F Sionil Jose, National Artist for Literature on Duterte and the new 'Philippine Revolution'

National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose, 91 years old, has lived through 15 Philippines presidents, from Manuel Quezon to Rodrigo Duterte. 

His novels, which have been translated into more than 20 languages, are about class struggles in the country. 

He’s never met Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, but believes the former Davao mayor can do great things for the country.

We visited him recently at his bookshop, Solidaridad in Ermita, Manila, and asked him what he thinks about the current state of politics in his country.

What makes Rodrigo Duterte special?
If you study our politics very well and our history, all these years government has been manipulated by wealthy Filipinos, see. And remember this is the first politician that does not have “the open support of the oligarchy”. If you were present at that State of the Nation Address, remember he pointed to all those politicians, I owe nothing from you. So keep that in mind, this is the first non-oligarchic president.

Are these exciting times for the Philippines?
I believe this is the beginning of a Philippine revolution. Now, you go back into our history and much of our problems are due to the fact that we have been colonized. The colonization, first by the Spanish, and then the Americans, and then the Japanese. And now we are colonized by our own elite. All these auguries were already evident in 1896.

Is it right for Duterte to make his war against drugs a priority?
It’s not so much prioritizing. It looks as if he has prioritized it but if you look carefully at what is happening. First, he wants to establish peace conditions. The Communist rebellion has become irrelevant. The problem in the South is more dangerous. So that is why immediately upon assuming power, he initiated peace negotiations with both groups. Because you cannot develop without peace in the country, and that peace has also been disturbed so much by criminality, and much of that induced by drugs.

When will this “revolution” be over?
This is not going to be done in two or three years. Just look back. The Vietnamese revolution took how many years? The Chinese revolution started in the 1920s, you see. The French revolution, maybe a shorter period. But almost all of them take years, maybe one generation.

So you think Duterte shouldn’t stop his war against drugs?
He should not stop. What should be done is see to it that this so-called collateral damage is diminished. Yan ang malungkot eh, if something happens to him, he dies or assassinated, then you put the revolution on hold. At naumpisahan na, sayang, ituloy na yan.

 What’s your advice to his non-supporters?

The first thing they should do is to recognize that the revolution has started, and the second thing they should do is recognize that that revolution is long in coming and that it is a necessity.  - Read full story on CoconutsManila

Pope Francis slams 'hypocritical Catholics'; Sara Duterte slams CBCP's Soc Villegas for hypocrisy

Pope Francis to priests and lay people:

"It is better to be an atheist than one of many Catholics who lead a hypocritical double life."

"Some of these people should also say "'my life is not Christian, I don't pay my employees proper salaries, I exploit people, I do dirty business, I launder money, (I lead) a double life'."

He has condemned sexual abuse of children by priests as being tantamount to a "Satanic Mass", said Catholics in the mafia excommunicate themselves, and told his own cardinals to not act as if they were "princes".

Sara to CBCP's Villegas: 

"Since 1986 and until seven months ago, I remember that our nation has been hounded by corruption, crime, territorial war of gangs and druglords, extrajudicial killings, narco politics, terrorism, protracted rebellion, abuse of power in government, political bickering and the entry of foreign mafias."

"Your group is sadly a bunch of delusional hypocrites. While all of you were up there riding high on your horses, you failed to notice that many of us down here empathize with what Rodrigo Duterte is saying because it is the hard truth. It is truly without the air of [hypocrisy] that we smell from your kind."

"How dare you call us pimps of the EDSA spirit and yet it is you who cannot accept what has happened to our country since 1986".

"It surely did not start when President Duterte took office. He won the presidency precisely because you ignored what was wrong with this world." 

"You preach about freedom as if you invented it, as if it is your gift to us. Let me tell you what freedom is. It is to live a life that is free from your selective moral standard. This is what the meaning of EDSA is."

Pope suggests 'better to be atheist than hypocritical Catholic'

Pope Francis kisses a baby as he leads the weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican February 22, 2017. REUTERS/Max Rossi

Pope Francis delivered another criticism of some members of his own Church on Thursday, suggesting it is better to be an atheist than one of "many" Catholics who he said lead a hypocritical double life.

