A Journey of Solidarity in the Philippines
By Kimberly Mark
Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.’
— Matthew 25:37-40
I was truly honored to participate in the recent Pastoral and Solidarity Visit to the Philippines, sponsored by the CA-NV Annual Conference Philippine Solidarity Task Force (PSTF). The purpose of our trip was to build relationships: to listen to stories, learn about people’s lives, and connect with one another as family. We met with people from various sectors of society—church members, students, women, indigenous peoples, fisher folk, farmers, workers. We communed with human rights defenders and activists, political prisoners, victims of state violence, and others—ordinary people who want only a decent life for themselves and their communities.
Not only did we feed the hungry and visit the sick and imprisoned, we were also invited to think critically about the structures and systems that keep people hungry, that cause illness, and that lead to imprisonment.
A poor person’s farm may produce much food, but injustice sweeps it all away. — Proverbs 13:23
I learned that many farmers must pay their landlords 70% of their yield. 70% for doing essentially nothing. That leaves the farmers with just 30%, from which they must pay for everything including seeds, fertilizer, tools, transportation, and their own household expenses such as food, clothing, and school fees.
I also met mussel farmers whose generations-old farms were destroyed by the government to make way for a ship parking lot. Dozens of families’ livelihoods were crushed so the government could collect rent. I shared lunch with mothers whose husbands and sons were killed in the war on drugs, gunned down on their way to work or even inside their homes by government forces, accused of being drug users. Although due process is a right, it was denied to them. I visited political prisoners who had been accused of being communist terrorists simply for teaching literacy, conducting human rights workshops, or investigating claims of abuse. Some have been imprisoned multiple times, yet they persist because they know their cause is just.
After my first trip in 2007, I came to understand how difficult the struggle was / is for those who are poor in the Philippines . I witnessed it in the lives of the people I met who became my friends. My recent trip deepened that understanding, showing me why—why people who work so hard cannot escape poverty, why those living in a land rich with natural resources still cannot meet their basic needs, and how a small group of people are able to control the political, social, and economic futures of so many. I returned from this experience inspired, challenged, and motivated to persevere in the work of seeking justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly.
So, what now? The work of solidarity continues. I want to keep pushing myself to step outside my comfort zones, to grow in patience, and to strengthen my resolve to be a more compassionate and effective peacemaker and justice-seeker. For the task force, our solidarity work focuses on human rights and includes education, advocacy, and relief:
Education: Raising awareness of human rights and violations, and holding events and discussions so more people understand that the injustices people face abroad are connected to the injustices we see here at home.
Advocacy: Pressing governments and corporations to uphold human rights and follow international humanitarian law.
Relief: Following major catastrophes—whether “natural” or man-made—we coordinate with local partners to provide much-needed relief supplies.
I hope you, too, might be inspired to begin or continue your own work of solidarity. Here are a few simple ways to get started:
Follow the PSTF on Instagram: @cal_nev_pstf
Sign up for our events mailing list: tinyurl.com/pstfcontact
Explore additional resources at: https://linktr.ee/calnevpstf
Other ways to increase your involvement:
Attend events supporting indigenous rights
Participate in letter-writing or call-in campaigns to elected officials
Learn from disability justice advocates
Join a community organization for human rights
Consider joining a future Pastoral and Solidarity Visit (living within the CA-NV Annual Conference is not required)
Please contact PSTF leadership directly (canvpstf@gmail.com) to brainstorm specific ways that we can work together to build a better world for everyone.
