A group of around 160 farmers, hailing from different parts of the Philippines, arrived on foot in the Ateneo on March 4—their third time since December 2007.
They came this time to plea to Congress to pass the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (Carper), as 1.3 million hectares of land remain undistributed to them, said Richard Cainoy, a 35-year old farmer from Sumilao, Bukidnon.
“[Noong] wala akong lupa, mahirap. Hindi ako makapagtanim ng mais, kahit kaunti man lang mga gulay… paano ako makahanap ng pagkain kung walang lupa? (When I still didn’t have my land, it was difficult. I wasn’t able to plant corn or even a few vegetables…How was I to find food if I didn’t have land?)” he asked.
Cainoy was given his land on March 2008, but he is now marching for the many other farmers who still haven’t received theirs.
To support the farmers’ plea, a group of students, faculty members, and concerned persons from other sectors in the Ateneo staged a 24-hour hunger act, among other activities, on the same day of the farmers’ arrival.
The multi-sectoral effort was called “The Final Stand,” and was initiated and led by students. Around 100 students participated in the Final Stand.
“It’s sad that we have to do this all over again. They have to march again, the fight goes on and on, that still they didn’t achieve our goal of justice for the farmers,” said Cherryl Si (III AB DS), one of the Final Stand’s volunteer management heads.
“But there’s still a sense of hope, now that different sectors are coming together,” she added in a mix of English and Filipino.
United, symbolic
The farmers, this time, came as a united front. There were contingents from Sumilao, Bukidnon; Quezon Province; Romblon; Sitio Banasi, Bula, Camarines Sur; Bulacan; and Calatagan, Batangas.
Before they arrived in the Ateneo, members of the Final Stand organized a variety of activities to encourage student engagement on Carper.
The highlight of the activities was a 24-hour hunger act. Around 40 students participated in the hunger act.
The participants of the hunger act officially started fasting 10:30 am on March 4, and ended their fast on 10:30 am, March 5. They wore a black ribbon around their arms on the fasting day to signify their participation.
During her fast, Carmina Reyes (III AB Comm) said, “I think na this hunger is nothing compared to theirs…It’s physical hunger that their families experience every day,” she said.
“They also experience this hunger for justice. Justice has been deprived of them for so long, and it’s about time that hunger is satiated,” she added.
Patricia Marie Ranada (I AB Comm) said, “By the fifth hour [of the fast] I was kind of sabaw (woozy), like I would say weird things, then in class I would start blanking out or forgetting the lesson.”
She added, “It’s really a sacrifice, but if you keep in mind the mission, it’s all worth it.”
Heartbreaking
A whole-day running activity, dubbed “Runner for Carper,” was also held March 4. For divided periods consisting of 15 minutes each, around 35 volunteers ran around the Loyola Schools carrying flags containing messages supporting Carper.
Runner Jose Antonio Javier (III AB DS) said he initially felt running around campus was useless.
“It was weird, no one was paying attention to us, they thought it was weird. But when the peak hours came, around 11:30 am, I noticed people were cheering us on…So I felt happy because it helped promote the spirit of Ateneans,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.
When time came to welcome the farmers, a group of around 40 people gathered in Gate 2 to wait for them. A participant, Virginia De Villa (I AB MEco) cut an Intact culminating activity to welcome the farmers instead.
“There are many doubts about this [cause], but the point is at least we did something, we did our part to help the farmers,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino. “We do not become apathetic.”
The farmers came around 5:30 pm. They were first led to the Blue Eagle Gym and introduced to the freshmen having an Intact culminating activity.
They marched to the Zen Garden, where a candle-lighting and prayer session was held. Volunteers and farmers stood face to face along the path in the Zen Garden, holding candles.
After a while, the students were requested to put their hands on the shoulders of the farmers in front of them, while everyone prayed.
“To see them actually, individually, in front of you, up close, to see their faces, and their faces and their stand…sobrang ang sakit sa puso, na may mga tao pa ring ganito. Parang bakit hindi natin sila matulungan (…it was heartbreaking, that there are people who are still experience this. Why can we not help them)?” said Reyes, who also participated in this activity.
She added, “To feel the real social difference between Ateneans and these farmers, and to see that social distance being lessened and being bridged, it was a great sight, great experience.”
Now to Congress
At around 7 pm, the farmers were led to the Colayco Pavilion to rest, and to enjoy a solidarity night prepared by the Final Stand volunteers. The program for the night consisted of song numbers from the farmers and volunteers, a short skit, and messages from different people inside and outside the Ateneo.
The four mayors of the “Kaya Natin!” Movement, and the author of Carper (and the original CARP) herself, Rep. Rissa Hontiveros-Baraquel (AB SoS ‘87), also arrived to talk to the farmers.
Today the Final Stand, at least for its volunteers and those who support the cause, is not yet over.
“Ang gusto talaga namin, magsimula siya dito, pero magpatuloy sa mas marami pang movement, para mapasa na ‘yung Carper (What we want is for it [the cause] to start here, but also to continue to more movements so that Carper can be passed),” said Cheenee Otarra (IV AB DS), one of the Final Stand’s coordinating heads.
Upon the invitation of Baraquel, the Final Stand volunteers are currently recruiting Ateneans interested to sit in Congress on April 13, where they can witness and possibly question lawmakers’ efforts to pass Carper.
