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Archbishop Ledesma backs ‘Baklay Sumilao’
Posted 12 October 2007
See also story by MindaNews's Carol Arguillas

	Mapalad farmers walking in Bukidnon at the start of their long walk to Malacañang. Photo courtesy of Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma has expressed support to the Sumilao farmers who have started to walk from Sumilao, Bukidnon all the way to Malacañang in an attempt to reclaim the 144 hectares awarded to them under the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

In his letter to priests and vicars of Misamis Oriental, Ledesma asked them to show support to the farmers’ cause. He urged his flock to organize the parishioners to provide food, make posters manifesting their support, and interact with the farmers.

The farmers have so far covered 46 kilometers on the first day of their walk from Sumilao to this city.

Upon their arrival here, they were received by Fr. Alexander Borres and parishioners of the Bugo parish, as well as other support groups, like the Balay Mindanaw Group of NGOs, Kalipunan ng mga Maliliit na Magniniyog sa Pilipinas (KAMMPIL)-Misamis Oriental, and students.

The parish of Bugo provided the farmers with food and drinks.

The farmers, with their supporters, then had a community prayer of thanksgiving for the success of their first day of walk.

It is still a long walk for the farmers’ “march for land, march for justice” as they intend to finish their journey on Dec. 10, in time for Human Rights Day.

But this early, some of them already misses home.

The Mapalad farmers. Photo: Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews

“Gimingaw nako sa akong pamilya, apan kinahanglan nako antoson ang kamingaw kay alang man kini sa akong mga anak ug ubang mga daghan pang mga mag-uuma nga wala pa gihapon nahatag ang yuta nga gigahin kanila sa balaod (I already miss my family, but I have to overcome feeling homesick because this is for my children and for other farmers from other parts of the country who still did not get the land given to them by the law),” said Hilda San-ahan said in Cebuano.

Yet another farmer, Garry Gallaritoy, lamented: “Do we have to suffer this long in order to obtain justice?”

While the farmers received overwhelming support, they felt frustrated because, in the middle of their first-day walk, they received news that the Office of the President dismissed their appeal to revoke the conversion order from agricultural to agro-industrial by then Executive Secretary Ruben Torres.

It was reportedly dismissed for “lack legal standing,” apparently because the farmers were not recognized to be the proper parties to file the appeal.

But the Sumilao farmers are not discouraged.

“This is just the start of the new wave of our struggle. We believe that with the support of the church, NGOs, and other sectors, we shall be able to fully possess and own our land,” said one of their leaders, Rene Penas.

The farmers will proceed to downtown Cagayan de Oro, where they will have breakfast at Archbishop Ledesma’s house. A Eucharistic celebration, a press conference and a gathering with supporters will then follow at the Misamis Oriental capitol grounds.