Ka Daning: From the Church to the Parliament of the Streets

Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos struggled early in life to provide for his family’s needs. He may not have impressive academic credentials, having finished only Grade VI, but his knowledge of the national situation is more impressive and credible than some government officials. Ka Daning has a distinct advantage: He knows poverty because he lives it and he integrates with those like him.

BY RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat

Ka Daning spoke on the national situation. Holding palay in one hand and a drawing of a typical landlord and tenant-farmers, Ka Daning narrated vividly the plight of the peasants. He related to the urban-based students the exploitation and oppression of the poor majority in rural areas. 

Some wept at the end of his speech. Many others felt outrage. Everybody was convinced of the need for genuine land reform and national industrialization.

Peasant origins

His ability to articulate the sufferings and struggles of the peasant class comes from Ka Daning’s own experience as a landless farmer. Born on Sept. 17, 1956, Ka Daning grew up in Bgy. Dakila in Malolos, Bulacan (located in Central Luzon, south of Manila).  His father, a carpenter and tenant farmer, died when he was five years old. His mother also came from a peasant family.  They made bangkaso, a bamboo-made tool used for spreading fertilizer, for a living.

They planted rice, mongo and peanuts. During his elementary years, Ka Daning said he and his siblings walked for about a kilometer to deliver food for the tenant farmers.  As a boy, he helped in preparing the seedbed, which they call pagbubulubod. Even though they were times of hardship, Ka Daning could recall the joyous singing of the farmers while planting. Someone would play the guitar while the farmers sang, and the rhythm of their steps in planting went well with the music.

That early too, he witnessed how the landlord family in their community lived like gods.  Ka Daning said his relatives and their neighbors who were all tenant farmers always gave their best chickens and produce to the landlord family. During fiesta (celebration), the farmers and their children will go the house of the landlord to provide services for free.

Like many children of poor peasant families, Ka Daning was compelled to stop schooling after finishing Grade VI. He remembered making salakab, a bamboo-made tool used for fishing, to earn a living instead of going to high school.

Still, he cherished his years of learning. They would walk for almost two kilometers from home to school. He used a bayong (a bag made of dried buri leaves) as a school bag and was given five centavos as allowance. Ka Daning regrets that he did not make it to the honor roll when he was in Grade VI. He was influenced by his peers to skip classes. They would play tatsing (a game using bottle aluminum covers) or go swimming in the river.

When he was older, he immersed himself in farm production, working from as early as 5 a.m. until 11 p.m.  Ka Daning said that even as they perform bayanihan (collective farming) in the community, they still had to work very hard. 

After the harvest season, Ka Daning and his colleagues earned extra income as farm workers. They went to other peasant communities to work.

At 21, he married Trinidad whom he calls Ka Ining. Ka Ining, also of peasant origin, does embroidery work for a living. 

From Bro. Danny to Ka Daning

Unknown to many, Ka Daning was Bro. Danny to his compatriots in Bulacan. In the 1980s, he became involved in the Kristiyanong Kapatiran (Christian Brotherhood) in Sta. Isabel Parish.  Later, he became an officer of the Council of Formation and Community on Service of the Parish Pastoral Council.

Ka Daning related how his co-parishioners encouraged him to teach catechism to children.  At first, he was apprehensive of his educational background. But the trust shown to him by colleagues and the trainings he underwent made him confident. His leadership in the church community was later on recognized at the diocese level of Malolos. 

Today, he looks back at those days as being decisive in overcoming his docility and shyness.  At that time, they were repeatedly told it was not their fault that they are poor.

It was also in the church where he became exposed to the realities of the Philippine society.  He remembered taking up a short course on the subject. When he learned the meaning of the word feudalism, he realized it was the bare truth. “Totoo ito sa amin. Namatay si amang, hindi pa rin kanya ang lupang sinasaka. Gayon din ang iba pang mga magsasaka sa baryo namin.”  (This is true in our case. My father already died as a farmer and yet, he still did not come to own the land that he tilled. The same is true with the rest of the farmers in our village.)

He recalled the first rally he attended. Their parish was invited to join the protest against the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. “Noong una, nagtatakip ako ng mukha. Baka makita ako ng mga kababaryo at ipamalitang sumasama ako sa rali.” (At first, I would cover my face.  My neighbors might see me and spread the news that I was joining rallies.)

Years after, he decided to join a peasant group and organize among the peasants. Ka Daning said his decision was consistent with the teachings of the Church.  “Sinabi ni Kristo, anumang ginawa mo para sa iyong pinakamaliit na kapatid ay ginawa mo para sa akin. Si Kristo mismo, ipinaglaban ang mga dukha at api.” (Christ said that what you do to the least of your brothers, you do it to me. Christ himself fought for the poor and oppressed.)

In 1983, he was elected secretary-general of the Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Bulacan (AMB, Alliance of Peasants in Bulacan).  Recalling the first time he participated in a dialogue with government officials, Ka Daning said both his knees and voice trembled. He feared that the provincial agriculturist would debunk his statements. But his extensive knowledge of the problems of fellow peasants gave him the courage to speak out.

