AN OPEN LETTER TO DENR SECRETARY JOSELITO L. ATIENZA
(Published in Philippine Daily Inquirer, November 24,2009, page 4)
November 24, 2009
HON. JOSELITO L. ATIENZA
Secretary
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
Secretary Lito Atienza:
It was with great joy that we ended our meeting last Wednesday, November 18, 2009, when, after finding out that the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) for the mining company, Intex Resources, in Mindoro was acquired with grave irregularity – that it was given without the required genuine consultations and endorsements of the affected local government units, as attested by the mayors of the two directly affected towns and the governors and congressmen of the two provinces of Mindoro – you promised to suspend the ECC. We admired then your sense of justice and your commitment to stand by the truth. All the hunger strikers and their supporters happily celebrated a thanksgiving mass outside the DENR compound. But alas, the rejoicing was short-lived when your order came out a couple of hours later! It was just a mere 90-day suspension order. Your letter did not reflect accurately the discussions and agreements of the meeting, among which (1) the recognition of the LGU’s moratorium on mining; (2) the failure of the Intex Resources to conduct genuine consultations in the affected communities; (3) the steadfast refusal of LGUs to allow the entry of the Intex Resources in the area, and (4) the sustained rejection and withholding of consent of the legitimate indigenous people to be affected by the mining operation.
We all felt betrayed. If the ECC was acquired with irregularity, why should it be just suspended for 90 days? Is it not invalid, and being so, must be revoked? Other thoughts then came to my mind. In the said dialogue, in front of two provincial governors, several mayors, congressmen, priests, two bish-
ops, DENR officials and several Mangyan leaders, you were empathic about your allegiance to the law and your assurance to punish anyone in your office who does not abide by the law. In our spontaneous joy at your declaration of withdrawal of the ECC, we were not able to follow up the name of the
person who recommended to you its issuance without the proper procedure. Who had been at fault in issuing the ECC? Is anyone accountable for it?
We also discussed about the area covered being a watershed. You were once again emphatic that no mining company will ever be allowed to operate in a watershed area. Despite DENR’s failure to formally declare part of the contested location a watershed, all of the representatives from Mindoro present in the dialogue confirmed that some 11,000 hectares covered by the ECC definitely include a watershed essential for food production and as source of potable water for the two Mindoro provinces.
The fact that the area is a watershed has long been established and explains why former DENR Secretary Alvarez cancelled the company’s mining permit in July 2001. Even the technical descriptions of the place bear this out. Why then was the ECC merely suspended, and not cancelled as logic demands? Will a mere suspension order correct this mistake?
Take note that the mining concession is not only a catchment for the critical watershed of the island, but the area also overlaps with the ancestral domains of the indigenous peoples – Alangan and Tadyawan Mangyans, whose leaders and representatives are continually holding the hunger strike in
front of your DENR office. They categorically declare that a genuine Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) was never granted and that the Intex Resources resorted to deception and indirect bribery to get a pseudo-support from a number of indigenous leaders.
I do not know what manner of advice you received to issue this suspension. But it is not too late to correct the error – and soon! The 25 hunger strikers, most of them Mangyans, are now on the 7th day of their hunger strike. Don’t you care at all for their situation? Is this not part of your pro-life stance? We hear that in a matter of days you will submit your resignation to join the 2010 elections. Is the delay a tactic to wash your hands from your responsibility? You issued the defective ECC; have the courage to revoke it! Allow me to remind you that your responsibility is more towards the care of the Phil-
ippine environment and the Filipinos who mostly depend on a well-balanced ecosystem than towards foreign investors who are here not to help our country – in spite of all their protestations – but to exploit us and our natural resources. If you would have to make a mistake, better err defending the
lives of the Filipino people, than err defending money and foreigners! Better to lose your face in front of foreigners than to lose it in front of your countrymen and women!
Mindoro, blessed by God with rich natural resources, is a food basket of the southern Tagalog provinces, including Metro Manila. Thousands of small farmers depend on the rivers flowing from the mountains for their irrigation. All these would be lost due to mining operation. It is because of this deli-
cate balance of nature on the island that the provinces of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro and the Municipality of Sablayan, where the mining site is located, have issued a moratorium of mining for 25 years.
In our dialogue, you have repeatedly challenged the local officials of the island to stand their ground not to allow mining operation in the two provinces.
And indeed, they have stood their ground! They have issued the moratorium. But why is this not being respected by your national office? The ECC you issued is for mining. The provinces have clearly stated that they do not want mining. Why have you even entertained the application for its issuance, and
much more, issued it?
You have always insisted on the observance of the law. But the way you disregarded the decision of the local government units in Mindoro is a gross violation of Section 70 of the Mining Act of 1995, which clearly requires the conduct of a genuine consultation, approval and endorsement through ordi-
nance from the affected municipalities and the provincial government.
Moreover, the basis for issuing the ECC is utterly baseless since you also disregarded the decision of the independent scientists who conducted the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The EIA Review Committee for the Mindoro Nickel Project voted on September 23, 2009 to recommend the denial of the ECC. However, on October 14, 2009, you unilaterally reversed the experts’ decision and issued the ECC, thereby endangering the environmental safety of the island province.
I appeal to you, Mr. Secretary, to revoke the ECC. Do not blame the people for going into hunger strike. They would not have done it if the ECC was not issued in the first place. They want to have their voices heard, and now, many people even out of Mindoro – bishops, priests, religious, lawmakers, students, parishioners and many NGO supporters are hearing it. Now is the chance for you to prove your pro-life stand and the respect you hold out for the primacy of local government. Otherwise, please do not campaign on pro-life issues in the coming election and do not claim that you are for the good of
the local government in which you would be running.
“If you close your ear to the cry of the poor, you will cry out and not be heard.” (Proverbs 21,13)
I pray that you would have courage, humility and compassion.
Yours truly,
†BRODERICK S. PABILLO, D.D
Auxiliary Bishop of Manila
Chairman of the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Social Action – Justice and Peace
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Alyansa Laban sa Mina (ALAMIN) Press Statement
Intex Resources' Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), issued by DENR Secretary Atienza, Defective and Highly Irregular!
Published Date: 26-10-2009
Source: Alyansa Tigil Mina / ALAMIN Press Statement
Source Date: 22-10-2009
The people of Mindoro are furious with the approval of Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the operation of the Mindoro Nickel Project by Intex Resources.
To express their anger 25 volunteers, mostly from Alyansa Laban sa Mina (ALAMIN), will hold a hunger strike and fasting, in front of the DENR Building from 17 November onwards. The hunger strike is planned to be held indefintely, until the ECC is reconsidered and revoked by DENR Secretary Atienza.
On the first day of the vigil, the 25 hunger strikers will be joined by representatives from the local government units both from Occidental and Oriental Mindoro. On the second day they will be joined by the representatives from the Church, including the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan led by Bishop Warlito Cajandig and the Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose. There will be further support from farmers groups and NGOs.
Intex Resources triumphantly brags in its website that the Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) was issued to them by Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Joselito Atienza. Erlend Grimstad, CEO of Intex Resources ASA, claims that by having the ECC, “one of the most important milestones for this project has now been achieved.”
The ECC approved by the DENR on October 14, 2009, came amidst the catastrophic flooding and man-made disasters caused by wanton destruction of the environment. And instead of coming to rescue our fragile ecology, the DENR shamelessly pursued the national policy agenda of the Arroyo government to promote mining industry, with utter disregard to the risks posed by the destruction of Mindoro’s critical watershed through the risky large-scale, strip mining operation of Intex Resources ASA.
Governor Arnan Panaligan believes that “The ECC was granted in gross disregard to the strong and categorical opposition of the leaders and people of Mindoro to the nickel mining project. The DENR, in granting the ECC, placed the long term safety of the fragile environment of Mindoro Island in serious danger. Apparently, the DENR has not learned from recent environmental disasters.”
Approved House (Congress) Resolution No. 25, clearly asserts that “the Mindoro Nickel Project of lntex Resources and Aglubang Mining, covers one of the province's watershed areas as duly declared and identified in the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Physical Framework Plan. The mining exploration site encroaches on the Mag-asawang Tubig Watershed, the largest source of irrigation water for the 40,000 hectares of rice lands in Calapan City, and the towns of Naujan, Baco and Victoria, Oriental Mindoro.”
