This is my personal reflection for our Theology paper on Philippine Land Reform.
Although the issue of land reform is
first and foremost, a national concern, it is still a matter that has struck me
personally. I cannot help but remember my experience with my foster
family in my immersion last semester. Reading the history of the struggle of
farmers in trying to fight for their fair share of land, I know, at least based
on what I experienced in Nueva Ecija, how an alternative to a system dominated
by the landowning class is possible.
After
World War II, the condition of this small town in Nueva Ecija was at probably
its worst. Massive and unbridled commercial logging had nearly destroyed the
ecosystem of the town, and consequently made it difficult for the rural
settlers to live their lives. Fast forward to today, one can say that the
people of this town have done well not only for themselves, but also for the
environment in which they are a part of.
The
Lamina family, along with the community in the town of Puncan Carranglan, Nueva
Ecija, has shown me how their way of living can serve as a model that other
Filipinos, particularly those who are content with this almost-feudal system
that we have in the country, can emulate. In Puncan, as in other barangays in
this town, people are encouraged to form ‘resource pools,’ groups wherein
townspeople can help each other, be it in farming, paying bills, or even in
other personal matters—a true example of that oft-forgotten Filipino value of bayanihan. Not only that, these groups
are also actively ensuring that the environment, as their primary source of
livelihood, is taken care of. For example, the people of Puncan do not practice
traditional charcoal making. Instead, they produce, with great perseverance,
charcoal briquette made out of coconut husks, rice husks, and grass varieties
that people normally throw away. Asked if they struggle with this way of
living, Nanay Senyang quickly
responds, “Hindi naman. Ang simpleng
buhay na ganito, kailangan lang ng konting sipag at responsibilidad.”
However,
forms of injustice continue to threaten the Laminas, the people of Puncan, and
their way of living. Multi-billion Public-Private
Partnership (PPP) projects are in place within the municipalities of Nueva
Ecija, particularly hitting its rich public land. The gardens, rice terraces,
and indigenous irrigation systems that I saw in Puncan, to me, are clear
evidence that genuine human development is taking place. Those in power
seem to think otherwise.
