I was welcomed by Surigao with a red-carpet, I mean red road. Damn!
Passing by the towns of Surigao del Norte and del Sur is THE MOST DEPRESSING ROAD TRIP I EVER EXPERIENCED. They are FUCKING NATURE like crazy.
I love long bus/van rides because of the changing landscapes especially in the Visayas and Mindanao but this time it was f*cking different. It was alarming, disturbing, heart-breaking. I was cursing the mining companies as I sit inside a crammed non-working air-conditioned van. Oh yes, I was asking the locals seated beside me of what they thought about it. In my mind I was asking who the hell gave permits to these killers?
(I took the photos from the van last August 14, 2012)
I don’t have a special training on nature. But I learned something from grade school that when you kill a tree, it affects the mountains, when you kill the mountain, you kill the rivers and eventually the sea too. And its doesn’t stop there, the people who get food from the mountains and the sea will eventually die. And I think everyone on his/her right mind can understand this very well.We are all connected.
(I’m f*cking hyper-ventilating as I type this blog)
I really don’t know what other people think about this but I guess the pictures can describe the situation more clearly:
brown road towards the south of Surigao
look at the denuded hill, the brownish sea and the huge cargo ships
the air is f*cking dusty. this is just near a public elementary and high school compounds. notice the river too.
more nature f*cking
i can’t imagine what happened below the ocean floor
this is supposed to be a river teeming with life, fresh water, fish but is now dead.
The area as seen on Google Earth shows:
Placer, Taganito, Bacuag, Gigaquit and Carrascal (and maybe more towns) are heavily being mined as of this writing. Actually the road trip was more than an hour view of fucked mountains, rivers and seas located on the boundary of Surigao del Norte and del Sur (Noventa). Really really depressing.
Here’s a closer look via Google Earth:
If Bohol has Chocolate Hills, Surigao has Chocolate mountains and rivers and seas too.
Some thoughts to ponder:
1. If mining helps, then why the areas with big mining companies are also the poorest? Think of Masbate, Benguet, Surigao, Dinagat Island, Mindoro, Zamboanga, etc.
2. Who really benefits the mining activities on our country? The politicos? Foreigners? Other countries?
3. People say that the raw products are shipped to Japan and China. Then shipped back to the Philippines to be sold as finished products. Who gained? Who is fucked?
4. Mining contributes only .91% to GDP and only 3.75% to employment. I even met a 14-year old who worked in a small mining company before. Mining practice child labor too?
5. The CARAGA Region which includes Surigao is one of the most beautiful region I ever explored. Really really good potential on tourism. Why can’t they develop these areas into tourism destination? Surigao has tarsiers, flora and fauna that can only be found in the Surigao mountains, islands more gorgeous than Boracay and Coron, caves, surf spots and more. Why mining?
Progress and development should be pro-life and sustainable. Mining means death. I think the Catholic Church who has a lot to say against RH bill should really focus on this. Or any other religion, group or organization who promotes life should do something about it. I want my kids and grandkids see the beauty of this region and I’m writing this so the next generation would enjoy the beauty of nature in this part of the world.
Final thoughts:
So they say that they are PRO-RESPONSIBLE MINING? So what if I go rape their daughters and tell them, “Please don’t worry, I would rape them ‘responsibly’?”
I don’t think denuded mountains, chocolate rivers, dead seas and the massacre of wildlife mean ‘responsible’ mining. FUCK YOU!
I really pray that you learn to eat nickel and ores someday.
I want to end the post with an American Indian Proverb,
Only when the last tree has been cut down; Only when the last river has been poisoned; Only when the last fish has been caught; Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten.
If you can’t take the cursing, please read Conversation: Tuki, Boracay and Surigao. It’s much more mellow, child-friendly too.
yes James..indeed they are fucking the nature real bad. and that is my home province i still love until now. It makes me very sad. I had always loved the view of those areas before when i traveled from Surigao City to Lanuza (Surigao del Sur)every sem break. Once you were at the peak of the mountain, the view of the ocean and the mountains were simply breath-taking. Yet now, it is almost in complete destruction. Most of the locals are against the mining there but the f*cking local politicians right there allow the operation to continue. We have been fighting for it and haven’t won our fight yet. I just hope and pray that all the local Surigaonons would take a stand to stop the f*cking mining.
