By Fr. Edgar S. Saguinsin

Could I be one of them? As I watched Serge laid in his grace, I have to say, I felt a level of pride. It was I who recruited him to join the labor union! Serge stood head the shoulder over the crowd of union members and officers as the most inspiring of them all! His story hints that this man might be a saint even though a controversial one.

Looking back I recall my conversation with Serge in 1973 at the Catholic Church rectory of La Carlota City where I was the parish priest. We talked about the plight of the sugar workers. It was not hard to convince Serge that one of the most effective ways of helping to improve the economic and social conditions of the sugar workers in Negros was to organize even under Martial Law. But we needed qualified labor union organizers, I told him, “I wonder if I could be one” Serge said. That remark started the history of Serge’s involvement with the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW). We agreed that he would apply as an organizers and I would sponsor him.

National Federation of Sugar Workers

But before I continue with the story of Serge, let me go back to the beginnings of NFSW. The National Federation of Sugar Worker was founded in La Carlota City. One day in late 1970 Fr. Hector Mauri, SJ, a Jesuit priest, came up to my rectory and told me,” “Edgar, let us form our own sugar workers’ union!” Without hesitation I said, “Shoot.” I had been helping the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) with their labor seminars. Mauri told me he was aware that in my Sunday homilies I had been preaching social justice. Mauri himself had been in the La Carlota area ten years before with the first attempts to organize the sugar workers under FFF. Those awkward early attempts ended rout. And now the dogged visionary was back and telling me, “This is the right time”. Immediately that afternoon of Mauri’s visit I rushed to Bishop Antonio Y. Fortich, then Bishop of Bacolod. I informed him of my plan with Mauri. Fortich in calming manner told me, “You shall be adviser only of the labor union.” But back in La Carlota events flew fast. That evening I visited my friend, Atty. Rodolfo Uriarte, and won from him the agreement that we would rent one of his house which since then had served as the original office of NFSW for many years. Not long after I was elected chairman of the board, and remained such, in addition to being man Friday of the labor federation until I left the country in July 1981. NFSW’s beginnings were sluggish and discouraging under almost insurmountable handicaps. At the start Mauri rounded up his veteran labor leaders among the sugar workers. But they did not last long. Depressed by an experience of past defeat, they themselves demoralized prospective members with their complaint of intimidation and reprisals. We decided to get organizers from other sources. Mauri conceived of the bright idea of recruiting fresh blood from the activist youth organization called Khi Rho. From them he recruited Ed Tejada who became the first NFSW president, Edilberto (“Pedic”) Federico, Popoy Jover, Oscar Orquia,. Sony Teves. Benilda Abrasia and others many of whom dropped out before long. The Columban Fathers of the south of Negros provided their own recommendees: Bobby Ortaliz, Jun Loberas, Bilmo Correjado and other quality organizers. The Carmelite Fathers of Escalante had their share of leader recruits: Roy Mahinay among them. I had my own find, a pearl of great price from La Carlota – Serge Cherniguin. After Serge agreed to join NFSW, I immediately went to see Mauri who said he wanted to meet Serge fist. The interview convinced Mauri beyond a doubt that Serge was a valuable asset. However, when I present Serge’s application for approval at NFSW Board of Directors meeting, all the rest of the board turned it down. “Isn’t Serge the plantation owner’s encargado (overseer) of the hacienda he is presently residing in? Doesn’t he have the reputation of being strict and time cruel to the workers?” These were their objections.

But I knew Serge personally, I argued, I had observed his quiet but winsome leadership when he gathered the workers every time I came to the hacienda for Mass. I could sense his deep faith and piety as a Catholic Christian, his sincerity, and concern for the welfare of people. Anyway, Mauri and I convinced the board that we needed people like Serge who could assist in the socio-economic projects of NFSW, especially our farm lots. Serge as a college graduate in agriculture, wasn’t he? Why not try him in the meantime? On this note the board agreed to take him in – to supervise our socio-economic projects and the people involved with them. This task suited Serge well and he performed it capably until the end.

Another Role

Like all of us Serge grew in love and dedication to the workers. His leadership also developed. In less than two years the NFSW board assigned him another important job, alliance work with other workers’ task even in the international field until his death.

My four years term as parish priest in La Carlota ended in 1974 and I started working full time with NFSW. Actually my official assignment in the diocese was director of the Diocesan of Labor Relations (DLRO) of the Social Action Center of the diocese. Under this office we started to organize other industrial workers also. But I spent most of my time with NFSW where I worked closely with Serge.

