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OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura

Fourth Issue (English Edition) Y

ear X No. 2 | July - December 2015

DOWN WITH IMPERIALISM! In This Issue “SENATOR COLMENARES” AT THE NAT’L CONVENTION IN QUEZON CITY

8 ANAKPAWIS

“UMA” DERIVES ITS NAME FROM THE LOCAL TERM FOR “FARM” OR “RiceFIELD” USED IN SOUTHERN REGIONS OF THE PHILIPPINES ment’s role in exempting agricultural NEWS plantations from land reform and its threat on the food security of the

ofFilipino affected people. farmers Casilao, and lumad on the (indig other hand, described not only the situation - underenous harshpeoples), labor but conditions also the predicain these- ment of agricultural workers toiling

plantations. He ended his presentation REAP Mindanao Network Launched with a call to resist oppression, plun- der and exploitation. to Resist Expansion of Plantations Prominent guests include Prof. Fe- lipe de Leon Jr. of the National Com- mission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA); Rep. Fernando Hicap of Anak- pawis Partylist; Former Lumad, peasants, church people, the academe and advocates of agrarian The Network Resisting Expansion of Agricultural Plantations in Mindanao Rep. , UP Prof. reform, human rights and the environment come together at the REAP Min- danao Network launch at the UP College of Education (REAP-Mindanao Network) was successfully launched in a national conference on Roland Simbulan, Dr. Carol Araullo of the Bagong Alyansang Mindanao plantations held at the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Educa- (BAYAN); Elmer Labog, KMU National PANAP HR workshop in Penang tionThe A launchuditorium was spearheaded in Diliman, by Quezon City last October 28, as part of activities of the sentedChairperson, by the among Tindoga others. lumad organi 2015the REAP Manilakbayan secretariat and main ng Mindanaocon protest caravan. Cultural performances were pre- The Pesticide Action Network- Asia Pacific (PANAP) held a Human veners led by the Rural Missionaries its national office, RMP-National, the toxicologisttion Network and (PA environmentalN)-Philippines activPres- - Rights (HR) Training Workshop from 17 – 20 August 2015 in Penang, Ma- - Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agri- ident Dr. Romeo Quijano, a renowned zation of Bukidnon, KONTRA-GAPI laysia attended by various international organizations including militant peasant groups from the Philippines, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipi- kultura (UMA), the Center for Trade - and songwriter Danny Fabella. tional and local formations were sent nas (KMP), Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA); Solidarity messages from interna- of the Philippines in the Northern Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) ist, Bayan Muna Rep. , and human rights group Karapatan. Mindanao Region (RMP-NMR) and and the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Former Anakpawis Rep. and KMP PAN-AP leads the “No Land, No Life: March for Life! Fight for Land, Pilipinas (KMP), with support from Chairperson Rafael Mariano, RMP Na- by the PAN-Asia Pacific, AMRC, the Rights and Resources” campaign which highlights land and resource the Hong Kong-based Asia Monitor tional Coordinator Sister Francis Ano- World Council of Churches – Ecumeni- grabbing as a human rights issue in the region. Resource Center (AMRC), the All-UP ver, and Mindanao labor leader Ariel cal Advocacy Alliance (WCC-EAA) and Workers Alliance and the Congress of Casilao also of Anakpawis and the the Philippine Task Force for Indig- published by the Unyon ng mga Go Organic! Manggagawa sa Agrikultura Teachers and Educators for National- Kilusang Mayo Uno in the Southern enous Peoples’ Rights (TFIP). (UMA Pilipinas - Federation ismThis and eventDemocracy was accompanied (CONTEND) in by U Pa Mindanao Region (KMU-SMR). Reac- UMA and RMP-National also or- UMA attended the Nov. 5 launch of Green Action PH, and other of Agricultural Workers) Diliman. tors include Datu Jomorito Goaynon ganized and participated in several events recently held to promote organic and sustainable agriculture. 