Wowowww..Been to Surigao many times but never been here. Looks like the government has nothing to do with it. Sayang ang pangalan na naka akibat sa Surigao as one of greatest destinations ng Pinas tapos, madadaanan mo ang red carpet na ito..tsk tsk…
…gosh..such mining destroy the future we want to see..grabeh,,nakakapanglumo aman ung mga mining companies..hope dat masave pa naten at ng mga local officials yan…
Nice Blog! Thumbs up! A week ago, I’ve watched a news that 90 percent of our Golds are exported to HONG KONG. Do you see those Gold Buddhas in Hong Kong? Those are the Golds from the Philippines. sighs.
Heartbreaking.
I think the locales are against it, only that they feel they couldn’t do anything about it because it’s either they would be harassed or ignored. I do hope that local officials will read this and will DO something about it.
This is heartbreaking… =(
tragic indeed… I believe that it’s only when humans have fully given up our reliance on metals, rock aggregates, etc. which we use to construct our houses and buildings that there will be a stop to this. It is also disheartening to note that the paved road you traveled on is made up of rock aggregates and cement which are both products of mining. Additionally, the van you rode and the camera you used to capture these photos contain nickel, which is in itself extracted by the same open-cut mining method you saw along the road. This particular metal which makes alloys resistant to corrosion is the very reason why that portion of Surigao is being mined. The computer you used to write your blog by the way also contains a little bit of nickel, which could have been mined from one of those mountains.
i think that you have the best point here. everything we have, everything we use all come from the earth. the problem is that no matter how bad we feel we cannot deny the fact that, indeed we are all dependent on earth-extracted products-even the food we eat. maybe james didn’t realize this when he wrote the article but what stuck on his mind was the hatred why what is happening in surigao is happening. mining is done everywhere in the world. the thing is there is such thing as governing rules on how it’s done. our biggest problem therefore is the implementation and regulating it. and the biggest moving factor to change is no one but us. remember the rule of economics: supply is heavily reliant and dependent on demand.
true, like in any industry the gov’t. is just so inutile in doing their part on implementing the monitoring of enviromental standards. the map shown is literitic area meaning you cant grow forest here coz it’s rich in metal minerals hence it’s colored brown as viewed from the sky. james it is your ignorance that’s fucked up. no one can fuck nature
very well said.
IKR.
posing a challenge therefore to all-miners out there, especially the big-timers, owners of these mining firms.
i will not use anything that came from mining for 3 days, the mining people on the other hand will not use anything from nature for 3 days too. let’s see who dies first. anyone who want to accept the challenge?
Well said, Don’t Quit!
The best solution to this scenario, I think, is to boycott anything that has metals, plastic, concrete and anything sourced from the earth, and industries that uses any of these!
Boycott the mining, construction, shiploading, computer, fashion, service, aviation, transportation, education, manufacturing, fishing, agriculture, and tourism industries–among others!
yeah. that’s true. sira na ang bundok, color red na ang tubig and contaminated, yung ibang mamamayan ay nagkakasakit dahil sa maruming tubig. nag sisignature campaign kami dito sa Butuan para sa “no to Mining”. Ms. Gina Lopez is also an advocate sa anti-mining.
The issue was tackled in Failon Ngayon, the damage extends to 10kms to the sea from the shoreline. very devastating
heart wrenching. it sure is rape. and all the moneygoons are grinning already. thats also due to economics. old model of economics about growth at the expense of mother nature.
also most gold are from Philippines but its funny why you never hear about “Philippine Gold” only HK Gold and other countries.
This is really depressing James. Nababasa ko palang ang post mu, nalulungkot at naiinis ang nararamdaman ko. Kalbo na ang mga kabundukan, ang labo pa ng hangin, yung mga katubigan, hindi na malinaw. Sayang! Sayang na Sayang! Mayaman ang Pilipinas pero pangmumulestya ang nararanasan nito. :’(
share ko james sa local fb namin
I’ve subscribed to this blog since last year i guess. it’s so saddening to see a lot of the ‘F’ word in this article. i can feel and empathize too with the hatred and the angst on what had been witnessed but with all due respect i think that to promote respect one should also prove that one is respectable enough. it does not only happen in surigao, these happen everywhere around the country the ‘kapabayaan’ and most notably corruption issues that our present government is trying to fight against… however, i think that our dearest rizal had been more successful in having the desired result of fighting against the evil by keeping his cool and levelheadedness. i wish that in future write-ups you will not resort to using profanities. just please don;t get me wrong. i love the blog. i just hope that you would also consider to be more responsible for your followers-especially the youngsters. thank you.
