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KALAKBAY
oil on canvas, 50in x 102in.

Just as the last stroke of this painting was being completed this morning, two of my subjects in this latest obra were being riddled with bullets while cultivating their own land in La Castellana Negros Occidental. Mang Alejandro (fourth from right) and Mang Eli (second from left). They were both dead on arrival as their bodies were brought at a nearby barrio hospital. I was really planning to send them a reproduction of this work where both of them are wearing red to remind them of the supposedly successful installation.

As I look at the skull at the lower right corner of my painting, I smell the smell of death. It fills my studio this evening. I carry this smell for hours already that I can't sleep. I remember their faces last March when we were attending mass under their worn out tent. They sighed and as if said, Lord thank you for journeying with us even through the valley of darkness. Even til death. Kalakbay.

Last March 22, 2007, we were jubilant as the farmer-beneficiaries of Hacienda Velez Malaga were finally installed in the disputed land. It was just a mock installation. Only 57 farmes were installed instead of the 102. And those who were installed were never issued orders by DAR to physically transfer and cultivate. Two weeks ago the military pulled out from the hacienda. Kaya disgrasya lalo. Tiyay Lindy is requesting for your prayers.
We met up with Tyay Lindy and Tiyay Gamay at the TFM headquarters. No words, not even the right ones came out from my mouth. I feel pain in front of their stoic faces...no grief...only hope. From their lips one could hear and feel the eloquence of farmers. Great courage. They were also recounting to us how they were attacked and shot by the blue guards when they were mounting their bamboo fences. Their only weapon was their sling shots in the face of bullets. I admire Mang Alejandro (70 yrs old). He was actually already based in Manila but he had to go back and be in solidarity with his fellow farmers in their quest for justice. He went out of his comfort zone.
I feel quite guilty and confused because when they were here in Manila , there were people who supported. Many celebrated their victory. Tulong tulong, bayanihan. But when they went back to their Negros , they were left among themselves and alone. It was of course empowering in a way, but it was a David amidst a legion of Goliaths.

So much blood and pain of the best human beings.