In improvised comments in the sermon of his private morning Mass in his residence, he said: "It is a scandal to say one thing and do another. That is a double life."

"There are those who say 'I am very Catholic, I always go to Mass, I belong to this and that association'," the head of the 1.2 billion-member Roman Catholic Church said, according to a Vatican Radio transcript.

He said that some of these people should also say "'my life is not Christian, I don't pay my employees proper salaries, I exploit people, I do dirty business, I launder money, (I lead) a double life'."

"There are many Catholics who are like this and they cause scandal," he said. "How many times have we all heard people say 'if that person is a Catholic, it is better to be an atheist'."

Since his election in 2013, Francis has often told Catholics, both priests and lay people, to practice what their religion preaches.

In his often impromptu sermons, he has condemned sexual abuse of children by priests as being tantamount to a "Satanic Mass", said Catholics in the mafia excommunicate themselves, and told his own cardinals to not act as if they were "princes".

Less than two months after his election, he said Christians should see atheists as good people if they do good. - Reuters

Sara Duterte to CBCP’s Villegas: Dad knows spirit of EDSA more than you do; bunch of delusional hypocrites

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte lambasted Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Archbishop Socrates Villegas following the latter's rant against the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte in a letter to the late Jaime Cardinal Sin.  

Sara Duterte, Mayor of Davao City and President Duterte's daughter.

Sara Duterte's Statement:

I recently read a letter to the late Cardinal Sin by Archbishop Soc Villegas and I was so disturbed by the rant that I decided take out my pen from retirement and practice once again the only talent that I have, writing.

On the evening of February 25, 1986, I was playing in dreamland when my father interrupted my slumber and told me to get dressed because we have to go downtown.

While we were huddled in the car, he told us, "Timan-i ninyo ning gabhiona ni. Ayaw ninyo kalimti."

I have a memory of myself standing on the stairs of the San Pedro church bell tower, listening to the incessant ringing of the bells. I did not understand what was happening, but I surmised that it must be something very important because my father had to get me out of bed to watch cheering and partying adults on the streets.

Fast forward to 2017 and I would now say that the celebration of the 1986 EDSA revolution is important but only to commemorate what we did for our country on a certain period in our history.

I find it hard to understand why this bloodless revolution has become the standard definition of freedom for our country and this standard is forced down our throats by a certain group of individuals who think they are better than everyone else. These are the elite and their friends, including Archbishop Villegas.

Oh, dear Archbishop. How dare you say that my father has singlehandedly defaced the memory of the EDSA revolution.

Since 1986 and until seven months ago, I remember that our nation has been hounded by corruption, crime, territorial war of gangs and druglords, extrajudicial killings, narco politics, terrorism, protracted rebellion, abuse of power in government, political bickering and the entry of foreign mafias.

It surely did not start when President Duterte took office.

He won the Presidency precisely because you ignored what was wrong with this world. All you desired was to put into power a leader who walks and talks like you -- someone who is definitely not Rodrigo Duterte.

When your friend failed as a President, I cannot remember you calling it the rape of EDSA. You just swept it under your glitzy rugs and you moved on, back to business -- back to acting as if you can save us all from hell.

Your group is sadly a bunch of delusional hypocrites. While all of you were up there riding high on your horses, you failed to notice that many of us down here empathize with what Rodrigo Duterte is saying because it is the hard truth. It is truly without the air of hyprocrisy that we smell from your kind.

How dare you call us pimps of the EDSA spirit and yet it is you who cannot accept what has happened to our country since 1986.

How dare you say that we are trying to prostitute the meaning of EDSA.

My father perfectly understood what the spirit of EDSA is, otherwise, he would not have told me to never forget that night of 31 years ago. And I now believe that he understands it better than you do.

You preach about freedom as if you invented it, as if it is your gift to us. Let me tell you what freedom is. It is to live a life that is free from your selective moral standard. This is what the meaning of EDSA is.

Unfortunately for you Archbishop Villegas, this is not a biased commentary on your letter to the dead because I am not a fan of President Duterte.