One of the most objectionable issues in the EIA study is that the flood-prone Barangays in the municipalities of Victoria, Naujan and around the city of Calapan, are not included in consideration of impact areas. This is one of the reasons why the ECC should not have been issued!
For several other reasons, the issuance of ECC is deemed highly irregular and patently questionable because the EIA study conducted for the Mindoro Nickel Project (MNP) did not pass the technical scrutiny of the EIA Review Committee, which refused to give definitive endorsement for the project. However, Secretary Atienza, in complete disregard for the scientists and experts’ evaluation, unilaterally approved the ECC!
As of this writing, the Chairman of the EIA Review Committee for MNP is contemplating on resigning on all his EIA Review engagement labeling the practice as a sham.
Intex Resources, privy to the decision of EIA Review Committee, should instead be ashamed of an ECC obtained spuriously without passing the standard of credible scientific approval. But Intex Resources did not report this information and it again fails to be transparent in disclosing the negative facts about the project by constantly projecting half-truths and contentious claims.
The timing of the ECC issuance is also of particular concern and is considered highly irregular. It comes at precisely the time when an investigation of a complaint before the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Norwegian National Contact Point in relation to Intex's project is about to commence, with a fact finding by the Norwegian Ambassador to Mindoro scheduled soon.
A critical report of prior fact finding trip conducted by the Ambassador in 2007 concluded that ‘The majority of the population on the island of Mindoro is against mining...[They] fear first and foremost destruction of their “watershed” area/flooding/destroyed agricultural land/negative impact on fishing as a result of toxic waste . . .What does seem clear, is that Crew Minerals (now Intex) may have substantial difficulty obtaining an ECC - because of the massive local resistance, not least the resistance in the Mangyan peopleʼs NCIP-registered organizations.'
The issuance of the ECC is an outright insult to the people of Mindoro who have continually expressed their vehement and overwhelming opposition to the project as articulated in the Mining Moratorium of Oriental Mindoro and Municipality of Sablayan, in volumes of Sangguniang Bayan Resolutions, Position Papers of sectoral and civil society organizations, indigenous peoples, farmers, fisherfolks and the Church.
Governor Josephine Ramirez-Sato of Occidental Mindoro expressed her total disappointment for the national government’s imposition of pro-mining policy even when it runs contrary to the genuine development thrust of the province: “isang malakas na sampal ito sa autonomy ng lokal na pamahalaan na siyang tunay na nagmamalasakit sa kasasapitan ng ating mga kababayang magiging biktima ng kapahamakan!”
Similarly, Vice Governor Estella Aceron of Oriental Mindoro, is not only mad but infuriated for the ECC issued by the DENR Secretary to Intex Resources, despite the vehement opposition of the people. In a statement published in her blog, she questioned the motive behind questionable ECC issuance: ". . . It is really UNBELIEVABLE! ... What’s happening? Is it because he (Secretary Atienza) is running again in 2010 and he needs all the support from mining companies?”
The people of Mindoro are enraged by the brazen act of betrayal of the public trust, the transgression of our local autonomy and the manner by which our fragile island ecology is sacrificed for profit of the transnational mining companies and their local cohorts.
Published Date: 26-10-2009
Source: Alyansa Tigil Mina / ALAMIN Press Statement
Source Date: 22-10-2009
The people of Mindoro are furious with the approval of Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the operation of the Mindoro Nickel Project by Intex Resources.
To express their anger 25 volunteers, mostly from Alyansa Laban sa Mina (ALAMIN), will hold a hunger strike and fasting, in front of the DENR Building from 17 November onwards. The hunger strike is planned to be held indefintely, until the ECC is reconsidered and revoked by DENR Secretary Atienza.
On the first day of the vigil, the 25 hunger strikers will be joined by representatives from the local government units both from Occidental and Oriental Mindoro. On the second day they will be joined by the representatives from the Church, including the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan led by Bishop Warlito Cajandig and the Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose. There will be further support from farmers groups and NGOs.
Intex Resources triumphantly brags in its website that the Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) was issued to them by Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Joselito Atienza. Erlend Grimstad, CEO of Intex Resources ASA, claims that by having the ECC, “one of the most important milestones for this project has now been achieved.”
The ECC approved by the DENR on October 14, 2009, came amidst the catastrophic flooding and man-made disasters caused by wanton destruction of the environment. And instead of coming to rescue our fragile ecology, the DENR shamelessly pursued the national policy agenda of the Arroyo government to promote mining industry, with utter disregard to the risks posed by the destruction of Mindoro’s critical watershed through the risky large-scale, strip mining operation of Intex Resources ASA.
Governor Arnan Panaligan believes that “The ECC was granted in gross disregard to the strong and categorical opposition of the leaders and people of Mindoro to the nickel mining project. The DENR, in granting the ECC, placed the long term safety of the fragile environment of Mindoro Island in serious danger. Apparently, the DENR has not learned from recent environmental disasters.”
Approved House (Congress) Resolution No. 25, clearly asserts that “the Mindoro Nickel Project of lntex Resources and Aglubang Mining, covers one of the province's watershed areas as duly declared and identified in the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Physical Framework Plan. The mining exploration site encroaches on the Mag-asawang Tubig Watershed, the largest source of irrigation water for the 40,000 hectares of rice lands in Calapan City, and the towns of Naujan, Baco and Victoria, Oriental Mindoro.”
One of the most objectionable issues in the EIA study is that the flood-prone Barangays in the municipalities of Victoria, Naujan and around the city of Calapan, are not included in consideration of impact areas. This is one of the reasons why the ECC should not have been issued!
For several other reasons, the issuance of ECC is deemed highly irregular and patently questionable because the EIA study conducted for the Mindoro Nickel Project (MNP) did not pass the technical scrutiny of the EIA Review Committee, which refused to give definitive endorsement for the project. However, Secretary Atienza, in complete disregard for the scientists and experts’ evaluation, unilaterally approved the ECC!
As of this writing, the Chairman of the EIA Review Committee for MNP is contemplating on resigning on all his EIA Review engagement labeling the practice as a sham.
Intex Resources, privy to the decision of EIA Review Committee, should instead be ashamed of an ECC obtained spuriously without passing the standard of credible scientific approval. But Intex Resources did not report this information and it again fails to be transparent in disclosing the negative facts about the project by constantly projecting half-truths and contentious claims.
The timing of the ECC issuance is also of particular concern and is considered highly irregular. It comes at precisely the time when an investigation of a complaint before the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Norwegian National Contact Point in relation to Intex's project is about to commence, with a fact finding by the Norwegian Ambassador to Mindoro scheduled soon.
A critical report of prior fact finding trip conducted by the Ambassador in 2007 concluded that ‘The majority of the population on the island of Mindoro is against mining...[They] fear first and foremost destruction of their “watershed” area/flooding/destroyed agricultural land/negative impact on fishing as a result of toxic waste . . .What does seem clear, is that Crew Minerals (now Intex) may have substantial difficulty obtaining an ECC - because of the massive local resistance, not least the resistance in the Mangyan peopleʼs NCIP-registered organizations.'
The issuance of the ECC is an outright insult to the people of Mindoro who have continually expressed their vehement and overwhelming opposition to the project as articulated in the Mining Moratorium of Oriental Mindoro and Municipality of Sablayan, in volumes of Sangguniang Bayan Resolutions, Position Papers of sectoral and civil society organizations, indigenous peoples, farmers, fisherfolks and the Church.
Governor Josephine Ramirez-Sato of Occidental Mindoro expressed her total disappointment for the national government’s imposition of pro-mining policy even when it runs contrary to the genuine development thrust of the province: “isang malakas na sampal ito sa autonomy ng lokal na pamahalaan na siyang tunay na nagmamalasakit sa kasasapitan ng ating mga kababayang magiging biktima ng kapahamakan!”
