THE SUMILAO farmers returned to the Ateneo last May 3, Tuesday, to express support for vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo. The Salubong Para sa mga Sumilao Farmers sa Ateneo was organized by Robredo campaign groups within and outside the university. It was only the beginning of the farmers’ three-night stay at the Ateneo University Dormitory, where they would rest during their campaign march for Robredo around Metro Manila, an effort that had begun in Sumilao.

During the welcoming program, representatives of the youth and of women from the Laylayan Coalition—a group of various sectors, including indigenous peoples, the urban poor, the farmers, who are campaigning for Robredo—spoke regarding their support for Robredo and the Liberal Party Presidential Candidate, Mar Roxas. Cheryl Lorenza, Chairman of of the Panaw Sumilao Multi-Purpose Cooperative, gave the official statement of the Sumilao farmers to much cheering from the crowd.

“Ang aming pakikibaka ay magpapatuloy hanggang may magsasaka pang lumalaban para sa sarili nilang lupa [Our fight will continue so long as farmers are still fighting for their own land],” she said.

“Matagal nang inialay ni Nanay Leni ang kanyang buhay para ipaglaban ang mga maliliit na magsasaka at mga mahihirap [Nanay Leni has long-since offered her time in order to fight for the small farmers and the poor],” Lorenza added, in reference to Robredo’s role as coordinator of the Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligan (SALIGAN), where she aided the farmers in winning their case for their land. Lorenza ended the speech with the concerns of the farmers, which include the Coco Levy Trust Fund, the Food Security Act, and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER).

The program ended with a speech from former University President Bienvenido Nebres, SJ. “Nandito tayo para ipaglabang ang laylayang sektor [We are here to fight for the marginalized sector].” This was how he began his speech, and throughout it he emphasized the importance of helping the poor. Nebres hoped that the next administration would focus on the disadvantaged farmers, not just from Sumilao, but from various areas around the Philippines.

History of support

When first called to speak, Nebres approached the farmers, striking up a brief conversation with one of the women. Later, he revealed that she had been among those who’d marched to the Ateneo back in 2007, when Nebres had been president.

Back in 2007, a group of students in a Development Studies class caught wind of the plight of the Sumilao farmers, then fighting to get back their land. Dubbed the “Sumilao Six”, the Ateneans’ efforts to support the farmers were later joined by the university as a whole, particularly the Office for Social Concern and Involvement (OSCI), along with the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB) a non-partisan Jesuit group dedicated to helping the marginalized.

Eventually, when the farmers marched to Malacañang, they found a welcoming resting place in the Ateneo’s University Dormitory, where they returned last Tuesday.

Kusang-loob

In an interview with the GUIDON, Lorenza recounted their journey so far. From Bukidnon, the farmers had gone to Cotabato and Mindanao, then to Visayas, then Luzon. Throughout this, they had campaigned for Robredo. The Sumilao farmers, who had marched in 2007, had been successful and regained their ancestral lands.

“Naibalik ang lupa dahil sa kanya [The land was returned because of her].” Lorenza attributed the return of their land to the help of Robredo. “Dahil siya po ay isang abogado namin noon, at kilalang-kilala, kaibigan din namin noon [Because she was one of our lawyers then, someone we knew well, our friend].” Slowly but surely, Lorenza said, their lives have improved.

This is the reason why the Sumilao farmers have made their way around the Philippines: To campaign for Robredo. Lorenza insisted that it is of their own volition, not only because they are thankful for Robredo’s help, but also because they want Robredo to help others, especially those in marginalized sectors, like the farmers, fishers, women, and the poor.

A grand send-off

Before the farmers were set to leave last May 6, Friday, they were visited by both Robredo and Roxas. After a private dialogue between the farmers and the LP candidates, a press conference was held in the UD Roofdeck. There, Roxas discussed how important increasing economic empowerment was in order in stories like that of the Sumilao farmers.

“Laban sa gutom! Roxas-Robredo!” supporters and farmers cheered. With that, the press conference ended. The farmers left for the send-off at Quezon City Memorial Circle, the site of the Liberal Party’s Miting de Avance the following day.

The Ateneo remains non-partisan throughout all this campaigning. As Nebres said, “Ang pokus dapat ay di sa matuwid na daan, kundi sa daan patungo sa mahihirap [The focus should be not on the ‘Daang Matuwid,’but on the road towards the poor].”

With reports from Vicah P. Villanueva and Janelle Paris.