After 27 years, Boac River’s “Memorial Day for Environmental Justice” MACEC convenes Rights of Nature Forum

Boac, Marinduque – after almost three decades since the March 24, 1996, the Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns (MACEC) convened a forum Wednesday March 29 about the future directions, developments and challenges based  on the current situation brought about by the Marcopper mine tailings tragedy.

 

MACEC previously had a discussion last March 24 and offered Mass last Friday with the Boac chapter in memory of said disaster in the province. Accordingly, municipal ordinance no. 190 s. 2015 sponsored by then Councilor Miguel Magalang, “An Ordinance recognizing the March 24, 1996 Boac River Mining Disaster as a significant Historical Infamy in the Municipality of Boac, declaring a Memorial Day for Environmental Day for Environmental Justice.” The said ordinance also authorized the installation of historical markers in Brgy. Hinapulan and in the river bank within the Boac town proper area.

 

The objectives of the Rights of Nature Forum are as follows: to visit the impact of mining and the quest for justice 28 years after the Marcopper mine spillage in Boac river on March 24, 1996; to give the mining affected individuals and plaintiffs a psycho social support intended to address experiences of psycho, emotional signs of distress due to the long overdue quest for justice; and to instill in the consciousness of the mining affected residents, that the mining companies still have culpability for the compensation and rehabilitation of the affected environment.

 

“Today more than ever is the opportunity to make sense of our ongoing struggle for environmental justice. In particular, due to the many challenges of the legal processes and procedures, the Write of Kalikasan cases is still ongoing at the Court of Appeals. The case gets old as well as two plaintiffs from Boac, so far without case resolution,” Fr. Arvin Madla, MACEC Board of Trustee chairperson said in a letter.

 

MACEC executive secretary and secretariat head, Beth Manggol gave due credit to the Write of Kalikasan petitioners who are still around like Eliza Hernandez and Mamerto Lanete as well to those have passed like Godofredo Manoy after providing an orientation and setting the objectives. Then the Boac town Mayor Armi Carrion gave strong remarks of commitment along with the Diocese of Boac Bishop Marcelino Antonio Maralit. Meanwhile, Dr Vangie Mandia and Maria Asather Sadian in behalf of Dr. Catherine Delle Sadiwa Cruz gave an update “Revisiting Impacts on Mining in the Municipality of Boac, 28 years after the infamous mine spill at Boac River.” Then the provincial vice governor and MACEC Board of Trustee Lyn Angeles also discussed the ongoing cases and the quest for justice.

MACEC commemorates Boac River spill with a Rights of Nature meet-up

Boac, Marinduque – The Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns (MACEC) have convened 44 out of 61 Boac village members to look back on March 24, 1996 when the Marcopper mine tailings left the Boac River dead.

 

Mam Beth Manggol of Macec updated the Boac section of a province-wide non-governmental organization dealing with ecology and longterm effects of mining with government participation from the barangay to the municipal upto provincial and even the regional levels.

 

MACEC and Island Innovation Academic Council Representative also participated during the declaration of Rights of Nature PH about Climate Change Emergency. Given the recent Mindoro oil spill In the center of the center of marine biodiversity in the Verde Island Passage which shares municipal waters with Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan.

 

The MACEC members headed to the Our Lady of Biglang Awa Shrine to hear a mass dedicated to the more than 25 years disaster. Meanwhile, Island Innovation Ambassador from Marinduque, Dr. Randy Nobleza gave a message for the occasion almost three decades ago. The Island Innovation Ambassador also read an excerpt from the poetry suit by a Marinduque native May Morales-Dolis, “Ayon kay Kid Talaba.”

 

According to the solidarity message of the island innovation academic council representative and concurrent ambassador, “Guided by circular, ecocentric, horizontal, likas-kaya and kapwa  mind and heartset, identifying today’s pressing challenges, coming up with alternatives has never been inspiring, relevant and timely. I don’t think we’d be able to cross the gap between now and what’s coming without declaring climate emergency now. there’s a sense of urgency, we’ve relied long enough from the nourishment of the earth, it’s time to return the favor so the earth can recover and revitalize anew.”

 

Next week, March 29 there would be a gathering about concrete actions about Rights of Nature and firming up the Marinduque’s Environment Code in coordination with Marinduque State College, Office of the Vice Governor and Provincial Environment and Natural Resource Office to be hosted at the Boac Cathedral social center.