Similarly, Vice Governor Estella Aceron of Oriental Mindoro, is not only mad but infuriated for the ECC issued by the DENR Secretary to Intex Resources, despite the vehement opposition of the people. In a statement published in her blog, she questioned the motive behind questionable ECC issuance: ". . . It is really UNBELIEVABLE! ... What’s happening? Is it because he (Secretary Atienza) is running again in 2010 and he needs all the support from mining companies?”
The people of Mindoro are enraged by the brazen act of betrayal of the public trust, the transgression of our local autonomy and the manner by which our fragile island ecology is sacrificed for profit of the transnational mining companies and their local cohorts.
where was the congresswoman of occidental mindoro?
i did not able to attend the privilege speech in the congress about the mining issue here in mindoro.
but a question i heard which disturbs me is: WHERE IS THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM OCCIDENTAL MINDORO?
i also heard that prior to that, INTEX people where in her office.
a representative from partylist endorsed for inquiry into the matter.
the following day, she was interviewed in a radio.
some who heard her shook their heads in disbelief: The Representative does not know what she was talking about! The Congresswoman does not know the real issue!
is it or she is just on the other side of the fence?
but a question i heard which disturbs me is: WHERE IS THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM OCCIDENTAL MINDORO?
i also heard that prior to that, INTEX people where in her office.
a representative from partylist endorsed for inquiry into the matter.
the following day, she was interviewed in a radio.
some who heard her shook their heads in disbelief: The Representative does not know what she was talking about! The Congresswoman does not know the real issue!
is it or she is just on the other side of the fence?
i was there...
i was in DENR office the past days and what i experienced there is very different.
there were 25 hunger strikers willing to sacrifice by not taking food in order to attain our goal: revocation of INTEX's Environmental Compliance Certificate,cancellation of MPSA, and recognition of 25 year moratorium of Oriental Mindoro and resolutions of 8 towns of Occidental Mindoro.
I arrived there late afternoon of tuesday.
there were many people and only few do i know.
later i was informed that others went to the congress for the privilege speech regarding the issue.
on the evening i opted to stay and sleep there.
it was uncomfortable.
i still did because i have something fighting for.
The following day was the presscon.
different personalities made their statements.
On the afternoon, atienza, the DENR secretary talked to the leaders of the two provinces of Mindoro together with the leaders of the Church and some mangyans.
atienza decide on the dialogue to suspend the ECC.
Holy mass was celebrated after that only to find out later that what was agreed upon was different from what he signed.
hunger strike continue..
the ultimate objective may not reached but what happened to us is more than enough reason to continue the struggle.
this is not an easy battle nor a short one.
this is a journey, a lifelong journey.
we are not doing this for ourselves but for everybody, next generation included.
i learned..i decide..TULOY ANG LABAN...
there were 25 hunger strikers willing to sacrifice by not taking food in order to attain our goal: revocation of INTEX's Environmental Compliance Certificate,cancellation of MPSA, and recognition of 25 year moratorium of Oriental Mindoro and resolutions of 8 towns of Occidental Mindoro.
I arrived there late afternoon of tuesday.
there were many people and only few do i know.
later i was informed that others went to the congress for the privilege speech regarding the issue.
on the evening i opted to stay and sleep there.
it was uncomfortable.
i still did because i have something fighting for.
The following day was the presscon.
different personalities made their statements.
On the afternoon, atienza, the DENR secretary talked to the leaders of the two provinces of Mindoro together with the leaders of the Church and some mangyans.
atienza decide on the dialogue to suspend the ECC.
Holy mass was celebrated after that only to find out later that what was agreed upon was different from what he signed.
hunger strike continue..
the ultimate objective may not reached but what happened to us is more than enough reason to continue the struggle.
this is not an easy battle nor a short one.
this is a journey, a lifelong journey.
we are not doing this for ourselves but for everybody, next generation included.
i learned..i decide..TULOY ANG LABAN...
open letter to sec. atienza about ecc of intex
OPEN LETTER TO LITO ATIENZA: NO MEANS NO!
Which part of the sentence, “NO!” do you not get?
In front of your office at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are 25 women and men, mostly Mangyan people, from Mindoro, who are on hunger strike. They are calling for the cancellation of the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) you have issued to the Norwegian mining company, Intex for its Mindoro Nickel Project. They are the people who will be experiencing the direct impacts of the mining operations, and they have not been consulted, not by DENR, nor by INTEX. Most probably because you and INTEX would not want to hear what they have to say. Thus, they are bringing their position to your doorstep – they don’t want INTEX, they don’t want mining in the Alangan Mangyan’s ancestral domain, not in their watershed and anywhere in Mindoro.
A 25-year moratorium on mining was passed in 2002 in Oriental Mindoro. Similar ordinances were passed by different municipal governments of Occidental Mindoro, with 8 out of 11 municipalities passing a resolution against mining.
Governors, vice-governors, mayors and congressmen repeatedly stated in strong terms, and strong voices, that they do not want mining in their provinces. They said this in various public hearings in the provinces, they repeated this in DENR last Monday as the hunger strike began, and yesterday during the dialogue with you.
The Bishops, priests and nuns have called for the respect of the peoples’ strong position against mining, and one of them, Fr. Edwin Gariguez, a Mindoreno himself, is one of the hunger strikers. They made this statement in the pulpits, they made this on the streets of Mindoro, they repeated this during the dialogue with you, and they are reiterating this position in the hunger strike now.
You have issued the ECC to INTEX on October 14 even without the necessary requirements from INTEX - no documentation of public consultation, no documentation proving that they are not within the watershed areas. In fact, you have issued the ECC without waiting for the recommendation of the EIA-Review Committee. And that would not be surprising now that the Review Committee report has been released, with their final recommendation – DENIAL of the ECC. One of their findings is that no public consultation with the stakeholders directly affected was held; 4 of the 6 components of the mining project have no baseline data, particularly on terrestrial flora and fauna; and that there was no proper project area delineation.
With all of these, all you have to show for is a mere suspension of the ECC for 90 days. You are in effect giving INTEX and yourself the opportunity to cover up the inherent defects of the ECC . The 25 year moratorium was not recognized in the suspension order, and most certainly not the ancestral domain of the Mangyans.
What does it have to take for you to hear the message of the people of Mindoro? The LGUs and the religious of Mindoro are now more angered by the inadequacy of the suspension order, and the deceit with which this was issued. The 25 people who are on hunger strike are now more determined to pursue their cause.
The message of the Mindoro people is loud and clear –NO to INTEX. NO to mining in their provinces. The final recommendation of the EIA Review Committee –NO ECC for INTEX.
Why can’t you take NO for an answer, Mr. Lito Atienza? For someone who has been said NO to by the Commission on Appointment for 8 times, it might be really difficult for you to understand that NO is the opposite of yes. That NO is a negative response. That NO is a NO.
So before you leave your office to run for Mayor again, clean up your mess. REVOKE THE ECC of INTEX.
In solidarity with the people of Mindoro,
Judy A.Pasimio
Executive Director
Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC-KsK/Friends of the Earth-Phils.)
judy.pasimio@lrcksk.org
www.lrcksk.org
Which part of the sentence, “NO!” do you not get?
In front of your office at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are 25 women and men, mostly Mangyan people, from Mindoro, who are on hunger strike. They are calling for the cancellation of the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) you have issued to the Norwegian mining company, Intex for its Mindoro Nickel Project. They are the people who will be experiencing the direct impacts of the mining operations, and they have not been consulted, not by DENR, nor by INTEX. Most probably because you and INTEX would not want to hear what they have to say. Thus, they are bringing their position to your doorstep – they don’t want INTEX, they don’t want mining in the Alangan Mangyan’s ancestral domain, not in their watershed and anywhere in Mindoro.
A 25-year moratorium on mining was passed in 2002 in Oriental Mindoro. Similar ordinances were passed by different municipal governments of Occidental Mindoro, with 8 out of 11 municipalities passing a resolution against mining.
Governors, vice-governors, mayors and congressmen repeatedly stated in strong terms, and strong voices, that they do not want mining in their provinces. They said this in various public hearings in the provinces, they repeated this in DENR last Monday as the hunger strike began, and yesterday during the dialogue with you.
