My exclusive
By Raïssa Robles
Hacienda Luisita
A secret survey conducted by private pollster Social Weather Stations told then President Corazon Aquino early on that Filipinos wanted her family’s vast landed estate distributed to the tenants.
I dug up a copy of this “preliminary and confidential” survey conducted on March 1987 – or shortly before the assumption into office of the first Congress after Ferdinand Marcos fled.
The nation was then under the Freedom Constitution.
At that time, land reform only meant one thing – land redistribution.
The stock option scheme came later, devised partly by Cory Aquino’s relatives to keep Hacienda Luisita from being redistributed.
The questioned posed by SWS to respondents was the following below:
Portion from a Social Weather Station March 1987 survey
As you can see, Filipinos were overwhelmingly FOR land distribution.
Another question posed to the respondents was the following below:
Portion from March 1987 Social Weather Station survey
As you can see again, land reform was thought by the respondents as one of the vital pressing issues which they wanted President Cory Aquino to move on fast.
Why Pres. Cory did not follow survey
One of the Palace insiders I have talked to since, told me why President Cory Aquino never used her vast revolutionary powers to implement a sweeping and genuine land reform program that covered huge landed estates like that of her family. I was told she was pressured by her oldest brother, the clan patriarch Pedro Cojuangco – the man who died recently – and by her own brother Peping Cojuangco, not to distribute the land to the farmers.
Fernando Cojuangco has told listeners – “Over my dead body”
A separate source also told me about hearing Pedro Cojuangco’s son, Fernando, say something aloud during a gathering when the conversation wandered to land reform and Hacienda Luisita. Fernando Cojuangco told his listeners: “Over my dead body.”
Perhaps his remark showed how strongly he felt about the land. He is after all the administrator of Hacienda Luisita.
Why do I write about such a divisive issue at this point in time?
Because it is one of the unfinished business of President Cory Aquino and the entire Filipino nation. We cannot move forward as a nation because of this. The energies of many Filipinos are devoted to blocking land reform or trying to ram it through.
Some one million hectares of land are not being used to their full potential because the landowners continue to resist land reform with the same passion as the late Congresswoman Hortencia Starke.
In 1987, Starke threatened to lead a counter-revolution. Here is my memento of that sad era. Starke gave away t-shirts like these to reporters:
Landlords like Congresswoman Hortencia-Starke threatened to revolt in order to keep their vast haciendas. Here's what she gave reporters
Perhaps there are those in the Cojuangco clan who think I should stick my nose into my own business and I have no right to intrude on what happens to their land.
Sorry to say, I have the moral ascendancy to write on this issue
My family was among those whose landholdings were seized by Marcos for land reform. And unlike the Cojuangcos who borrowed money to buy their land, my grandfather, the late Dr. Mariano Lamson bought the land using his earnings as a medical doctor in the province of Nueva Ecija.
I still remember him raging to his dying day. My mother and aunts, too, were deprived of their inheritance. And I, too, could be wealthy by now if we still had that land.
I believe in genuine land reform which includes redistribution
Despite what had happened to our family I believe in genuine land reform. Japan, Taiwan, China and South Korea were only able to progress and modernize as a nation after undertaking genuine land reform.
Not the bogus kind that Hacienda Luisita is trying to pass off as land reform. The kind that all other haciendas in the country are trying to emulate with Hacienda Luisita as the model.
The Cojuangcos know in their hearts it is bogus and just a ploy to keep the land and then convert this to other uses like a mall.
What they don’t understand, perhaps, is that their family – the Cojuangcos – has this choice before them whether or not to live forever as heroes in Philippine history. And to be respected the way the family name Rizal is respected across ages.
They do not understand that it is not the land that is valuable but their name – Cojuangco.
That is the coin that will open doors for them for generations to come once they give up the land with joy and generosity.
How that will unleash a revolution of giving all across the nation.
