Since time immemorial, stories have abounded on this little island of gold inside jars being dug up in the middle of coconut farms, treasures unearthed from ancient burial sites near beaches, or gold bars accidentally dug up from underneath old houses and churchyards. Most of these stories are often laced with tales of spirits stealing those treasures from the mortals when found because the finders failed to at once spill drops of their own blood onto those treasures. That act would have driven away the invisible keepers.But there are also countless accounts of how poor farmers, men or women, suddenly got rich after finding gold in their own backyard or from somewhere in the boondocks following leads revealed in dreams.
It could be said that such stories are not entirely without basis. Looking back into this little island’s pre-colonial and Spanish or American colonial history, one comes across written accounts and well-documented finds of gold and treasures from caves or from near shores around the island discovered through underwater excavations. Some of those finds are kept in the National Museum now, often antique plates and jars but without the gold, and museums abroad that may still be keeping the pre-colonial gold collection (see photos here that are part of the Marche finds).
How many ‘reliable’ accounts have I heard of gold and bullion coins unearthed during reconstruction of local churches that one must be like a doubting Thomas or be overwhelmed with sheer amazement. For certain, in the case of real finds details are covered with utmost secrecy if that meant the involvement of the military to guard the sites and to keep the people stymied to even talk about it in whispers.
Now the Marinduque air is abuzz once again with talk of an allegedly enormous gold find that occurred during the last two days. The site is supposed to be somewhere between the villages of Bahi and Cawit. Local politicians, according to the buzz, are getting quick into the picture and raising jurisdictional issues, while local police are said to be tightly guarding the area as diggings continue this very moment.