The Bishops, priests and nuns have called for the respect of the peoples’ strong position against mining, and one of them, Fr. Edwin Gariguez, a Mindoreno himself, is one of the hunger strikers. They made this statement in the pulpits, they made this on the streets of Mindoro, they repeated this during the dialogue with you, and they are reiterating this position in the hunger strike now.
You have issued the ECC to INTEX on October 14 even without the necessary requirements from INTEX - no documentation of public consultation, no documentation proving that they are not within the watershed areas. In fact, you have issued the ECC without waiting for the recommendation of the EIA-Review Committee. And that would not be surprising now that the Review Committee report has been released, with their final recommendation – DENIAL of the ECC. One of their findings is that no public consultation with the stakeholders directly affected was held; 4 of the 6 components of the mining project have no baseline data, particularly on terrestrial flora and fauna; and that there was no proper project area delineation.
With all of these, all you have to show for is a mere suspension of the ECC for 90 days. You are in effect giving INTEX and yourself the opportunity to cover up the inherent defects of the ECC . The 25 year moratorium was not recognized in the suspension order, and most certainly not the ancestral domain of the Mangyans.
What does it have to take for you to hear the message of the people of Mindoro? The LGUs and the religious of Mindoro are now more angered by the inadequacy of the suspension order, and the deceit with which this was issued. The 25 people who are on hunger strike are now more determined to pursue their cause.
The message of the Mindoro people is loud and clear –NO to INTEX. NO to mining in their provinces. The final recommendation of the EIA Review Committee –NO ECC for INTEX.
Why can’t you take NO for an answer, Mr. Lito Atienza? For someone who has been said NO to by the Commission on Appointment for 8 times, it might be really difficult for you to understand that NO is the opposite of yes. That NO is a negative response. That NO is a NO.
So before you leave your office to run for Mayor again, clean up your mess. REVOKE THE ECC of INTEX.
In solidarity with the people of Mindoro,
Judy A.Pasimio
Executive Director
Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC-KsK/Friends of the Earth-Phils.)
judy.pasimio@lrcksk.org
www.lrcksk.org
Saturday, August 22, 2009
lost
i am lost,
after i reach what i am now, i don't know where to go.
what do i want now?
i have the power,
the people respect me,
i am well known even by children.
...and yet i feel i am lost.
perhaps many will say that i am good,
that others can emulate me,
that i did great,
that i am well and good,
that i am in the right track..
looks can really fool others,
its easy to hide,
showing okay yet deep inside hurting,
help..i need help..
after i reach what i am now, i don't know where to go.
what do i want now?
i have the power,
the people respect me,
i am well known even by children.
...and yet i feel i am lost.
perhaps many will say that i am good,
that others can emulate me,
that i did great,
that i am well and good,
that i am in the right track..
looks can really fool others,
its easy to hide,
showing okay yet deep inside hurting,
help..i need help..
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Costly Political War
I should have immediately taken note of yesterday morning's breaking news of http://www.inquirer.net about the diving spree of PGMA in Apo Reef last Thursday, April 24, 2008. It was a day after she went to San Jose, Occidental Mindoro concerning, expectedly, the rice issue that's hounding not just her strong republic but more so the poor Filipinos.
So, what's the news about the president visiting the Apo Reef? Of couse, Apo Reef is famous across the globe as among the most beautiful diving spots.
Actually, it was not that the president took notice of Apo Reef that caught my attention. It was the information based on inquirer.net's breaking news that together with the president aboard the presidential yatch were Rep. Girlie Villarosa and Gov. Nene Sato of Occidental Mindoro. The internet news provider adds that the reason for the two political stalwarts' unusual getting together was to mend their fences.
In the first election that Gov. Nene Sato participated in, she ran as vice governor to the husband of Rep. Girlie Villarosa. Until... well, the more-seasoned politicians and "feeling-close-to-the-politicians" in the province could tell us more about how the two politicians started to part ways.
In 2001, Occidental Mindoro saw the head-on meeting of Sato and Villarosa for governorship -- which the latter miserably lost, and during which the former nearly met her death not once but twice.
I could only suppose that the ensuing political war between their two camps has been taking its toll on both of them. I mean, individually. Villarosa's murder case, as reasoned by the Quintoses, was politically motivated. Sato, for her part, had to endure a couple of ambushes. On the level of the personal, their political war has threatened and in fact grossly affected already the personal integrity of both.
I can only imagine the anguish of a man behind bars, and the fear that is known to anyone who had to crawl -- literally -- for cover as live bullets were very narrowly missing her head.
And, ... well, the president of the Philippines was reportedly trying to reconcile the two..
I would like to put forward that the costliness of their political feud is not limited to their personal or individual spheres. It spills over and drowns the province, actually. And it is the people of Occidental Mindoro who suffer more than they -- individually -- do.
While this is debatable, I would like to say that partly their political war is the reason for the absence of a long-term governance plan for Occidental Mindoro. The plan of action of the Capitol is dependent on who sits as the governor. Anyone who wins the election is expected to begin from the scratch as he/she would refuse to build on his/her predecessor's gains (and follies) and as the loser scrambles also to tear down what he/she has built on ensuring that his/her successor could have a rather late start.
If sustainable plan for governance is too abstract as a topic, let us take the case of the Capitol employees. Their's is definitely a more existential proof of my point. After every elections in Occidental Mindoro, the succeeding news to hear is about who's in and who's out in the Capitol. Casual employees are replaced, and even career employees are "floated".
Still, this is just the tip of the real effect on the people. The most crucible thing to happen to the people of Occidental Mindoro as a result of this political war is very poor service.
Occidental Mindoro is more than half-a-century old as a province; and yet the more than 200 kilometers highway from the northmost tip to the southmost municipality of Occidental Mindoro is still rough road. And this is very telling.
In the end, I can only await the outcome of the PGMA-arbitrated reconciliation between Villarosa and Sato. For one, it likewise tells that politicking in Occidental Mindoro (which is the microcosm of Philippine politics) is patronage, and is divorced from the real political animals -- the people.
http://thatallmaybeone.blogspot.com/
So, what's the news about the president visiting the Apo Reef? Of couse, Apo Reef is famous across the globe as among the most beautiful diving spots.
Actually, it was not that the president took notice of Apo Reef that caught my attention. It was the information based on inquirer.net's breaking news that together with the president aboard the presidential yatch were Rep. Girlie Villarosa and Gov. Nene Sato of Occidental Mindoro. The internet news provider adds that the reason for the two political stalwarts' unusual getting together was to mend their fences.
In the first election that Gov. Nene Sato participated in, she ran as vice governor to the husband of Rep. Girlie Villarosa. Until... well, the more-seasoned politicians and "feeling-close-to-the-politicians" in the province could tell us more about how the two politicians started to part ways.
In 2001, Occidental Mindoro saw the head-on meeting of Sato and Villarosa for governorship -- which the latter miserably lost, and during which the former nearly met her death not once but twice.
I could only suppose that the ensuing political war between their two camps has been taking its toll on both of them. I mean, individually. Villarosa's murder case, as reasoned by the Quintoses, was politically motivated. Sato, for her part, had to endure a couple of ambushes. On the level of the personal, their political war has threatened and in fact grossly affected already the personal integrity of both.
I can only imagine the anguish of a man behind bars, and the fear that is known to anyone who had to crawl -- literally -- for cover as live bullets were very narrowly missing her head.
And, ... well, the president of the Philippines was reportedly trying to reconcile the two..
I would like to put forward that the costliness of their political feud is not limited to their personal or individual spheres. It spills over and drowns the province, actually. And it is the people of Occidental Mindoro who suffer more than they -- individually -- do.
While this is debatable, I would like to say that partly their political war is the reason for the absence of a long-term governance plan for Occidental Mindoro. The plan of action of the Capitol is dependent on who sits as the governor. Anyone who wins the election is expected to begin from the scratch as he/she would refuse to build on his/her predecessor's gains (and follies) and as the loser scrambles also to tear down what he/she has built on ensuring that his/her successor could have a rather late start.
If sustainable plan for governance is too abstract as a topic, let us take the case of the Capitol employees. Their's is definitely a more existential proof of my point. After every elections in Occidental Mindoro, the succeeding news to hear is about who's in and who's out in the Capitol. Casual employees are replaced, and even career employees are "floated".