But you are truly, madly, deeply worse than a hundred President Dutertes. - @indaysara

Gov. Reyes on Marcopper disaster: 'What about the rehabilitation..? Hindi pa ako kasama doon'

PAGLILIHIS NG LANDAS?

Iyung mga hindi makatanda sa kasaysayan o nangyari sa nakalipas ang mas malamang na gumawa ng bagong kuwento. Maari ring may maitim na mga binabalak. Ito ang tinatawag na REVISION OF HISTORY.

Kamakalawa, tungkol na naman sa MARCOPPER disaster at mga masamang epekto ng iresponsableng pagmimina ang tinalakay ng ABS-CBN TV Patrol. May pini-PR kumbaga ang mainstream media. Dating gawi.

'Pinasarang Marcopper banta pa rin sa kalusugan.' Ngani naman.

Sabi ng reporter: 'Ayon kay Gov. Reyes ng Marinduque, hindi nabigyan ng sapat na tulong ang mga biktima ng aksidente dahil pinili umano ng minahan na makipagsagutan na lamang sa korte kaysa tulungan ang mga residenteng naapektuhan ng natapong mine tailings.'

Ang tanda naman ng mga taga-Marinduque ay TUMAKAS ngani palabas ng bansa ang mga banyaga para TAKASAN din ang kanilang mga tulong na ipinangako sa gobyerno. Hindi nila PINILI na makipagsagutan na lamang sa korte. Sila ay dinemanda ng lalawigan kaya NAPILITAN silang humarap sa Korte.

Sabi naman ni Gov. Carmencita Reyes sa video: 'What about the rehabilitation, restoration and restitution of the lives of people? Hindi pa ako kasama doon.'

Tanda naman ng mga taga-Marinduque ay may iniwang pondo (escrow) ang Placer-Dome na $12-MILLION para sa rehab ng Boac River. Nawala na ang malaking halaga, katumbas ngayon ay PHP 600-MILLION. Parang bulang naglaho at wala ni isa na makapagbigay ng paliwanag kung saan napunta. TAHIMIK O TANGGING BINGI ang mga kinauukulan.

Wala ring ipinaliwanag tungkol sa $20-MILLION na proposed settlement ng BARRICK AT MARINDUQUE GOVERNMENT na matinding ISINUKA ng mga mamamayan dahil kung anu-anong kundisyones ang iginigiit sa kanilang ngala-ngala.

Kasama na ang kundisyon na ni singkong duling ay hindi ito puwedeng gamitin sa rehabilitation o restoration ng alin mang apektadong lugar.

Tila kung ano naman ang ibig ipakahulugan ni Carmencita sa sinambit niyang "HINDI PA AKO KASAMA DOON' na dapat palang idagdag sa 'rehabilitation, restoration of the lives of people'. Ano raw daw?

'Ipinasarang Marcopper'

Tungkol naman sa paulit-ulit na pag-gamit sa report ng salitang "ipinasarang Marcopper" o "matapos mapasara", hindi naman niliwanag na ang mine site ay guwardiyado ng mga armadong kalalakihan higit dalawang dekada na, at walang basta-basta makapasok dito kahit pa galing sa gobyerno. 

Bagamat opisyal na tumutugon ang Marcopper Mining Corporation sa mga katanungang galing media, may nakapaskil naman sa mine site na babala at ito ang nakalagay:

'THE AREA IS PRIVATE PROPERTY AND ENTRY WITHOUT PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED. BY: MR HOLDINGS, LTD'

Isa itong kabalintunaan!

HOY GISING! BAYANG INAPI-API!

The beginnings of NCCA support to Kalutang Preservation

Uploaded on YouTube June 28, 2010

Tirso Serdena, the Kalutang master thanked this blogger who conceptualized and drafted the project, Preservation of the Art of Kalutang Playing presented to NCCA in 2008, and implemented from 2009.

(From 0:55 of the video) Serdena: "Pasasalamat sa mga taong naging dahilan ng katuparan ng proyektong ito - kay Mr. Eli Obligacion na siyang nagturo sa amin kung paanong magsumite ng proposal at maaprubahan ito ng NCCA..."

