HOTSPOT
The past few years have been a challenge to Filipino farmers. We’ve seen and heard reports of produce being discarded, and farmers going bankrupt due to rice tariffication and illegal imports. In many parts of the country, death squads have orphaned farming families or split them by persecuting peasant leaders.
It is already 2022, but the Philippines cannot take good care of its farmers. By “the Philippines,” I refer to the country’s political, economic and justice system. For most Filipinos, I am certain that they love farmers and wish that they be lifted up from poverty and that agriculture be finally freed from landlordism.
The situation of blue-collar workers — especially the contractual and “endo” — also deserve our attention. Forty years have passed since the government legalized contractualization but the promise of good-paying and secure jobs have not materialized. Regionalization of wages has been good only for big business, and not for workers who have to contend with rising costs of living.
Between our farmers and workers, there are millions of working families. They are arguably the democratic majority, and should be dominating our politics. But because of the rotten political, economic and justice system, and the politics of “guns, goons and gold,” it is the traditional politicians from the classes of big landlords and big business who monopolize power.
The partylist system is one way to break through this power monopoly. Labor icon Rep. Crispin Beltran saw this and formed Anakpawis in 2003 to run in the 2004 elections.
Beltran, then the grand old man of Philippine Labor, turned Congress into a platform for workers. Together with peasant leader Rafael Mariano, they brought fresh air into the stale halls of Congress.
Between 2004 and 2016, Anakpawis produced lawmakers from the basic masses, apart from Beltran and Mariano: Mindanao’s labor leader Joel Maglunsod, Fernando Hicap of fisherfolk group Pamalakaya, and mass leader Ariel Casilao. Almost always, Anakpawis lawmakers were the poorest based on SALNs. Hindi nagpapayaman sa puwesto.
Anakpawis is respected for matters it brought before Congress: the genuine Agrarian Reform Bill, and bills promoting mass housing, ending contractualization, improving services for overseas Filipino workers. Resolutions seeking to investigate unfair labor practices and violent attacks on peasant communities and picket lines of labor. Measures seeking to control power and water rates. Resolutions impeaching corrupt presidents.
In 2016, Mariano was appointed as agrarian reform secretary. He served competently, courageously and without corruption alongside social welfare secretary Judy Taguiwalo, anti-poverty chief Liza Maza, environment secretary Gina Lopez, and vice president and housing chief Leni Robredo. Unfortunately for the nation, the president and Congress moved to boot them out one after another.
No thanks to red-tagging, arrests, detention, killings and massacres, it was eased out of the partylist race now dominated by ones with dubious origins. Mariano defeated the trumped-up charges against him and other former Makabayan Bloc lawmakers.
This 2022, Mariano leads Anakpawis in attempting a return to Congress. He is perhaps the most experienced among all nominees in the partylist race, having served as lawmaker and as a cabinet member. More importantly, he is trusted by farmers; the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas elected him as chair emeritus.
Joining Mariano as Anakpawis nominees are labor leader Lana Linaban, Manila community leader Doy Mariazeta, Cagayan Valley peasant leader Isabelo Adviento, and contractual worker and unionist Reyneiro Maarat.
In its convention last year, Anakpawis surprised its allies in the Makabayan coalition and the nation by fielding Kilusang Mayo Uno chair Elmer “Ka Bong” Labog as its senatorial candidate. Anakpawis wants the nation to know that the basic masses can offer and produce lawmakers for both houses of Congress.
To those who gaslight the masses about Philippine politics, Anakpawis is a reminder to the tradition, commitment and vision of our working families. Anakpawis is not asking for charity. It is courageously participating in the elections even if the system seems rigged against them.
This dedication to democracy has made many artists and celebrities endorse Anakpawis. This same dedication is the main reason why Anakpawis backs Robredo and Kiko Pangilinan.
If you’re concerned by rising food prices and by news of produce being thrown out to waste; if you want land for the landless; if you believe workers must get fair wages and secure jobs; if you believe in democracy for and by the majority; if you want a partylist you could trust to represent the marginalized and underrepresented: Vote 154 Anakpawis.