Still, this is just the tip of the real effect on the people. The most crucible thing to happen to the people of Occidental Mindoro as a result of this political war is very poor service.
Occidental Mindoro is more than half-a-century old as a province; and yet the more than 200 kilometers highway from the northmost tip to the southmost municipality of Occidental Mindoro is still rough road. And this is very telling.
In the end, I can only await the outcome of the PGMA-arbitrated reconciliation between Villarosa and Sato. For one, it likewise tells that politicking in Occidental Mindoro (which is the microcosm of Philippine politics) is patronage, and is divorced from the real political animals -- the people.
http://thatallmaybeone.blogspot.com/
lynch
The past weeks of raining brought some attitude for the people of Mindoro. A week ago we went to kambingan, some kilometers from Pag-asa, Sablayan. Vehicles cannot pass through the road for there were some landslides. For the past days, workers from the DPWH tried to open the roads. There were two backhoes working side by side. Commuters on the other hand try to pass on the four-foot mud scattered on the road.There were men from the area helping the commuters to pass for a fee. They asked motorcycle drivers for P100 so that their motorcycle can pass. For poor drivers there is no alternative. They cannot do anything. DPWH tolerated it. Actually they can push the muds and open the road so that small vehicles can drive through yet for some "unknown reasons" they did not. Just a couple of days ago, I heard that a big motorcycle is asked to pay P250.00 to pass. What a shame. Instead of helping the commuters they use that as an avenue to collect fees. Is this included in Programang Patrabaho ni Gloria?
Monday, July 6, 2009
mamburao
Mamburao seeks to find place in the sun
By Glenna Aquino
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:43:00 03/15/2009
Filed Under: Travel & Commuting, Tourism
AFTER taking a Roro vessel from the Batangas pier, you reach Abra de Ilog, one of the entry points into Mamburao, capital of Mindoro Occidental.
Mindoro Occidental is the western part of the island province of Mindoro, south of Batangas.
The drive from the Abra de Ilog pier on the cement-paved Mindoro West Coast Road follows the ridge of high rolling mountains on one side and rice fields on the other, with intermittent glimpses of the Mindoro coast. It’s an arresting vista, but investors have yet to arrive.
Mamburao, though quite accessible, is relatively undiscovered. There are few tourist arrivals. Unlike rough and rowdy Puerto Galera, in neighboring Mindoro Oriental, Mamburao is laid-back. Almost as if it’s set in the ’60s, the sleepy town, like any community where farming and fishing are dominant, shuts down at dusk.
Occidental Mindoro is basically an agricultural province. Principal products are rice, coconut, peanut and abaca. The waters on its western coast comprise one of the most important fishing grounds in the country. But here, the sea and rice fields are still the fixed boundaries of a man’s life.
Reputation
While its natural, economic and political shortcomings, lack of trademark produce, and other problems have all added to its provincial backwater reputation, Mamburao is also a land unspoiled by mass tourism, where mountains drop to blue coastal waters, and sandy beaches lined with swaying palm trees.
It’s a setting that could be the next place for eco-tourism without the messy and amateurish planning of other destinations. It even has a good airport (now used by a flying school and for chartered planes), which adds to its tourist potential.
Mamburao has a long coastline of unpopulated sandy beaches in rustic surroundings, similar to those of small towns in the outer Hawaiian Islands. The abundance of its possibilities can be seen in a day it takes to drive around the town and back.
The landscape changes from grassy hillsides to green rice paddies, mangroves and flat savannah. Numerous rivers and tributaries flow from the mountains of Occidental Mindoro down to Mamburao and the neighboring towns.
A cruise down the Mamburao river is everything a river cruise should be: slow, peaceful, with only the sounds of nature to accompany you down the riverbend and back.
A trek through uncharted rocky trails leads you to unspoiled pool springs and waterfalls and gives you a thrill of discovery.
The town proper hums with small-town activity in the day. The municipio, though in the middle of repairs, is a hive of town servants going about their workaday tasks.
The farmers are working the land, the children are in school, the fishermen’s catch are in beds of ice in the wet market, or on a roro bound for Manila, and the retailers sell their goods ferried in from Batangas and Manila. It’s economic activity all right, but it needs a boost.
Change
Something is happening here. Change is coming – in a good way. A concerted public campaign to get everyone involved has begun.
Beyond the lure of using its physical beauty is a socio-culture development plan for a town that can finally stamp its identity on such products as vinegar, fish sauce and bagoong under the Mamburao brand.
Elma Tejada is in the mayor’s team as tourism officer, a Mambureño who came back after years of working abroad. She represents the new breed of movers who are not just waiting for development to happen, but are also taking charge of their future. She and a few others are slowly changing the face of Mamburao for the next generation.
The Mamburao Planning Evaluation Report made by an independent body of architects, planners and engineers, was a first step in this direction.
Mayor Anthony Villarosa says, “There must be a plan that will generate development to a higher stage and that will mean growth for Mamburao, so that its people will have higher incomes similar to their counterparts in developed towns and cities in the country. A strategy that will spread benefits to the people and bear fruits that will be sustainable over time. At the same time, I do not want a ‘Divisoria’ type of urban sprawl in Mamburao. Urban growth should be ordered and should happen as aesthetically as possible.”
It’s a call for all Mamburenyos to pitch in, so that it can find its place in the sun.
FACT FILE
Formerly called Mait, Mindoro was known to Chinese traders even before the coming of the Spanish.
In 1570, the Spanish began to explore the island and named it “Mina de Oro” (mine of gold) after finding some of the precious metal, though no major gold discoveries were ever made.
In the early years, Mindoro was administered as part of Bonbon, now Batangas. Early in the 17th century, the island was separated from Bonbon and organized into a corregimiento. Mindoro became a regular province in 1921.
On June 13, 1950, it was divided into two provinces, Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro. The plains of Occidental Mindoro are inhabited by the Tagalogs and the remote forested interior by the Mangyans, who lead a semi-nomadic existence.
How to get there
1. From Manila by bus to Batangas pier (JAM, JAC and Tritran Terminals in Cubao or Buendia)
From Batangas pier to Abra de Ilog pier (two-hour roro vessel, Montenegro Shipping Lines)
Abra de Ilog pier to Mamburao (tricycle, jeepney)
2. From Manila by private car to Batangas pier (take SLEX and Star Tollway and exit at Balagtas, Batangas). Drive your car onto the ferry to Abra de Ilog pier.
Once in Abra de Ilog, head directly to Mamburao via the main national road (30 minutes).
3. Chartered plane lands in Mamburao airport (40 minutes’ flight from Manila to Mamburao)
By Glenna Aquino
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:43:00 03/15/2009
Filed Under: Travel & Commuting, Tourism
AFTER taking a Roro vessel from the Batangas pier, you reach Abra de Ilog, one of the entry points into Mamburao, capital of Mindoro Occidental.
Mindoro Occidental is the western part of the island province of Mindoro, south of Batangas.
The drive from the Abra de Ilog pier on the cement-paved Mindoro West Coast Road follows the ridge of high rolling mountains on one side and rice fields on the other, with intermittent glimpses of the Mindoro coast. It’s an arresting vista, but investors have yet to arrive.
Mamburao, though quite accessible, is relatively undiscovered. There are few tourist arrivals. Unlike rough and rowdy Puerto Galera, in neighboring Mindoro Oriental, Mamburao is laid-back. Almost as if it’s set in the ’60s, the sleepy town, like any community where farming and fishing are dominant, shuts down at dusk.
Occidental Mindoro is basically an agricultural province. Principal products are rice, coconut, peanut and abaca. The waters on its western coast comprise one of the most important fishing grounds in the country. But here, the sea and rice fields are still the fixed boundaries of a man’s life.
Reputation
While its natural, economic and political shortcomings, lack of trademark produce, and other problems have all added to its provincial backwater reputation, Mamburao is also a land unspoiled by mass tourism, where mountains drop to blue coastal waters, and sandy beaches lined with swaying palm trees.
It’s a setting that could be the next place for eco-tourism without the messy and amateurish planning of other destinations. It even has a good airport (now used by a flying school and for chartered planes), which adds to its tourist potential.
