WHY is there no groundswell of support for these farmers? Did they really have a right to the land they are claiming or are they squatters who claim they are of indigenous ancestry and are entitled to the land?
Regardless of the nature of the claim the President should settle this now, give the peasants or pawns cash compensation from Pagcor [Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.) or the PCSO [Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office] just like she does the bishops, the knights, and the rooks.
This is a monumental game of chess and right now it is a stalemate, but the positions could change any minute and the game will be over.
– Alfonso DeMayo, Vancouver, Canada (via e-mail)
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April 14th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
i think for one, villar should be held accountable too. alex reyes has written about his mega billion dollar subdivision devt. business. ask henry sy and his mega-malls….also, ask the cbcp re the population explosion problem and the outdated methods that they espouse..
ask cory and other landowners, like the arroyos too, on how they “trick” farmers to avoid carp..
the “rice problem” has been a problem since marcos days. irri officials have blamed govt. for lack of research. perhaps these people are busy with “something else!” and not solving the problem…
we can go on and on and it will boil down to bad governance and corruption pa rin.
April 14th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
i agree, there really is no shortage, it is artificial…abbygail
=====
A balikbayan was alarmed when she visited her province. The fields that once surrounded her town are no longer there. In placed are developed residential homes and more are being built. Meanwhile the population is growing. So, is it too hard for anyone to figure out why there is increasing shortage of rice? And it is not only in the Philippines. In Haiti the people rioted. They could not afford to buy rice anymore. Vietnam and Thailand skipped exporting rice because they have shortage of rice themselves. The same is happening to them. The land acreage for farming is dissappearing and being replaced by residential development and commercial manufacturing firm. How much farmlands have been covered by commercial buildings and plants in Marilao, Maycauwayan? These factories, residential properties and commercial buildings like malls are inching closer to the next province. Soon the whole of Bulacan will no longer have any farmland. True, the profiteers are racking up profit in this kind of scenario while the kurakot penoys who are in-charged of importing rice are racking up untold commissions!
April 13th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
i agree, there really is no shortage, it is artificial. one lady pres of the rice traders group said on anc that the people lining up for nfa rice are the ones creating the shortage by hoarding, by letting even kids line up to buy rice, so for a family of six, everybody lines up!
i remember one sociology prof. of mine said the one negative trait of filipinos is their LACK OF SENSE OF NATIONHOOD. in this instance, she is correct. they don’t care if everybody else goes hungry as long as their family eat first. some people even denounce that the peso should not be strong because the value of the dollars goes down! they do not realize that when the peso gets stronger, it is good for our economy and external debts. they do not realize that the dollar is sinking.
why is there corruption in govt., esp. from our leaders whom we have voted upon to serve? because they lack a Sense of Nationhood, what is pervading is their being ” makasarili para sa pamilya at kaibigan”. never mind if the country goes to the dogs, as long as they get what they want. that for me is the root cause, its behavioral. it’s really sad…
April 9th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Of Farmers and Rice Problem
The Philippines is a TRADITIONAL IMPORTER of cereal (rice, corn, wheat) so this rice shortage is nothing new and abnormal. For and against, the hypes in Media made it easy for what Traders want…jack up prices of agricultural commodities, riding the global trend even before its actual effect has reached this shore. With the mind of consumers already preconditioned, price increase, not only of rice, has never been this accepted by the public without much uproar. Squeeze the masses right on, they’ll always somehow find something to buy food!
Food price increase has already been happening in countries with biofuels industries in place but it should be noted that in the Philippines the program is barely in the drawing board to possibly actually affect everything at present.
Bandila (ABS-CBN) reported last night that it is now farmers that dictate price to traders. This is ridiculous distortion, a myth being hyped. Maybe media should always add “allegedly”, “reportedly” or the likes in their reports instead of being unwittingly (?) becoming party to disinformation and/or distortion.
People were not born yesterday. Rice trading in this country is an established system and order. When a poor farmer brings one or two cavans of Palay to the market, whether he likes the price or not, he must sell. He cannot afford to bring the Palay back to the farm, or go home without salt, vetsin, dried fish, kerosene, matches, tobacco, and other basics that you can imagine poor family needs. It’s all traders’ (sometimes series of middlemen) game from there and NOT farmers. This is the general situation of Filipino farmers.
The observations by no less VP Noli de Castro and Agriculture secretary Arthur Yap that there is no rice shortage, in fact, is never been wrong. People can see it everywhere; there is plenty of rice stock in market places. Why people line retail outlets, it is because of CHEAPER NFA rice and not because of no more rice. [Even NFA support palay price for farmers is mostly availed by traders DISGUISED as farmers. Check that out and learn why!]
Hype or no hype I think we had these price increases coming, sooner or later. We are a free economy and there is nothing legal to stop traders except NATURAL LAW of SUPPLY AND DEMAND, which is effective only in situations where there is free, wide and true competition. This economic policy, as people see now, is inutile where there exist monopolies and cartels.
The government is never wrong about activating the NFA more in the retail of rice. It has somehow helped stabilize the price of rice. This has somehow provided competition in the business. Question is how long government can sustain the operation that maybe it should push further to be felt in the market. NFA is the only thing that stands between the already miserable Filipinos masses and the Pinoy trade ‘MAFIA’ today.
NFA to save the day, Ningas Cogon or real?
April 5th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Right Tolits! Any comments from our lovely Anti-Arroyo kababayans? Or maybe waiting for another mistake from GMA?
Tolits Says:
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Now that Sumilao Farmers got what they wanted, is there anybody out there who should congratulate GMA for having the political will to make this a reality? Let’s give credit to whomever it is due. I don’t even read one of the farmer recipient that appreciates what she did. ARE THEY WORTHY OF THIS GOOD ENDEAVOR OF GMA? My guess is as good as yours.