56 K-9th St., West Kamias, of Katribu, Sister Mary Jane Caspillo forum-discussions to promote the Within the framework of the struggle for genuine land reform, UMA heeds the challenge to exercise cooperation and develop production Quezon City 1102 Philippines Plunderphoto exhibit in Mindanao” mounted which by RMP-NMR featured of RMP-NMR and representatives of REAP Mindanao Network at the Bu- and UMA titled “The Other Face of lumad and workers from various ag- lacan State University, Dela Salle Col- work particularly in its efforts to introduce organic farming practices in the effects of the expansion of corpo Hacienda Luisita, where its local affiliate AMBALA has embarked on a For questions, comments, suggestions ricultural plantations in Mindanao. lege of St. Benilde, Ateneo de Manila groundbreaking land cultivation initiative or bungkalan since 2005. and contributions, contacts us at - Dr. Quijano comprehensively University, Miriam College, UP Manila, landline: (632) 799.2009 cides on people and the environment Aside from the Green Action PH launch, UMA also participated in the University of Sto. Tomas, San Isidro email: [email protected] rate agricultural plantations in Min- talked about the ill effects of pesti- Organic Food Fiesta held July 12; the Philippine Network of Food Security twitter: @UMApilipinas danao.a briefer I nfographicson Mindanao were plantations also dis- Lparticipantsabrador Church, composed and the of Cchurchlaret S emipeo- Programmes’ (PNFSP) Organic Fair, August 29; and the Organic Farming Find UMA Pilipinas and Unyon ng played in the conference venue, while especially in banana plantations. nary, where a total of over a thousand for Healthy Filipinos and Healthy Environment fair, held last Oct.22. UMA mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura Dr. Quijano is currently facing res- teachers interacted with lumad lead- also gave inputs on organic agriculture at a forum held at the UST Thom- on Facebook prepared by the CTUHR was included urrected harassment suits filed by ple, community leaders, students and as Aquinas Research Complex in November. in the conference kit provided to the the Lapanday Agricultural Company - Green Action PH is a broad national alliance of organizations, insti- tutions, producers and consumers with common advocacies towards Media Officer: participants. More than 300 people (LADECO) because of his research ers Aisa Seisa, Dulping Ogan, Kerlan Mariano described the govern sustainable production and sustainable consumption. GI ESTRADA 0916.611.4181 theattended conference the event. include Pesticide Ac and exposes. Fanagel and other resource persons Speakers and resource persons for - like Dr. Gene Nisperos of the Health Al- 2 | ANG UMA JULY- DECEMBER 2015 - liance for Democracy (HEAD). JULY-DECEMBER 2015 ANG UMA | 3 interrupts the stretch of encroaching into peasant and lumad or in An errant signpost son, Antonio Floirendo Jr., is notorious for non as part of its aggressive and seemingly- Planting Hunger digenous peoples’ communities in Bukid- sugarcane fields in Butong, Quezon, Bukidnon in Min- uninterrupted expansion thrust. Originally engaged in fresh banana imposingdanao, which facade is only of the a few production, the Floriendos own the kilometers away from the plantationsTagum Development with complete Corporation processing or fa TADECO which controls vast banana corporation has ventured into several - Bukidnon Sugar Co., Inc. or businessescilities in Davao including del Norte. pineapple Since produc then, the Busco, one of the biggest ers call this interlude the tiempo muerto. - sugarIn other mills such in haciendas, the country. sugar work- tion. With its enterprise with global along the endless dirtroad seems to fruit giant Del Monte, DAVCO exports an It is dead season, and the bare quiet average of at least 8.5 million boxes of Del Monte gold pineapples per year, sold be the nagging hunger of farmworkers to trading partners in Japan, Korea, Hong as they wait for the cane to grow. This Kong, the Middle East and New Zealand. painful lull of idleness will be broken by fromSince advocates last year, and H aciendapeasant Cgroupsarmen their hard toil when harvest time finally tions are utterly inappropriate without land reform beneficiaries with support comes