BMFI

Dec. 11 update:
Commemorating Human Rights Day

There were two important events yesterday. First is the International Human Rights Day, and second is the deadline of the submission of the Sumilao farmers’ position paper before the Department of Agrarian Reform.

To commemorate the International Human Rights Day, the farmers drafted a Declaration: "Pagpapahayag ng Karapatan ng Magsasakang Sumilao," which they read before the public and different government agencies.

Hence, they spent their time yesterday going from one government office to another. In sequence, they went to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Land Bank of the Philippines, Department of Agriculture, Quezon City Hall, Hall of Justice, Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), and back again to DAR.

The CHR was their seventh stop after HLURB. Once there, CHR Commissioners Dominador Calamba II and Quintin Cueto III candidly received the Sumilao farmers. The farmers handed to the said Commissioners the copy of the declaration of their rights. The Commissioners on their part expressed that the CHR is supportive of their cause and shall help them recover their land.

After CHR, the farmers went back to the Department of Agrarian Reform. There, they negotiated with the guards to enter the department for them to personally deliver their Declaration to Sec. Pangandaman. Despite their persistence, however, they were refused entry.

Later in the afternoon, the farmers once again negotiated with the DAR that they be allowed to enter so they can personally deliver and file their position paper which was required to be filed before 7 p.m. yesterday. Again, they were refused entry. Nevertheless, they were still able to file their position paper on time when a representative of the farmers and their lawyers were finally allowed to enter.

The farmers are confident that they have a very strong case for DAR to finally urgently resolve the issue in their favor.

On Sunday (December 9), the farmers had a team leaders’ meeting. They discussed a crucial matter on how to maintain and make their struggle more effective considering that the DAR and other government agencies will be having a Christmas break. They were also busy receiving visitors sympathetic to their struggle.

They were graciously given food for breakfast, lunch and dinner by constituents of the University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University.

At 6 p.m., they heard a mass with their visitors, with Fr. Nilo Tanaliga officiating. After the mass, they ate their dinner with their visitors. But around 9 p.m., the farmers had to rest because a long day awaits them the day after. Some of the visitors, however, still lingered for a while to be with the farmers – in silence.

8 December 2007

On December 8 (Saturday), the farmers gathered for a reflection session. It was their first time to gather and share their experiences from the time they entered the national capital region.

In general, the farmers were happy to see the overflowing support they have been receiving. One of the farmers, Marlyn Trinidad, shared, "I am happy and sad. Happy because the support we get is much more than I expected. Yet, I am sad because despite the unceasing support, our own municipal mayor who is supposed to represent us did not give us any."

Marlyn Trinidad was referring to Hon. Mary Ann Baula, the municipal mayor of Sumilao. Mayor Baula has been very vocal of her support for the piggery project in the contested 144-hectare land. In fact, the local government of Sumilao intervened in the petition for cancellation/revocation of the conversion order filed by the Sumilao farmers before the DAR in 2004. And according Mr. Rodolfo H. Buclasan, a leader of the Sumilao farmers who was present during the visit of DAR Sec. Pangandaman last December 4, Mayor Baula personally talked to him to convince his fellow farmers not to oppose the project.

Another point of their reflection is their disappointment over Pangandaman's decision not to issue a cease and desist order, which he could very well do, without going through the process of requiring the parties to submit their arguments which could only delay the immediate resolution of the case.

But despite their disappointment, the farmers share the general feeling of hope to continue their struggle. According to them, it has been for so long a time that they have suffered from the greed of landlords, oppressed by the legal system designed to protect them, and deprived of the land their ancestors have bequeathed to them that giving up – amidst their very slim chance of winning – is not the option they will take.

To symbolize their hope despite all the sacrifices entailed of their struggle, they made a Christmas star made of their torn slippers to convey their message that Christmas will only find meaning and relevance if DAR, pursuant to its duty, will give them justice. They call it "slipperrole." On one side, it is marked "Merry Christmas?" and the other side is marked "Return Our Land."

Their reflection ended with a Eucharistic celebration officiated by Fr. Neil of the Augustinian Missionaries of the Philippines. His congregation also organized a short program for the farmers. Some of the Sumilao farmers participated as commentator, readers, psalmist, choir and guitarist.

The farmers are still staying in the vicinity of DAR. Their exposure to heat, dust, and pollution, which are totally different from their environment in Bukidnon, pose threat to their health. But their collective resolve to recover their land makes them unmindful of their inconvenience, because they have been inconvenienced long enough.