April 5th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
There should be requirements with the CLOWA. Any land untilled for 6 months shall revert back to the government. There are so many untilled fields in Bulacan right now at the eastern side.
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
44
Tolits Says:
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Now that Sumilao Farmers got what they wanted, is there anybody out there who should congratulate GMA for having the political will to make this a reality? Let’s give credit to whomever it is due. I don’t even read one of the farmer recipient that appreciates what she did. ARE THEY WORTHY OF THIS GOOD ENDEAVOR OF GMA? My guess is as good as yours.
………………..
I wonder how much money the filipino people pay for that land without the filipino people knowing it. But I’m glad the farmer’s finally receive the land they’re fighting for: Gloria Arroyo, Can go to hell for all I care!!!
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Now that Sumilao Farmers got what they wanted, is there anybody out there who should congratulate GMA for having the political will to make this a reality? Let’s give credit to whomever it is due. I don’t even read one of the farmer recipient that appreciates what she did. ARE THEY WORTHY OF THIS GOOD ENDEAVOR OF GMA? My guess is as good as yours.
April 1st, 2008 at 3:42 pm
I have spent time living in the countrysides to think I know what seems to be one of the causes of troubles in there.
One of them, call them ignorants, but we have people out there who seem to care little about owning land. They’ve tilled lands for generations without going into troubles of titling their domains.
Trouble there usually starts when somebody thought of applying for title or lease to those lands. Add politics in there and you have your trouble there.
I remember once I was in Palawan. A guy named Hadgedorn went to the hills and had land surveyed for farmers. He went to the hills again to deliver those titles to farmers.
It’s all about good politics and more taxes for the city coffers, I guess, instead of useless squatters in public land.
March 31st, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Mr. Allan,
Perfectly said…this ¨search for truth¨ thing is just another political agenda of our rotten politicians…and unfortunately we have countrymen who still believes all these lies!!!! Its not that I dont believe that corruption is rampant in the present administration…and the most valid question is still ¨WHO IS NOT CORRUPT IN PHILIPPINE POLITICS?¨…the corrupt leading an anti-corruption rally…hehe…sad to say though that some of our countrymen still supports the ¨gimiks¨ of these politicians..
Mr. delosreyes,
The CARP issue in hacienda luisita is the main reason why cory aquino would love to oust GMA…Cojuancos have the authentic crab mentality hehe
Mr. Pogito,
You are obviously one of those idiots who think GMA is the only corrupt official of the land….and i will not try to convince you, because i think your ignorance is bottomless about corruption…
I will tell you however that all politicians are corrupt and they are all robbing the filipino people..including you and your family (well, except of course if you are one of those who receive money from these politicians…money stolen from taxpayers)
March 30th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Mang Godo, for someone who claims he’s father is a farmer, you sounded more like you don’t give a damn about their flight. This is one of the reason why Gloria must go. Her corruption extends far and wide. it’s not just the corruption of our monies were talking about here, it’s the corruption of the soul. HELLO GARCI is the root of all evil, all other evil emanates from GMA.
Corruption rears it’s ugly head everywhere we go. Just look at Mang Godo.
March 29th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
THE HACIENDA LUISITA
Mr. Ilaga,
Since we are on the subject of CARP, there is one unfinished business that one group of farmers is still fighting for and the end to their search for justice seems to be nowhere in sight. I’m referring to the Hacienda Luisita. The promise of benefits from the stock distribution option deal offered to the tenant farmers was a total failure throughout the long 15 years of waiting since its inception in 1989. The stock option in lieu of actual land distribution was premised on much better benefits to the farmers as they were supposed to become part of a joint cooperative effort as co-owners of the Cojuangco sugar hacienda. That venture failed miserably from day one and the promised benefits never happened. Thus, the farmers feeling cheated demanded to revoke the stock option agreement and reclaim the land. It’s been almost four years now and many have lost their lives because of the unsettled disputes. Last I know the government has approved the claim of the farmers to apportion the Hacienda to them under the CARP rules. How much longer do the farmers have to wait for justice to be served?
March 28th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
MC_90 its very clear, the opposition will not dip their fingers into this Sumilao land case. Theyre going against SMC, politicians milking cow. And who wants to go againts the Cojuangco’s, especially if theyre aspiring for 2010 presidency. And of course Cory is also a Cojuangco. This political noise the opposition are doing now is part of their smoke screen to cover their own stink in order to protect their chance in 2010. BTW..the Binays will get indicted in the Sandiganbayan soon for plunder. Now how convenient it is going to be for Binay if Gloria is remove and an opposition will sit as president.
March 27th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
To Mr. DeMayo
Your question ¨WHY is there no groundswell of support for these farmers?¨ is a very valid question….and in addition, I would ask ¨WHere is LOZADA? WHERE IS CORY AQUINO? WHERE IS BINAY? WHERE ARE THE OPPOSITION POLITICIANS????? WHERE IS LACSON???? WHERE IS THE BOBITA MADRIGAL????
WHY DONT THEY ORGANIZE A RALLY FOR THESE POOR FARMERS????
And i think the answer is vry obvious…the answer from a politician perspective would be ¨WHATS IN IT FOR ME/US??????….
THE POLITICIANS ARE THE ONES KILLING OUR COUNTRY AND CAUSING OUR COUNTRYMEN TO SUFFER!!!!!
