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Lenten Message for the Family and Friends of Slain Peasant Leader Romy Sanchez

By Promotion of Church Peoples' Response (PCPR) - Cordillera Region

(This message was read in a tribute to Romy Sanchez in his home in San Fernando, La Union on march 22, 2005.)

As we join with the whole Christendom in the commemoration of Christ's death and resurrection in this Holy Week, we raise up to the heavens another martyr of the people's struggle, Romy Sanchez, good son of La Union, champion of the farmers and beloved of the people, who was brutally slain by the military to further cow the people into submission, oppression and fear.

We express our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Romy Sanchez. In his imitation of the Christ, Romy lived a life of utter simplicity and sacrifice, lending his gifts and talents to the poor, especially the toiling peasants of Ilocos. And as the military's cold-blooded killers lay waste Romy's blood in Baguio market to silence his dream for the tillers of the soil, even now we celebrate the fulfillment of that dream... .for Romy's dream has become our dream and the dream of the people of the land.

We express our deepest gratitude for the life shared to us by Romy; for his being a good friend and comrade; who like Christ, rejoiced with the people, suffered their pains, and fought for their struggles. In the midst of agricultural desolation and corruption in tobacco, palay, and corn, we celebrate the promise of plenty — for Romy's sacrifice has inspired us to never stop fighting until our dreams are truly and tangibly realized.

We express our deepest anguish and pain for justice as Romy in his imitation of the Christ, raged at the idols and false temples of our time, aiming to destroy this heartless system which has converted our sacred land, into a den of thieves. Christ also raged at the temple because the Pharisees converted the house of God into a den of thieves. In the midst of lies and deception of monopoly capitalist globalization, even now we celebrate Truth shining brightly. For the spirit who has known truth, as Romy's spirit has shown, will remain steadfast in the truth until the very end.

In his imitation of Christ, Romy’s hope for freedom against all forms of oppression has also earned the ire of the authorities. Like Christ, Romy has been harrassed. Like Christ, Romy has been arrested. Like Christ, he has been tortured for his principles. Like Christ he carried his cross standing firm until the very end. Like Christ, his blood was spilled and has become an inspiration for many. In the midst of this excruciating pain and torment, even now we celebrate the promise of the living Christ -fully resurrected and alive. Romy is now dead and yet he is folly resurrected in the hearts of the people. Romy's spirit is very much alive now in our struggle!

To the family and friends of Romy, we say: do not now grieve for Romy has multiplied himself a thousandfold—his struggle is now our struggle; his dream is now our dream.

To the wife and children of Romy, we say: you are fortunate to have had a loving husband and father even for a short time. Be proud, for now Romy is now written in the pages of Ilocos history; immortalized as our people's hero.

To all our comrades, we say, turn grief into courage and courage into struggle! For without struggle, there can be no victory. Without sacrifice, there can be no success. Without the cross, there can be no resurrection. #

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