The villagers say that food and even cash has practically ceased to be a problem during harvest time.

“In the past, everybody is in dire need of even only rice for a meal. But now with the harvest coming in, there is rice and vegetables to go around. Everyone is willing to lend to a neighbor knowing that the neighbor will also harvest in due time,” Bais said.

Transformed community

Andy, 22, a leader of the Samahan ng Kabataang Demokratiko sa Asyenda Luisita (SAKDAL or Organization of Democratic Youth in Hacienda Luisita] believes that bungkalan has transformed his village in many ways.

“People are now even more united and generous. Collective work in the field has helped in changing the attitude of people. People are happier today because they realize that they have the capacity to improve their lives,” Andy said.

The Sakdal chapter in the village also joined the bungkalan and tilled about 1 ½ has. Andy said that they did not sell the vegetables they  produced and just donated them to the community especially to those just starting to work on the land.

Even the shroud of fear and terror that engulfed the villages since the November 16, 2004 massacre at the picket line, and the militarization and killings of union leaders, seems to have been lifted.

The villagers walk around freely and go about their work in the farms and homes looking confident and unafraid.

Bais, who himself was almost killed when suspected soldiers fired at his home in December last year, say the bungkalan has served to strengthen their organization.

He said meetings are easily held while they are out in the fields and that villagers are more active in organizational plans and activities because of the bungkalan.

Vigilance in victory

“This victory is a result of the strike. We proved that going on strike is still the most effective way of asserting our rights,” Bais said.

Seven strikers were killed and more than 100 were wounded when military and police attempted to disperse the workers at the picket line in front of the sugar mill on November 16, 2004. The government deployed hundreds of soldiers in the villages after the massacre

Two union leaders—Ricardo Ramos. President of the Central Azucarera De Tarlac Labor Union, and ULWU director Tirso Cruz were murdered in the course of the strike. Scores of union members have sought refuge outside of the hacienda for fear of military attack.

Bais says that they still have to contend with militarization and the scabs and loyalists of management.

Most of the soldiers have left the village and were deployed to guard the construction of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway in the villages of Pasajes, Mapalacsiao, Motrico, Asturias, Bantog and Cut-cut II that cuts across the hacienda.

“We have to remain vigilant. Although we do not see uniformed soldiers roaming the villages, they were replaced with armed men in civilian clothes.” Bais said.

Scabs and village officials also took advantage of the workers’ victory, Bais said.

He said some 420 has. have been unjustly appropriated by management loyalists in the villages of Parang, Pando, Motrico, Pasajes and Bantog.

But in his village, Bais said that people were able to prevent the entry of management loyalists. He said villagers refused to work on a project offered by village officials to plant okra knowing that it is an export crop and they will not gain anything from it aside from meager wages. Gitnang Luzon News Service/Posted by Bulatlat

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