“Ang ugat ng problema sa 3rd world countries, tulad ng Pilipinas ay ang problema ng mga magsasaka, kaya maraming rebolusyonaryo sa kanayunan eh.”
That’s what my Professor said in our class just hours ago. And it hit me, not so hard, but at least it hit me, Im a NNARA (National Network for Agrarian Reform Advocates) –YOUTH SECTOR member, and I should be constantly aware of our farmers’ situation. So during class, my mind went busy over thoughts about the Sumilao farmers and about the Lakbayan (which is being participated by farmers and militants who are marching from today until Monday, which is my birthday =)). Inspired by the Sumilao farmers who walked for months to win back their land, they are also hoping that PGMA, the tsunano, will grant what they want when they finally reach Malacañang.
“Ito na ang pinakamataas na porma ng pakikibaka (para mabawi ang aming lupa)” one farmer said in the news tonight.
Mendiola Massacre.
January 22, 1987, thirteen died due to the ruthless dispersal which happened in Mendiola way back. Those who died and many others who joined that mobilization/rally were primarily farmers who were asking for their own piece of land or, a genuine land reform.
So, you see, land reform has always been a problem of farmers even before I existed. From the yesteryears, the farmers, who should be the priority of the government, were faced by social injustice. Hey, you might not be aware, but 75% of Filipinos are from the agricultural sector, simply put, farmers. Hence, "tatsulok" is how we call our society. The largest faction of the Filipinos is on the bottommost part, and the ruling elite or the landlords are on the topmost. “Baligtarin ang tatsulok”, the song says, to realize this, the government should give the farmers what they need. CARP? Arg, launched by Cory Aquino during her administration, a landlord herself, the program’s name really can deceive, but it sure is just a label and nothing fine happened with this Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.
Almost 50% of the victims of extra-judicial killings and also, almost 50% of the desaparecidos are from their sector. As long as there are farmers who continue to experience social injustice, we are to expect more and more of them joining the army and fighting there in the mountains.
That’s what my Professor said in our class just hours ago. And it hit me, not so hard, but at least it hit me, Im a NNARA (National Network for Agrarian Reform Advocates) –YOUTH SECTOR member, and I should be constantly aware of our farmers’ situation. So during class, my mind went busy over thoughts about the Sumilao farmers and about the Lakbayan (which is being participated by farmers and militants who are marching from today until Monday, which is my birthday =)). Inspired by the Sumilao farmers who walked for months to win back their land, they are also hoping that PGMA, the tsunano, will grant what they want when they finally reach Malacañang.
“Ito na ang pinakamataas na porma ng pakikibaka (para mabawi ang aming lupa)” one farmer said in the news tonight.
Mendiola Massacre.
January 22, 1987, thirteen died due to the ruthless dispersal which happened in Mendiola way back. Those who died and many others who joined that mobilization/rally were primarily farmers who were asking for their own piece of land or, a genuine land reform.
So, you see, land reform has always been a problem of farmers even before I existed. From the yesteryears, the farmers, who should be the priority of the government, were faced by social injustice. Hey, you might not be aware, but 75% of Filipinos are from the agricultural sector, simply put, farmers. Hence, "tatsulok" is how we call our society. The largest faction of the Filipinos is on the bottommost part, and the ruling elite or the landlords are on the topmost. “Baligtarin ang tatsulok”, the song says, to realize this, the government should give the farmers what they need. CARP? Arg, launched by Cory Aquino during her administration, a landlord herself, the program’s name really can deceive, but it sure is just a label and nothing fine happened with this Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.
Almost 50% of the victims of extra-judicial killings and also, almost 50% of the desaparecidos are from their sector. As long as there are farmers who continue to experience social injustice, we are to expect more and more of them joining the army and fighting there in the mountains.
1 comment:
tinalikuran na ba talaga naten ang lupa?
-nardong putik- haha!
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