ROMAN RAMA GUERRERO says
Hacienda Luisita was acquired from Tabacalera with government loans and on condition that said lands be eventually distributed to its tenants. It is time for the Cojuangcos to fulfill those conditions NOW! It is the only way to move this country forward or wallow our country – for God knows how long – in poverty under the rule of oligarchical authoritarianism masquerading as Democracy which was fronted by the Stock Distribution Certificates in lieu of actual land distribution. For once in this SC, my salute on this ruling!
ramz says
well… your joy and happiness may just be shortened… the president is out to replace the Chief Justice and once the pres. succeeds that ruling will be in questioned and under review for how many years until who knows when… if not totally overturned by his own handpicked chief justice… I don’t see anything wrong questioning corona and his appointment but i do smell something fishy behind the pres. motives….
ROMAN RAMA GUERRERO says
The issue of the HLI should be beyond the issue of the Corona and PNoy conflict. Granting that Corona shall be convicted – which I doubt the Senate would do – PNoy”s initial approval of the SC ruling should be taken as the coming into terms of the Cojuangco-Aquino families’ redemption of their forebears’
commitment to distribute the land per their original contract as well as the “redemption” itself of the SC which PNoy want reformed. I recognize the pressure PNoy is in by among his own relatives-owners of the HLI. It shall be a test of his leadership to to be able to navigate in the said difficult situation which could make or break him as President. BTW: Please be aware that PNoy’s term could be cut short by as much as exactly 4 years to usher in a successor-President who could turn out to be sympathetic to the HCL owners if PNoy does not reverse his initial approval of the ruling. That exactly 4 years of his term begins at 12:01pm; June 30, 2012 or a little over 6 months from now IF sec. 4(3); art. VII of the Constitution is not corrected.
sarah jane gutierrez says
maybe they should distribute the land to the farmworkers….
edvee cruz says
Why was your land ” ‘seized’ by Marcos for land reform” and your entire family bitter if you are for land reform? Seized? And why should the Cojuangcos be “respected the way the family name Rizal is respected across age??” After unlawfully retaining the land which was supposed to have been redistributed to the farmers about half a century ago as was the condition of the government loan guarantee, they will now be heroes?? All the fruits of that land that they amassed for themselves illegally should be returned to the people. And I’m not even talking Ysidra Cojuangco and Antonio Luna here and the gold that belonged to the revolutionary government under Aguinaldo. Hello?? Where have you been? In any case, please keep the Cojuangco name away from Rizal’s; you need not fawn over them that much. I’m sure they have noticed you by now.
raissa says
Now, before I engage you in any debate, I’d like to know where you’re coming from.
Are you by chance the son of J.V. Cruz, one of the lick spittle of Ferdinand Marcos?
edvee cruz says
Who my father is has no relevance to debating issues. And now that you mention JV Cruz and in an insulting fashion, I can see how you wish you could write even half as good as him or the likes of him — Cristobal, Nakpil, Tatad, and many others. You would be around the league of, say, third stringers if you’re lucky. Going back to what you were saying, the Cojuangco’s are engaged in a bogus ploy to keep their land and have plans of further enriching themselves by building malls in the foreseeable future. But if they change their deceitful ways and give up the land which is the right thing to do in the first place according to you, their name will be forever revered the same way Jose Rizal’s name has been “respected across ages.” That’s what you’re saying, right? Thank God you’re not in front of me because I would not be able to control my laughter as is happening now and no matter how coarse and crude you are, I would be inclined to show you some respect but that’s just me. Hahaha! Sorry, I couldn’t help it. Hilarious!
raissa says
Rips you in the gut that your idol Marcos will forever be mud in world history, doesn’t it, edvee.
Despite the best efforts of your dad and others like him.
I’ve been trying to find historical references about your dad but couldn’t find any.
I think he was, correct me if I’m wrong, the Philippine ambassador to London. In other words, Bongbong Marcos’ yaya, wasn’t he, while the latter was studying there. In that case, your family enjoyed then what we now know as the Marcos loot.
That’s why I bring in your daddy. Your lifestyle during the Marcos period made you like them very much indeed, while the rest of the nation wallowed in poverty.