Five years after (1988), he became spokesperson of the Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (AMGL, Alliance of Peasants in Central Luzon).  He served as the group’s secretary-general from 1989 to 1993. In November 1995, he rose to the central leadership of the KMP.  Since 1997, he has served as its secretary-general.

Full-time work

As he assumed bigger responsibilities in the peasant movement, Ka Daning decided to work full-time for the progressive movement. His decision was not immediately accepted by his wife. 

Painstakingly, he explained to his wife the need to be involved in the struggle for change.  “Hanggang hindi nagbabago ang sitwasyon, hindi uunlad ang buhay natin, walang magandang kinabukasan ang ating mga anak. Mahirap tayo dahil sa pagsasamantala ng mga panginoong maylupa, ng mga burgesya komprador at ng mga dayuhang kapitalista.” (Until the situation is changed, our lives will not improve, our children’s future will be bleak. We are poor because of the landlords, comprador bourgeoisie and foreign capitalists.)

Slowly, Ka Ining understood. As to his children, Ka Daning said he educated them early enough on the problems and struggle of the peasants.

Centuries-old issues remain

Ka Daning, now 48, said landlessness remains to be the primary problem of the Filipino peasants.  “Mas tumidi pa nga ang problema ng masang magsasaka sa ilalim ng rehimeng Macapagal-Arroyo.”  (The problems of the peasants became much worse under the Macapagal-Arroyo regime.)

He cited the eviction of farmers in Isabela because of the cassava plantation of Danding Cojuangco, Another case is that of the farm workers in Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac. 

Ka Daning criticized the past and present regimes for their bogus agrarian reform programs. He said that liberalization of agriculture proved devastating not only to the farmers but to the economy. “Ang agrikultura ang sandigan ng ekonomiya ngunit hindi binibigyan ng pagpapahalaga ng gobyerno ang mga magsasaka” (Agriculture is the backbone of the economy and yet, the government neglects the farmers).  Ka Daning strongly believes that only through genuine agrarian reform can the Philippine agriculture be modernized.

Ka Daning also expressed opposition to the removal of quantitative restrictions in rice importation by 2005.  He said the government should ensure food for self-sufficiency. 

The KMP, he said, is campaigning for the decrease in the cost of agricultural production, increase in subsidies of palay, copra and corn. The KMP also calls on the National Food Authority (NFA) to subsidize 25 percent of palay production so that consumers may buy P16 to P17 per kilo of rice.

Consequently, Ka Daning called for the immediate pull-out of military troops in the countryside. The peasant leader said that those responsible for the killing of peasant leaders must be prosecuted. He expressed disgust over the recent promotion of Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr., believed to be the mastermind in the murder of Eddie Gumanoy, a peasant leader from the Southern Tagalog, in April 2002.

Continuing struggle

Despite the violence and harassment experienced by fellow peasant leaders, Ka Daning said he is all the more emboldened by the sacrifices of colleagues in the movement. 

He said that because of the strong unity of farmers, they achieved concrete gains—decrease in land rent, decrease in usury rates, among others. “Dahil organisado ang mga magsasaka, may kakayahan silang harapin ang mga panginoong maylupa at lokal na gobyerno sa paggigiit ng kanilang karapatan.”  (Because the farmers are organized, they have the capacity to confront the landlords and local government units in asserting their rights.)

Ka Daning enthusiastically shared the KMP’s international solidarity work. “Dahil malakas ang kilusang magsasaka sa Pilipinas, may batayan para sa international solidarity work.” (Because of the strong peasant movement in the Philippines, there is basis for international solidarity work.)  The KMP is a member organization of the International League of People’s Struggle (ILPS) and Pesticide Action Network-Asia Pacific (PAN-AP). Ka Daning has represented the KMP in various international conferences. “Mahalagang magkaisa ang peasant movements sa buong Asya para labanan ang imperyalismo.” (It is important for peasant movements in Asia to unite against imperialism.)

Pride and Joy

Asked what makes him proud, Ka Daning answered, “Ipinagmamalaki ko ang panganay ko dahil sa desisyon niyang mag-full time sa hanay ng sektor pangkalusugan.”  (I am proud of my eldest because she decided to work full-time in the health sector.)

Ka Daning said he told her daughter Joy, who at first wanted to work abroad, that they do not need a big amount of money. Joy took up Physical Therapy. “Ang mahalaga, maggamit mo ang pinag-aralan mo para sa serbisyo sa ating bayan.” (What is important is that you use your education to serve the people.)

Ka Daning said he is also proud of the progressive movement. "Walang pinipili ang kilusan. Kahit mahirap, kinikilala. Nagbibigay ito ng tiwala, posisyon batay sa ginagampanang gawain at paninindigan.” (The movement is not choosy.  It recognizes even the poor.  It gives trust and position based on tasks that are being done and principles.)

Ka Daning said solemnly, almost like a prayer, “Alam ko, darating ang tagumpay. Ang masa ang mapagpasya. Darating ang araw, ang mamamayan ay magkakaroon ng buhay na marangal at kasiya-siya.” (I know that victory will come. The masses are decisive. The day will come when the people will have a decent and pleasant life.) Bulatlat

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