Kalutang playing is unique to Marinduque. Originally used as auditory signal by farmers, it later came to be associated with the moriones in the town of Gasan. Then in the 70's Tirso Serdena, a farmer, created a series of kalutang wooden instruments from twatingan and bayog trees endemic to Marinduque and used them together with other players to play popular folk melodies. It is now considered part of the town's - and Marinduque's - cultural treasures.

Tirso Serdena teaching the kids as part of  NCCA, Municipal Government of Gasan and Gasan DepEd project to preserve the art of Kalutang playing to elementary and high school students.

The National Commission for Culture & the Arts (NCCA), municipal government of Gasan under Mayor Vicky Lao-Lim, Gasan DepEd and Serdena implemented the said project in 2009, on the art of kalutang playing to elementary and high school students in Gasan town. All recognize the importance of handing down this unique skill to the next generation.

Also read:

Joining hands to preserve the Kalutang for the record

Joining hands to preserve the Kalutang for the record

In 2008, in consultation with Tirso Serdena, locally known as the Kalutang Playing Master and with Mayor Vicky Lao Lim of Gasan, I drafted a proposal to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) entitled "Preservation of the Art of Kalutang Playing". This involved the participation of Serdena and some members of his group in the training of elementary and high school students in the rudiments of this unique art.

Traditionally, kalutang has been associated with Semana Santa and the moriones of this town as the moriones themselves bang these pairs of wood to produce the familiar sound signifing their presence. Until Serdena, in 1970, developed as entertainment, a series of such identical pairs capable of producing melodies.

(Tirso Serdena, the Kalutang master training the kids)

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts approved the project, recognizing the need to preserve, protect and promote this musical tradition and to ensure that the art is handed down to the next generation, approved a grant of Php 100,000 with the Municipal Government of Gasan as proponent.

The project has been implemented since March 2009 up to the present in fifteen elementary schools and five secondary schools in Gasan town.

Dr. Mauricia D. Borromeo, Vice-Chair of NCCA Committee on Music during a recent monitoring visit commented thus:

"Conceptual. Two levels of preservation were given due concern. The first concern being the kalutang’s traditional role and function in the Moriones Parade/March around the town as the principal “auditory signal” of the approach and presence of Moriones in the streets. Should other “signal equipment” be used or introduced, the kalutang should remain as the principal medium. 


The second level refers to the “Art of Kalutang playing”. The instrument as presently crafted by the proponent is decidedly innovative and creative but it has set limits on the repertoire. Artistry in kalutang playing can be achieved through a systematic program of development in which pedagogy is crucial.

Pedagogical. A systematic graded program of teaching and learning needs to be designed to enable kalutang teachers to be effective and to facilitate the learning of students. The unique and necessary techniques of kalutang playing must be identified. 

In preparation for artistry, a thorough training in musicianship (elements of music, music reading and performance) is needed. Pedagogically and musically sound teaching materials should be developed to build a rich repertoire not limited to simple folk songs."


According to Roselo Salvacion (Teatro Balangaw) of Gasan who was tasked as project coordinator, the same batch of elementary and high school students who were trained initially for 12 days in March 2009, continued training with the goal of performing in August 2009 for the 400th Anniversary of Gasan. 

Music teacher, Norma Soldevilla of Marinduque Midwest College was also encouraged to get involved especially in terms of musicianship and repertoire. 

Borromeo recommended to avoid competition at present. Recitals or festivals featuring achievements of students would be more positive and non-threatening, she said. Incentives in the form of performing at special community occasions or selected “free” instruments, or cash incentives to buy instruments may be given.


Borromeo also pointed out that potential kalutang players/trainers should receive musicianship training as well, i.e. music reading, harmony, and arranging songs for kalutang. Mr. Serdeña should be sent to seminar related to music, learning notes, pitches, and teaching methods.

Aware of the possibilities of a pair of kalutang that is capable of more than four pitches in order to have a complete set of major and minor scales (and chords), thus expanding and enriching kalutang repertoire, Boromeo also recommended that Serdeña increase the present range of four pitches to six and to include halfsteps. 

