MANILA, March 7, 2012—The progressive poetry group, Kilometer (KM) 64 will launch a book about the struggles of farmworkers of the disputed Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac, which is owned by the family of the current president of the Republic.
Titled “Ang Mga Panahon sa Hacienda Luisita” (Seasons in Hacienda Luisita), the book is a compilation of poems that deal with the aches and pains of the farmworkers’ struggle as laborers in the hacienda of the Cojuangco family for more than 50 years.
Rustum Gil Casia, poet and social activist and founder of KM 64 in a statement said the book will be softly launched on the eve of the group’s 9th founding anniversary, which will be commemorated by poetry and music, at the Conspiracy Garden and Café in Visayas Avenue in Quezon City.
KM64, for nine years, had been a staunch critic of the status quo, and had been known for its militant stance on people’s issues. Often called as “young rebels” of Philippine poetry, it has released so far 13 chap books (small books), a book and a series of pamphlets about the pressing issue on a particular time.
After the onslaught of typhoon Sendong last year, KM64 had organized a poetry-for-a-cause project to raise funds for the typhoon victims and survivors.
Among its members are poet, journalist and social critic Alexander Martin C. Remollino, a UST student leader during the ‘90s, from 2003 until the time of his death on September 3, 2010, E. San Juan Jr. (honorary member), Gelacio Guillermo, Kristoffer Berse and Catholic youth lay leader, Pia Montalban, among others.
It also boasts of having a huge following abroad, such as in the US, the Netherlands, and has chapters in Quezon province, in Tarlac, and in various colleges and universities in Metropolitan Manila. [Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCPNews]
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