Mga Gawain para sa Ika-27 taong Paggunita ng Pagtagas ng Basurang Mina sa Ilog Boac

Boac, Marinduque – Ang Marso ay hindi lamang buwan ng kababaihan, may pitak sa alaala ng mga naninirahan sa hugis-pusong isla at geodetikong sentro ng kapuluang kilala sa Moryon at Marcopper ang nangyari sa ilog ng Boac. Muling naulit ang trahedya sa baybay ng Calancan at Mogpog bago tuluyang maipasara at madeklara ang moratorium. Tubong-Marinduque ang babaeng makata at patuloy na binibigkas ng dila ang kinalakhan niyang wika. Mapakikinggan sa tula ang boses ng persona, hindi nakatanghod kundi taas-kamaong bumabaka, lumalaban at bumabalikwas. Ang parnaso ni May Morales-Dolis ay matalas na sundang na nagbibigay ng gunita para sa nahihimbing at nakalilimot. Binubuo ang koleksiyon ng 15 tulang animo’y mga inusal na dasal sa Kabisera ng Kuwaresma sa Pilipinas. Kagaya ng mga misteryo ng hapis, may ginhawa para sa mga nagsipaghimagsik.

 

Sa pambungad na tula, kung halaw ang pamagat ng parnaso, may pagbabadya “ang malaking baha, bahay ng basurang mina/ Ay nakalamat, nagiba at kailangan ninyong lumikas!/ Kaagad-agad. Pabundok. Palaot/Pasimbahan.             Kahit saan.” Ang isa naman ay parodiya ng dalangin, para sa patron ng lalawigan, “Ang ina ng Biglang Awa.” Nasa paggitan ng mga linya ang buntong hininga, pagkalagot nito, sabi nga “Pagkaumaga ay ang pagbaha/ alimasag       kalapay       tulya/ siit          yagit/ buang       uyo          palapa.”

 

Ang siklo sa isang tula ay maghapon sa buhay ni Kid Talaba kagaya ng tulang “Sa Paglayag ng Ating Bangka.” May mga patlang at agwat ang mga tanong sa mga sagot o tugon. Sabi sa isang bahagi ng saknong, “Ano raw ang hain mamaya at bukas?/ Kalahating araw, karampot na isda/ Ang ating kinilo sa palad pagbaba.”

 

Matutunghayan pa sa kabuohan ng koleksiyon ang mga imahe, pook, persona at salia mula sa gunita ni Morales nasa linya, anyo at retorika. Kung imamapa ang mga tula, iba-ibang imahe tungkol sa kawalan ng buhay ang makikita kagaya ng pagpanaw, kamatayan, alanganing buhay, maging puntod, nagdurugo, nakatalungko, binuong Paraiso, pasiyam, koronang bulaklak, huling hantungan,  nalunod, pinatahimik,  hangganan, mag-aagaw-buhay, pag-agos ng karimlan at mga puntod.

 

Gayundin, ang mga lunan at pook ay tumutukoy sa aktuwal at totoong mga lugar tulad ng Bato/ Baryo Bato, bayan, Maligaya (Brgy.), ilog Boac, Tapian (Santa Cruz),  baryo (Bato/Maligaya), kapitolyo , taga-Calancan (Santa Cruz), San Antonio (Santa Cruz), tubong-daanan,  baybayin, ang ilog,  dike, sanga-sangang sapa, isla at dagat. Maging mga persona makikilala ay pamilyar at mismong tao: kid talaba, Biglang Awa, Remedios, empleyado,  minero, nag(Panginoon), turista, Precy Narzoles, mga ayungin,  kumpanya at ang mga opisyal.

 

Ang pinakatampok sa tula liban sa pangmatagalang epekto ng basurang mina ay ang mga salita, termino at konseptong lulan ang diwang Marinduque tumatagos sa kalikasan, babae at aktibismo. Ang ilang salita mula sa Tagalog Marinduque ay ang mga sumusunod: kainaman, kalapay, siit, uyo, agod, pamamaraka, nagtitika-tika, gurlis, ngani, baya,  mandin, dine, baga,

pautik-utik, banlik at pulapol.

 

Sa matagalang papel-pananaliksik ni Prof. Panchito Labay ng Marinduque State University, “Squandered Beauty: of economy and tragedy…the social history of mining in Marinduque,” maaaring matagpuan ang konteksto. Nagsimula pa noong 1930s ang “chronology of destruction” sa Marinduque Iron-Belt bago pa ang Digmaang Pandaigdig. Hanggang 1950s sa mga loobang bayanan, 1960s sa bayan ng Mogpog at Santa Cruz bago pa ang ginugunita ngayong Marso.

