Kalakbay
Just as the last stroke of this painting was being completed this morning, two of my subjects in this latest obra were being riddled with bullets while cultivating their own land in La Castellana, Negros Occidental. Mang Alejandro (fourth from right) and Mang Eli (second from right) were both dead on arrival as their bodies were brought to a nearby barrio hospital. I was really planning to send them a reproduction of this work.
As I look at the skull at the lower right corner of my painting, I smell the smell of death. It fills my studio this evening. Carrying this smell for hours already, I can't sleep. I remember their faces last March when we were attending mass under their worn-out tent. They sighed and as if saying, Lord thank you for journeying with us even through the valley of darkness. Even till death. Kalakbay.
Last March 22, 2007, we were jubilant as the farmer-beneficiaries of Hacienda Velez Malaga were finally installed in the disputed land. It was just a mock installation.Only 57 farmers were installed instead of the supposed 102. And those who were installed were never issued orders by DAR. Two weeks ago the military pulled out from the hacienda. Kaya disgrasya lalo. Tiyay Lindy is requesting for your prayers.
So much blood and pain from the best human beings.
joey