along. Fifteen years after a collective land parcel through a collective Certificate eventually, the sugar planters hauled in such as Kahugpungan sa mga Mag-uu- reform certificate was awarded to of Land Ownership Award or mother adequate government support for their ciariestheir own were people duped to to do sell work their for lands cheaper ma (Farmers Association) or Kasama- sugarcane farmworkers in Hacienda CLOA. agricultural production. Each benefi- wages. Before long, some of the benefi- Bukidnon, affiliated with the Kilusang Carmen through the Comprehensive The beneficiaries were eventually or- ciary was compelled to pay the Land Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and awayAgrarian as tapaseros Reform Program (CARP), the ganized by the Department of Agrarian Bank a yearly amortization of Php to unscrupulous buyers evading CARP the Organisasyon sa Yanong Obrerong areso-called barred beneficiaries from cultivating are still their slaving own Reform (DAR) as the South East Sugar 27,813. After only three years of bad restrictions through dubious waivers. Nagkahiusa (Organization of United or cane cutters. They Workers Multi-Purpose Cooperative harvests and debt traps, it was esti- By 2012, the Land Bank and the DAR Farmworkers) or Ogyon, UMA’s local af- (SESWMPC) where non-government or- mated that 99% of the beneficiaries in cancelledwarned beneficiaries because of their that thefailure awarded to pay afiliate land incultivation Bukidnon initiative province, to barricaded produce land and growing their own food. ganizations and so-called development Hacienda Carmen cannot fulfill these land reform certificate will soon be the area from DAVCO and embarked on The area marked with a “NO TRES- groups closely linked with government governmentheavy payments. or its patently bogus land threat mouthed by these insincere and towardsPASSING the” signpost massive is mountainnow a barren ranges agencies have brokered agricultural Without any assistance from the irresponsibleamortization. government By this time, institutions the empty was food for the community such as corn, field stretching a few hundred hectares projects using land reform funds. The peanuts, cassava and other root crops. hacienda is now claimed by a corporate SESWMPC held the collective certificate reform program, some of the beneficiar- Farmers set up and manned the bar- of Bukidnon. The former sugarcane for 319.47 hectares. If distributed, each sawies were the hapless compelled and to impoverished pawn their lands. ben justBitter like Pineapple rubbing salt on their open wounds. ricadesthreatened unfazed. and harassed Even while by engagedarmed beneficiary would hold 2.19 hectares of Wealthy landlords and sugar planters in production, farmers were constantly agricultural plantation. land. ciaries were coerced to enter into lease- The shady deals forged by sugar The land is reserved for pineapples. The Hacienda Carmen sugarcane agreementseficiaries as whereeasy prey. they By were 2003, paid benefi Php- goons employed by DAVCO. Earlier this In an interview with UMA, Mang estate was assessed by the DAR and the have now allowed the entry of giant rolledyear, after in into two their successful plots and harvests completely by Arnel, one of the original Hacienda Car- toLand pay Bank the government to have a market almost value a million so that Mang Arnel claims is not even planters with individual beneficiaries the farmers, the company’s bulldozers men agrarian reform beneficiaries, says high each beneficiary would be obliged 5,000 per hectare per year – an amount intheirs sugarcane is a long estates and painful such as story. Hacienda But for agribusiness firms. According to Mang destroyed their precious food crops. the thousands of farmworkers toiling pesos for their individual parcel. Under enough to cover their yearly amortiza- Arnel, wealthy sugar planters with the The DAR Adjudication Board has fi- whichthe CA RP,will the eventually government be sourced must pay from tion obligations. collusion of local government officials nally intervened – but in favor of the pine- Luisita, Hacienda Roxas or in the sugar- “just compensation” to the landlords sugarBy planters2008, the dictated annual therent terms