March 27th, 2008 at 9:33 am
How pathetic. The papaya dance has no relevance whatsoever to the U.S. Presidential race. Don’t even think of bothering either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton with such foolishness. Instead, let Edu teach math and science to the youth of The Philippines. Also, some courses in ethical behavior, good governance and sound economic principles would also be a great help.
March 27th, 2008 at 12:00 am
@Mr. De los Reyes
Thank you for understanding how I feel on this issue, and I sincerely apologize if I may have portrayed you negatively. Based on your first post, I originally had the perception that there was some question as to what the intention of the post was, as shown by post no. 6. As you know, believing in the need for social justice to be rendered to those who need it the most, we in the university have always provided support and comfort for the Sumilao farmers and find the news of a deal finally being struck between SMC and the farmers. This goes to show that a little faith and a lot of determination can go the distance in bringing… how do they say it… the change that we want to see.
To everyone else, though this case has had a happy ending, this is only the beginning of many more struggles for the recognition of the rights of farmers nationwide. The debate on CARP still rages, and I believe that this is still the pivotal issue to resolve in order to guarantee social justice beyond the Sumilao case. Let then the MAPALAD and SALFA farmers be examples and inspirations for us to continue working for the equitable distribution of agricultural lands to those who deserve it the most.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Land for the tillers of the soil… the basic principle of land reform.
Why not? those who plow the field, till the soil should be the owner and possessor of of the land they till… and who are they, they are the farmers.
And of course, to have a balance distribution of land ownership which was then confined only to the few… landowners who own vast tract of land.
But this land reform has distinction, qualification and exemption. Distribution should not deprive the title landlord their ownership and possession.
Also, comes the paramount interest of the nation or the country if land distribution to small parcel will diminish or increase its productivity.
Now comes this company SMC against Sumilao farmers. Will dividing the land into small pieces to this farmers will yield more production as against this company who that of course has more capital to invest and spend.
Of course, we filipinos are always for the underdog, much more if it is our small people like our farmers. the thinking that they are always deprived. there is the sentiment of help to these people.
Look at Zimbabwe, whose main source of revenue is the agriculture. But when Mugabe deprived the whites of land ownership and distributed the land to his country men, everything is chaos. The country is in depression, inflation and turmoil.
Land reform is good. Give land to tillers of the soil. But the paramount interest of the country should always prevail.
Sentiment once in a while.
March 26th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Anonymous
Yep, out of topic ka. Pero bakit di nyo dalhin sa Principal or Owner ng paaralan? Di nyo na kailangan i elaborate pa yan samin or isalaysay. Di rin namin alam kung totoo yang sinasabi mo or naninira ka lang. The best way is, isumbong nyo sa opisyal ng skwelahan.
March 26th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
The monkeys are playing in the banana plantation. If the monkeys go hungry, the monkeys can eat mud cake.
March 26th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Land reform: there is good and bad, Its good because it will help the poor people to own a land which is never happen without this land reform.
Bad: Because when the government created this land reform They didn’t study what the outcome gonna be. They just jump into concluesion without thinking!
March 26th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
3
Allan Says:
March 19th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Gloria Kawatan how about Cory Aquino’s Hacienda Luisita. Where farmers not only die from hunger but also from guns. These Hacienda Luisita farmers cant walk “million million” miles to demand the rights fort their lands, they are getting shot before they could even reach Hacienda Luisita’s gate. You should have another alias, aside from “Gloria Kawatan” try also “Cory Kriminal”
…………………………………
Allen: First of all Hacienda Luisita belong to cory family, They own the land. The government order them to give part of their land to farmer’s which is they don’t want to give out. For example you work all week on payday you won’t be receiving your whole paycheck because your boss already give out your part of your paycheck to other people. Iyan ang example diyan. Kaya ayaw ni cory ng ibigay ang lupa nila sa mga farmer’s.
In visaya where Mike Arroyo, Live the have the same problem Mike Arroyo, Family don’t want to give out part of their land to farmer’s either. So is most of land owner. In fact these farmer’s also die waiting for the land the government promise.
The biggest problem with that is the government create this land reform give order to big land owner to give part of their land to farmer’s. But not all land owner want to give out piece of their land. Thats why there is lots of people getting kill because of this land reform.
March 26th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
It’s so sad to hear Ex Pres. Cory Aquino ay may colon cancer but it’s good for the nation though, NABAWASAN NG ISANG MAINGAY SA LIPUNAN. Si ERAP kaya kaylan mananahimik??? He should be behind bars for the rest of his life or firing squad if enforcing the law. They’d been given all the chances in their terms but KAPALPAKAN din ang ginawa.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:52 am
This is just a case of pride. Farmers claiming lands from their landlords awarded to them by virtue of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. The current shortage in the supply of rice in the country and the impending shortage of corn in Cebu are some of the impact of this land distribution program of the government during the time of Cory up to the present. Large tracts of commercially productive agricultural lands distributed to tenants which are now left unproductive/idle because the tenants could not afford to spend for production inputs to make it productive.
The disputed land is supposed to be developed by SMC as a commercially viable piggery project which could supply meat and probably arrest possible price increases. In exhange is a deal of economic benefits to the claimants but the Sumilao farmers’ position is “NO DEAL!” and thus claim the right over the land. They spend days and nights risking life and limbs just to get hold of this piece of land. But at the end of the day the question would be: Can they make this piece of land as productive as SMC could? Many times, legal claim is not economically viable.
