Samar farmers march to Tacloban, call for social justice

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — More than 120 farmers marched from Basay, Samar to Tacloban City for three hours with high hopes that they will get to see Pope Francis during his visit to the typhoon-ravaged region on Saturday, January 17.

 

The farmers were welcomed at the rotonda of Justice Romualdez Avenue located near the Sto. Niño Church, Tacloban City. They were received by a group of nuns from the Sisters Association of Mindanao and some members of the People Surge Movement and the Promotion of Church People’s Response.

 

Ricardo Abebuag, a farmer leader from Samar, said that they, being part of the poor victims of super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), are the ones whom the Pope would like to meet.

 

“Kaya kami nandito dahil alam namin na malapit sa puso ng Santo Papa ang mga mahihirap na kagaya namin. Ang ipinunta niya rito ay para sa survivors ng Yolanda kaya kami nagpursige na pumunta dito dahil biktima din kami,” says Abebuag.

 

(The reason why we are here is because we know that Pope Francis is very close to the poor like ourselves. He came here for the Yolanda survivors and we felt the need to march here because we are also victims.)

 

The farmer leader also shared his frustration regarding some security personnel who tried to stop their group from seeing the Pope.

 

“Kung hindi lang hinarang yung sasakyan namin eh dapat mas marami kaming nakapunta dito. Yung mga madre pa ang nakiusap sa mga pulis na padaanin kami. Feeling ko may diskriminasyon,” he revealed.

 

(If our vehicle was not stopped, there could have been more farmers to join us. The nuns were the ones who convinced the police to allow us to pass. I felt that there was discrimination.)

 

Meanwhile, Catholic Lumads (indigenous people) from Bukidnon are also joining the Samar farmers in asking Pope Francis to intervene with the national government in addressing their grievances especially when it comes to land grabbing.

 

Datu Nilo Cabungcal wants to ask the Pope to stand for the Lumads in fighting for their land rights.

 

“Marami ng katutubo ang pinaslang noon dahil sa pagtatanggol ng aming lupang ninuno. Iba ang ginagawa ng mga malalaking korporasyong na nagmimina sa amin at salungat ito sa aming gustong gawin sa aming lupa,” shares the tribal chieftain.

 

(Many indigenous people died before because of fighting for our land rights. Big mining companies are doing the exact opposite of what we want to do for our lands.)

 

The whole group proceeded to the University of the Philippines – Tacloban to join other marginalized groups for a rally that they hope to launch in time for the arrival of Pope Francis in Leyte on Saturday. – Rappler.com/with a report from Louie Relevo