Beyond the Hype: A forum on Continuing the Fight for the Sumilao Farmers || Jan. 23, 2008; Colayco Pavillion

Please pass to everyone

SANGGUNIAN NG MGA MAG-AARAL NG ATENEO DE MANILA

Committee on Social Concerns and Involvement

DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY

THE ASSEMBLY

and

LOYOLA FILM CIRCLE

invite you to

Beyond the hype:

Continuing the fight for the Sumilao Farmers

January 23, 2008

4:30-6:00pm

Colayco Pavillion

Last month, 55 farmers walked 1,400-km from Sumilao, Bukidnon to bring their cause of social justice to national consciousness and the attention of the president herself. Before they left for Bukidnon, they were given their first victory: the revocation of the conversion order thus opening their land to the eventual implementation of CARP.

However, a month has passed and it seems the farmers are not getting closer to their final victory. They've won the first battle but the war is NOT OVER YET!

A month ago, the Sumilao farmers received overwhelming support from the Ateneo Community. A group of farmers have returned to Manila seeking to continue the fight by marching from parish to parish, school to school to personally inform the people of their plight and ask for their support. On Wednesday, they return to Ateneo to reaffirm their alliance and fellowship with us in their continued struggle to reclaim what is rightfully theirs.

As part of the Turn Rights Week of the Loyola Film Circle, Youth Action Movement (Youth United for Truth and Accountability for the Nation) of the Assembly and the continuing efforts of the Sanggunian - CSCI and Development Society, we bring you this forum to discuss the pertinent issues surrounding the struggle of the Sumilao farmers.

Learn the real deal on the current situation of the case.

Clarify issues that have been raised against this campaign.

Meet the Sumilao farmers themselves.

Let us continue to support the Sumilao farmers

and to take part in their crusade for Social Justice.

PROJECT 50/50: Final Expense List

Please pass to everyone.

Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral ng Ateneo de Manila

Committee on Social Concern and Involvement

PROJECT 50/50:

A pledge campaign to raise P50,000 for the 50 marching Sumilao farmers

Expenses list (as of December 19, 2007):

Food for doctors - Php 500.00

Doctor's Fund for medicine - Php 3312.50

Strepsils and Massage oil (medicine) - Php 2344.00

Other Mercury Drug (medicine) expenses - Php 2287.00

40 Regular Yum burgers - Php 1000.00

40 Bottled Water - Php 290.00

12 Slippers - Php 300.00

43 Slippers - Php 860.00

Sponsored Lunch for farmers - Php 7300.00

Sponsored Dinner for farmers - Php 5000.00

55 Blankets for farmers - Php 4950.00

Total: Php 28143.50

The remaining money (Php 32,495.70) was turned over to Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan to contribute to the Php65,000.00 worth of goods for the families of the farmers back in Bukidnon. This money was sent to Bukidnon last December 19,2007 and will be used by the families for their Noche Buena.

We again thank the whole Loyola Schools community for rising up to the challenge of supporting the Sumilao farmers' campaign for social justice!

The battle is not over yet so we hope that our support will not diminish even as they return to their families and continue the fight from there.

We will continue to update the Loyola Schools Community on this case through email blasts as information is made available to us. Watch out for the information board that will be set-up at the MVP lobby and the Sumilao Weekly email blast to monitor this issue.

Merry Christmas and God bless us all.