Diocese of Gumaca Welcomes Farmers Pilgrimage

The line of the pilgrim-farmers is getting thicker and thicker.  Yesterday, 14 farmers from Ugnayan ng mga Magsasaka sa Quezon (UGMA) joined the ranks of the pilgrim-farmers. 

UGMA decided to join the pilgrimage as they too suffer from agrarian injustice.  They are representing 13 people’s organizations with 880 CARP beneficiaries of 2,796 hectares agricultural land in Catanauan, Quezon.  The said land has been covered by CARP for more than five years already but no Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) was distributed yet.  Because they asserted their rights, they now face 5 cases including 2 Qualified Theft.

From the Naga City Youth Center, the pilgrim-farmers proceeded to Buensasiso, Gumaca, Quezon Province where 78 people were waiting for their arrival.  Support include groups from PAKISAMA Southern Tagalog, Pinagkaisang Tinig ng Magsasaka sa Gumaca (PINTIG), Kababaihang Magbubukid sa Kalayaan (KAMALAYAN) from Plaridel, Quezon, SAMALO of Lopez, Quezon, SAUPAN of Atimonan, Quezon, SUMPIT of Pitogo, Quezon, and SAMAKATA of Tayabas, Quezon. 

From Buensasiso, the pilgrim-farmers walked on foot to Cathedral of San Diego de Alcala and had lunch.  Right after lunch, the pilgrim-farmers went to different public market, schools, and residential areas of the municipality to ask the residents to sign and support the CARPER petition. 

After 2 ½ hours, they have gathered 140 signatures.  When they convened, they shared their respective experiences in asking people to sign the petition.  Most of them had difficulties because the people interpreted that they were asking for donations.  But generally, their exposure to these people made them more agitated to educate the public and eventually get their support.

At 4:30 PM, they gathered in the cathedral to attend the mass.  Before the celebration of the mass, Monsignor Candido Umali asked Yoyong Merida, Jess Bergantin and another farmer from Quezon Province to explain the purpose of the pilgrimage.  In the homily, the priest read the letter of support from Bishop Buenaventura M. Famadico of the Diocese of Gumaca.

After the reading of support, Monsignor Candido Umali said that though they cannot join the pilgrim-farmers in the pilgrimage, they will continue to include them and their cause in their prayers.  He ended his homily by inspiring the farmers to be strong and steadfast.

Yesterday, the support groups in Mindanaw met and assessed what had happened during the Mindanaw leg. The meeting was attended by representatives from Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro City, DAR Region 10 and Bukdinon, Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc., KAISAHAN, and BALAOD Mindanaw.

The group agreed that many more challenges are up ahead especially with the recent news that congress will take its recess on March 6, 2009.  Despite this situation, the support groups are banking that the legislators who express their support for CARPER during the fora conducted in Mindanao will defend and promote the enactment of CARPER.

It was further agreed that more copies of the citizens’ petition shall be distributed and signed to exert more pressure to congress to act on the call for CARPER.

THE PILGRIM-FARMERS WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE HUNDREDS OF FACES, GROUPS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WHO JOINED THE FORUM AND SUPPORTED THE FARMERS’ PILGRIMAGE FOR CARPER FROM THE START OF THE CAMPAIGN UNTIL NOW: SANDIGAN, HAGKIMATA Paralegal Network, Ugnayan ng mga Magsasaka sa Quezon (UGMA), PAKISAMA Southern Tagalog, Pinagkaisang Tinig ng Magsasaka sa Gumaca (PINTIG), Kababaihang Magbubukid sa Kalayaan (KAMALAYAN) from Plaridel, Quezon, SAMALO of Lopez, Quezon, SAUPAN of Atimonan, Quezon, SUMPIT of Pitogo, Quezon, and SAMAKATA of Tayabas, Quezon, Monsignor Candido Umali, Bishop Buenaventura M. Famadico, PAKISAMA Bicol, Pecuaria Development Cooperative, Inc. (PDCI), DAR Region-5, SAMASAKA, AKBAYAN! ALBAY, PAKISAMA ALBAY, AR Now, LGU-DARAGA, DAR Provincial Office of Sorsogon, Bishop Isabelo Abarquez, Bishop Emmanuel Trance, Bishop Jose S. Palma, COOP-NATTCO, MAS-SPECC, DAR Provincial Office of Samar, Sto. Nino Church of Matnog, Pedro Calungsod Formation Seminary, Department of Health (DOH) Region 10, Dr. Edna Eugenio, Engr. Estudillo (PPA Port Manager), Val Galarosa, DAR Region 8, Regional Director John Maruhom, Father Toto Jaranilla of Order of Carmelites in Ormoc City, Daughters of St. Paul, Redemptorist Community, DAR Provincial Office (Tacloban City), Sto. Nino Parish Church, Philippine Port of Authority-Port of Lipata, The Management of the Super Shuttle Ferries, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, Living the Gospel Communities (LGC), Peasant Groups who participated in Surigao Forum, DAR Provincial Office of Surigao del Sur, REACH Foundation, municipalities of Dinagat Island which issued the resolution supporting CARPER, Hon. Bernardino Alcario,  Most Reverend Juan de Dios M. Pueblos, Bishop Zacarias C. Jimenez, Agusan Organic Farmers’ Federation (AGOFAFED), Social Action Center (SAC) of Butuan City, St. Peter Seminary, Tubay Parishioners, Federation of Agrarian Comm. Coop. (FEDARCO), Bukidnon People Power Agrarian Reform Org. (BPPARO), Panaghiusa Alang sa Kaugalingon ug Kalingkawasan (PASAKK), Father Saturnino Urios University College of Law, KAIBAN, Hacienda Maria Farmers of Sta. Josefa,  Agusan del Sur (KAMMPE), HEED Foundation, SLB, New Sibunga Farmers’ Association (NESFA), DAR Region 10, Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro City, Bishop Antonio Ledesma, MISAD, Archdiocese of Malaybalay City, Bishop Honesto Pacana, Alliance of Progressive Labor, Kristohanong Katilingban sa Pagpakabana-Social Involvement Office of Xavier University, Concerned Members of XU Community ug XU Research and Social Outreach (XU RSO), Year Of Service (Xavier University), CONVERSATION, St. John Vianney Seminary, POs of El Salvador City and Alubijid,Touch Foundation, PHILDHRRA, Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. (BMFI), RCED, KPMFI, BDSI, PAKISAMA, CABUSTAM, KAISAHAN, SALIGAN, and the many faceless individuals and groups, Camarines Norte DAR Regional Office, Banasi Farmers, Mayor Jessie Robredo of Naga City, Naga City personnel, KASAMA, FUERZA, PARAUMA, SMPCI, Naga City Public Safety Office, Ateneo de Naga, Ateneo de Naga Social Science Department, Mr. Ramon Bileno III, Brgy. Sta. Cruz Chairperson Albert Castaneda, Mr. Ram Samar, Naga City People’s Council, Rene Humba and Coalition for Citizen’s Constitution.