Walang Panginoon

We can relate the story, “Walang Panginoon” to the oppressed Filipinos who tried to fight for their land promised by the government.  Several land reform initiatives have been carried out by various administrations over the years. Some of these initiatives, like the Stock Distribution Option (SDO) and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), have drawn criticism for being fraudulent and dishonest schemes. The sincere requests for land ownership and social justice made by landless farmers have not been satisfied by these programs.

During Marcos' presidency, he aimed to help farmers gain ownership of the Hacienda Luisita, and the Supreme Court ruled that the Cojuangcos must surrender it to the farmers. However, the farmland was not distributed. After Marcos' impeachment, Corazon Aquino became the president and ordered the court to withdraw the case against the Cojuangcos. She signed the Stock Distribution Option Act, which prevented the transfer of land ownership to the farmers

There is no denying that the government's programs are the reason why landless farmers have hope. The goal of CARP's program is to give small farmers assistance and security of land tenure. It was intended to help 2.129 million farmer households and cover 10.3 million hectares of land. Nevertheless, several organizations contest its effectiveness, pointing out irregularities, exclusions, incorrect identification, and a dearth of trustworthy data in the program.

According to Action for Economic Reforms (2008), numerous problems are faced by CARP, including lack of funding, political influence, land transactions, corruption, and collective titles. The "second-generation problems" of land tenure, like disputes, reversals, and consolidation of lands, are also addressed. Due to these problems, farmers tend to create a solution - a solution towards rebellion. The revolution aims to sow the seeds of a new society where there are no landlords and everyone can enjoy the fruits of their labor.

However, on the 16th of November 2004, farmers gathered and protested inside the Hacienda Luisita, a 6,435-hectare sugar plantation owned by the Cojuangco-Aquino family. Farmers were brutally shot by police and military forces inside where 14 among them were killed in an instant. 

This crime, this atrocity, was committed in broad daylight under the rule of former President Arroyo.  By maintaining majority ownership of the enormous 4,915-hectare hacienda through a so-called "stock distribution option" instead of properly enacting agrarian reform and distributing the lands to the farmers, the Cojuangco-Aquino family has safeguarded their power and wealth.  

The death toll has risen steadily since this foreboding incident. Farm laborers and those who support the revolution have been murdered without cause or justice.  Witness testimonies showed that the landed Aquino-Cojuangco family's private army had a direct hand in these killings (Philstar, 2014).

President Rodrigo R. Duterte described the exclusion of the Hacienda Luisita from the agrarian reform program as “the greatest aberration” done to farmer beneficiaries Parrocha (2019). 

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Walang Panginoon" by Deogracias A. Rosario serves as a poignant reflection of the enduring struggle faced by marginalized communities against oppression, a theme that resonates not only in literature but also in the real-world context of agrarian reform in the Philippines. The narrative of Marcos, driven by a desire for revenge against a powerful landowner, mirrors the broader societal issues of landlessness and injustice.

The story sheds light on the failures and shortcomings of government-initiated agrarian reform programs, such as CARP and SDO, which, despite their intended purpose, have been criticized for irregularities, corruption, and a lack of genuine commitment to social justice. The tragic events at Hacienda Luisita exemplify the dire consequences of these inadequacies, with farmers paying the ultimate price in their quest for land ownership and social equality.

The tale of Marcos and the broader struggle depicted in "Walang Panginoon" invites contemplation on the cyclical nature of oppression and the urgent need for genuine agrarian reform that addresses the root causes of landlessness and inequality. The real-world parallels underscore the challenges faced by farmers in their pursuit of justice and land rights, and the narrative serves as a call to action against systemic injustices that persist in society. 

The tragic events at Hacienda Luisita stand as a stark reminder of the high cost of neglecting the needs and aspirations of the very people agrarian reform aims to serve. The ongoing struggle for land reform in the Philippines highlights the imperative for comprehensive and just policies that truly empower the marginalized and uphold their rights.