went ofas thesehigh have entered Hacienda Carmen through appleown land plantation. as bitterly Charges prompted were by slapped the land Negros, this anguished narrative is as Php 15,000 per hectare. But as the a 15-year contract with DAVCO, without against farmers, barring them from their allBogus too familiar.Land Reform amortization payments of beneficiaries. the knowledge of residents and land Amortization must be completed for a lease agreements, the supposed land reform beneficiaries in the area. menacing “NO TRESPASSING” signpost. period of 30 years before beneficiaries reform beneficiaries have totally lost ef- by theThe late Davao agribusiness Agri-Ventures mogul Corpora Antonio- plantingThis kind hunger of violence among the– spawned country’s by tion, Inc. or DAVCO, a firm established bogus land reform and impunity – is In February 2000, 52 out of the total could finally own the parcels of land asfective farmhands control inover their their own awarded land until parcels. 130 farmworkers in Hacienda Carmen awarded through land reform. At first, the beneficiaries were hired Floirendo Sr. and now headed by his were initially awarded a 288-hectare Farmers lament that these obliga- food producers. 4 | ANG UMA JULY- DECEMBER 2015 JULY-DECEMBER 2015 ANG UMA | 5 NEWS The Escalante Massacre: Luisita under BS Aquino July 27 was President BS ternational solidarity activities such as Aquino’s fifth and last State of UMA also participated in various in- UMA JOINS ANTI-IMPERIALIST the Nation Address (SONA). For Three Decades After the farmers in Hacienda Luisita, PROTESTS, INT’L GATHERINGS the Peasant Anti-Imperialist Solidarity that day marked more than (PAIS) held Nov. 13, sponsored by the half a decade of Aquino’s lies KMP and the Asian Peasant Coalition and bogus land reform. (APC); and the International League of Such is the sentiment of Militant peasant organizations Diliman campus, Liwasang Bonifacio in Peoples’ Struggle 5th International As- speakers at State of Luisita, a in the Philippines led by the Kilu- Manila and the Redemptorist Church in sembly (ILPS5thIA) from Nov. 14-16. press conference and solidarity sang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) Baclaran, Pasay City from Octoberlumad 26 to During the ILPS Assembly, the Com- program organized by Luisita Watch held at the UP College protestlaunched caravans and joined and various international anti-im- November 22. The people of Mindanao againstmission foreign 6 for A plundergrarian Reformof land Candon- of MassComm Diliman, a week perialist activities, including national composed mainly of peasants, cern called for intensified struggle or indigenous peoples, Moros, and oth- before Aquino’s last SONA. solidarity gatherings from October to er sectors affected by state-sponsored AMBALA SecGen Re- state terrorism. The Commission 6 nato Mendoza described the November. attacks on their communities and in- to support their resistance to milita workshop was attended by more than Aquino administration as full Peasant protests from October 15- digenous schools, called on the public 50 delegates from various farmers and of panloloko, pandarahas, at 21 were held in Quezon City and Ma- delegates held several protest actions- advocate groups in the Philippines, In- pangangamkam (deception, nila to mark International Rural Wom- andrization cultural and activities plunder. to Manilakbayan highlight the donesia, India, Malaysia, Kurdistan, US, violence, and landgrabbing). en’s Day (Oct. 15); World “Hunger” Day France, Australia and Taiwan. An anomalous solar power land(Oct. reform16) and program the 43rd enacted anniversary during of scale mining activities and aggressive The ILPS Commission 6 also led a public-private partnership Presidential Decree (PD) 27, the bogus expansionpeople’s struggle of corporate against foreign agricultural large- picket protest at the Ninoy Aquino Me- (PPP) project approved by Aquino is now under construc- morial Shrine in Quezon City to con- tion in disputed agricultural the Marcos dictatorship (Oct. 21). demn the 11th year of injustice and The Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa plantations in Mindanao. areas in Hacienda Luisita. militant groups that welcomed