 

Mayroon ding inisyatibang alalahanin ang nangyari sa Calancan Bay sa bisa ng Resolution ng Brgy. Ipil, Santa Cruz Kapasyahang pinagtibay nagpapahayag ng paninindigan at panawagang madeklara ang “Mining-Free zone” at mariing pagtutol sa anumang uri ng pagmimina. Kaugnay nito ay magkakaroon ng Likha webinar series tungkol sa kalusugan at polusyon kasama ang MSC College of of Environmental Science, nakikiisa ang dekana Dr. Vangie Mandia sa pagkamit ng hustisya sa pagmimina.  Ang Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns (MACEC) sampu ng Diocese of Boac Social Action Commission at maging mga umuusbong na kabataan ng The HEarth Movement (THM) ang mga gawain sa paggunita ng nangyari sa Ilog Boac noong Marso 24, 1996.

Declare climate emergency now spiels

 

Randy T. Nobleza

Island Innovation

Marinduque island

 

I’m Randy Nobleza from the heart-shaped island of Marinduque, the geodetic center of the Philippine archipelago. Marinduque is part of the Verde Island Passage threatened by the oil spill in Mindoro along with Palawan and Romblon. 27 years ago, the mine tailings left Boac River dead. Despite of this, the Diocese of Boac Social Action Commission along with the formation of Marinduque Council Environmental Concerns sought justice and gained a 50 year moratorium which closed down the operations of a transnational mining company. Fast forward, we are still coping with the ill effects of mining, health, economic, socio-cultural and environmental impacts. Given the pandemic, we are moving to the next normal with the ongoing litigation process of making accountable the Australian, Canadian and American extractive corporation. We continue to hope and pray, for the next 50 years Marinduque would be an exemplary case of grassroots mobilization, creative resistance and self-sustaining island for the whole archipelago with shared borders of the Pacific, Atlantic and Caribbean. Island Innovation Ambassador program enables islanders like me to connect with changemakers, creatives and innovators. Guided by circular, ecocentric, horizontal, likas-kaya and kapwa  mind and heartset, identifying today’s pressing challenges, coming up with alternatives has never been inspiring, relevant and timely. I don’t think we’d be able to cross the gap between now and what’s coming without declaring climate emergency now. there’s a sense of urgency, we’ve relied long enough from the nourishment of the earth, it’s time to return the favor so the earth can recover and revitalize anew. I’m randy from Island Innovation of the Philippine archipelago, please declare climate emergency now so we can take action right away to save our islands so it can recuperate and sustain us in the long run. Ipaglaban ang karapatang pangkalikasan, karapatang pang-isla at kapuluan!

Kulturaserye tungkol sa Puso ng Pilipinas ngayong Buwan ng Kababaihan

Bago matapos ang Buwan ng Kababaihan ay magkakaroon ng pampinid na episode ang Kulturaserye ng Pennsylvania Language Center bilang bahagi ng Fullbright Philippines at Romblon State University. Si Asst. Prof. Gianinna Labicane ang punong-abala mula Pebrero 8 hanggang Marso 15 bilang foreign-language teaching assistant (FLTA) ng Fullbright sa University of Pennsylvania.

 

Nagsimula ang Kulturaserye tungkol sa usapang katutubo kasama si Dr. Borromeo Motin sa unang episode nito sa pagdiriwang ng Buwan ng mga Sining habang ang kasunod naman ay tungkol sa Ebolusyon ni Maria Clara kasama si Bb. Candice Kristen Lleses isa pang FLTA sa Michigan State University naman noong Pebrero 14.

 

Nagkaroon din ng Kulturaserye tungkol sa Sapantaha: Challenging Filipino Stereotypes kasama ang mga FLTA kagaya ni Candice Kristen Lleses, Ryan Roi Domingo ng Skyline College, Dr. Maico Demi Aperocho ng Gonzaga University at Ma. Cristina Consuelo ng Northern Illinois University kasama din sina G. Garry Vanz Blancia at Asst. Prof. Ricky Michael Oliva mula pareho sa Romblon State University.

 

Naging tampok rin ang Bahaghari: Experience and realities faced by LGBT+ communities in the Philippines kasama ang Graduate Diploma in Cultural Education (GDCE) titser-iskolar si Vince Justin Roland Madriaga na tumatayong Gender and Development tsaka Research Coordinator ng Bognuyan National High School. Sa pagsisimula naman ng buwan ng kababaihan, nagbahagi si Sir Juniel Lucidos ng Romblon State University tungkol sa BInhi: The Pains and Gains of Filipino Farmers.