I’ts okay bro.. release that hatred of yours of mining in the philippines and after that may i ask you if that is really the main issue here. Whatever you do, mining would still exist, we need the metals that we mined from it. Instead of stopping it that contributes much of the time, why not focusing on mining royalties so that we gain more tax from large mining companies. Don’t waste your time!!!!
when we had a disaster mapping exercise two years ago, we used surigao as the area. since we did not know anything of the place, we thought that these are just low lying and highly susceptible part of the province. and there it goes, the reason why these areas are prone to flooding and landslide. the towns your mention are on the top list of most susceptible.
nice blog, but u dont know d fuck u r talking about and it is so one-sided. those mountains aint worth shit and no plants or trees of any value will grow on those because of its high mineral content. i would even dare u to bring ur own agri experts to plant on those mountains. btw they have always been bald ever since except for sparse vegetation/grass cover.
there is no other use for it but to mine it and earn the badly needed foreign exchange for our country. surigao del norte province maybe one of the poorest but it aint no more in the latest poverty survey released by NSO. besides those towns hosting the mines have higher per capita income than the rest in the islands who are into ecotourism.
you should have taken a longer road trip to meet those indigenous people the mamanua tribe riding on D-MAX and HILUX trucks going to the city to eat in jollibee – proceeds of their royalty shares from mining.
oh and lastly – nickel ore is colored reddish brown so those who don’t know their geology would react one way or another.
next time you use the heading surigao please be more circumspect for it usually refers to the cool multi-awarded city in the northeast and not the mining area your pics are featuring here.
seriously. how did ever riding in suv’s and eating in a fastfood jollibee a sign of progress??? this is painfully ridiculous. we certainly maybe financially progressive but mentally / healthwise depreciating.
+1
Because these IPs used to come down in the city to beg and scavenge especially during Christmas and Fiesta. Some still do but they do not definitely come from the the areas where the IPs are earning from mining royalties. If you did not see the stark difference in their purchasing power then I wonder how you can make any difference at all.
Although Ive never been there, Ive always thought of Surigao as a place of beautiful caves and beaches. I think I first heard of this hoolabaloo in Surigao when some members of the NPA blew up mining equipments some years back. As always James, I salute you for speaking out against the horrible realities of Philippine life and using this space of yours to influence and effect change. Profane words may sound offensive to some but really, no amount of expletives can equal the barbarism of these multinational companies. Still, yes, fuck them!
Actually I see nothing wrong with mining. It would always exist, as one of you readers have said, because its natural to extract raw materials from nature to develop it into something that we can use, the same way that we cast nets in the sea to fish and cut trees to build houses. Mineral exploration dates back to as early as the pre-spanish era when our ancestors would heavily adorn themselves of gold. But as they say nature has enough for our needs but not for other’s insatiable greed. Nature has its own way of replenishing itself but it will not be able to keep up in the face of massive commercial extraction. Declining fish stocks? Look at those large ships plying the ocean and selling our fishes abroad in hefty sums. Flood and denuded forests? Blame those large-scale commercial loggers.
True, we are one of the most mineralized countries on earth. However, the problem at the present is that we hardly benefit from it. Remember how they’ve always said about how we are so rich yet so poor?
Once these companies take these objects out of the earth, it becomes their property, free to export it to other countries and bring it back here as finished materials. You were right, mining’s contribution to the economy is also inconsequential Ive read once that Filipino maids contribute more to GDP, so they should stop cloaking this practice in the empty rhetoric of investment and development. But I think the best way to look at it is how mining persist by virtue of the state. The Mining Act of 1995 for instance is a skewed policy that advocates for the liberalization of the mining industry. It happens because government makes it happen. Boycotting and tax royalties will not solve the problem. What we need is to elect leaders that have progressive environmental agendas. Noynoy obviously doesnt have one despite his slogan of daang matuwid. What we need are leaders who have the political will to drive these foreign companies out of the country and build a national industry that would give people jobs and utilize these minerals to advance people’s well-being. I heard in a forum once that the value of our mineral deposits alone is more than enough to pay our foreign debt.
