He still walks, but in a different way

Jesus said to his disciples, "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt has lost its strength, how can it be made salty again? It has become useless. It can only be thrown away and people will trample on it.

"You are the light of the world. A city built on a mountain cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and covers it; instead it is put on a lamp-stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine before others, so that they may see the good you do and praise your father in heaven."

Matthew 5: 13-16

He walked 1, 700 kilometers from Bukidnon in Mindanao to Ateneo de Manila. He led several farmers fighting for agrarian reform. They were from Mindanao but they represented the millions of Filipinos sustained by their daily encounter; interaction and communion with the earth. Today, he no longer walks but allows others to continue walking for and with him. He could have done it again and again. One thousand seven hundred kilometers are nothing for one whose entire life is defined by hard work and waiting until the communion of earth, work, seed, water, air and sun bear fruit. His feet have plowed both earth and endless stretches of roads, paved and un-paved, smooth and rough, coaxing both seeds that feed and seeds that empower and give dignity to grow.

He did not walk this time. He arrived in a box flown from Mindanao to Manila. I went to St. Peter's Memorial Chapel on Quezon Avenue to bless Ka Rene Peñas's remains. It was a sad encounter with someone whom I knew as an energetic, creative and visionary farmer.

I met Rene Peñas ten years ago when I prepared him and his companions to undertake a journey on foot of more than a thousand kilometers from Mindanao to Manila. They stayed in the parish guest house in UP Diliman for a few days to undergo physical, spiritual and psychological training for the grueling Jubilee Pilgrimage. One of my staff, Mat Macabe, also a long distance runner, teamed up with me to train Ka Rene and his Jubilee pilgrims. The farmers had fun during the training. They told me how the difficult life in the fields is one thing and ultra long-distance walking is another. Indeed, plowing, planting and harvesting are physically demanding but the art of proper long-distance walking is different.

That was ten years ago. Ka Rene and his fellow farmers did walk from Bukidnon to Manila. Nine years later, sometime in 2008, he did it again with a new batch of farmers. Ka Rene and his companion farmers have been walking for the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. Though difficult, the walk was and continues to be necessary because of the current position and attitude of the majority of the members of the Philippine Congress. It has been an uphill climb for farmers to work for agrarian reform. They have suffered a variety of setbacks from reversals of court decisions to award land to criminalization and outright harassment and even death.

In spite of the threats, Ka Rene never wavered and continued to be his bubbly, creative and visionary self. He was murdered around midnight of June 5, 2009. Ka Rene is a great loss to the farmers' movement. His long walks, fasts and various creative advocacies have made him into an endearing symbol of a creative and charismatic farmer leader.

After blessing Ka Rene, another walk took place. This time Ka Rene is still present but walking in a different way. Ka Rene's body was brought on a hearse followed by less than a hundred farmers, two priests and a nun from St. Peter's to the parish of Sta. Maria de la Strada. I walked behind Ka Rene's son Noland and other farmers who walked behind the hearse. It was a solemn night walk. We were engulfed by darkness broken only by headlights and the torches that farmers carried. We began walking around 6:30 pm and arrived at the de la Strada Church almost at 9:00 pm.

I said mass shortly after we arrived. Fr. Archie Casey of the Xavieran Missions concelebrated with me. The homily was shared. Ka Rene's son Noland, Vic Fave and ate Sita, one of those whom I trained with Ka Rene ten years ago, shared their thoughts, feelings and prayers. Fr. Archie and I just added a few words. On my part, I simply said, "This is no time for long homilies. In fact, much of the sermons of priests are abstract and irrelevant to the lives of people, especially the poor. There is no need for a long homily for the most powerful homily is the life of this man who lies 'alive' before us. Thank you Ka Rene."

Lord of justice, help us find justice for Ka Rene and let his life and death not be in vain. Amen.

Photo by: EddCastro

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