Mamburao has a long coastline of unpopulated sandy beaches in rustic surroundings, similar to those of small towns in the outer Hawaiian Islands. The abundance of its possibilities can be seen in a day it takes to drive around the town and back.
The landscape changes from grassy hillsides to green rice paddies, mangroves and flat savannah. Numerous rivers and tributaries flow from the mountains of Occidental Mindoro down to Mamburao and the neighboring towns.
A cruise down the Mamburao river is everything a river cruise should be: slow, peaceful, with only the sounds of nature to accompany you down the riverbend and back.
A trek through uncharted rocky trails leads you to unspoiled pool springs and waterfalls and gives you a thrill of discovery.
The town proper hums with small-town activity in the day. The municipio, though in the middle of repairs, is a hive of town servants going about their workaday tasks.
The farmers are working the land, the children are in school, the fishermen’s catch are in beds of ice in the wet market, or on a roro bound for Manila, and the retailers sell their goods ferried in from Batangas and Manila. It’s economic activity all right, but it needs a boost.
Change
Something is happening here. Change is coming – in a good way. A concerted public campaign to get everyone involved has begun.
Beyond the lure of using its physical beauty is a socio-culture development plan for a town that can finally stamp its identity on such products as vinegar, fish sauce and bagoong under the Mamburao brand.
Elma Tejada is in the mayor’s team as tourism officer, a Mambureño who came back after years of working abroad. She represents the new breed of movers who are not just waiting for development to happen, but are also taking charge of their future. She and a few others are slowly changing the face of Mamburao for the next generation.
The Mamburao Planning Evaluation Report made by an independent body of architects, planners and engineers, was a first step in this direction.
Mayor Anthony Villarosa says, “There must be a plan that will generate development to a higher stage and that will mean growth for Mamburao, so that its people will have higher incomes similar to their counterparts in developed towns and cities in the country. A strategy that will spread benefits to the people and bear fruits that will be sustainable over time. At the same time, I do not want a ‘Divisoria’ type of urban sprawl in Mamburao. Urban growth should be ordered and should happen as aesthetically as possible.”
It’s a call for all Mamburenyos to pitch in, so that it can find its place in the sun.
FACT FILE
Formerly called Mait, Mindoro was known to Chinese traders even before the coming of the Spanish.
In 1570, the Spanish began to explore the island and named it “Mina de Oro” (mine of gold) after finding some of the precious metal, though no major gold discoveries were ever made.
In the early years, Mindoro was administered as part of Bonbon, now Batangas. Early in the 17th century, the island was separated from Bonbon and organized into a corregimiento. Mindoro became a regular province in 1921.
On June 13, 1950, it was divided into two provinces, Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro. The plains of Occidental Mindoro are inhabited by the Tagalogs and the remote forested interior by the Mangyans, who lead a semi-nomadic existence.
How to get there
1. From Manila by bus to Batangas pier (JAM, JAC and Tritran Terminals in Cubao or Buendia)
From Batangas pier to Abra de Ilog pier (two-hour roro vessel, Montenegro Shipping Lines)
Abra de Ilog pier to Mamburao (tricycle, jeepney)
2. From Manila by private car to Batangas pier (take SLEX and Star Tollway and exit at Balagtas, Batangas). Drive your car onto the ferry to Abra de Ilog pier.
Once in Abra de Ilog, head directly to Mamburao via the main national road (30 minutes).
3. Chartered plane lands in Mamburao airport (40 minutes’ flight from Manila to Mamburao)
Monday, June 22, 2009
going home
a girl approached me,
at first she requested if she can make a blog in the school campus,
i was puzzled,
i asked her what about the blog,
she answered she just wanted to express what she was experiencing inside the school,
she has a high regard with the students because the school is a catholic institution,
she thought that everything will be alright,
on the first day of her class, she was welcomed by her classmates,
since she is a transferee she thought that everything will go smoothly,
three weeks passed and here she is,
crying..feeling rejected..feeling alone,
some students told her that "pabigat ka lang sa school,"
she was very frustrated,
tears fell from her eyes,
she starts to feel that she made a wrong decision to transfer,
i feel sorry for her,
i hugged her and told her her that she is really welcome in the school,
she is home..
hope that helps her...
at first she requested if she can make a blog in the school campus,
i was puzzled,
i asked her what about the blog,
she answered she just wanted to express what she was experiencing inside the school,
she has a high regard with the students because the school is a catholic institution,
she thought that everything will be alright,
on the first day of her class, she was welcomed by her classmates,
since she is a transferee she thought that everything will go smoothly,
three weeks passed and here she is,
crying..feeling rejected..feeling alone,
some students told her that "pabigat ka lang sa school,"
she was very frustrated,
tears fell from her eyes,
she starts to feel that she made a wrong decision to transfer,
i feel sorry for her,
i hugged her and told her her that she is really welcome in the school,
she is home..
hope that helps her...
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
History of Mamburao
HISTORY OF MAMBURAO
By Rudy Candelario
Translated in English by Benjamin Walata
I – DURING THE SPANISH REGIME
The name of the municipality came from May Bulao, an expression of the indigenous people which means There’s Gold. The expression was oftentimes uttered by the indigenous people, during the early days, every time they found pieces of gold after sifting the sands from the bed of a river near their settlement. They called the river where they discovered gold as May Bulao.
The group of lowlanders who first lived near < xml="true" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" prefix="st1" namespace="">
Prior to the coming of the Spaniards in the
Written history stated that on the 1st day of January 1570, a company of warriors from
During the Spanish regime, the government controlled trade in the different parts of the
When Calavite was erected as a parish in 1580, one of the communities placed under its jurisdiction was Mamburao. It was mentioned that in 1679, this community was one of the places visited by Fr. Diego dela Resureccion, the Spanish missionary belonging to the Order of Augustinian Recollects, who was assigned as parish priest of Calavite.
In 1757, the corregidor of Mindoro reported to the Governor General of the
In 1772, it was stated in another report that the Spanish soldiers attacked the pirates who were based in Mamburao. Many pirates escaped and hid in the mountains.
The last plundering and burning of Mamburao by the pirates happened in 1842. Fr. Miguel Claro, the Spanish friar assigned in this place was able to escape to the mountains. Unfortunately, due to the hardships he experienced in the mountains, and the extreme depression he felt because of the burning of the church and convent he painstakingly built, he lost his mind. When the Spanish soldiers found Fr. Claro in the mountains, they brought him to
To avoid the pirates, many families evacuated to other places. It was mentioned in the history written by a teacher from Talaotao, one of the barangays in
When the pirates stopped raiding the villages in
In a book written by Dr. Remigio Agpalo, a noted professor and former chairman of the Political Science Department of the University of the
Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo mentioned in his autobiography that he bought a big sailboat and bartered goods with the inhabitants of
It was mentioned in an old document of the Order of Augustinian Recollects (OAR) that one of the members of their congregation whom they want to be included in the list of saints of the Catholic Church, Fr. Vicente Soller, was assigned as parish priest of Mamburao in 1891. The said priest was able to build a convent and a church in this pueblo.[vii][7] He served the people of this place until the year 1898. It was also mentioned in the records of OAR that Mamburao was one of the places visited by St. Exequiel Moreno when the former head of the Spanish friars in Mindoro, visited the parishes in the island..
In 1898, Mamburao was one of the places where the Filipino revolutionaries led by Capitan Mariano Abeleda and Capitan Agustin Liboro searched for Spanish friars and soldiers whom they would capture and imprison.
II – DURING THE AMERICAN REGIME
The independence gained by the Mindoreños lasted only for two years. During the last part of 1901, American troops under the command of Major William Pitcher, attacked Mamburao and burned all houses and buildings, including the church and convent built by Fr. Vicente Soller. Some foreign soldiers abused the civilians and the people who sought shelter at the headquarters of the soldiers were truly pitiful to look at.[viii][8]
When Captain Robert Offley was appointed as governor of
In 1905, by virtue of Act 1280, the American government ordered that the number of municipalities in the
In the early part of the American occupation of Mamburao, they opened a primary school in this municipality. In the beginning, classes were only form Grade 1 to Grade IV but in 1916, classes were opened for pupils from Grade V up to Grade VII. The elementary school graduates who pursued secondary education, enrolled at
In 1936, still under the American regime, the spiritual care of the inhabitants of
The American government appointed municipal presidents in Mamburao. After a few years, the municipal presidents were elected by the people. Those who served as municipal presidents were Luis Villar, Sinforoso Mercene, Mariano Villarosa, Jose Mercene, Vicente Sison and Pascual Castillo.