Responsible mining can only happen through moderation and a state that is accountable to the people, and that includes protecting the rights of children and the indigenous people (only a moron like f*ckin miner can justify the devastating effect s of mining to the lives of the indigenous people like that. hasn’t he heard of the concept of development aggression? mining royalties should be used to build infrastructure and improve social services among the affected communities. D-max, Hilux and Jolibee–is that really how we envision the indigenous people to use their money? Militarization, harassment, loss of livelihood, dislocation, alteration of indigenous forms of biodiversity conservation are perennial problems that indigenous communities face in mining areas). As long as these industries are in profit-driven private hands, we can say goodbye to our environment.
This does not look good. More landslides, and more flooding problems. it would help if they would re-plant.
This is a part of Surigao away from the city, I’m against mining too but I think it is not fair that you only featured the negative side of Surigao. Our province has a lot to offer other than the red dusts and brown mountains. I love this place and I’m very lucky I get to see the best places on this province.
true overall surigao is a very beautiful place!
Been passing this road a long time ago visiting friends from the north coz i came from the south. its always been an adventure for me seeing those green foliages around, watching the pacific during the break of dawn when you reach the highest peak and feeling the cool wind in your skin. What an amazing place it has been! Not in my weirdest dream that this would transpire in my noble province. Slowly dying, losing its natural beauty, drained all its prestine waters and the next would be KILLING its own people. Isnt this scary? Well, those scumbugs and pot-bellied derelicts doesnt mind at all coz they are too busy sipping out every childrens dreams of this place and turning into a very very scary nightmares. somebody got to stop this massive degradation not just of nature but the hopes and dignity. maybe YOU from the government can do a simple task, PROTECT YOUR OWN HOME.
Wow, you sure are the whiny type. Do more research please.
hi, i’m from Surigao del Sur (Tandag City). i felt this way ng napadaan ako sa dinaanan mu. i really don’t know how to stop this activity. naipahayag na sa media, at lahat lahat wala parin.
SHIT those goverment official na pinayagan ang mining activity sa Surigao.! Grabe nga walang takot sa ganting balik ng kalikasan! really depressing
I hope the people responsible for this will reap their karma ASAP.
This is really fucking. DENR please fucking wake up! Don’t just fuck and sleep.
Sad. This is why we cannot blame people and perhaps ourselves, if we learn to appreciate/love other countries more than our own.
New Zealand for example, is teeming with rich mineral deposits– including gold and diamond. But the people (and the government respects the people) choose not to go into mining, forego the possibility of material wealth in the name of preserving nature.
And even with the few mines (mostly coal) that the country has, strict environmental laws are implemented.
Thank you James, for being socially responsible. This post hopefully goes a long way. <3
As I said to you James during the time that we passed by the area en route to Bucas Grande Island: “Too bad, the people here are spitting brownish saliva.”
Indeed, if the people reading this blog would regard the mining areas something like a separate entity would be a misnomer. I hope that some readers would take Surigao as a whole rather than denote the mining areas as a separate. No matter how you look at it, people will still regard it as Surigao – with or without the heading. It’s like showing a clean, well manicured hand and, at the same time, concealing your dirty, wretched other hand even though both hands belong to the same person. A clear manifestation of turning a blind eye to a small but irrevocable truth.
WEill visit Surigao soon to see this place….
I’m with you here, f*ck all those crazy pricks and the politicians! Why do they allow these things to happen to their own land, people, and resources?! It’s all about the money, and they’re all turning evil!
I am an American living in Surigao del Sur and the road is appalling. Unfortunately our governor is involved in mining and in this country there is no way to fight the rich. The residents actually applaud when the rebels attack the mining.
Claver in Surigao del Norte which is a mining town has the highest percentage of poverty in the two provinces combined, yet Cantilan which is anti mining has the lowest percentage of poverty. The numbers don’t lie. Mining only benefits the rich and corrupt politicians. God save us!!
“Claver in Surigao del Norte which is a mining town has the highest percentage of poverty in the two provinces combined, yet Cantilan which is anti mining has the lowest percentage of poverty.” i wish this opens the eyes of the LGU officials.
thanks for the info Ray
Hi James, I dont know how to start this comment really as my heart is still in rage, full of anger after reading your blog not because of what you wrote but because it need to take a non denizen to help wake the locals up to their senses. I am actually a local denizen myself, from Madrid, Surigao del Sur part of the cradle of towns where Carrascal is located. Back in my hometown where I grew up, it is a peaceful, rural community where life is very laid back. People are cool and the place offers a lot of cool places to go from beaches, rivers, springs, falls and to mountain hiking spots.