 

BIlang pangFinale ang huling Kulturaserye sa Buwan ng Kababaihan idaraos ngayong Marso 15 ay tungkol sa Marinduque – A Journey to the Heart of the Philippines kasama ang Island Innovation Ambassador si Dr. Randy Nobleza at Direktor ng Office of Media and International Affairs Sir Chito Mandia buha sa Marinduque State College na naging mentor ni Asst. Prof. Labicane kung saan rin siya nagtapos at nagsimula sa akademya.

The Future is Creative in support of Malikhaing Pinoy at the  2nd Creative industries summit

The recently concluded Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (PCIDA) event honors and provide homage to Filipino creatives. Since the first Creative Industries Summit last year, the follow-up is nothing short of content and opportunities to the country’s creatives. The Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary for Competitiveness and Innovation Dr. Rafaelita Aldaba gave the opening remarks.

 

The highlight of the two-day summit is the launch of the “Malikhaing Pinoy” Program  or Creative Philippines Program which the said department would spearhead and implement. The DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual remarked, “Malikhaing Pinoy is our holistic approach to addressing the constraints and barriers of the creative industries. It is a flagship initiative well-informed by various sector-specific industry studies and roadmaps carried out by the DTI with support from our champions in Congress.”

 

There were several panels with speaker from the Philippines and abroad was convened to inspire and give inspiration, there were four sessions, two in the morning and another two in the afternoon, eight in total during the course of the March 7 and 8 Creative Industries Summit. The first day had panels on creative cities network from Cebu, Dundee and Baguio. Then the National Commission for Culture and the Arts shared about harnessing culture as source of creativity. The second day featured a panel on advancing technological applications, creativity and innovation. Session 6 is about pursuing opportunities for education and upskilling of creative talents. The second to the last session is on creative ecosystem of the region featuring speakers from the Philippines, Korea and Indonesia. The last panel ties up the theme, unifying creative agenda, elevating Filipino creativity with sharing of British Council, Development Academy of the Philippines among others to talk about strengthening structure, institutions and governance for the creatives.

 

Senator Loren Legarda and Senator Koko Pimentel graced the occasion along with Cong. Toff De Venezia with Sen. Imee Marcos and no less than the president of the Philippine Republic himself. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr joining virtually. Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications Secretary Paul Soriano emphasized belonging to the creatives himself various collaborative projects for Malikhaing Pinoy consistent and aligned with PCIDA and the mantra that the Future is Creative.

 

exploratory talks re.TIPPING approach

With Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns (MACEC) about disaster contingency and risk management plan and enabling legislation (september 2011)

at Provincial Science and Technology Center about GRIND (Grassroots Innovation for Inclusive Development) bringing science and technology (S&T) closer to the margins

Ugat Statement on Kaliwa Dam

Two years ago, UGAT joined various sectors in calling for the cessation and revocation of the destructive Kaliwa Dam Project, pointing out its ecological, economic, and socio-cultural damage, particularly to the indigenous Dumagat and Remontado communities living in the Sierra Madre. Aside from voicing concerns specifically about the harms of Kailwa Dam, we took issue with an overall paradigm of development that favors infrastructure, resource-extractive  projects at the expense of the environment and the people.

 

Today, we lament that despite the numerous objections to this project on scientific, economic, environment, and human rights grounds, this project has been allowed to proceed, alongside other projects that follow the same misguided approach to development.

 

Underscoring what’s at stake in this project, members of the Dumagat and Remontado communities who are being directly affected by the Kaliwa Dam project, as well as their partners, are now marching to Malacañang to demonstrate their objections and to remonstrate against the loss of livelihood that they face as a consequence of this project.

 

Their cry must not go unheeded, neither by the government nor by our society.

 

To reiterate what we stated in our earlier statement, we do not oppose efforts to secure water for our cities and communities. However, we join the insistence of our indigenous communities  that this be done in a way that respects their rights and protects the environment. As they themselves eloquently put it in an open letter to President Marcos Jr:

 

Naiintindihan naming kailangang may mapagkukunan ng tubig-inumin ang 14 na milyong mga naninirahan sa Kamaynilaan. Wala pong problemang gamitin ang tubig ng Kaliwa River. Huwag lang pong sirain ang aming pamayanan, kabuhayan, sakahan, pangisdaan, kabundukan, sagradong lugar, at kultura. Huwag din pong ilagay sa panganib ang libu-libong pamilya sa ibaba, ang samu’t saring buhay sa kabundukan at ilog at ibaon ang bansa sa utang.

 

As anthropologists of the Filipino people, we reaffirm our solidarity with the indigenous Dumagat and Remontado communities and echo their call to discontinue and revoke the Kaliwa Dam Project.