In the history of Sta. Cruz written by a teacher in 1950, it was mentioned that one politician from Brgy. Mulawin served as a member of the municipal council of Mamburao. He was Councilor Petronilo de Borja who also served, temporarily, as municipal president of Mamburao.[xi][11]
III – DURING & AFTER WORLD WAR II
When World War II broke out, Mamburao was occupied by the Japanese soldiers. During that period, Francisco Niebres continued serving as municipal president of Mamburao under the supervision of Japanese authorities.
The people of Mamburao experienced extreme fear and hunger during the Japanese occupation. The support given by the inhabitants to enemy soldiers and members of the group of freedom fighters aggravated the problem of shortage of food. Some families were tortured by soldiers of either of the two opposing groups, on mere suspicion that they were supporters of the Japanese or the Filipinos.
The people of Mamburao were very happy when the
When peace was restored in 1945, a group of educators in Mamburao established West Mindoro Academy (WEMA). The said school gave opportunity to the youth to acquire secondary education. After a few years, WEMA was sold by its founders to the Society of the Divine Word.[xii][12]
That same year, the American authorities appointed Eduardo Arguelles as the municipal president of Mamburao. When an election was held in 1947, Mayor Agaton Cosuco was elected as the head of the municipal government.
Life was difficult for the people of Mamburao during that time. Many got sick of malaria. Only few stores, big houses and school buildings could be seen at the town’s center. Aside from the roads which connected this town to Sta. Cruz, Abra de Ilog and Paluan, no highway linked Mamburao to the towns at the southern part of
On June 13, 1950 President Elpidio Quirino signed Republic Act No. 505 which divided
In the election held on November 13, 1951 Mayor Hospicio Pacal was elected as the head of the municipal government of Mamburao. With the assistance of the provincial and national government, he started development projects which were continued by his successors, Mayor Domingo Niebres and Mayor Raymundo Regudo. Those projects were the building of an airport in this town and the improvement & construction of roads and government structures.
Due to inadequate funds and fast succession of provincial governors, the capitol was not immediately constructed in Mamburao. The site where it should be constructed was also frequently changed. According to the book written by Dr. Agpalo, in 1952 when Hon. Federico Castillo was the governor of Occidental Mindoro, the proposed site of the capitol was the lot located north of
In 1964, Governor Villaroza was reelected as the chief executive of the province. Again, with the support of Congressman Felipe Abeleda, he worked for the construction of a provincial hospital and public high school in Mamburao. The following years, with the cooperation of Mayor Cesar Servando and Congressman Pedro Medalla, Sr., additional buildings for government offices were built in Mamburao, the concrete pier in Tayamaan was constructed and concrete roads and bridges at the town’s center were built.
During this period, Hon. Ricardo Quintos, one of the two delegates of Occidental Mindoro to the 1970 Constitutional Convention, established Golden Country Farms, Inc. The said corporation put up a cattle ranch, poultry and mango farm in Mamburao. It became the supplier of double yolk eggs in different parts of the
Due to the uncontrolled cutting of trees in the mountains northeast of Occidental Mindoro, a great calamity hit Mamburao, in 1970. That year, after days of heavy rains,
Due to their extreme fear that a similar calamity would occur in the future, many families in Mamburao constructed houses on higher grounds. As a result, the number of houses increased at the lower portion of the hill where the provincial capitol was constructed.
During martial law period, electricity flowed into many houses and buildings of Mamburao from the power plant of Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (OMECO) at Sitio Pulang Lupa, Central,
The implementation of the infrastructure projects and the electrification program of the government contributed greatly to the progress of Mamburao. The flow of goods and services became fast and different commercial establishments appeared in this town.
In 1980, Hon. Bienvenido Ignacio was elected as municipal mayor of Mamburao. He repaired and improved the municipal hall built by Ex-Mayor Cesar Servando. With the support of Assemblyman Pedro Mendiola, Sr., he built the public market at the western part of the town’s center and started the construction of a river wall at
In 1983, by virtue of the papal bull of Pope John Paul II, Occidental Mindoro was created as another ecclesiastical territory known as the Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose. That year, the first vicar apostolic, Bishop Vicente Manuel, SVD, DD visited Mamburao. Through the cooperation of Fr. Ramon del Rosario, SVD formation and training of lay leaders were intensified by Bishop Manuel in this municipality.[xvii][17]
After the term of office of Mayor Ignacio, the people of Mamburao again entrusted to Hon. Cesar Servando the reins of the municipal government. The said mayor completed the construction of the river wall at
IV – AFTER THE PEACEFUL EDSA REVOLUTION
In 1986, when President Corazon Aquino ordered the replacement of all municipal mayors in the country, appointed as OIC Mayor of Mamburao was Hon. Natividad Simbulan. She served for ten months.
During the first election held after the peaceful EDSA revolution, Mayor Esmenio Verdera was elected as the head of the municipal government. Two of his visible accomplishments were the improvement and beautification of the municipal hall and the construction of the fence around the municipal compound.
In 1993, the public high school opened by the late Gov. Arsenio Villaroza became a national high school and was called
In the election held last 1994, Mayor Allan Aquino was elected as the head of the municipal government of Mamburao. In coordination with the provincial and national governments, more concrete roads were constructed in this municipality. Trucks for hauling garbage were also purchased by the municipal government.
Two tragic incidents shocked the people of Mamburao in 1997 & 1998. The first one was the killing of Tayamaan Brgy. Captain Michael Quintos and his brother Paul, by unidentified gunmen. The second one was the shooting of Vice Mayor Roger Abeleda. Many believed that politics was the motive behind the crimes.[xviii][18]
Despite the trials and difficulties it encountered, Mamburao is becoming progressive. At present, this town has telephone lines, cable television, passenger jeeps going to different municipalities of the province and beach resorts for both foreign and local tourists.
In 2004, Joel Panaligan was elected as municipal mayor of Mamburao. The town’s chief executive is confident that with the cooperation of the people and the support of the local and national officials, his municipality would become more progressive.
HISTORY OF THE SEVEN BARANGAYS OF MAMBURAO
1. BALANSAY
Residents of this place believe that the name of their community originated from one of these two Iraya words: bansay, a buri palm; and balingasay, a kind of tree. After years of constant use, the word evolved to Balansay.
Like the old communities of Mamburao, the indigenous people belonging to the Iraya tribe were the first settlers of this place. Some families built their huts near the bank of the big river found here. The said river was used as a port during the Spanish occupation of the
In the history written by a teacher in 1950, it was stated that the inhabitants of Balansay grew when many families from the pueblo of Mamburao transferred to this community due to the frequent raids conducted by Moro pirates.
When Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo was still bartering goods with the people of
During the American regime, two groups of families of farmers and fishermen from Lubang and Boac, Marinduque settled in this place. Farming, fishing and working as sawmill laborers were their means of livelihood.
It was mentioned in the history of Balansay, written by a teacher in 1950, that the first leaders of this community were Simeon Custodio, Felipe Fernandez and Agustin Custodio.
In 1916, many inhabitants of Balansay died due to a smallpox epidemic. Despite the outbreak of the deadly disease, the survivors decided to stay in this place.
When World War II broke out, the people of Balansay hid in the mountains. The indigenous people taught them how to survive in their hiding places.
After the war, the people returned to their homes. They tried to make their farms more productive. In order that their children could acquire education, they requested the government to open a primary school in Balansay.
In 1947, a class for Grade 1 was opened in Balansay. The number of pupils steadily grew, additional teachers were assigned here and after many years, the primary school became a complete elementary school.
In 1951, the people requested government authorities that Balansay be created as a barrio. The municipal councilors of Mamburao approved the request. It was also approved by the members of the provincial board of Occidental Mindoro. In 1952, Balansay was elevated to the status of a barrio.
