Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos (KMP photo)
Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos, a rice farmer from Bulacan and a long-time leader of the progressive peasant organization Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) announces his intention to run for Senator in next year’s midterm polls. Accompanied by farmers and peasant advocates, Ramos proclaimed his candidacy near the rice farm lot that he cultivates himself.
In his acceptance speech, Ramos said: “I am accepting the challenge and difficult task of our times to carry the interests of Filipino farmers to the Senate. We must step and show that there are alternatives to traditional political parties and dynasties. While Filipinos continue to carry the burden of economic hardships, we must further advance genuine land reform and national industrialization as the foundations of economic development for the people.”
“Tinatanggap ko ang hamon at tungkulin ng Makabayan, para isulong ang interes ng magsasaka at taumbayan sa Senado. Dala ang karanasan bilang magbubukid, higit kong itataguyod ang tunay na reporma sa lupa at pag-unlad ng kanayunan, gayundin ang tunay na pag-unlad ng kapwa mahirap at mga Pilipino sa loob at labas ng bansa. Isusulong ko ang mga patakaran at programa para sa abot-kayang presyo ng bigas, kasapatan sa pagkain at pagpapalakas ng lokal na produksyon.”
Carrying the banner “Magsasaka, ipunla sa Senado,” Ramos said it is high time to have a genuine representation of poor and marginalized farmers and peasants in the Senate, with farmers and rural sectors comprising most of the country’s population.
Based on his own experience with rice farming, Ramos presented actual proposals on how the country can realistically achieve lower rice prices and ease rice importation, with some of the concrete steps include the following: 1) Direct production support for rice farmers; 2) Direct government-led palay procurement from farmers and 3) Selling/distribution of rice to low-income consumers at subsidized prices. “The preservation and protection of agricultural lands devoted to rice and food production is also primary in increasing local production and achieving lower rice prices,” Ramos asserts.
Today’s announcement follows the proclamations of ACT Teachers Party-list Representative France Castro, Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Arlene Brosas, Kilusang Mayo Uno’s Jerome Adonis, former anti-poverty Czar Liza Masa, former BAYAN Muna Rep. and BAYAN’s Teddy Casino.
Who is Ka Daning: Rooted in poverty and aspiration of Filipino farmers
Danilo Ramos, or Ka Daning, was born to a family of tenant farmers in Malolos, Bulacan. His father, who was also a carpenter, died when he was only 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.
At an early age, Ka Daning witnessed how the landlord family in their community lived lavishly. He said his relatives and neighbors who were all tenant farmers always gave their best chickens and harvest to the landlord’s family. During village festivities, the farmers and their children will go to the landlord’s house to do housechores.
Like many children of poor peasant families, Ka Daning was compelled to stop schooling after finishing Grade 6. Instead of going to high school, he made a living making salakab, a bamboo-made tool used for fishing.
Since his teens, Ramos worked on the farm, planting rice, mongo, and vegetables. He immersed himself in farm production, working from as early as 5 a.m. until 11 p.m. After the harvest season, Ka Daning and his colleagues earned extra income as farm workers in other villages. Now at 67 years old, Ka Daning is still tilling their small parcel of land every cropping season.
In the 1980s, he became involved in teaching catechism in the Kristiyanong Kapatiran sa Komunidad in Malolos’ Sta. Isabel Parish. Later, he became an officer of the Council of Formation and Community on Service of the Parish Pastoral Council. His leadership in the Church community was later on recognized at the diocese level of Malolos.
It was also in the Church where he became exposed to the realities of the Philippine society. The first rally he attended was a protest against the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant project of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
After realizing the failure of Marcos Sr’s PD 27 program, Ka Daning joined a peasant group and organized among his fellow poor farmers. In 1983, at the height of the anti-Marcos Sr dictatorship mobilizations, he was elected secretary-general of the Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Bulacan (AMB, Alliance of Peasants in Bulacan). In 1988, he became the 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 1993, he was appointed as KMP’s secretary-general. He is now KMP’s national chairperson.
Ka Daning was a survivor of the heinous 1987 Mendiola Massacre. He was among the tens of thousands of poor farmers from Luzon who marched to the then Ministry of Agrarian Reform and Mendiola. They were demanding free land distribution to the then Cory Aquino administration when the Philippine Constabulary (now PNP), opened fire at the protesting farmers. Until today, farmers have demanded free land distribution and genuine agrarian reform amid massive land-use conversion.
