AREX UPDATE (February 25)

February 25 was one of the full-packed days for farmers since Day 1 in Manila, the fact that they undertook three activities straight.

Past 10 in the morning, around 250 farmers went to Pasig River below Nagtahan Bridge to commemorate EDSA Anniversary. They floated a three-by-two-foot boat made of styrofoam, on which was written in red: "Pangako ng EDSA, Nasan Na? Lupa sa mga Magsasaka!". Along with the improvised boat were small paper boats that each farmer floated on the river.

However, the floating lasted only briefly when marine forces came to crash the improvised boat.

The event was supposed to be participated in also by farmers coming Bicol and Central Luzon, who were blocked by the police in Lacson St., Manila. Negros farmers came to fetch them. After an hour of program in the street, all farmers marched back to Caritas Manila to take their lunch together.

At 2pm, the farmers marched to Malate Church to hear mass to observe the Ash Wednesday. The mass was concelebrated by Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, Fr. Archie Casey, SX, and Fr. John Leydon, Malate Parish Priest, and assisted by Sisters of the AMP.


In addition to solemn and progressive songs, Abp. Ledesma's homily and letter read by TFM President Rodito Angeles characterized the mass. The Abp. said two main messages: a) That ash signifies land, in which farmers live and on which they rely for a living; and b) That Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent, of 40 days, which means a very long period of hardship and sacrifice that Jesus Christ before He died. "40 days relate to farmers' long period of difficult life and struggle for land," the Abp. said. At the end of his homily, the Abp. assured the farmers that the Church and poor's solidarity gains the blessing of God so that at the end of the day, justice will prevail.

Ka Rodito read the "Panaghoy ng mga Magsasaka" (Cry of the Farmers), representing all farmers having marched in Manila. In the letter, he appealed to non-farmer folks inside the church to understand the small farmers' situation and undertake actions in support of their cause.

At the tail-end of the mass, which was also attended by Malate parishioners and visitors, all farmers had ash painted on their forehead with the symbol of the cross, by Abp. Ledesma, Frs. Leydon and Casey, and lay ministers.

Inspired by the Ash Wednesday mass, all farmers marched to the Philippine Senate in Roxas Blvd., Pasay City. When they arrived in the place, a deliberation on the Visiting Forces Agreement was going on.

While that was taking place, farmer representatives and Abp. Ledesma maximized the time to confer individually with Senators Nene Pimentel, Migs Zubiri, Gringo Honasan, Ed Angara, and Jamby Madrigal. Women farmers appealed to them to act swiftly on CARP extension with reforms. "We were forced to walk from as far as Masbate to reach you, Senator," Ka Eva said to Sen. Honasan.

The staff inside the Senate Hall, as a matter of rule, instructed the farmers to remove the sticker on their shirt which bore the slogans: "Lupa sa Magsasaka! Isabatas House Bill 4077 at Senate Bill 2666!"

Some other farmers visited the offices of the Senators to solicit support. The Chief of Staff of Senator Bong Revilla promised to shoulder the lunch of all marcher farmers on Monday and donate sacks of rice.

Sen. Pimentel asked the farmers not to waste their time listening to the deliberation on the VFA and instead come back on Friday (27 February) for a Agrarian Reform Committee meeting of the Senate. The farmers obliged.


All 400 farmers, bearing with the hurt in their feet for having marched since the morning, marched back to Caritas Manila (except some 70 who are housed in Sto. Nino Parish Church of Bp. Broderick Pabillo).