March 26th, 2008 at 6:49 am
alam kong itong aking sasabihin ay malayo sa topin sa blog entry na ito pero nangangailangan ako ng tulong upang mapasisante ang isang guro sa Diliman Preparatory School na nagngangalang DARYLL JOAQUIN siya ay highshool teacher na dating adviser ng III-BALAGTAS. Ginawa niyang girfriend ang isa sa kanyang mga estudyante at nabuntis ito. Pasikretong nilagyan ng pampalaglag ang inumin ng estudyante. Sana ay mabigyan ng parusa ang gurong nasabi. Kung kayo ay nag aalangan sa aking isinalaysay, maari kayong magtanong sa graduating batch (2008.) Maraming Salamat.
March 26th, 2008 at 6:26 am
Hi Mr. Ilaga,
Thanks for your reaction to my piece on the subject. It was unnecessary to explain to me the background story of the Sumilao farmers because I’m also familiar with it but of course you did not know that, nonetheless it was good you wrote about it so that readers will have a better understanding of the issues and appreciate the hardships of the marginalized farmers.
For reasons of brevity I simply touched very briefly on the early beginnings of the issue because I cannot spare that much time you spent in relating the story in its entirety. My brief reply to the writer from Canada was focused on the current issues revolving on GMA’s efforts to restore ownership of the land to the farmers.
I’m just happy that as we speak SMC and the farmers have reached a compromise settlement as both sides took a step back to reach a practical solution and listened to reason and wise counsel of Cardinal Rosales. This is a feat I never thought would be achieved because the parties are like a stubborn irresistible force, like the farmers are, meeting an immovable object, that SMC is. The Cardinal must have used the power of the Holy Spirit to make things happen.
March 26th, 2008 at 1:28 am
Talagang magkakasakit sila cuz they need to farm, earn a living and save so that they can acquire their desired land. You can not just claim property of other.
The monkeys are playing kasi ‘wa sila ‘ron.
March 26th, 2008 at 12:56 am
Gloria Kawatan, CARP very essence is to help tenant farmers to own the land they toil at affordable price and at easy payment scheme. CARP doesnt discriminate the origin of the tenanted land. The law applies to all (large)tenanted land. Corys Hacienda Luisita is a tenanted land, hence its subject to CARP. Corys family exploited the loophole of CARP, although legal but immoral considering the stand Cory always portrays at the rallies. There are Hacienda Luisita’s tenant farmers who find the Aquinos offer disadvantageous to them, hence they opposed it. And where did these farmers end up…theyre massacred.. If you recall Randy Davids opinion after the massacre, “the oppressed of yesterday are the tyrants of today” referring to Cory and kamag-anak inc. Its not a question of right to the land Cory owned its a question of the law and theyre obligation to follow the law. Shes been a president so she should know better, but instead they used her position to circumvent the law, and worst blood spilled and lives were lost. She should clean her dirty linen first before she points her accusative finger to Gloria.
Your family’s land case is very different from Hacienda Luisita. And Im glad for you that youre mature enough to understand that material things is not all happines is about.
March 26th, 2008 at 12:18 am
Pogito Says:
March 24th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Mang Godo, you have a funny sounding name and your reasoning is just as funny. Pray tell us, how low can you go? If you cannot say something worth the salt, why not keep those moronic thoughts to yourself, you sanctimonious cretin?
*******************************
i know that is not your name mr.pogito, but you have a comic name and quaint thinking.
first, let me tell you. my father was also a farmer, he was always in the field and always with his carabao and never in his right mind asked what the president can do for him instead he did what he can do to his children.
that goes also with millions of farmers all over the country. they don’t indulge in any activity much more political and agricultural but instead they are with their goats, paragos and their palays, corn, sugar in particular all day long or in tagalog nakakababad sa araw.
they are the true farmers, their skin are burned, their sole feet are hard as dried land and their faces are like wrinkles crow feet. they are called farmers, the lifeline of us filipinos for they give us food. and they did not ask for something, they do their work.
as i said i am not against these bukidnon farmers to air their grievance much more to express their rights and make their statement about their plight is enough.
it is more prudent and wise to stay do their work in the field while waiting for the result of what their claiming.
it is a sacrifice to be away, it is a danger to be away, and to live in jungle of manila is not living in a jungle of bukidnon.
that’s what i mean. time has changed. farmers are now in activity beyond their calling.
maybe i answer your moronic thought also, mr. pogito. i hope your not the reverse inside and out.
March 25th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
The monkeys are playing in the banana plantation.
March 25th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
In this way, you may still earn what ever little respect your constituent may still have, in your administration.
No matter how much you augment your personal military/police, you will not succeed in your drive against insurgency. The only weapon is to provide everyone cheap food on the table, eliminate corruption, and establish an independent judiciary.
……………….
Wonderwoman: You’re asking to much. Gloria Arroyo, Need these corrupt PNP/AFP/JUDICIARY/BISHOP in order for her to stay in power. She don’t care if the Philippines going to collapse in the middle of pacific ocean for as long as she had plenty of money stash away for her retirement.
March 25th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Allan Says:
March 19th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Gloria Kawatan how about Cory Aquino’s Hacienda Luisita. Where farmers not only die from hunger but also from guns. These Hacienda Luisita farmers cant walk “million million” miles to demand the rights fort their lands, they are getting shot before they could even reach Hacienda Luisita’s gate. You should have another alias, aside from “Gloria Kawatan” try also “Cory Kriminal”
………………………..
First of all Hacienda Luisita is belong to Cory family, They didn’t steal the land. The government just getting piece of their lang and give it to the farmer’s, If Cory family don’t want to give part of their land I guess its their right Just like any land owner.
We loss half of our land too, Not with farmer’s we loss it to the crooks government official’s. I wish we just give the land to the farmer’s may pakinabang pa!
Most of land owner don’t want to give out part of their land which is they have the rigth to do that after all its belong to them. Except the pass the law that any big land owner must give part of their land to farmer’s.