Continued support to these efforts is seen, in more ways than one, as a true recognition of efforts, particularly those exerted by ordinary people, such as the original Serdena Kalutang group, in contributing to the community’s sense of culture, pride, and identity. 

The positive impact of the project to the municipality’s tourism promotional efforts is also quite evident.

The above article was first posted on June 8, 2010.

PRESERVATION OF THE ART OF KALUTANG PLAYING

First posted on June 11, 2010

KALUTANG are identical pairs of wood from the twatingan and bayog trees, endemic to Marinduque, which, when banged together produce notes of definite pitches and tonal quality. Kalutang, especially in the town of Gasan has been associated with the Moriones of yesteryears. The town’s moriones roamed the town streets banging their kalutang instruments to draw attention.

In 1970, however, TIRSO SERDENA, (now 65 years old), developed a series of such identical pairs of instruments capable of producing melodies familiar to the townsfolk. Organizing a group of some eight kalutang musicians who eventually mastered the art of kalutang playing they were instant hits, and became familiar performers during community programs and special events not only in Gasan but in the neighboring towns as well.

The Kalutang band, the only one of its kind in the world, has since become a local tourist attraction, consistently gracing the pages of local tourist brochures and have been featured in national television cultural or tourism features on the province of Marinduque. Rendering folk songs and some pop melodies, they have also performed for private groups outside the island-province and have participated in national events (i.e. Independence Day celebration at the Rizal Park 1997). 

Kalutang playing is one of Marinduque’s more unique cultural charms. The need to preserve, protect and promote this indigenous tradition and to ensure that this musical skill is handed down to the next generation has been widely accepted as a must-do, yet no serious and sustained efforts have been undertaken by the authorities concerned to realize these objectives.

To realize these objectives we initiated a project (this blogger prepared the project proposal in consultation with the Kalutang group), that involves the participation of the Kalutang master, elementary schools and high schools (public and private) in the municipality of Gasan, the municipal government of Gasan and the National Commission for Culture & the Arts (NCCA). 

Project title: "Preservation of the Art of Kalutang Playing", implemented through a grant from the NCCA.

Also read:

PANGKAT KALUTANG OF BANGBANG, GASAN (Posted 2009)

Kalutang Playing Preservation (Posted 2010)

Sabi: ‘Eco-tourism an alternative to mining’

Bulag, pipi at bingi naman kapag rehabilitation ng mined-out sites sa Marinduque ang usapan.

Part of Marcopper's mined-out area. Google Earth.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is set to develop mined-out areas into eco-tourism zones that would help rehabilitate the mining sites and provide livelihood to affected communities.

Environment Secretary Gina Lopez said they are now looking at areas that have big potential for becoming eco-tourism sites, consulting with community members on the transition.

“In fact, we already identified 13 towns in Dinagat and Surigao that can be developed as such. We call this ‘mine sites revegetation’,” Lopez said during a discussion with The STAR editors and reporters yesterday.

DENR Undersecretary Philip Camara said the area would be treated as one eco-tourism site, just like what is being done in Palawan, which has many tourist destinations.

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He said it is more beneficial to divert the sites’ orientation because eco-tourism gives better quality jobs.

This way, he added, 95 percent of the income will go to the affected communities as opposed to the mining business where the bulk of profits goes to investors.

Aside from community discussions, the department is now consulting scientists on what can be harvested from a rainforest.

“Rehabilitation or re-vegetation stimulates a green economy. For every 100 hectares, it will create 1,000 livelihoods. For example, we can have agriculture wastes converted into biochar as one form of livelihood,” Camara said. - Full story on Philstar

Other Marcopper mine sites.

What DOT now says: Conversion of closed mines into ecotourism sites eyed

Will Marinduque be in the picture?

THE Duterte administration has at least P80 million in funds to develop potential ecotourism sites and help support communities affected by the closure of select mining areas.

In Photo: Mount Makiling, an Asean Heritage Park, serves as background to happy children. The mountain and its environs has multiple purposes: field laboratory for research on environment and biodiversity, an ecotourism attraction, relaxation spots through its hot springs, and a haven for mountain climbers and sports enthusiasts.

