1. Introduction - expectations

Between November 26 and December 24, 2000, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP - the peasant movement of the Philippines) gave me the opportunity to learn  more about the struggle and the daily life of Filipino peasants. It was my personal wish to have this experience, because I felt that a better knowledge about the real situation of small farmers in the south will help me in my daily ngo-work, advocating more equitable, sustainable and democratic North-south relations in the field of agriculture. Without this knowledge and without close links to activists and people movements in the south this advocacy work in northern countries looses his grounds.

2. My visit

Metro Manila, 25.11 - 1.12.2000
During the first week of my stay I had the chance to join the activities of  "The Peoples Caravan 2000 - land and food without poison" jointly organized in the Philippines by PAN-AP and KMP. Together with farmer and NGOs from India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines, I've been part of mass mobilization and awareness raising against Trans National Companies, Pesticides and GMOs. During the week we also joined the "Estrada Resign Movement" rising in the streets of Manila and over the whole country. On May 27 we met members of BISSIG (Brotherhood of IRRI Support Services Group) in Los Banos who are fighting for the right to unionize and against the harmful use of pesticides at the IRRI test fields, which has already led to severe health damages and even deaths of IRRI workers. On May 28 we met representatives of the Philippine Congress where we share our activities and proposed bills on GMOs and sustainable alternatives, respectively. During the whole week discussions with other members of the international delegation of the caravan, helped me to know more about the problems, NGOs and campaigns in other Asian countries.

Digos, Mindanao 2.12 - 4.12.2000
Together with Renato I visit the community of Kamukhaan at the border of a big Banana plantation. The poverty and the problems of this small community are tremendous and crying for a fast change. Through the aerial spraying of pesticides of the Banana plantation the soil in Kamukhaan is useless to plant  vegetables or other crops for daily consumption as the water is non-potable. More then 50% of the habitants are jobless. The ones who find some work in the plantation suffer from bad working conditions (146 pesos per day is a very low salary and the contracts are never extends more than five months - there are also a lot of 1-day contracts). I learned a lot about the colonial history of plantations in the Philippines. 
December 3, we visited Edilberto Viagnan, chairman of Namadds, the regional peasant organisation at  his small rice farm. He shared with me all the economic details of the life of a small rice farmer and the history of the introduction of high yielding varieties and pesticides during the Marcos Regime. 
After this Meeting we visited the farm of Renato who grows a lot of vegetables, unknown by an average European. 

General Santos City, 5.12 - 7.12.2000
We visited the small Moro Community in the fishermen village of Minanga. Ben Dumana, former chairman of the Association of the small fishermen in Minanga, told us about their fight for the land where their barangay is located. The (illegal) owner like to sell the land to a foreign investor. A court case is ruling on this subject. The poverty of the village shows dramatically the difficulty for small fishermen to find their living. Their already small income is further reduced through the competition from big fishing vessels.
 
I visited also the Rice Farmer Gamotea Rubin which live nearby the BT-Corn field-testing area in Katangawan. He told me about the seed market in the Philippines and about the organic pesticides (Pepper, Neem and others) he is using on his farm.
The visit in Polomolok, the area where Dole grows pineapples on 30,000 - 40,000 hectares, showed me another ugly face of the feudal-colonial Filipino agriculture system: plantation workers without right to unionize, with health problems because they have to use banned pesticides and with short time contracts. Dole is also working with contract growers where farmers have to buy everything - from seeds to pesticides - from Dole as linked to the loan. 
During night time I had the opportunity to go fishing with Odin, a small fishermen and the Iman of the Moro Community in Minanga. 5 hours of work without any catch!

Bukidnon, 8.12. - 14.12.2000
My stay in Bukidnon started with the rally for the human rights day and against President Estrada (I was happy to act as Uncle Sam for the small play of the Anak Bayans). 
The following three days I spent with the farming community of Buffalo who is engaged in an existential fight for their land going on since 1986. The Central Mindanao University, who posses the land titles over the land, told them to leave their homes and fields till January 15, 2001. All members of the Community intend to stay - they have no alternative. 
December 10, I attended the founding meeting of the Kasama (KMP) Branch of San Fernando, a small town in the hills of Bukidnon. It was interesting for me to see the very democratic procedure and to listen to the discussion (thanks Gene for the translation) about the first problems they are facing (e.g.: how to communicate between each other, how to participate at the next elections, when they are not able to write and to read). During my stay in Buffalo I've seen all stages of the Rice production: seeding, fertilizing, harvesting, milling. I've spoken with a lot of farmers about the different pests, their way to use pesticides (a lot of pesticides who request a good protection to handle them are used without any protection) and about alternatives. And, like in other places, I've been glad to answer their questions about my country.
On December 14, together with Gene Nisperos, I've been part of a panel discussion about GMOs at the Philippine Information Center in Malay Balay. The arguments are the same like in similar discussions in Europe. Just one argument, used by the pro GMO speaker of the CMU, would never be mentioned in Europe: that producing GMOs is important to be competitive in the export markets. (Don't they know that important markets like Japan or Europe reject GMOs?)

Cagayan de Oro, 14.12.2000
I met former Nestle workers, who have been fired after a strike in 1987. The strike has been terminated in a cruel way by the Military. The suspended workers founded a cooperative (a bakery) which is still producing.

Negros, 15.12. - 20.12.2000
I take a rest.  Sleeping, hiking, snorkelling and a lot of sun.

Metro Manila, 21.12 - 24.12.2000
Discussion with Ka Paeng and with Lu Roque about some open questions and possible follow-ups. Lu and I joined the cultural group of KMU for their Christmas caroling before a law firm in Makati and later went to a Rally against militarization in Mindoro and Southern Luzon. December 25 I had a talk with Dario Tomada, peasant leader who told me about their partial victory in their land struggle in North Leyte. The final day we evaluate my exposure programme. I am very satisfied with my stay.

3. Conclusions

This month spent in the Philippines showed  me clearly, that the semi feudal - semi colonial Regime in place, creates a rich minority and a big majority who has not enough income for a proper nourishment, a good health care and an education for all children. The exploitation of Filipino workers and the natural resources by Trans National Companies is supported by the regime. For me, it seems that the most urgent steps towards a more just society are a real democratization of the country (as long as votes are bought and only the rich have a chance to be elected, there is no democracy) and the implementation of a real land reform, which will give some land to the over 70% of landless peasants. As a first step, the resignation of president Estrada seems to be unavoidable.
With the real land reform the further education of farmers about alternatives to resist agrochemical TNCs and the misuse of pesticides have to go on.
Back home I will try my best, to stop Swiss TNCs and international stakeholders like the WTO to exploit the people of the south. Working all together, one day, we will achieve our goals.

4. Thanks

I like to thank KMP (and especially Lu Roque) and all activists, farmers, landworkers and fishermen I met during my stay, for their hospitality, their openness and their time they spent with me. I have been deeply impressed by their commitment and their enthusiasm for their struggle for a better future for the Filipino people. I will keep them in my mind.
Long live the international solidarity!

23 December 2000