Anakbayan Ottawa

(H)INDEPENDENCE 2026
We have been told that we are Independent, but are we really? What does it mean to be independent and is it something that we can achieve?

On April 29th, we had the pleasure of hosting Danilo “Ka Daning” for a public education on the conditions faced by farmers and peasants in the Philippines. As a part of his talking tour, Ka Daning stopped by Ottawa to speak with the community and share learnings from his decades long experience fighting for the rights of farmers and peasants.

Ka Daning is the chairperson of KMP, the largest farmers and peasants Union in the Philippines, and has been an organizer for decades.

We learned about the realities faced by farmers and peasants in the Philippines--facing land-grabbing, usury, and lack of farming tools. They face many adversities in simply trying to access their livelihood. Additionally, militarization in the countryside, as well as the on-going Balikatan exercises, further restrict the access of farmers to their land. The Canadian military is a new participant to the Balikatan war games, directly impacting Filipinos and making their lands unlivable. The presence of the military in the countryside also means that farmers and peasants who try to advocate themselves face direct oppression and violence.

As a survivor of a massacre, and having been detained by the fascist state forces twice, Ka Daning shared how we must stay risilient and determined in the fight to serve our people.
In light of the Negros 19 massacre, we had a moment of silence, and strengthened our resolve and dedication to holding the state accountable, and pushing forward justice and national democracy in the Philippines.