The Gold Rush Xavier Magazine Ateneo de Cagayen July to September 2011

1. 1
July to September 2011
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JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011

2. 12 13
T
he Iponan River is orange. This waterway, which bounds Cagayan de Oro in the west and
has its headwaters in the provinces of Bukidnon and Lanao, has been generously receiving
mining runoffs for decades since the locals became impatient with traditional mining
methods, and started using large pipes, gas pumps and machines to speed up their search
for precious yellow metal.
Mining for gold has been a source of livelihood for the people living in the uplands of Cagayan de Oro
City. In the early days, the locals worked with pans to mine, but as new technologies were introduced
by outsiders, hydraulic mining or hydraulicking became the top choice as it provided a quicker way to
look for placer gold which abounds in the uplands of the city. This method involved blasting hillsides
with huge volumes of water siphoned from the Iponan River through water hoses, then released
through sluices where the gold got separated from the rocks and gravel. Although it offered a faster
way of finding gold, it was also the most devastating as large chunks of rocks were washed downhill
and carried to the streams that feed back to the Iponan River causing the river to turn turbid over time
from siltation, erosion and sediment deposition.
As a consequence, illegal small-scale hydraulic mining operations were stopped in1996; yet they found
new life at the turn of the new millennium as prices of gold hovered at record highs. Despite efforts of
the local government to curb mining operations, illegal small-scale mining has continued apace, and
the Iponan River has become a lightning rod for criticism against unrestrained mining activities.
Researchers at Xavier University are assessing the impact of hydraulic mining on the Iponan River and
The Price of
its surrounding communities. The study, funded by the Kinaadman Research Center, the University’s
arm for research and publication, looks at the issue from five angles: biological and physio-chemical,
community resource variation, cultural and geopolitical, landslide risk assessment, and soil analysis
GOLD
and agricultural assessment.
As gold prices reach record highs, mining operations are
flourishing anew, but at what cost?
By Vanessa Gorra
XAVIER MAGAZINE JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011

3. 14 Cover Story Cover Story 15
High TSS can also mean higher about 50 percent of the people depend on
concentrations of pollutants. The researchers farming, survey results show that half of the Mining is a family affair.
observed the likelihood of organic pollution population is actually engaged in quarrying.
in the Iponan River and its tributaries, which The small percentage of households The men dig and haul
could affect the 1,014 macroinvertebrates engaged in farming find supplemental dirt while the women
living there. Water samples from six income from quarrying.
sampling sites tested positive for faecal and children segregate
Mining is a family affair. The men dig and
matter contamination and would thus rocks from the hauled
haul dirt while the women and children
require disinfection to become safe for
drinking.
segregate rocks from the hauled dirt. dirt. Body pains from
Body pains from injuries are a common
Severe erosion is found in Tumpagon complaint. Sometimes, there are deaths
injuries are a common
and Pigsag-an, barangays ensconced on from accidents, although most of the time complaint. Sometimes,
mountainous terrains with varied landscapes these are unreported. In exchange, families
and pronounced slopes. According to are able to serve food on the table, send their
there are deaths from
researchers from the College of Engineering, children to school, build larger and sturdier accidents, although most
these areas fall within the landslide risk area. houses and buy furniture and new clothes.
Hydraulic mining has changed the natural Sometimes, they invest in agriculture.
of the time these are
landscape and stability of the mountain. unreported.
Rapid biological, physical and chemical Pits created from flush mining (about 50 of
assessment of the Iponan River and its them) left craters of 100-500 cubic meters,
tributaries show poor ratings in terms of which could result in massive mudflows to
vegetative protection and riparian (riverbank) of these areas are natural agriculturists, on crops and farming systems suited to church – coming together. For the worse
the Iponan River. Silt deposits are estimated
vegetative zone width – the land directly having honed their farming skills through small land sizes, provision of quality water or for the better, what confront us are, on
to be around 123 metric tons per year from
adjacent to the river – resulting in erosion, years and years of practice and experience. supplies, improved access to markets one hand, the accelerating environmental
the upstream barangays. The volume of
one of the world’s biggest environmental Yet, they complain of being hampered by and micro credits, and alternative income problems affecting both upland and lowland
bedload – particles that flow through the
problems, and bank instability. As the banks low agricultural productivity because they generating activities to wean the community communities in the larger context of
stream along its bed – is around 44,000
erode into the streams, sediment and cannot afford to buy farm inputs and high from their dependence on mining. All these climate change, and the growing pressure
cubic meters. More than 80 percent of
nutrient loads increase and water quality yielding seed varieties. More importantly, things need to be put in place. on the upland population to earn incomes
these materials are larger than 1 millimeter
diminishes. unsafe road conditions and irregular amid deteriorating economic conditions;
and more than 50 percent are larger than Considering the complexity and the
transportation from the uplands to the city and on the other hand, there is the fast
6 millimeters. They are mostly gravel that enormous work that must be done, the
One result of erosion is the high are the primary reasons residents prefer development of possible solutions as more
got transported from the quarries in the success of interventions rests largely on
concentration of total suspended solids flush mining to farming where they need to and more sects get involved in the crusade
midstream and downstream barangays. multiple stakeholders – the barangay
(TSS) – the solids in water that can be transport farm products to the city to sell. to save our environment. Which will win the
This great deal of sediments has helped turn authorities, government agencies, local
trapped by filters – recorded in the Iponan race? r
the once clear water of the Iponan River into Fighting these bottlenecks won’t be easy. communities, academe, civil society, the
River and its tributaries. Since high TSS
the brown, grain-filled watercourse it is today. For a start, knowing the biophysico-chemical
can block light from reaching submerged
vegetation, photosynthesis is reduced and conditions of the land is imperative
In a place where gold supposedly comes
bottom dwelling plant growth is inhibited. in raising its productivity. Agricultural
out of the earth, the people still only have
Aquatic life is also adversely affected as assessment by researchers from the
enough to make ends meet. Rapid appraisal Life for the inhabitants revolves around
settling sediments can occupy spaces that College of Agriculture reveals that organic
of the socio-economic, socio-cultural and economic survival. Thus, at every
could have served as homes for aquatic matter and slope are the most important
geo-political situation of the people living in opportunity, they shoot for the goldmine,
organisms. factors affecting variability of the agro-
the barangays of Tumpagon and Tuburan scouring the earth for every last deposit.
ecosystem along the Iponan River. Suffice
discloses that 90 percent of the households Economic development still takes priority
to say that these two factors affect land
earn just enough to support their daily despite glaring environmental degradation.
productivity and need to be considered
needs, and that only a mere 10 percent Locals cite the seasonal nature of agriculture,
in determining agricultural management
save. Majority of the locals here subsist on lack of capital, limited job opportunities and
options. Interventions aimed at increasing
mining. The residents were originally farmers low levels of education as justifiable reasons
agricultural productivity, therefore, need
who left farming 10 years ago because of low for resorting to illegal mining activities,
to be site specific and should foremost
income, ranging from P2,000 to P3,500 per undermining their mountains and river
address the effect of organic matter and
month. By contrast, each family member system.
slope. Farming, apparently, is not a simple
could earn between P200 and P300 per day
doing small-scale mining activities. Ironically, the answer that offers the best process.
solution also happens to be the one that
Then, there’s the need for more agricultural
Even in the highly agricultural community of poses the most challenges. Agriculture
research and extension programs that focus
Pagatpat, where FGD participants claim that still holds the key to growth. Residents
XAVIER MAGAZINE JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011