I give out my share already, Atleast I know the farmer’s have a good used of that land. Where I come from we plant mostly rice.
March 25th, 2008 at 1:15 am
Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubir sa land conversion sa mga lupaing dating taniman ng palay ang nararamdamang kakulangan sa supply ng bigas.
Bagama’t walang direktang akusasyon, mistulang pinatutsadahan ni Zubiri si Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. sa mga palayang ginawang subdibisyon.
“The rice shortage is a result of a confluence of factors. Firstly, and I strongly believe the most significant factor, is the marked decrease in land for rice cultivation with their conversion to industrial zones, golf courses, residential subdivisions and shopping malls,” ani Zubiri.
“A short trip in the south Expressway will show it. From Batangas to Laguna and even to as near as Alabang in Muntinlupa and Las Piñas in Metro Manila, what used to be rice lands, 20 or 30 years ago, are now upscale subdivisions, shopping malls and industrial zones,” ani Zubiri.
Kaagad namang rumesbak si Villar gamit ang depensang parehong mahalaga ang pagpapalakas sa sektor ng agrikultura at pabahay lalo pa’t humigit-kumulang 4 milyon ang backlog sa housing project ng pamahalaan.
Ayon kay Villar, kung hindi nabalutan ng corruption ang lahat ng irrigation project ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, distribusyon ng fertilizer fund at iba pang agricultural fund, hindi luluwas ng Maynila ang mga magsasaka para maghanap ng pagkakakitaan.
…………………
Lets give the credit where credits due! This is the first time I agree with Sen: Zubiri, Because he too are cheater in 2007 election. Just like Gloria Arroyo, But he is right about this. But at the same time so is Sen: Villar, Because of what Gloria Arroyo, Et al. Did in 2004 Presidential election. The fertilizer money extended for the farmer’s its been deverted to the CAMPAIGN FUND OF GLORIA ARROYO, Because of these the farmer’s the one suffer the most, And so is the rest of filipino people.
Gloria Arroyo is the problem get rid of her. For as long as she is the one in power lahat tayo pupulotin sa kangkonga.
March 24th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
13
estong Says:
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:51 am
No one really cares for the farmers, or the marginalized Filipinos, who live poorer each day. Not the corrupt politicians from the president down, not the “holy” catholic bishops who profess faithfulness to Christ whose heart only bleeds for the marginalized.
Hands up with the hopeless politicians, but I believe the catholic church can do more to alleviate our woes. We have the numbers and the influence. If only the Bishops live with Christ’s teachings by starting to help the farmers…
Unfortunately, this seems like a wishful thinking. Pwede ba mag quo d etat maginstall ng bagong bishops?
………………………….
You’re just wasting you laway to these bishop. As we all can see it they’re only protecting Gloria Arroyo because she give them plenty of money. Forget about the bishop helping the poor! these bishop are waiting for the dollar’s to fall from heaven Malacanyang Palace.
March 24th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
14
mang godo Says:
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:38 am
It is really a pity how our farmers should be plowing the field, tilling the soil with their carabaos in the province instead they are marching all the way to cemented pavements of the city of manila without their carabao but on their bare feet demanding justice that land is for the tillers of the soil.
Time has really changed. Gone are the days when our farmers are the most simple, hardworking filipinos, gone are the days when our fishermen are out in the sea all day long catching fish.
Now, they are also in the street of manila without their carabao and hook and line but with placards demanding rights and justice for their cause.
It is not that I am against their cause. But to travel all the way from bukidnon to manila and air their grievances, their rights to our madam president is not good at all.
Laws are for everyone, there is no qualification and distinction. It is applied to everybody whether one is in the remote area of the country or in manila.
Though GMA might be power that be, the power whom the farmers want to act on their cause, there are laws to follow.
These farmers don’t have to sacrifice their lives, their families, their lands, their animals and travel a thousand miles by land and sea just to let GMA know their fighting for.
Because Manila is not your place.
Manila is a jungle of people not for plowing and tilling.
Just go home, be with the family and loved ones and wait for the verdict and whatever that be, be content and happy.
………………………
Wait for the verdict. Its easy for you to say because you’re not in their shoe. They went back marching to Malacanyang because Gloria Arroyo promise them they can have their land, Needless to say Gloria Arroyo lied again. I really don’t understand why they believe her in the first place when she already proven herself to be the number one LIAR.
March 24th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Mang Godo, you have a funny sounding name and your reasoning is just as funny. Pray tell us, how low can you go? If you cannot say something worth the salt, why not keep those moronic thoughts to yourself, you sanctimonious cretin?
Your reasoning is flawless for everything that crawls on four feet. Just like your master, GMA!
But let me explain it to you in terms your diminished mind could comprehend: GMA was true to herself when she promised those Sumilang farmers they’ll have there fair share. She was true to herself in the sense that she would not honor a promise. And why is that? She’s the biggest liar for crying out loud! Lying and cheating is GMA’s forte. The farmer’s could rot for all her care.
Why should the farmers go to the streets of manila then? It’s elementary, you retard. They need to be heard. The injustices they suffered needs to be told.
Are you still with me, mang Godo? I’ll explain the rest some other day as I know your little brain could handle only as much.
March 24th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
I realize we do not live in the US but the plight of the Sumalo farmers is very similar to the US Indians. The white man took away the land and never gave it back…. Does that mean that the US should give every piece of land to the Indians? Trust me that is NOT going to happen. The Indians lived on and worked the land long before whitey…. The Farmers claim they were on the land… but to my knowledge.. no one has provided any proof of land ownership, the payment of taxes or any attempts to free patent title the land. I also realize there is the CARP deal…. that of course does not apply to politicians…. Thinking of a former President newly diagnosed with colon cancer.