I took up tourism when I was in college with my wont of opening a local travel agency and promoting local tourism. I have not been home for years now and I am well aware of what is going on back home how the irresponsible peope behind this mining ravaged and irresponsibly damaging our pasture in Surigao. There is an active campaign from the local folks against this mining. We locals even wonder how they got the permit to ravage the mountains when there wasnt an approval from the DENR.
I am and will forever be active in this campaign until I die. I am just glad however that have come and travel to our place and maybe you can help us in our fight against this. I will encourage all my kababayans to read your blog and will share your blog to our FB and social media sites.
Please help us with this fight!
thanks mike! just let me know how i can help your fight against this.
James, kindly correct the areas you mentioned.
Only Claver and Carrascal are mining areas. Please see your map again.
Gigaquit and Bacuag are on the other side of Claver. There are no mining there now.
A yes, Placer is also a mining area. But at least Gigaquit and Bacuag (in between Claver and Placer) are not.
i heard that some mining companies mine these two towns too.
The Pimentels earn at around 40 Million pesos per week from mining. This is what I’ve heard from a close friend of their’s. They are one of the most greedy & corrupt family in the country but nobody can stop them since they control the people & they’re not afraid to kill anybody who gets in between their business.
I share your emotions. That I’m angry is an understatement. I don’t like it when people curse but in this case, it’s warranted. The evil that man do to his environment… all for what!?! Greed.
this part of the country is slowly becoming like the red planet. i’ll not wonder if in the near future, no life will exist in this place. it’s so heartbreaking. =(
I wANT TO CRY…BUT I AM ALSO VERY ANGRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If Government of the Philippines can find other ways to give more jobs for the people around in a community that can sustained there needs, maybe mining will never rise….LET THE GOVERNMENT IMPLEMENT THE RULES OF RESPONSIBLE MINING THEN let the violators suffer for the violations they made…Do you know that MINING are not being punish by there violations because of ..hhhhh….you knew it already…its a habit of people who is on his HIGH POSITION…. or in position of…. ;( It is not good to look the mountains of Brgy. TAGANITO,Hayanggabon,etc. in Surigao del Norte….
awww..I like your straightforward words about this scenario..:) The main reason is, those people involved in this mining want EASY MONEY. They don’t care about the future….simply idiot people!!!!
I felt like crying myself! I know exactly how you felt.I hope that our leaders will wake up some day.
But right now, seems helpless.
Go to Siquijor and stay in my resort on me….You have my email
hello sir edgardo! i agree with you, its a helpless situation right now.
consequently, i have a trip to siquijor next month. will contact you po
yup james, ive been there in surigao sur(my hometown)last aug.21,2012. im also experienced the worst and most depressing road trip. i dont know why? the govt.allowed those people who are destroying our beautiful nature.
Just happen to hop into your post today after visiting ed’s blog and have read this article.
I am from Surigao del Sur too. Well, the cussing was kinda heavy but this is so true… I tip my hat to you journeyingjames.
glad you understand Philip! thanks
some mining companies in surigao used their money on ad campaign why not used it on rehabilitation of the areas..buti na lang ang siargao walang mining area..
Hah. That I saw plus the trucks of tree logs that we followed on the way to Surigao del Norte.
i agree with your blog, but Surigao has still more to offer more than what you have seen sir…
heartbreaking… T__T
f*ing miner: “those mountains aint worth shit and no plants or trees of any value will grow on those because of its high mineral content.”
Meet Nepenthes merrilliana, a carnivorous plant species found only in Caraga and nowhere else in the World! Scientists from all over the World go there to study this little plant. A rare thing being destroyed to make way for those mining roads. Surigao’s true living treasure that’s being killed for what? Ridiculous 2% tax rates? Miners on permanent contractual status with minimal salaries and no benefits? Progress for who exactly?
Busting ignorance is so much fun!
http://www.lovemindanao.com/2012/07/noventa.html thanks to Love Mindanao for the link.
March 2013 road and area still the same if not worse. Election time, so now the people have the power. Stop the politicians playing loud music from their campaign vehicles and tell them “What are you going to do about this” you have the power, use it or lose it. I am from Australia, I know how mining can destroy the area and the permanent damage it will do to the land and peoples life