Published by: INQUIRER.net by Maila Ager
Date Published:  01/21/2008

News Editorial: Farmers’ Day’–Beltran

MANILA, Philippines — To honor the 13 farmers killed during a march on Malacañang 21 years ago, a leftist lawmaker is urging the immediate passage of a measure declaring January 22 “National Farmers’ Day.” The farmers were killed when security forces opened fire on the protest march to demand genuine agrarian reform on January 22, 1987, in what is now known as the Mendiola massacre for the bridge leading to the Palace.

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran, principal author of House Bill 1725, said the bill should be passed because the farmers’ present struggle for genuine reform has assumed a “historical dimension and social significance similar to Andres Bonifacio’s struggle for independence against our colonial masters.”“The Mendiola massacre is a hallmark of that struggle, so it is just fitting that we honor that moment in our history in the same manner that we have honored Andres Bonifacio and the struggle for genuine freedom and democracy,” Beltran said in a statement on Monday.

Declaring January 22 National Farmers’ Day, the lawmaker said, would serve as a reminder that the struggle for genuine reform and social justice remains an “unfinished business of our social nation.”Besides its historical significance, Beltran said it has become a tradition for farmers to march to Mendiola every January 22, not only to demand justice for the 13 victims of the 1987 massacre, but also to advance their call for genuine agrarian reform.

In relation to this, the Anakpawis solon criticized what he described as the military and police’s “overkill preparation” for the protest action to be spearheaded by militant farmers on Tuesday, 21st anniversary of the Mendiola massacre. Authorities have declared a red alert over Metro Manila and are expected to deploy as many as 10,000 soldiers and policemen, claiming that a destabilization plot is set to be mounted in time with the leftist protests.

But Beltran said likened this preparation to rubbing salt on the wounds of the dead farmers and the survivors of the Mendiola Massacre. “While farmers are demanding justice and solutions to their perennial demands, this government is responding with terror tactics and violence,” he said.

Reaction:

I agree to the making of January 22 as National Farmers’ Day. I think as of the moment this is the least that the government can do. But then, I don’t believe it will suffice to give justice to all those farmers who died during that Mendiola massacre. Declaring a certain date a holiday could never bring back those lives taken by the pit of prejudices in our country. The government should provide the solution as a full response to their long lived wish for a full implementation of the agrarian reform. To which government agency, Department of Agrarian Reform, should be able to lead in the implementation of agrarian reform & sustainable development in the country through land tenure improvement and the provision of integrated development services to landless farmers, farm workers and small-landowners-cultivators & the delivery of agrarian justice as key to long lasting peace and development of the countryside.

Reflection: New Year’s Eve Sacrifice

Women’s rights around the world are an important indicator of understanding global well-being. Many may think that women’s rights are only an issue in countries where religion is law, such as many Muslim countries. Or even worse, some may think this is no longer an issue at all.

But, Hsiang Lin’s wife is a picture of a pitiful woman, discriminated, and a woman who doesn’t have an identity of her own. She’s a picture of a woman who no one ever cares if she does exist in this world. Upon reading the selection on New Year’s Eve where it relates the life story of Hsiang Lin’s wife, my heart can’t just stop beating fast controlling my emotions thinking that I can’t do anything to defend her from such oppression and from such humiliation. It is very much humiliating that even she, herself couldn’t have that right to decide on her own. Issues such as forcefully offered as wife to other men in exchange for cash, good or we may coin it as wealth. Women’s dignity I believe is not worth anything in this world and it can not be bought by any wealth in this world.

Lu Hsun’s “New Year’s Eve Sacrifice” for me is a masterpiece. It is a masterpiece because it presents to the whole world the issues about women that has to be taken care of and needed much of our attention. I am just so grateful that nowadays especially in Philippines, this kind of practice to which Hsiang Lin’s wife suffered does no longer apply. There are already a lot of institutions who played the role of women defenders against all prejudices of women. I, myself would stand firm as well, to protect my fellow women, my self to which we are safe and far from what life has brought to Hsiang Lin’s wife.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer
Date Published: January 14, 2008

 “Let SC appoint all judges”

Reaction:

I don’t agree to this editorial. People have different perspectives in life and it just so happen when comes to this issue I reset so much with the author’s opinion. I would like to emphasize my resentment to the last line of the second paragraph of this editorial which states that- “That power should be exclusively exercised by the Supreme Court—to make the “separation of powers” principle more meaningful.”  

I can’t see any bright views on his statement that such principle would become more meaningful when separation of powers will solely be done by Supreme Court. On his latter explanation he stressed out that this purposely will insulate judges/justices from the pernicious influence of politics, when in the very first place- they are part of the Philippine Politics. And whether we like it or not, no matter what position you are into the government, these people sat on the same seat of “power”. Power that mostly push people to embrace graft and corruption, influence others to satisfy their selfish, political agenda. Mediocrity doesn’t know how to choose people to embrace it. So whether it is a Palace driven or not, politicians faced this one great tempting power.