My only last thoughts are.. SMC can and will provide employment.. many of those so called farmers will just become tuba drinking sqatters… apply for a free patent title on their newly acquired land wait 5 years and sell it for a profit with nothing but time as their initial investment.
It would be different if those 144 hectares became a coop farming community and turnd a decent profit. Mark my words.. It will never happen due to the GREED factor.
March 23rd, 2008 at 4:38 pm
One Trillion, Two Hundred Million pesos gone wild!
Last March 19, 2008, PGMA announced before the graduating PMA cadets a Billion pesos (P 1,000,000,000) funds for military housing. In the afternoon, she again made another announcement regarding One Billion and a Half pesos (P 1,500,000,000) for the purchase of certified rice seeds through the Department of Agriculture to augment rice production.
And early this morning, March 23, 2008, Easter Sunday, she again announces Three Billion related to food; for what ever it means.
I’m just wondering, how she will produce this money. Every time PGMA goes around, she makes announcements of giving this, giving that. Why, is there no long term planning any more in the government? Is this how the government spends the 2008 budget of One Trillion, two hundred billion pesos? The Filipino people are already at the brink of desperation how to pay these back breaking taxes and yet PGMA treats people’s money as her own to squander?
As a practical individual, I would suggest that government takes over rice businesses, abolish taxes or subsidize fertilizers, insecticides, including ‘certified’ rice seeds and vegetables, and tax free or subsidized diesel fuel for agricultural purposes. This will not only benefit the local farmers, but we save on importations.
She should import hi-breed cattle, goats, and swine. The government should take over the importation and distribution of animal feed so that the price will be within the reach of local livestock growers. In short, animal dispersal!
This is what I call long term planning.
Presently, prices of meat and poultry are sky-rocking because of cartels in these businesses.
We have to act now because there might come a time that people may run out of patience.
The price of meat and poultry is now beyond the reach of average earners.
I have a wild guess that the expenses incurred by PGMA for staying in Baguio this Holy Week, in just 4 days, can reach up to 15 million, considering the overtime pay of military/police escorts; and expenses on her hangers-on.
While majority of charity patients in Public Hospitals dies because of lack of medicine, and insufficient hospital staffs, PGMA and her hangers-on, are cooling themselves in Baguio, impervious of the dire problems in our Public Hospitals.
The government machinery, particularly, the Cabinet Ministers and Department Head’s are elected, not through the basis of merits and qualifications, but for being blabber-mouth, and sycophant to the President.
We are at the age of computers and internets, and it is within the ability of our government to properly coordinate the purchase and distributions of these basic needs.
PGMA, stop your photo sessions! They are nothing but cheap political propaganda. People don’t buy them anymore.
Your people deserve better living condition considering the gargantuan budget in your disposal. Awarding the Somilao farmers their long deserve land, is not the end, but just the beginning. There are so many agrarian problems still waiting for your favorable action. Why not prod the snail pace Supreme Court and decide in favor of the Hacienda Luisita farmers.
In this way, you may still earn what ever little respect your constituent may still have, in your administration.
No matter how much you augment your personal military/police, you will not succeed in your drive against insurgency. The only weapon is to provide everyone cheap food on the table, eliminate corruption, and establish an independent judiciary.
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:38 am
It is really a pity how our farmers should be plowing the field, tilling the soil with their carabaos in the province instead they are marching all the way to cemented pavements of the city of manila without their carabao but on their bare feet demanding justice that land is for the tillers of the soil.
Time has really changed. Gone are the days when our farmers are the most simple, hardworking filipinos, gone are the days when our fishermen are out in the sea all day long catching fish.
Now, they are also in the street of manila without their carabao and hook and line but with placards demanding rights and justice for their cause.
It is not that I am against their cause. But to travel all the way from bukidnon to manila and air their grievances, their rights to our madam president is not good at all.
Laws are for everyone, there is no qualification and distinction. It is applied to everybody whether one is in the remote area of the country or in manila.
Though GMA might be power that be, the power whom the farmers want to act on their cause, there are laws to follow.
These farmers don’t have to sacrifice their lives, their families, their lands, their animals and travel a thousand miles by land and sea just to let GMA know their fighting for.
Because Manila is not your place.
Manila is a jungle of people not for plowing and tilling.
Just go home, be with the family and loved ones and wait for the verdict and whatever that be, be content and happy.
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:51 am
No one really cares for the farmers, or the marginalized Filipinos, who live poorer each day. Not the corrupt politicians from the president down, not the “holy” catholic bishops who profess faithfulness to Christ whose heart only bleeds for the marginalized.
Hands up with the hopeless politicians, but I believe the catholic church can do more to alleviate our woes. We have the numbers and the influence. If only the Bishops live with Christ’s teachings by starting to help the farmers…
Unfortunately, this seems like a wishful thinking. Pwede ba mag quo d etat maginstall ng bagong bishops?
March 21st, 2008 at 8:25 pm
I call for a total change of the CARL. Its the root of so many more evils. It has never given us our daily bread. Worst, there is no more rice for us!
March 21st, 2008 at 9:11 am
If only the land was given first lock, stock, and barrel then the farmers would have sold it to SMFI, instead. That is what happened at CALABARZON. The farmers were given the CLOWA then sold the land to developers for a hefty windfall. CARP is evil. It has a forked policy.
March 20th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Time and again, our government shows it real face towards Land Reform. During the time of President Cory Aguino, she was challenge by Gregorio Honasan, then a Senator, to show her sincerity towards the landless tenants to surrender Hacienda Luisita to the farmer recipient.