This was disclosed as Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon T. Teo said she is ready to sit down  with Environment Secretary Regina Paz L. Lopez on potential ecotourism areas.

In a text message to the BusinessMirror, Teo said the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza) can develop closed mining areas into ecotourism sites. “We are actually talking of ecotourism so we can help communities,” she said. The Department of Tourism (DOT) secretary chairs Tieza, an attached agency formerly known as the Philippine Tourism Authority.

Asked if exploratory talks have already been held with Lopez regarding potential ecotourism sites, Teo said, “Not yet. [But] I will sit down with her on this.”

Lopez recently announced the completion of a mining audit by her department, and said she was determined to close down several mines that have violated environmental laws and those in watershed areas. Watersheds help protect the supply of drinking water of local communities, as well as irrigation water for farms.

Will DOT not ignore Marinduque this time, once named as 'one of world's top islands', in its ecotourism conversion plan?

She added that the local communities in the closed mining areas will earn more if their sites are devoted to ecotourism activities.

Tieza COO Guiller Asido explained that “part of our mandate is to develop ecotourism projects. And we have identified this effort on ecotourism as a major initiative for 2017”. - Read full story on BusinessMirror

'Will Marinduque make a comeback?'     

On Marinduque, CNN Travel says: 'For years Marinduque has been under the foreign trippers radar, but not for long...' 

Read here

Excerpt from CNN International's travel feature '25 killer things to do this summer'

Recalling Marinduque's watershed forest reserves and other protected areas on this island

Amid all controversies surrounding Environment Sec. Gina Lopez' 'gift of love' to the Filipino people on Valentines' Day, the Heart of the Philippines continues to bleed. Strangely, she treats the Marinduque environmental and health concerns like it's something beneath her dignity to look into for reason only to her known.

To think that Marinduque was home to the largest copper mining operation in the Asia-Pacific Region. Now it is ranked as having one of the most denuded forests in the country. It remains the only 4th Class province in the MIMAROPA region today. Land area: 95,258 hectares; Population: 227,828 (2010).

And today, the threats of the potential collapse of more earthen dams high up in the mountains of central Marinduque, two of which had been breached causing untold suffering, are there for all to see - the stark evidence of irresponsible mining. 

All these have been thoroughly documented by scientists, local government units, civil society, media and environmental agencies. So too are the mining-related health impacts on the population - verified deaths caused by high levels of metals in the blood of children, related health concerns and definitely more of those in the coming years.

All these continue, remaining unaddressed by a government that at various times committed heavy complicity with the mines and is guilty of failure to protect its inhabitants from the very beginning.

This is a government with laws stating that mineral agreements shall not be allowed in virgin forests, proclaimed watershed forest reserves, wilderness area, mangrove forest, mossy forest, national parks, municipal forest, parks, greenbelts, game refuge and bird sanctuaries.

Think about it. In small-island, degraded and fragile Marinduque are watershed forest reserves, wildlife sanctuaries and mangrove forests all proclaimed as protected areas. That such areas exist in Marinduque is a wonder but perhaps unknown to many. 

Now these areas will be enumerated here before their destruction becomes real, imminent, or worse, they might already have passed that point of no return. In which case, there's no more point in calling the attention of whosoever environmental priestesses around. 

Still existing falls in Tumagabok, central Marinduque.
Photo: Morion Mountaineers Sta. Cruz Marinduque

The Marinduque Wildlife Sanctuary

Marinduque is one of only 8 provinces in the country with a proclaimed Wildlife Sanctuary. It is an area encompassing the municipalities of Boac, Gasan, Buenavista, Torrijos and Sta Cruz in Marinduque which are portions of timberlands containing an aggregate area of 8,827.96 has. There are portions overlapping with the mining tenements.

Proclaimed under NIPAS, Proclamation No. 696 8/17/2004, Parcel 1 consists of  5,597.75 hectares; Parcel 2 consists of 3,230.21 hectares

Proclamation No. 696 8/17/2004 Marinduque Wildlife Sanctuary

The Wildlife Sanctuary is described as a gently undulating mountain landscape falling into the coastal plains in the west and east. There is a large number of animals such as the Giant Borken Rats (Phloeomys cumingi) in this conservation area . The Philippine Pustelschwein (Sus philippensis) is now regarded as extinct on the island.