Am I right on the money? Este, OUR money?
edvee cruz says
Bongbong had finished his studies in London way before my dad was assigned there. I’m afraid the “loot” you speak about that my family enjoyed never existed anywhere near us. I won’t even bother elaborating on that. Those that know us know the truth and now, the truth also about you. I’ve not even bothered wasting my time to check on your background but that’s not to say that your preposterous suggestion is any less absurd than it is. Just to make sure you actually hear what you say, let me repeat it: “the Cojuangcos know in their hearts it is bogus and just a ploy to keep the land and then convert this to other uses like a mall.” And from there your hilarious prognosis: “…that their family – the Cojuangcos – has this choice before them whether or not to live forever as heroes in Philippine history. And to be respected the way the family name Rizal is respected across ages.” From “bogus” to finally doing what is right so as to be “respected the way the family name Rizal is respected across ages.” hahaha! And you still can’t see yourself fawning over the Cojuangcos, right? Thank God Rizal isn’t alive to have heard that; he may have asked the Spanish soldiers to just shoot him again. You should write for comedy. Cheers!
Alan says
Let me get this right, your father was a toadying lackey for Marcos and now you’re a spokesperson for Jose Rizal. Uhm..
Do you reach him via mobile? Is it expensive?
edvee cruz says
And you think you’re being witty, right? That’s your best? hahaha! You know what? I actually do reach him by mobile. It’s expensive only for you because you ask. haha!
Alan says
Oh, so you do talk to Rizal? By mobile? And it’s expensive?
Ummm…try not to skip your meds?
raissa says
Yes, Edvee, your fortune had been good as you yourself wrote on your blog:
“I’ve had the good fortune of having lived in different countries over a period of more than three decades and that for me has been my most treasured education, more than what I’ve learned inside school-classrooms in countries like Germany, USA, England and the Philippines. What this “traveling” has taught me is that the differences among people in their language, culture, nationality and background are superficial and that the human being, irregardless of these differences, share the same needs, the same fears, and most importantly, belong to one and the same family — the family of MAN.”
That’s thanks to Marcos and to the Filipino taxpayers.
ramz says
You can never win a fight against the Aquinos unless you begin to doubt on how Marcos was treated by history. he can never be wrong all the way or else you would make me believe that he was the true incarnation of the devil, which he wasn’t. he did build a lot of things that remain useful for this country and unless you utterly believe he is the devil incarnate then you pretty much reduce this article as a simple hate mail and would utterly make you no different than the family you are standing against. There’s no point of comparison between Rizal and the Cojuangco-Aquinos, Rizal never hesitated to give back what he owed our country… rather he dedicated himself into seeing this country at its best… while those people need not be remembered by our countrymen… so just don’t…
Pardon me if I sound like idolizing Marcos… but truth be said he has done better than PNOY.
Alan says
Yep, Marcos certainly did better. Why, he set world records in murder, torture, plunder and destruction of public institutions. To say nothing of murder, torture, plunder and destruction of public institutions. But then I repeat myself
torogiak says
i was born to a landless family but learned early on that the small land we were free to till gave us not just our daily bread but the hope for better times. it did because of the industry of my parents. ang matuwid na daan ay yaong ibahagi ang lupa ng may sandamukal na lupa. ito lang ang paraan upang mabigyan pag-asa ang mahirap na umangat at ang mayaman na mapasaya dahil nakapagbigay ng dapat ibigay
Mahar Mangahas says
Dear Ms. Robles,
The survey figures that you cite are not secret. They may be seen in the Ateneo-SWS Public Opinion Reports: October 1986 and March 1987, published in 1987, available in the SWS Library and presumably also in the Ateneo Library. On pp. 75-85 of this published report is my article, “Public Opinion on Land Reform,” which discusses the many items on land reform that were included in the March 1987 survey; I will have the article scanned and sent to you.
None of the surveys of the joint SWS-Ateneo project of 1986-87 were secret. Prior to publication of survey materials, it is customary to label research work as “preliminary and confidential”; such preliminary work is often presented to pertinent government officials for their information and guidance. Whether the March 1987 survey findings on Hacienda Luisita were ever brought to the personal attention of Pres. Cory Aquino, either before or after publication, is something I do not know.
It is also misleading to refer to SWS as a “private pollster”. SWS is a non-stock, non-profit research organization doing surveys both non-commissioned (open) and commissioned (temporarily for exclusive use of the sponsor; archived and ultimately open). The March 1987 survey you cite was non-commissioned and open.
Sincerely,
Mahar Mangahas
SWS