4. 28 Feature Alumni 29
Q&A with Having finished my grade school and
high school at Xavier, I took up visual
of presentation. The husband could have
surrendered a career to take [charge] of the
award- communication [in the College of] Fine Arts
at UP Diliman. It was a course centered on
household or wanted the wife who loved her
job so much to continue working. There are so
winning advertising, animation, photography… all
related to commercial art making. I studied
many speculations. The important point that
I wanted to make is that gender associated
artist and my course for only two years. activities are passé. There are good things
about this arrangement as well as negative
XU alumnus
How did you get started as a professional
points. Our society is centered on status and
artist?
labels that our individualities are sometimes
Jericho I was with Warner Studios and Mixing
Plate Graphic Restaurant. I also did some
surrendered.
Vamenta apprentice time with master sculpture Jose
Mendoza. I explored comics illustration
Are your paintings mostly about social
issues?
X
and graphic designs. When I was still in CDO, I believe an artist has a greater responsibility
avier University High School class I and my girlfriend opened Karumata Bartique, to portray the times he’s lived in. It is not
of 1993 graduate Jericho Valjusto an art venue and bar that survived for around enough to make beautiful pictures. The artist
Vamenta took home the grand prize 3 years. We had to give it up to forward our has this role of adding up to the chronicles of
in the Oil on Canvass category of career in the arts here in Manila. I’ve been his time ideas, outlooks, sentiments. A work
the 2011 Metrobank Art and Design Excellence teaching summer art classes at the Museo must have substance and the way I tackle this
(MADE) awards. de Oro for 16 years. It was just this year that I is through the most evident. Social issues
declined to teach [because of] a project with reflect the times. The times we’re in now is
MADE is an annual art competition
the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao, Cagayan getting more and more interesting. Change
recognizing the outstanding work of young
Valley. We [did] a relief sculpture memorial that is fast, so much to do and to talk about. I’m
but promising sculptors, architects and
was the landmark of the celebration of their very fortunate that I’m a Filipino. Every island
interior designers.
centennial as an Archdiocese. has a different culture and that would make
Vamenta’s winning painting, “Ang Mrs Eden for interesting works. The comparative visual
Your winning painting depicts the increasing
Maleta sa Mundo ni Tatang Danilo,” depicts depiction of a place [is a way of] praising its
phenomenon on “housebands.” What
the contemporary issue of changing gender culture. r
inspired you to paint something on the
roles and the rise of stay-at-home husbands
reversal of gender roles?
(housebands). His work was recently featured
Is there an XU alumnus/a you would like us
in the September 2011 issue of Lifestyle Asia It is important for me to depict certain social to feature? Email commgroup@xu.edu.ph.
Magazine. issues that we might overlook. As much as
possible, I wanted to present the issue and
Besides being the grand winner in MADE,
not take personal sides or [show] biases.
Vamenta is also a national finalist in the 2011-
Such relationships might be beneficial and
2012 Philippine Art Awards.
symbiotic to certain couples.
Here, he talks about his artistic background,
What [encouraged] me to make the work
his inspiration and art as a medium for
was that this [phenomenon of housebands]
engaging social issues.
is an actual everyday occurrence in the
When did you discover your artistic ability? neighborhoods of Manila. One afternoon,
while I was buying merienda, I overheard
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been
some children shouting or calling to a man,
interested in drawing and clay modeling. As
alias Tatang Danilo. They were stating that his
you may know, my father is an artist (Jericho is
wife was arriving, the Mrs Eden Maleta. The
the son of Museo de Oro’s Albert Vamenta); Jericho Valjusto Vamenta,
difference in their status and activity greatly
watching him working and doing art perhaps XUHS 1993
undermines the way these two individuals
influenced me greatly.
“Ang Mrs Eden Maleta sa are labeled. Though they may belong to the
Mundo ni Tatang Danilo” What is your background? same household, society creates these levels
Oil on Canvass 48” x 36” (HxW)
XAVIER MAGAZINE JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011