Email: Kristin Stroble

Friends,

I am an ecumenical intern with the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), which is a partner with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). When I arrived in the Philippines we had a two-month orientation in Manila, the capital, and in November I began my time in a placement.

I am living in the southern Tagalog area, which is on the main island of Luzon, only an hour from Manila. Here I am connected with two UCCP churches, one of which is an outreach congregation. At the outreach congregation I serve as choir director, which has been a wonderful way to connect with the people here. Besides church, I am volunteering at an NGO for laborers’ rights. I have witnessed and experienced many meaningful things here at my placement, and I will try to describe one event to you.

A few weeks ago I joined a lakbayan, which literally translated means “the people walk.” It was a five-day march that started at the Nestle factory in Cabuyao, Laguna, and ended in Manila. This march was to voice the struggles and fight for justice for the striking workers from Nestle, Nissan, and Toyota, which are the three biggest unions in the Philippines. For me this march has given a new appreciation for Holy Week and for Easter, which we just experienced.

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday and a “peaceful march” into Jerusalem to face those in power. It was the time of year for the Passover festival, and the Romans were very aware that this festival could increase the Jews longing for freedom and self-determination, since it celebrates their freedom from Egypt. Like Palm Sunday, the lakbayan began with a march into Manila, the capital of the Philippines, the place where the government resides. Like the Jews, the Filipino people are fighting for their freedom—against a corrupt government, capitalism, and a ruthless president. The march occurred during a time of heightened security because of recent movements to oust the president, and therefore the workers knew before they started marching that it could be dangerous and have consequences.

On the first day of our march we gathered at the Nestle factory and started with songs, cheers, and dramas displaying the struggles of the workers. The Nestle, Nissan, and Toyota workers have been on strike for many years. They have been blacklisted from other jobs in the Philippines and harassed by the police. They struggle just to provide food for their families. Through all of this, they keep fighting, demanding justice, and leading the struggle against the government and capitalist companies and countries. Every time we entered a major town or city we would stop and again have demonstrations and speeches, encouraging the people to boycott Nestle and to fight with them for justice.

The first couple days of the march, as we headed to Manila, were very peaceful. People on the streets would hand us food and give the workers money. They cheered with us and honked their horns in encouragement. It was joyful, uplifting, and maybe quite similar to Jesus’ and his disciples’ journey into Jerusalem.

Our fourth day of the march I identified with Good Friday. No there was not an actual crucifixion, and thankfully no one was killed, but innocent people were hurt.

Our major stop of the day was at the Department of Labor and Employment. Here we were demonstrating for several hours. There were a few police, but everything seemed to be going well. Then things took a drastic turn for the worse. A team of policeman came in a van with their riot gear. They began to line up blocking one entrance of the road completely. Then a fire truck pulled up behind them. The workers, who do not like their right for peaceful assembly and freedom of speech violated, did not back down and leave. We all began to sing songs and stand together in solidarity. Then a second fire truck pulled up. A few minutes later both fire trucks at the same time took out their water cannons and sprayed us. As soon as the hoses were turned off the police began to use their clubs and savagely beat the workers. Everyone began to run from the police who continued to chase and beat them. I turned, ran, and jumped into one of our vehicles that I had been riding in part of the time. Our Jeep could not move because of people in front of us, so I was a witness to everything that happened. I was horrified to see the police running after people I had begun to know, beating them in the back. Other men were putting their hands in the air pleading with the police to please stop hitting them and let them go. The police responded by continuing to hit them, bruising their bodies. I next saw a man being dragged across the ground by the police as they continued to hit him. His face was completely covered in blood. The police arrested him, and he was put in the hospital in critical condition. As the police passed by our Jeep they started pounding on the sides of it and shaking it.

The vehicle I was in was the medical vehicle. So we stopped to help the injured. Sixteen people were taken to the hospital, five of whom were arrested. Of the injured, one was hit in the face and his eye was screwed up, another man showed me his finger, which had been cut through the bone. Countless others had welts and bruises all over their bodies from being beaten. I have never witnessed such violence in my life, and I hope I never do again. The brutality of the police was unbelievable and uncalled for. I felt so helpless watching people I had come to know get beaten over and over, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

On Good Friday, Jesus, an innocent man, was flogged because he stood up against the religious and political leaders of the day. He knew when he opposed those in power and stood with the peasants and the oppressed that he was risking his life. It did not stop him and it did not stop the Filipino workers. They too were beaten for their beliefs, but were unwilling to give up. Like the women by the cross, the women with us on our march cried and pleaded for the men. They then took care of them and treated their wounds. The day ended in crying and silence.

By the next morning all but one of the demonstrators were released from the hospital. Everyone was sober and depressed, but unwilling to give up. We rose and then reformed to continue marching, the injured riding in the vehicles. Our first stop was at the Philippines National Police building to condemn the violence they had used on us the night before.

The next stop was back to the Department of Labor and Employment, where we were violently dispersed the night before. The determination of the people I marched with and their bravery constantly inspired me. They went back to the scene of violence and again said what happened was wrong and that even if you use violence against us we will not give up. This time we left the department on our terms, not theirs. I experienced Easter, the rising from the ashes to new life and new hope. Their bodies were bruised and beaten, but their spirit was not broken. With Easter it does not mean that all the struggles have ended, but it gives the hope to keep fighting, to keep standing up for justice.

This march was one of the hardest things I have ever done. It was exhausting physically, emotionally, and spiritually, but I do not regret being on it. The workers have taught me so much and inspired and touched my life. They do not give up; they still have hope for getting justice, for going back to work, for ending corruption in their country. This Easter I have been given new hope and for this I am thankful.

Kristin Stroble