A group of indigenous farmers from southern Philippines went on a 60-day march to Manila to reclaim 144 hectares of ancestral land that they lost 10 years ago after it was converted into commercial use and exempted from the land reform program, in favour of a big landowner in the province.
The indigenous farmers who have been marching for 58 days now since October 10 from Sumilao, Bukidnon in Mindanao reached the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City, Metro Manila last night, December 5, where they were received by Philippine Catholic Church leader Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales and the Jesuit community, together with their supporters, including AFA and PAKISAMA.
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The following is the solidarity message sent by AFA to the Sumilao farmers, who are mostly members of PAKISAMA. The Sumilao farmers belonging to the Higaonon tribal community in southern Philippines have been marching around 1,700 kilometers for almost 60 days from Bukidnon in Mindanao to Metro Manila to reclaim the 144 hectares of ancestral land that was taken away from them and to call for the passage of the law extending the agrarian reform program that can still give land to around 433,333 landless Filipino farmers.
Dear Friends in PAKISAMA,
Re: Moral Support to “Lumad” Farmers from Sumilao to March on Foot for 60 Days to Reclaim Land
Farmers’ Federations Association for Development Thailand (Sorkorpor) wants to express our admirableness to “Lumad” Farmers through our friends, PAKISAMA.
We realize that LAND is heart of all farmers. In case of Thailand, our small farmers in all parts of the country have ever struggled to protect their ancient lands from many competitive used of other sectors. Regarding to the circumstance, we can say that Filippino and Thai farmers are in the same fate. We think that the campaign by marching on foot for 60 days to reclaim land of Sumilao farmers is a symbol of farmers and poor people who have just only bodies and mind as tools for struggle.
Quezon City, Philippines — As a non-violent way of protesting the more than 10 years of injustice they have gone through in trying to reclaim their ancestral land, 50 “lumad” farmers belonging to the Mapalad Multi-purpose Cooperative (MPC) will march on foot from their hometown of Sumilao, Bukidnon in the south to the capital city of Manila in the north from October 10 to December 10. (“Lumad” is the term given to the indigenous peoples in the southern island of Mindanao.)
In a letter e-mailed to agrarian reform and rural development advocates in the country and abroad, PAKISAMA, a national confederation of farmers’ associations in the Philippines (of which MPC, through its provincial federation PALAMBU, is a member) asked for support for the farmers’ 60-day march that will hopefully “re-ignite awareness on the situation of agrarian reform in the country and create a groundswell of support for the acceleration of distribution of lands under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).” (PAKISAMA is a member of AFA.)
Revoke the Conversion Order! Redistribute the Land under CARP!
Reform and Extend the Agrarian Reform Program! Rationalize Land Use!
The Higaonon Indigenous Cultural Communities were the early settlers of a piece of ancestral land in Sumilao, Bukidnon. A portion thereof, 243.885 hectare area of the ancestral land served as the Seat of Government of the Higaonons where the traditional paghusay and pamuhat were conducted by the Higaonon tribal council lead by Apo Manuagay Anlicao and Apo Mangganiahon Anlicao. The ancestral land is a flat agricultural terrain situated in the midst of Mt. Sayawan and Mt. Palaopao, and where Mt. Kitanglad can be seen from afar. It was once termed as pinetreehon by the visitors due to the abundance of pine trees all over the place and its cold temperature. Magbabaya gave this balaang yuta to the Higaonon communities. It was their forefathers’.
June 14, 2007
Overview
The participants traveled by bus (and then climbed uphill) to Barangay San Jose, Antipolo City, Rizal. The area is a 58- hectare of hilly agricultural land located in Sitio Nagpatong. The land is owned by 42 farmers belonging to the Samahan ng mga Magsasaka sa Bundok ng Antipolo (SAMBA) or the Association of Farmers in the Mountain of Antipolo, a member organization of PAKISAMA. Antipolo is famous for its historical, cultural and natural sites such as the Hinulugang Taktak Falls, Our Lady of Antipolo Shrine, festivals, resorts, and a view of the city from its hills.
AFA Treasurer Vicente Fabe shares an AFA presentation on “Needs and Expectations of Asian Farmers on Agricultural Research” during an international conference entitled “Agricultural Research for Development in Europe: Towards a Shared Vision, ” in Brussels, Belgium on June 28-29, 2007. The conference is organized by ERA-ARD. Ka Vic was invited both for his personal commitment to poverty and hunger eradication and his active involvement in the international arena to promote sustainable agriculture research.
Link to Paper: “The Needs and Expectations of Asian Farmers on Agricultural Research”
A Primer
This primer is issued by AR Now!, PESANTech and PhilDHRRA to present and explain the “extension with reforms” position with regards to the impending “expiration of CARP” in June 2008. This primer will also attempt to clarify certain misconceptions about the event that will transpire in June 2008 and about the “extension with reforms” position.
In an expression of dismay over WTO policies in agriculture, Director General Pascal Lamy’s visit to the Philippines last February 23, 2007 was greeted by shouts of protest from farmers groups and other trade advocates, including AFA and PAKISAMA.
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The National Confederation of Peasant Organizations (Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka – PAKISAMA), an AFA member organization in the Philippines, successfully conducted a UNITY CONGRESS last July 1-2, 2006 at SEAMEO-INNOTECH, Diliman, Quezon City. The Unity Congress was officiated by the Solidarity Committee headed by Fr. Noel Vasquez, S.J. The Solidarity Committee was tasked by the Regional Trial Court to convene and facilitate the PAKISAMA Unity Congress following the Constitutional Framework of PAKISAMA.
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