the Ma among groups which led the forma impunity on the Hacienda Luisita mas- PHOTO FROM REP. KARLOS ZARATE Agrikultura (UMA) was among various During the Manilakbayan, UMA was sacre. UMA and AMBALA Vice-Chair- - A street conference against oil palm- person Rudy Corpuz also joined a can- Before the massacre nilakbayan ng Mindanao protest cara- tion of the REAP Mindanao Network. Tomasdle-lighting Morato protest rotunda in commemoration led by militant at the picketlines van which held camp-outs at the UP of the Hacienda Luisita martyrs at the Various peasant and human forces led by 50 combat-ready Regional plantations was also held Nov. 4, spear- and also participated in by foreign del rights groups, including the National Special Action Forces (RSAF), local po- of Hacienda Luisita’s headed by KMP. UMA also mounted labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) licemen, members of the Civilian Home Welgang Bayan in 2004, the REAP photo exhibit at the Interna- - commemorated the 30th anniversary Defense Force (CHDF), and unidentified sugar workers also tional Festival of Peoples Resistance egates of ILPS and APWLD. Protests of theA torch Escalante parade massacreby residents in of Negros Esca armed men opened fire at the protesters, and Struggles (IFPRS) held Nov. 17. were also held in Hacienda Luisita. Occidental last September. mid-afternoon of September 20, 1985. became the main END IMPUNITY. Protests on the 11th year - Shooting reportedly occurred after of the Hacienda Luisita massacre. (KMP) Peasants and agricultural workers casualties of the violent joined various sectors at the anti-APEC lante City was held a night before the then-Escalante town mayor Braulio dispersal of Escalante’s protests held from Nov. 18-19. Despite actual anniversary. On September 20, Lumayo and Congressman Armando the NFSW held protest marches in Es- Gustilo left the town hall with their Welgang Bayan tightminated security, protests road in blocks a mammoth and disper rally- sals, militant groups led by BAYAN cul- calanteThe Escalanteand Bacolod Massacre City to was honor the there bodyguards. two decades earlier. sultfallen of martyrs. the violent assault against the monedAfter for the investigation carnage, localby the warlords Escalan at Gil Puyat Avenue, near the site of the - Lumayo and Gustilo were never sum- actual APEC meetings. - 5,000-strong rally composed mainly of te Massacre Fact-Finding Commission. Franco only 14, and others in their teens where“We leaders declare of thisdeveloped day as countries historic, hacienda or sugar workers and other A ranking police officer in command and early 20s – Norberto Locanilao and in total contrast to the APEC summit andprogressive church peoplesectors who such gathered as fisherfolk, in Es of RSAF was assigned elsewhere and Maria Luz Mondejar, (16); Michael Day- no administration brainstorm on how students, urban poor, professionals was even promoted. Only three (3) low- anan, Angelina Lape, and Ronilo Santa and puppet regimes such as the Aqui- to step up wholesale landgrabbing and - ranking policemen were imprisoned as Ana, (17); William Alegre, Alex Labatos, calante to protest the 13th anniversary fall guys for their role in the massacre. Claro Monares, Manuel Tan, and Cesar of the declaration of Martial Law. They were eventually released in 2003. Tejones, (18); Nenita Orot (20); Juvelyn control over vast agricultural lands. of Escalante were honored as heroes at are standing up against this malevo The mobilization was also in re- On December 3, 2012 the martyrs Jaravello, Rogelio Megallen Jr., and Rodol- We, the producer-farmers of the world lence of monopoly capitalism or impe sponse to a nationwide call for a “Wel- fo Montealto (21), Rodolfo Mahinay and - gang Bayan” (People’s Strike) against theMost Bantayog of the ng massacre mga Bayani victims in Quezonwere in Edgardo Salili (23). - the Marcos dictatorship. City. All victims were hacienda workers rialism,” said APC and KMP Chairper- At least nineteen people were killed except for Juvelyn who was a commu- son Rafael “Ka Paeng” Mariano. 6 | ANG UMA JULY- DECEMBER 2015 and scores were injured when state their youth with the youngest, Rovena nity JUL organizer.Y-DECEMBE R 2015 ANG UMA | 7 NEWS “Senator Colmenares” at the Mindanao Labor Anakpawis Nat’l Convention Leader named 1st Nominee of Anakpawis presented its

