By ICHRP-Canada International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines
Vancouver, BC- Rev. Harold Munn and the congregation of St. Mary the Virgin – South Hill Anglican Church welcomed their special guest and speaker Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos at the Migrants’ Mass last May 17th, a monthly joint service of the St. Mary’s with Migrante BC, a grassroots organization working to protect and promote the rights and welfare of Filipino migrants, immigrants and refugees.
Ka Daning is a veteran peasant leader and the National Chairperson of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (National Peasant Movement of the Philippines), the largest farmers’ association in the Philippines.
Ka Daning is on a Canada-wide speaking tour organized by the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines – Canada to share the situation of peasant farmers and farm workers in the Philippines and their calls for “land, food, and justice”. Since April 12, Ka Daning has met many Filipino community groups, solidarity organizations, different migrants’ organizations, and churches in Edmonton and Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Winnipeg.
Ka Daning comes from a third generation of Filipino farmers in Malolos, Bulacan. He lost his father at an early age, learned how to help make a living making bamboo tools and traps until he became a full-time farmer in his teens.
Ka Daning said that it was in church that he was first exposed to the social realities. He was a catechist in the Christian Brotherhood in his parish in Malolos, Bulacan and was an officer of the Parish Pastoral Council. His first rally was when their parish was invited to join the protest against the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant project. From his grassroots leadership in Bulacan and Central Luzon for over four decades, he rose to national leadership as KMP’s chairperson representing millions of peasants, farmworks, women and youth.
In his sharing during the mass, he raised the issue of land ownership in the Philippines that leaves 50-70 million in moderate to high levels of food insecurity according to the UN and World Food Programme. He outlined the issue of 20-30,000 hectares of arable land owned by single families and agricultural corporations such Dole and Del Monte. And, that much of this land is oriented towards export and not for local food production.
Ka Daning voiced his concerns on the recent attacks on peasant communities in the island of Negros. The deaths of 19 individuals in Negros, contrary to the claim of the military as the result of an encounter, is the result of a massacre – based on reports
including the fact-finding mission reports and that of the forensic pathologist. Ka Daning made special mention of Maureen Keil Santuyo, youth peasant organizer and Erro Wendel, community researcher of sugar cane workers. Ka Daning asked for support for the Negros 19.
Mable Elmore, MLA for Vancouver Kensington and Deputy Speaker of the BC Legislative Assembly, expressed her “Warmest Solidarity with KMP” on the visit of Ka Daning to Vancouver with a certificate that read: “For planting the seeds of hope in the resistance against a semi-feudal and semi-colonial system that breeds oppression and misery. May your struggle for land and liberation grow deeper roots from the plains to the mountains and coasts. Long live the Filipino people!”
On behalf of the KMP, Ka Daning presented MLA Elmore and Rev. Harold Munn with the little red KMP banner and a souvenir booklet from the KMP’s 40th anniversary last year.
At the fellowship after the service, Ka Daning continued the sharing and conversations, made new friends and supporters for the peasant movement in the Philippines.
St. Mary the Virgin South Hill church is located at 808 East 50th Avenue, Vancouver.
PIC 1: Top: L-R: Ka Daning giving his message; receiving communion; Ka Daning’s call for food security
Bottom: Ka Daning presents the mini KMP banner and souvenir of KMP’s 40th anniversary to Rev. Harold Munn
Reference:
Jeff Solis
ICHRP BC/Canada
Top: Rev. Harold Munn,Ka Daning, MLA Mable Elmore and Ka Daning’s wife Ka Inning with the banner Land, Food and Justice!
Bottom: Ka Daning receives the Certificate of Solidarity Greetings from MLA Mable Elmore and Deputy Speaker of the BC Legislative Assembly
One of the group photo of a successful visit of Ka Daning to St Mary the Virgin, the little church with a big heart!
Peasant Leader and Migrant Farmworkers Build Solidarity Across Borders
Langley, BC — A peasant leader, migrant farmworkers and community organizers gathered at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church on May 17 for an international solidarity dialogue on migrant labour, land struggles, workers’ rights, and the shared realities of agricultural communities across borders.
Organized by the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) BC/Canada, Fuerza Migrante, International Migrants Alliance (IMA), Anakbayan BC, and Migrante BC, in partnership with the Justice and Peace Unit of the Diocese of New Westminster of the Anglican Church, the event brought together migrant farmworkers from Mexico, Filipino peasant leader, and community organizers.
Ka Daning and wife Ka Ining with Rev. Heather Anderson, representing Churches Witnessing with Migrants (CWWM)
Ka Daning with the migrant farmworkers and Fuerza Migrante organizers
ReyFort Media 
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