Letter To The Editor - Learn about land reform and people's struggle before endorsing candidates, farmers urge artists

The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP, Peasant Movement of the Philippines) reminded artists that they should first learn about land reform before endorsing candidates as landlessness is the primary problem of the country.

If you would remember your Philippine history subjects in school, during the Spanish and American colonization, landlords have dominated control over the vast lands in the country. It is still the same until now. Landlords have oppressed and deceived farmers for decades, thus, it would be anti-people and anti-peasants for you to endorse one.

As you are popular and people look up to you, you have the responsibility to learn about society as a fundamental prerequisite of your endorsements to candidates. Always remember that your fans or the Filipino `masses' brought you to where you are right now.

We suggest you watch movies like Sakada, Julian Makabayan, Sister Stella L. to know about the struggle of the people. They are movies created by patriotic artists such as Behn Cervantes, Celso Ad Castillo and Mike De Leon. They showed the fundamental problems of Philippine society and how the people struggled to accomplish significant reforms. You should continue the role as an agent of change as what previous artists have done and not allow yourselves to be used by landlords who caused poverty and misery to many Filipino farmers.

It has been reported that Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III has the longest list of actors and actresses supporting his candidacy such as his sister Kris Aquino, talk-show host Boy Abunda, Vilma Santos, Sharon Cuneta, Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera, Kim Chiu, Coco Martin and more. While Nacionalista Party candidate Manny Villar has Dolphy, Willie Revillame and Manny Pacquiao at his roster.

We know for sure that you are close to the hearts of the Filipino people, thus, these campaign period, you should be the ones closer to the hearts of the people, know their problems, know their interests and fundamental calls before endorsing candidates. People's calls for land, wages, work, basic rights and justice are main and you should know as you have protrayed their characters on your movies.

The group said that a first look at land reform may be to learn about the issue of Hacienda Luisita, its history, how the Cojuangco-Aquinos acquired the lands, what is the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), the Stock-Distribution Option (SDO), why the agri-workers and farmers went on strike on November 6, 2004 and massacred on November 16, 2004.

If you want to know more about land issues, the peasant movement would be interested to educate you, we know some of you have come from the provinces and quite familiar of the peasant struggle.

Join us in our call for genuine land reform, not just because it is election time, but it is your primary role to know about society, the people's problems and feelings, as you portray them on your movies.

Danilo Ramos

Secretary-General