovery and hoping that soon, they will see her again, if not in the march, most probably in Manila shouting with them in front of Malacanang or DAR Central Office or in Sumilao celebrating their victory.

Another highlight of the discussion was that they have learned that they have to be prepared and stay strong, in fact even stronger, when they meet people who are not supportive of their cause. Indeed, they will not please everybody and they do not have to. Not all people will understand their plight and the struggle they are currently in. But this will not hinder their cause and certainly this will not make them feel sad.

The Learning Session was concluded with reaffirmation of their commitment and determination to continue their fight until truth prevailed and justice served.

Clearly, no storm and powerful companies could falter their determination to have the DAR Central Office revoke the conversion order of the 144-hectare land in Bukidnon.

Restore the dignity of the Sumilao Farmers! Return the land to its real owners!

Notwithstanding their loss in the Supreme Court be mere technicality, the Sumilao farmers' commitment of regaining their ancestral land was never diminished. In fact, it even strengthened the MAPALAD Farmers towards their advocacy for genuine agrarian reform.

The Sumilao farmers established the MAPALAD Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MPC) in order to reinforce their organization. Further, MAPALAD campaigned for the CARP coverage of the adjacent Salvador Carlos Estate which is still part of their ancestral land. Subsequently, a CLOA was issued to the MAPALAD farmers making them owners of the land. Salvador Carlos initially opposed the distribution of his land to the farmers and a barrage of cases ensued before the courts. The MAPALAD farmers were criminally prosecuted for grave coercion when they attempted to possess their own land. Several farmer leaders were imprisoned in jail.

With divine providence, Salvador Carlos eventually understood the plight of the MAPALAD farmers and their basic desire to have a piece of land to call their own. In his last will, Salvador Carlos agreed to subject the land for coverage under CARP with the Sumilao farmers as beneficiaries. They finally regained a portion of their ancestral land. But it was not that easy for the MAPALAD farmers. Francisco Reyes, the administrator of Salvador Carlos, refused to heed the Volunteer Offer for Sale (VOS) submitted by Salvador Carlos to the farmers. When the MAPALAD farmers decided to occupy the land, Reyes brought several armed men to harass the farmers. But the latter persisted in successfully occupying the land. The family of Salvador Carlos even joined their thanksgiving mass where they gave the farmers rosaries and a statue of the Virgin Mary. It was a momentous event for the MAPALD farmers and the Carlos family.

The MAPALAD farmers immediately cultivated the cherished land. The cooperative, with 78 farmer beneficiaries, employed a communal farm development wherein each member was allocated a farm lot ranging from .45 to .9 hectare depending on their participation in the MPC's projects. A portion thereof was allocated for a communal farm to support community development projects such as farm technology, gender sensitivity training, and paralegal formation activities. Despite the inadequacy of the 66-hectare land for the 137 growing households, the MAPALAD farmers proved that they can develop the fullest potential of the land for agricultural productivity and at the same time for the advancement of the whole community.

Not only that, the MAPALAD farmers also encouraged the formation of another peasant group in San Vicente, Sumilao which led to the establishment of San Vicente Landless Farmers Association (SALFA) composed of 90 farmers, 90 percent of whom belong to the Higaonon tribe. Several members of SALFA are the children of the MAPALAD farmers and the rest are the other farmers and farmworkers residing in the barangay. The MAPALAD farmers also would want the SALFA members to carry on their struggle for genuine agrarian reform and their dream of possessing a precious land that is actually theirs in the first place.

All the SALFA members are landless. Apparently, the 66-hectare Carlos Estate distributed to the MAPALAD farmers is not enough for more than 400 farmer-residents in Sumilao. There are many farmers who are still landless amid some cherished victories on the Carlos land. They merely depend on a Php50 to Php80 a day they get helping other farmers during the harvest season. Outside the harvest season, they engage in broom making where they are paid one peso per broom. This meager earning could hardly provide food for their family. Not one of them had completed their schooling. The SALFA members also dreamt of one thing – a land of their own.