Luyo-luyo (cooperation)

The luyo-luyo area was a bit far, the heat of the sun required us to rest for a short while.

From the 35th NPA anniversary celebration, we met Ka Tomas, a peasant group leader. He said that the revolution is a river where the People's army and the masses unite and flow together as one. The army alone will not suffice, he said.

The next day we went to a "ladyaw", a parcel of land borne out of the successful implementation of agrarian revolution and overseen by a local Party branch. Here, the group of farmers, including Ka Tomas, will conduct a luyo-luyo or collective farming.

In the Bicol region, "luyo-luyo" pertains to collective farming (termed variously in different regions). Farmers working together in production is encouraged and fully supported by the NPA.

When we arrived, the farmers were almost done with their coffee break after completing their first round of work.

Because of prior consultation with Ka Tomas, his fellow-farmers welcomed our task to take pictures of their work.


Equipped with axes and bolos, they soon resumed their work.
Together they will clear the land of all trees,
chop these to pieces for firewood, and in a few days return to burn the dried up vegetation.

A little before noon, the farmers took to rest once more, surveyed the area and were satisfied with their accomplishment.

Meanwhile, Ka Tomas chatted with us.

It also unites farmers and harnesses their political power towards the gradual destruction of their chains.

He explained how valuable collective work proved to be in improving production.

During the entire time spent with the farmers, the comrades remained alert for possible enemy attacks.

Once, a comrade decided to give his .45 a quick cleaning.

He could not keep from smiling when Ka Tomas placed an ornament beside him which, Ka Tomas said, would enhance the picture.

At a nearby land, the farmers showed the intended next step after clearing the land. Here they have almost finished softening the soil.

At a stream nearby, they fetched some water
to apply pesticide to the seedlings they planted on the most softened plots of soil.

Among these are healthy pechay sprouts.
They collectively attended to even the lone ampalaya plant, which seemed to have grown from the wild.

Upon our return to our transient abode, we brought with us an invitation from Ka Tomas to visit them again to witness the more active luyo-luyo during the season of rice planting.

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