Instead, the Mendiola massacre happened. Countless farmers from Hacienda Luisita died and numerous others were seriously wounded, by Military/Police. And up to the present, no Military/Police was ever convicted.
Another incident regarding Hacienda Luisita occurred wherein Mrs. Teresita Santo Tomas of Department of Labor sent military to safeguard the gate of Hacienda Luisita. Again, same of the protesting farmers were massacred. Again, no one was accused.
There are many injustices related to Land Reform. A classic example of injustice is what the then President FVR did to a Hacienda, somewhere in Batangas, a farm which was already awarded to the recipient farmers was overturned by FVR. In spite of land certificate of ownership, FVR, the then President, reverse the ruling, and convert the Hacienda into an Industrial Zone, at the expense of the farmers.
Ironically, the conversion of the Hacienda into an Economic Zone did not materialize. And for reason beyond my comprehension, the original owner got it back again.
The farm in Somilao, Bukidnon is a typical case wherein you can construe that our government is insincere towards awarding tenant farmers to own a farm. And the Commission on Land Reform is an accessory and an obstacle. For several years now, Land Reform Commission has not awarded any farmer recipient. It is an NPA, or non performing agency.
Many religious/civic organizations, as well as lawyers, wanted to help the aggrieve farmers of their rights. But, with the nature and attitude of our government, more particularly, under National Security Adviser, Norberto Gonzales, it is next to impossible to turn the table in favor of the Tenant farmers.
All Sec. Norberto Gonzales will do is to brand those poor farmers, as leftist, communist, or NPA, and they are now considered as fugitive, and subject for liquidation. Or if the farmers course the complaint to the court, mind you, it will take decades before their case is acted upon. In reality, Judges just sit on their cases to rot.
Our government’s attitude contributes a lot to the injustice in our society. We have an Oligarch kind of Government, wherein the lowly people that comprises the majority of the populace has been deprive of their rights.
On top of the injustice, the people are subjected to a very severe taxation, which affects their very existence. While in highly developed Nation, like America and India, whenever there is an economic down turn, their citizens are given tax shelter, tax rebate, and incentives, in order for its citizen to survive during hard times; here in the Philippines, unjustified increases in both Local, and National taxes, is always ever increasing.
And adding insult to injury, our government squanders these hard earned taxes. Even the remittances of OFW which should have been spent sparingly, but no, PGMA, herself, squanders it by jet-setting abroad, with 70 congressmen and hangers-on while majority of the citizens suffers for lack of wants.
Indeed, our government, which comprises 90 percent ethnic Chinese, is a very good example of a nation conquered without firing a single shot. These ethnic Chinese dominated our big business and they established cartels so that they can dictate the prices. Arthur Yap, also an ethnic Chinese, heading the Department of Agriculture; with his announcement regarding shortage of Rice Supply, resulted to panic buying and spiraling price increase.
Instead of Advising PGMA to abolish all taxes on fertilizers, insecticides, and diesel, as emergency measure, to promote rice production, the blubbering head of Department of Agriculture made the stupid announcement regarding rice shortage.
In Thailand, year 1997, during the Asian economic meltdown, the government has an order to shot anyone who is rumor mongering with regard to their currency.
Our media is also controlled by ethnic Chinese, and I, for one, feels slighted to the insults coming out of Radios and T.V. programs where in scantily clod young Filipinas are made to gyrate, a sign of debauchery, in front of the T.V. Even would be participant, such as grand mothers are made to look foolish and stupid, just to be a participant.
I also object to the manner T.V. news give emphasis on gruesome murders, homicide, and killings of all sorts, as though ethnic Filipinos are only good for these activities. We, the ethnic Filipinos strongly object to these kind of shows.
These ethnic Chinese did not even spare our religion. The Catholic priesthood is predominantly ethic Chinese. Why, aren’t there any more ethnic Filipinos who can take that role in our country?
To the lowly ethnic Filipino farmers, someday, you will wake up, and find out that this country is no longer ours. We have been invaded.
March 20th, 2008 at 4:43 am
as far as i know, farmers together with their carabaos are plowing the field all day long. they till the soil and feed the carabao.
anyway, times have changed. we have fishermen not in the sea catching fish, but in streets as galunggong become scarce and expensive and would like to know why, better ask Cory,
now we have farmers without carabao but going to malacanang to demand the land that they said their own.
this is not to demean our farmers but really time has changed.
we don’t have anymore land to farm because of subdivisions, we don’t have anymore fish to catch because of pollution and over fishing and many more where our breadbasket workers were out of work.
again, they put the blame to gloria. really time has changed.
March 20th, 2008 at 3:16 am
Mr. De los Reyes, I do not mean to insult your intelligence when I say that you should check your facts before stating things against the Sumilao (not Somilao) farmers. Do remember that the 144 hectares of land the “original owner” (Norberto Quisumbing) was recognized under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988 (R.A. 6657) as Ancestral in nature (historically, the 144 hectares of land in question was part of a larger parcel about 244 hectares in size which was illegally seized by the Angeles clan in the 40’s from the Higaonons there) and whose tenants - the 137 MAPALAD farmers and now the SALFA farmers who are the children of the MAPALAD farmers - were the descendants of the original residents of the land, thus entitling them to ownership of the land via the issuance of a Certificate of Land Ownership. Next, regarding your argument that the conversion of the 144 hectares of land to agro-industrial nullified the ownership of the land by the farmers: this could simply not be possible because the application for land conversion was ILLEGAL in nature, primarily because the request for land conversion (N.B. city councils can only reclassify lands, not convert them) was passed at the town council level of Sumilao and affirmed at the provincial council of Bukidnon with the knowledge that such a request can only be received at the Department of Land Reform and that the “conversion order” passed by the Bukidnon provincial council was moot and void, and secondly because the 144 hectares of land was evaluated by 3 government offices as prime agricultural land, exempting it from conversion acc. to DAR Administrative Order 20, series of 1992. Finally, regarding the sale of the land to SMFI: Quisumbing could not have sold the land to SMFI in good faith or legally given that the development plans contained in SMFI’s development plans were radically different from Quisumbing’s plans in the application for land conversion that he had submitted to the provincial council (which by the way, was never even completed in the first place). If the law is to be followed, the non-compliance with the “1 year to begin, 5 years to complete” rule was enough to nullify the “conversion order”; however, SMFI brazenly defied DAR A.O. 1, series of 2002 which included sections on the obligation of future landowners to stick with the original development plans of the land conversion applicant, lest the land return to the original CARP grantees (which in this case, I believe, is a good thing). By proposing to build a piggery on the land, they violated the order by leaps and bounds.
