Saving an Island
The residents of
Rapu-Rapu know fully well the importance of unity in struggle. For six
years, they have strengthened their organization, maintaining an
unwavering stand to continue the fight against big mining companies. They
have even taken their struggle to the Internet.
BY AUBREY SC MAKILAN
Bulatlat
Rapu-rapu's assistant parish
priest prepares an anti-mining sign (left) for a mass for Sagip-Isla's 6th
anniversary, photographed at right.
PHOTOS BY AUBREY MAKILAN
RAPU-RAPU ISLAND –
For almost 22 years, Nida Bandal worked day and night in Manila just to
make ends meet. She decided to return in 2001 to her hometown, Binosawan,
Rapu-Rapu Island, here in Albay (about 600 kilometers from Manila).
In her own inherited
small piece of land, she started planting rice and vegetables for her own
consumption. Almost everyday, she walks on the shore, enjoying the sea’s
serenity and picking up various kinds of shellfishes for food.
Her living there,
however, is far from peaceful as she has chosen to take part in a
struggle. She joined Sagip-Isla (Save the Island), a multi-sectoral
organization committed to oppose and fight the operations of the mining
company Lafayette Philippines, Inc. and other mining activities on the
island.
Origins of
Sagip-Isla
Sagid Isla was formed
on Nov. 7, 1999, after a jubilee forum discussed the implications of
mining activities in the island. Held at the Sta. Florentina parish church
here, more than 300 residents from different barangays (villages)
attended. Religious groups like the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines
(RMP) and the Diocese of Legazpi and other cause-oriented groups supported
the forum.
At the forum, the
people stressed the need for an organization that will represent the
people and express the sentiments of the different sectors comprising the
island. They established Sagip-Isla, a community-based organization headed
by the church-based Council of Servant leaders in each barangay.
Since its
establishment, Sagip Isla members have been conducting education and
organizing campaigns in the locality, as well as in the mainland and at
national level. The organization has been host to a number of groups doing
exposures and immersions in the island communities and at the mining site.
Rapu-rapu residents
view documentaries on the ill effects of mining in the Philippines
PHOTO BY AUBREY MAKILAN
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Last Nov. 7,
Sagip-Isla celebrated its sixth anniversary. The people gathered for a
Eucharistic mass in the plaza. Fr. Felino Bugauisan, assistant parish
priest of Sta. Florentina Parish, concelebrated the mass with Fr. Raul
Balute, the former parish priest. Behind them was a black cloth painted
with the slogan “Save the Island, Save the People! No to Mining!” Even if a police officer was taking their
pictures, those who attended were not intimidated.
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After the mass, a
showing of selected video documentaries was held. Even if it was starting
to get dark, the people stayed to watch the video documentaries on social
and environmental costs of mining operations in the country.
They could not help
booing when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appeared in one of the
documentaries. The scene was her visit to their island in 2001 saying, “Uunlad
ang Rapu-Rapu,” (Rapu-rapu will develop), in reference to the supposed
benefits of mining operations in Rapu-Rapu.
Transcending
difficulties
Antonio Casitas, 67,
now leads Sagip-Isla. Casitas admitted it was not easy to unite the people
of Rapu-Rapu. He recalled that during the president’s visit, he was
actually the one giving out certificates of land transfer to the
beneficiaries. He was, however, disappointed to see that the distribution
was a sham. After they were given out, he was told somebody would collect
them back before the supposed recipients left the stage.
Like Bandal,
depressing conditions made him more determined to go on with their fight.
The costly sail of
P300 to P700 ($5.50 to $12.82, based on an exchange rate of P54.59 per US
dollar) to other parts of the island would often delay their campaign
activities. In critical times, they would walk along the shores or
sometimes traverse the mountains just to reach other areas.
Even if there was
black propaganda labeling his group as subversive and being sympathetic to
the New People’s Army (NPA), he kept fulfilling his duties. Many times, he
would not sign the logbook. Company guards require even residents to log
in their names upon entering the area.
“Kung
pipirma ako, e di parang sumunod na rin ako sa gusto nila,” (If I
sign, then it would appear that I am following their orders.) he said
Online struggle
Every arena can be a
form of struggle. In the age of cyberspace, the fight against mining in
the island has reached the Internet.
In its website at URL
http://www.rapurapu.20m.com, its statement against mining on the
island may be found alongside a travel guide and history of Rapu-Rapu.
“Right now in
Barangay Pagcolbon, where exploratory drilling is taking place in a
20-hectare lot, environmental destruction is already happening in the
cutting of trees, bulldozing and leveling of the hilly and muddy terrain,
quarrying of corals, sand, rocks, and gravel” it said.
Aside from calling
the attention of the local and national officials, it appealed to all
Bicolanos, stating
“The promise of
financial benefits now will not compensate the permanent damage of the
land, the source of life.”
Desperate calls
Bandal was one of
those Bicolanos who responded to the call.
“Kahit na bayaran
nila ako ng milyon-milyon para sa lupa ko, hindi ko ito ipagpapalit,”
said the 49-year old old maid. “Kahit na wala akong sarili kong pamilya
na paglalaanan ng lupa ko, mas marami pa rin ang nangangailangan sa
Rapu-Rapu.” (Even if they pay me millions for my land, I will not sell
it. Even if I do not have family members who will inherit my land, there
are still more people in Rapu-Rapu who need it.)
Bandal admitted that
they could not depend on the government to take their side. “Kung sa
gobyerno wala na tayong magagawa d’yan, pero tayong mga tao, meron pa kung
magkakaisa tayo,” (If we cannot do anything with the government, the
people can do something if we all unite.) she said.
Meanwhile, a resident
who refused to be identified had a more radical take on the issue.
“Siguro kung may NPA dito, wala na ‘yang mining na ‘yan,” (If the NPA
were here, mining operations would have been gone.) he said.
The man who worked
for a mining company somewhere in Northern Luzon recalled that when the
people in the nearby area protested the operations of the firm, the
operations were immediately stopped when the NPA intervened, he said.
“Kung may kilala
lang akong NPA papupuntahin ko pa dito yun para lang mawala na ‘yang
Lafayette na iyan,” (If I know
someone from the NPA, I would have asked him or her to come here so that
Lafayette would be gone) he stressed. Bulatlat
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