Anakpawis Party-list nominees for the 2016 Elections dur- ing its national convention last Sept. 26. Ariel “Äyik” Casilao, local leader of militant labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) in the Southern Mindanao Region (KMU-SMR) was named first nominee of Anakpawis. Casilao is also an organizer of agri- cultural workers in SMR as leader and spokesperson of the National Federa- Makabayan Bloc senatorial candidate Atty. Neri Colmenares (center) with staunch sup- tion of Labor Unions or NAFLU. Before porters, actress Angel Locisn (L) and former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo (R). this, Casilao was a founding member of militant youth organization Anakbayan During the Anakpawis Party-list National Convention held in 1998; secretary-general of Karapa- last September 26 at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon tan-SMR and leader of BAYAN- SMR. City, Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares told the Casilao was elected National Vice- hundreds of toiling masses in attendance that he became an Chairperson of Anakpawis Party-list during the convention. He also worked activist because he witnessed and became part of the day- as co-convenor of the just concluded to-day struggle of sugar workers in his native Negros Occiden- Manilakbayan ng Mindanao 2015. tal. The militant struggle of peasants and agricultural workers Casilao and the KMU in SMR have continues to inspire him to this day. ledand workershave further in several resulted successful in the effec pro- Colmenares knew the vicious- others House Bill 252, better known tests and strikes which were due to ness of Martial Law – he was ar- as the Genuine Agrarian Reform - rested twice as a student activist Bill (GARB). He is also known for tive expansion of their organizing and in Bacolod City and in Cagayan authoring the bill for the P2,000 in- politicalactions againstwork in giantthe region. banana Among planta ag- Valley and endured severe tor- crease in the monthly social secu- ricultural workers, Casilao led recent ture. Tempered by his experience rity (SSS) benefits of senior citizens, Among the new and strengthened- in detention, he pursued higher a piece of legislation now only tion companies. studies and eventually became waiting for a signature from the a lawyer. Colmenares is now the President to be finally enacted. unions are the United Pantaron Banana President of the National Union But more than that, Rep. Neri Workers Union (UPBWU-ADLO-KMU) of Peoples Lawyers (NUPL) which Colmenares is still part of the par- in Davao del Norte and the Nagkahiu- handles cases pro bono for politi- liament of the streets where he sang Mamumuo sa Suyapa Farm (NA- cal prisoners, activists, and for or- marches alongside the masses in MASUFA-NAFLU-KMU) in Compostela dinary masses in need. fighting an oppressive and repres- Valley. The Banana Workers Associa- When he became a Congress- sive system to effect change. tion (BANWA) chapters in North Cota- man of Bayan Muna (People First) UMA is among the toiling mass- bato, Davao City, Davao del Norte and Party-list, he authored and co- es of peasants and workers who Compostela Valley have all expanded authored several bills that uphold fully support the candidacy of accordingly. The new alliance Banana the rights and welfare of the ordi- Neri Colmenares for Senator in the Imentalndustry in G rowerssecuring and victory Workers for Aa gainstnum nary Filipino. This includes among 2016 National Elections. SUMIFRU (BIGWAS) was also instru- - ber of agricultural workers’ strikes this UMA NATIONAL CONGRESS TO BE HELD NEXT YEAR year. Other than Casilao, Former Anak- The Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) will hold its Third Na- pawis Rep. and KMP Chairperson Ra- tional Congress in Mindanao early next year. Member-organizations and other faelsecond Mariano and third and nominees Anakpawis respective National interested parties are enjoined to contact us for inquiries and details. Our email Chairman Randall Echanis were named address is [email protected]. - ly of Anakpawis Party-list.