Last time I heard, SMC (yes Mr. De los Reyes, the case is now being pursued not just by SMFI but also by the bigwigs in San Miguel Corporation) was indeed offering another, larger land to the Sumilao farmers. In fact, that’s old news since that was the talk of the town during the farmers’ stay in DLSU a few months back. However, the question that begs to be asked is this: given that SMC already knew of the presence of this land in Bukidnon, why did they still insist on using land that was smaller in nature and whose ownership was doubtful? Besides, during the “negotiations”, SMC did not fully disclose the ownership of the land leading us to suspect that there was some foul play involved - might it be that SMC was taking the land of another group of farmers, that it was part of a “divide and conquer” plot the powers above were hatching?
Mr. de los Reyes, I, my colleagues in DLSU , and the many other youth groups who have expressed support for the Sumilao Farmers firmly believe that the facts point to justice being denied to the farmers. This is not simply a case of farmers wanting their land back - this is a case of farmers wanting justice for the atrocities done to them and thousands of farmers around the country who have had their land stolen from them by the rich and powerful. The Sumilao issue might just be the test case that those who are still looking for their dignity as people - and the appreciation of the people as the beings responsible for putting food on our tables - are looking for.
Besides dear sir, can you stomach the fact that priority is being given to providing air-conditioning to pigs over the livelihood and life of human beings just like you? I think you know the answer to that.
March 20th, 2008 at 1:19 am
One can pity the farmers or not, the problem is who is the legal owner. And a legal owner cannot be stripped of his rights nor forced to give up his property. It is another matter that the farmers did not aqt useful before the land was sold and refused any offered solution.
Generally, it is a similar matter than with Luisita. Do anyone think these former workers could run a splitted Luisita successful? There is not much chance for it.
Which of course does not clear the question whether or not Luisita has been rightful obtained by the late Cojuangko or through misuse of a government fund in his favor as Marcos claimed and a court also stated in a return order, which has been nullified when Cory became president.
Ru7nning a big agrar business needs a lot of knowledge, unity and also money.
March 20th, 2008 at 12:21 am
To Delos Reyes,
While, It is true that the farmers lost right to the land when its conversion was approved, that is NOT what the farmers are contesting. Quisumbing and SMFI failed to follow the conditions of the Supreme Court approved conversion order, giving the farmers right to re-claim the land.
March 19th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
this is a democratic country. so every problem must be dealt democraticaly… equal rights. i understand the farmers’ situation but the supreme court still has the last decision. they are the law.
March 19th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
DLR…see what i mean, when i suggested to you about ignoring BNG? i think her keys in her pc are dedicated to only a few letters/words…lies,damn, cofer(sic), robber, steal, etc…all nonsense.
so many politicians have added political color once again and rallied behind the farmers, without really studying this case…ang daming nakisakay! w/o even knowing the facts. i just hope they read your piece, one from a disinterested party.
March 19th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Gloria Kawatan how about Cory Aquino’s Hacienda Luisita. Where farmers not only die from hunger but also from guns. These Hacienda Luisita farmers cant walk “million million” miles to demand the rights fort their lands, they are getting shot before they could even reach Hacienda Luisita’s gate. You should have another alias, aside from “Gloria Kawatan” try also “Cory Kriminal”
March 19th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
The letter writer from Canada asks a valid question. Do the Somilao farmers have a right to the Bukidnon land? Legally, they have lost it from the time the original owner of the land converted the estate into an agricultural-industrial zone. This is an option allowed under the CARP rules, provided the farmers will be employed, given jobs and assured of other benefits, and be part of the development program. The farmers refused; they want to own the land for themselves. Subsequently, for lack of funds, the landowner sold the 144-hectare farm to San Miguel Foods Inc. The farmers appealed to GMA for help. Fearing a backlash from the angry farmers and to appease them, GMA arbitrarily promised to recover the farm for them with the government paying full compensation for the capital investments already spent by SMFI. SMFI did not like the unilateral action taken by GMA and went to court.
Will the SMFI eventually give in and agree to let go of the farm? I doubt it. The fact that they brought the issue to court means they have no intention of giving up the farm. The farmers are in for the long haul and perhaps for nothing. Last I heard, SMFI offered to replace the farm with another somewhere in the area. That too was rejected by the farmers. What the farmers want is for GMA to use her presidential power to forcibly take the land from SMFI. GMA will have to declare martial law so she can do that.
March 19th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
These poor farmer can march a million milles to demand what they want. Gloria Arroyo, Don’t give a damn. If they die thats make Gloria Arroyo, Very happy so that she don’t have to keep her promise to the farmer’s. These farmer’s should know better to believe all her lies.