In 1976 Fr. Mauri had to make leave of NFSW because of the Martial Law presidential decree forbidding foreigners from engaging themselves directly or indirectly with the Philippine worker’s and peoples’ organizations. This left us to manage for ourselves. And avail more of Serge services. The year 1978 marked the rapid growth and spread of the federation. We needed more leaders and organizers not only for the new areas we opened but also for the national office in Bacolod. By this time Serge became a full time organizer, a recognition of his emerging leadership.

We began noticing more of Serge. We noticed his facility in writing. I learned at funeral that his youth’s unrealized dream was to study journalism. He was eloquent and forceful at public discourses although a quiet man at meetings and in private conversations. People felt comfortable in his company because he was like a caring father or big brother. To them he was always available. I don’t know by what mental process but they sensed his honesty and moral integrity immediately. He was always respectful and deferent to people, and in turn won the respect even of people who hated his guts. His dedication and capacity for work was impressive.

New Approached

In 1978 the NFSW board of directors passed a policy resolution to change approach or modus operandi. Instead of being confrontational, we resolved to use reason, moderation and friendly diplomacy without, of course, selling out on the workers and our principles. It worked. For the four ensuing years, NFSW suffered less harassment from the police and military, concluded collective bargaining agreements (CBA’s) with more sugar plantations, and won more cases in the Department of Labor and in the court. Notably, we won two certification election cases in the Philippine Supreme Court- one with the La Carlota sugar mill and the other with the copper mine in Sipalay, Negros occidental and concluded CBA’s with them. Serge and all the rest of us were breathless busy during these years because of NFSW’s fast growth and expansion. In July, 1981 I left the country suddenly for my safety. Because of the resulting vacuum, Serge and the other union officials had to assume more tasks and responsibilities. I stayed in Germany for the first yes tans a half, and thereafter in Hawaii, U.S.A. until my return in July 1994. During my absence, Serge, then already vice president of NFSW, together with the other union officials, updated me regularly on developments. Serge and I had a reunion at a conference in Trinidad and Tobago in 1983, and twice in Honolulu in 1987 and 1989 on his alliance work missions. Form the fall of Marcos in 1986 until my return I had long chats with Serge each time I came to Negros for my annual one-month vacation.

During my absences many tins happened that were so painful and sad for the NFSW members and officers and for the other people affected. There were, for example, the dramatic but most painful strike at the La Carlota City sugar mill in 1982, the much publicized Escalante massacre in 1985, then other labor strikes, mass mobilizations and demonstrations, mass massacres of farmers and so on. Serge was found amidst all these events in a major supporting role. People took note of his remarkable courage and quiet perseverance during this time. Under sustained attacks, insults, lawsuits and threats, he stood his ground, insisting on justice for the workers, protest against violations of human rights, and the fall for social reform. But he showed mo sign of hatred of his enemies. He had no personal enemies either within the union or outside it! He never came across as a man of violence, but a man of peace. Later conflicts and rifts within his own labor federation and defections occurred. Serge downhearted could not see himself abandon the worker members and their federation, he faithfully assumed more tasks and responsibilities for a fragmented organization.

Daily Mass

But most remarkable thing about Serge Cherniguin, as I am concerned, is that though all these events of success or crises and pain this mestizo Russian came to Mass and receive Holy Communion almost everyday –again quietly and without ever making deference to it! Was id his faith, hope and love for God that sustained his dedication to the service of the workers and the poor until his heart was literally broken? Serge had a dream eve since he joined the labor federation. Born and brought up in a sugar plantation and having toiled on it, he had conceived an intense dream that someday land in Negros would be in the possession of those who till it with their hands. As a college graduate in Agriculture, he had pursued this dream as his special personal crusade. He had suffered previous heart attacks due to stress and overwork. Bu the could not afford to rest. He continued working especially with the Agrarian Reform Alliance of Democratic Organization to help workers and farmers get the titles to the land they were already occupying. One morning while he was working at one such land title, he suffered massive heart attack and died in the office of NFSW – FGT. As a retired Bishop Antonio Y. Fortich said at his funeral mass, “Serge Cherniguin may have been laid to rest, but his spirit, and work will continue.”

‘I had my own find, a pearl of great price form La Carlota – Serge Cherniguin.’

‘People felt comfortable in his company because he was like a caring father of big brother to them. He was always available. I don’t know by what mental process but they sensed his honesty and moral integrity immediately.’

‘This mestizo Russian came to Mass and received Holy Communion almost everyday -again quietly and without ever making reference to it.’