From the genus of the bats there are records of the subspecies Hipposideros pygmaeus, Eonycteris robusta and Rhinolophus rufus . In amphibians the frog species Rana magna macrocephala and Kaloula conjuncta exist in the area.

Philippine Duck. Photo: Wikipedia

From the avifauna are observations in this Wildlife Sanctuary of the Philippine duck (Anas Luzonica), the Luzon-Spatelschwanzpapageis (Prioniturus luconensis) and Rotsteißkakadus (Cacatua haematuropygia).

This portion of the Marinduque Wildlife Sanctuary map clearly shows the Marcopper built earthen dams (blue color) overlapping the protected area.

Torrijos Watershed Forest Reserve

This is located in Torrijos, Marinduque and comprises an area of 105 hectares. Proclaimed as a Watershed Forest Reserve under  Proclamation No. 463 45/1932.

Map of Torrijos WFR. It overlaps with a Marcopper mining tenement.

Naampias River Watershed Forest Reserve 

This Watershed Forest Reserve is also in Torrijos, Marinduque comprising an area of 417 hectares. It is covered by Proclamation No. 357 4/20/94

In this area of residual. rushland/grassland were monitor lizards, wild pigs, deer civet cats, hornbills, jungle fowsl, brahminy kites, and aquatic fishes as identified in a 2000 study sponsored by USAID with a small group of scientists, NGO's, the government (PAWB, BFAR, LGUs), and academic institutions, titled "Saving the Hottest of the Hotspots".

Overlapping the protected areas.
Marinduque mining tenement map from MGB.

Marinduque Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserves

In 1981, certain parcels of the public domain and/or parts of the country were declared as Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserves. They included parts of Sta. Cruz, Marinduque, specifically:

The Islands of Sta. Cruz and the Island of Salomague, the foreshoreline of Bo. Dapdap and Alabo up to the mouth of Tagum River, Malinao Creek up to Salomague Point, and the foreshoreline of Bo. Cabuyagan to the eastern side of Dating Bayan River in Calancan Bay.

This was covered by Proclamation 2152 12/29/81.

Marinduque's Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserves in Sta. Cruz

"... the Islands of Sta. Cruz and Salomaque, the foreshoreline of Bo. Dapdap and Alabo up to the mouth of Tagum River at Long. 122° 04’12” and Lat. 13° 27’45”, Long. 122° 04’27” and Lat. 13° 28’25”, Long. 122° 07’01” and Lat. 13° 29’01”, Malinao Creek up to Salomaque Point at Long. 122° 06’42” and Lat. 13° 23’12”, Long. 122° 08’42” and Lat. 13° 22’18” and the foreshoreline of Bo. Cabuyagan to the eastern side of Dating Bayan River in Calancan Bay at Long. 121° 58’20” to 122° 03’00” and Lat. 13° 30’28” all located in the province of Marinduque..."

Relevant portion of Proclamation No. 2152 declaring parts of Marinduque as Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserves.

Mt. Malindig's ecosystem. Photo: Morion Mountaineers

The summit of Mount Malindig 

Elevation: 1157 m / 3795 ft 

(Jump-off point: Sihi, Buenavista)

The summit of Mt. Malindig is a representative sample of an ecosystem in Marinduque's biogeographic zone. Mossy, old-growth forests located above 1,000 m elevations such as those in Mt. Malindig are by law protected for conservation by RA 7856 known as the National Protected Area System Act of the Philippines (NIPAS).

Summit of Mt. Malindig. Photo: Morion Mountaineers Sta. Cruz Marinduque

Low-level cloud often covers this peak where an abundance of mosses, herbs and grass thrive on the ground and vegetation. Various shrubs and fern species occupy the areas beneath the forest canopy.

Makulilis Peak of Mt. Malindig. Photo: Morion Mountaineers

Makulilis Crater Peak of Mt. Malindig

(Jump-off point: Dampulan, Torrijos)

Mt. Malindig is the largest on the island, the most popular climb and hike for mountaineers and adventure groups.