BMFI

Jan. 31 update:
Balay Mindanao Group of NGOs and Sumilao farmers to commemorate 10th year death anniversary of two MAPALAD lawyers

The Balay Mindanaw Group of NGOs (BMG) and the Sumilao farmers shall commemorate the 10th year death anniversary of two lawyers -- Bobby Gana and Caloy Ollado -- who selflessly gave their lives for the MAPALAD farmers who have been deprived of their 144 hectares of land.

Bobby and Caloy were among the passengers of Cebu Pacific Flight 387 that crashed on the slopes of Mt. Sumagaya, Misamis Oriental on February 2, 1998. They were on their way to Cagayan de Oro City to personally talk to the members of MAPALAD as regards their case which was pending for resolution before the Supreme Court. It was at the time that the struggle of the MAPALAD was at its height.

As part of the activity, a mass shall be held tomorrow (February 1) at 10:00 am at the Macanhan Chapel. The Sumilao farmers who are camping at the DAR regional office, with some support groups and some students, will be attending the mass. Likewise, the Sumilao farmers who are in Barangay San Vicente, Sumilao, Bukidnon shall perform a ritual to ask Bobby and Caloy for their continued support to their decade-long struggle, as well as to ask the spirits to gather broader support from the people.

In the afternoon, three Sumilao farmers and Atty. Aying of SALIGAN shall go with the Balay Mindanaw Group of NGOs to Claveria. There will be a reflection session among the BMG staff and Sumilao farmers on the life of Bobby and Caloy who have given up their lives for the cause of the MAPALAD farmers who are still continuing their fight to reclaim the 144 hectares. 

On February 2, the BMG staff and three Sumilao farmers shall proceed to the Flight 387 Shrine situated in the boundary of Gingoog and Claveria. Said shrine was built to remember the victims of the ill-fated flight. To give meaning to the occasion of remembering Bobby and Caloy, a Eucharistic celebration shall be held at the shrine.

In the afternoon, the BMG staff and some of the Sumilao farmers who will come all the way from Claveria shall proceed to the Oro Gardens. They shall be joined by about 150 Sumilao farmers who shall walk from the DAR regional office (Region X) to the Oro Gardens.

The Sumilao farmers who are in Manila, together with the support groups, shall also celebrate the 10th year death anniversary of Bobby and Caloy. They are presently strategizing their campaign plan, which they shall publicly announce during the press conference scheduled tomorrow.

The Balay Mindanaw Group of NGOs is composed of Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc., (BMFI), Resource Center for Empowerment and Development (RCED), Balay Alternative Legal Advocates in Mindanaw, Inc. (BALAOD Mindanaw), and Balay Davao Sur, Inc. (BDSI).