Sinag

sinag

nanay diling

She is a woman of strength, a woman of courage.

No one would probably expect to see an old woman vigorously taking part in a rally along EDSA under the prickly heat and blinding glow of the sun.
At the age of 62, she should be spending most of her time staying at home, harvesting fruits in her farm,and playing with her grandchildren. In other words, living a peaceful and normal life with her family. She chose otherwise.

She gets out to the streets, tolerates hot arid days, bears the dust and smokes of jeeps and buses, furiously raises her fists, chants and shouts with all her might, and whole-heartedly fights for the farmers' rights. All these she does in the name of justice. All these and more she is willing to do for the oppressed.

It was the commemoration of the second triumph of the Filipino people against a self-seeking leader. The people should have gone there to celebrate. Rather, they have gone there to show dismay over the president's betrayal of the spirit of EDSA 2, so to speak. An active member of the Samahan ng Makabayang Kababaihan (SAMAKANA), Montalban chapter, she came to EDSA with other people from the women and farmers sector. "Apat na jeep kami," she said when asked how many people she came with.

While a woman held the megaphone and expressed her kapwa Mindorenos' loathe for the Gloria Macapagal administration and his military men in Mindoro, while the policemen stood on one side with their truncheons and shields, while the protesters took their gulp of cold water in between chants, Nanay Diling - under the intense heat of the sun on a dry day - sat on a newspaper-clad ground with the students to share with them the Montalban farmers' plight.

In Montalban, she said, occur various forms of abuse and malevolence. Just on the 8th of December, one farmer was abducted for having joined a rally. At times, military men would play with them by firing bullets on the ground where they stood. Their community, time and again, has been witness to many demolitions, despite lack of proof that the government has a project for their land. SWAT teams and soldiers consistently roamed the town. Quarrying activities, which they strongly question, are awfully widespread and yet ignored by the local officials. Last but definitely not the least is the extensive land grabbing.

Nanay Diling's was one of those lands seized. It was claimed in 1991, she said, by Montalban Mayor Pedro "Ping" Cuerpo who identified himself as a relative of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. She may still have a piece of land to cultivate. But firm in her belief that such deed is one big social injustice, she decided to stand and fight. Since then, she united with the farmers and women of their town.

The rally went on. Emotions continued to escalate. The speaker's voice was even angrier, her words much crispier. Everyone became more agitated as they listened to the speaker's statements and accounts of cruelty. They nodded and gave out thunderous chants in response. Still up and being waved were the streamers that read "Militar Palayasin sa Kanayunan", "Taksil sa Diwa ng EDSA 2", and "tuta, korap, pahirap, taksil, pasista, terorista." Standing still as well was the artistically-made placard showing a Medusa-headed Gloria.

So did Nanay Diling continue discussing with the students. According to her, some of the tall buildings that now rise in Montalban are privately owned by Mayor Cuerpo.

"Hindi po ba kayo natatakot sa hindi nyo pananahimik laban sa mga awtoridad?" Her little eyes revealed a patch of fear as she replied.

"Natatakot din."But that little patch of fear proved to be indeed just a patch when she went on: "Natatakot din. Pero patuloy kaming maninindigan, lalo na kaming mga magsasaka dahil kung mananahimik ay papatayin din naman..." (There also is fear but we will continue to stand, especially we, farmers, for even if we stay silent we will still get killed...). Her voice and gestures resounded nothing but the will to fight.

A few more minutes passed and the rally was over. We got on our feet and prepared to leave. "Nirarayuma na ako, "Nanay Diling uttered smiling as she stood up and made her way back to her group.

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