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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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!