The Sumilao Farmers’ March for Justice

Is there hope for this country? Of course, but you won’t find it in our “leaders” or in our politicians.

Instead, you will find it in ordinary people like the Higaonon farmers of Sumilao, Bukidnon who walked (and are walking) from Mindanao to Manila.

Why are they doing this? Are they crazy? Of course not. They are doing this historic walk to ask the government to give them titles to their land. Under the agrarian reform law, this land should have been awarded to them years ago.

Why wasn’t it awarded to them? Because agrarian reform in the Philippines is a joke; this is a country where farmers continue to be landless and where lazy landowners continue to live their lives playing golf and polo. You know, living off the fat of the land.

So where’s the hope in this? One, the fact that the farmers are not just sitting down and complaining about their fate. And two, the fact that they have adopted a creative non-violent method of expressing their demands. Let’s watch them walk in the videos below.

In Mindanao: Here’s a video of the group during the early days of their march:

In the Visayas: The farmers cross the San Juanico bridge which connects the islands of Samar and Leyte. It is heartening to note in this video that there were some local support groups who marched with the Sumilao farmers.

Neither strong rains nor muddy roads will stop the farmers in their quest.

In Luzon: Here, the Sumilao farmers enter the province of Camarines Sur.

The farmers will be in Manila today or tomorrow. Will government officials listen and give the farmers what is due them?

Note: This was originally published here but I messed it up when I was working with the WordPress template. Instead of just deleting it, I decided to move it here.

4 thoughts on “The Sumilao Farmers’ March for Justice”

  1. NOTE: These comments are transferred from kaigorotan.com where the article was originally posted.

    By Ganda:
    wow! nakapaa sila talaga? What a spirit!

    Blessings to them! Sana God will tweak the minds of the kinauukulan to give these farmers what they deserve.

    By Bill:
    Oo nga. It was really interesting seeing their videos. Will try to update on the action of DAR. Really hoping that this will bear something positive for the farmers. Thanks again.

    By Trublue:
    History will eventually note that it’s quite worthwhile doing it than never to have done it all. There should be something good coming out of this march. More power to them and cheers also.

    By Bill:
    Well said. Even if the government will not act on their demands, I’m sure this is something that the participants will treasure and that others, like us, will appreciate. Thanks.

  2. Eerie to watch. I hope it will make the hairs of those officials stand on ends forever, til they face the demands and act on them. Good acts always bear good fruits. So more power to the Sumilao Farmers.

  3. Hi Aaries,
    Thanks. Seems like the officials involved are trying to avoid the issue. Sad really. Thanks for dropping by. Tried to visit your site but its private 🙂

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