During martial law period, the national highway from Mamburao to other municipalities in the southern part of Occidental Mindoro, which passes through Balansay was widened and improved. Electric service also reached this place.
Although members of the rebel group or the New Peoples’ Army (NPA) strengthened their anti-government activities in the remote areas of Balansay, during martial law period, the people of this community remained loyal to the government. They strived to raise their economic situation, despite some disruptions in the peace and order condition of their community.
Through the cooperation of the inhabitants, leaders of the barangay and local & national officials, a barangay hall, day care center, plaza, concrete stage and multi-purpose pavement were constructed in Balansay.
Aside from the aforementioned personalities, those who served as leaders of Balansay were Guillermo de Lemos, Fedencio Panaligan, Mario Custodio, Eliseo Custodio, Emilio Tarcena, Iluminado Bulalacao, Juanito de Vera, Libertador Custodio and Armando Ramirez. The leader of the barangay at present is Brgy. Captain Ariel Castigador.[xix][19]
2.
Tii was the original name of this community. According to the story told and retold by old residents of this place, a foreigner asked the name of this community from a man fishing in the river. The man thought that the foreigner was asking for the name of the fish he was trying to catch. He answered TIGI. The foreigner heard the word TII, hence, he called this place by that name. It so happened that their community has no name yet, thus, inhabitants called it TII.
Tii was a forest during the Spanish occupation of the
During the early part of the American regime, government authorities established communities which would be the permanent settlements of the indigenous people. To encourage the Mangyans belonging to the Iraya tribe to stay in one place, the government opened a school for their children. A school was built in Tii. The governor of
At first, many children of the Iraya tribe, some of which came from the nearby communities of Talabaan and Balansay, attended classes in the
When Talabaan was created as a barrio in 1905, Tii became a sitio under its jurisdiction. As years passed, families of Ilocano farmers from
When World War II broke out, in order to avoid the Japanese soldiers, the inhabitants of this place hid in the mountains. Within a period of almost three years, in order to survive, they have learned to eat root crops and dried sap of buri trunk.
After the war, the inhabitants of Tii returned to their homes. Some of their relatives decided to settle also in this place. In addition, families from other towns of Occidental Mindoro bought farmlands in this sitio.
In 1965, Tii was created as a barrio of Mamburao. Heeding the request of the inhabitants, the government opened an elementary school in this barrio. The school building was constructed inside the lot donated by Gaudencio Gallardo.
Due to his active leadership in the cooperative labor done in the barrio and his being kind to those who asked his help, when an election was held in Tii, Gaudencio Gallardo was elected as its first barrio captain.
The farmers thought of irrigating their ricefields. They dug deep wells and every summer, by means of motorized water pumps, they irrigate their farms.
During martial law period, electric service reached this place. Moreover, the national highway connecting Mamburao with Sta. Cruz was improved. The said highway passes through this barrio, now a barangay.
The families in Tii agreed that their patron saint will be Our Lady of Fatima. They also decided to change the name of their community with the name of their patron saint. As a result, in 1979, Tii became Brgy.
Through the cooperation of the residents, leaders of the barangay, national & local officials, a day care center, barangay hall, concrete stage and multi-purpose pavement were constructed in Brgy.
Aside from Gaudencio Gallardo, those who served as leaders of
3. POBLACION
This place started as a village of the
Before the Spanish occupation of the
In 1570, a large group of Spanish and Filipino warriors under the command of Capitan Juan de Salcedo drove the pirates out of Mamburao. Nevertheless, since the Spanish soldiers did not stay in this place, the pirates returned after a few months.
When Calavite Parish was entrusted to the Order of Augustinian Recollects in 1679, Mamburao was one of the villages visited by the missionaries assigned in the said religious center. However, due to the frequent raids of the pirates, the lives of the Spanish missionaries were oftentimes put in danger.
A Spanish friar mentioned in his report that in 1757, Mamburao disappeared from the map because this village was burned by the pirates. When people again settled in this place, Fr. Miguel Claro, a Spanish missionary built a convent here. Unfortunately, after a few years of silence, the pirates again raided Mamburao. Fr. Claro was able to escape and hide in the mountains. However, due to the destruction of his church & convent and all the improvements in the village, the said priest became despondent and eventually lost his mind.
In a book written by Dr. Remigio Agpalo, he mentioned that his ancestor Simon Agpalo, together with some relatives from San Marcelino, Zambales settled in Mamburao, in 1865. The first time they arrived here, they found only ten houses near the seashore of this village. Through hard work, they were able to clear the forest around their settlement. Years later, the number of inhabitants increased until the village became a pueblo or town.
When the Filipinos revolted against the Spaniards, Mamburao was one of the places where the revolutionaries led by Capitan Mariano Abeleda and Capitan looked for the Spanish soldiers.
In 1901, the American soldiers occupied the center of the pueblo of Mamburao. When they entered the pueblo, they burned all the houses and buildings, including the church.
In 1905, under Act 1280 which reduced the number of municipalities in
When World War II broke out, the people of Poblacion, experienced hunger. The farmers could not plant palay in their farm, fearing that upon harvest, the Japanese soldiers or members of the pseudo guerrilla group would confiscate the grains.
When peace was restored in 1945, the people of Poblacion tried to make their place progressive. Groups of families engaged in farming, fishing, trade and industry, from Lubang and Batangas settled here.
In 1951, a few months after
The economic progress of Poblacion happened, gradually. The construction of concrete roads which were started in Decade 60’s was vigorously pushed through in the middle part of Decade 80’s. Commercial enterprises were established.
In 1975, upon the order of the late President Ferdinand Marcos, the town’s center or Poblacion were divided into barangays. Poblacion, Mamburao was divided into eight barangays. The leaders of each political unit strived to make their barangay progressive. The present leaders of the eight barangays, namely; Brgy. Captain Emmanuel Olfato of Brgy. 1, Rolito de Jesus of Brgy. 2, Ronaldo Flores, Sr. of Brgy. 3, Rex Servando of Brgy. 4, Randy Fontanilla of Brgy. 5, Alejandro Montealegre of Brgy. 6, Enrique Pantoja of Brgy. 7 and Laudelino Sison, Jr. of Brgy. 8, continue to implement their own programs for development, including the projects started by their predecessors.[xxi][21]
4. SAN LUIS
Lig-ang was the original name of this barangay. According to the story of old residents of this community, many years ago, a housekeeper cooked rice on a makeshift stove made of three stones placed near each other. The stones were not firmly planted on the ground, thus, when the water with rice boiled, the kettle shook and the stones moved. As a result, the kettle tipped sideward. In the dialect of people from Batangas, the shaking of the content of the kettle which would result to its tipping, is called lig-ang. Due to that incident, this place was named Lig-ang.
Lig-ang was a forest during the Spanish occupation of
During the American regime, the vacant land in this area was bought by a well off individual known only as Don Luis. However, he did not develop the land, hence, it remained a forest.
In 1930, the families of Lastre and Mulingbayan from Balayan, Batangas settled in Lig-ang. To be able to plant palay and corn, they cleared the forest. Their relatives came and also farm in this place. The number of inhabitants increased until Lig-ang became a sitio of Mamburao.
Five years before the outbreak of World War II, the road joining the town of
When World War II broke out, like the people of other communities, the inhabitants of Lig-ang hid in the mountains to avoid the Japanese soldiers.
After the war, the people returned to Lig-ang. They tended their farms and made it more productive. They requested the government authorities that a primary school be opened in their community.
In 1948, the primary school in Lig-ang was opened. Years later, it became a complete elementary school.
The population of Lig-ang grew when many families of farmers from Central Luzon migrated to
When the required number of inhabitants for the elevation of a barrio to a sitio was met, the people of Lig-ang requested government authorities that their community be created as a barrio. The request was granted and in 1951, Lig-ang was created as a barrio of Mamburao.
In order that Lig-ang would have a barrio site, Don Luis sold a portion of his land to the barrio officials at a much reduced price. Moreover, he donated the lot needed for the barrio plaza and other projects of the community.
To perpetuate the memory of his benevolence, the people of Lig-ang decided to register San Luis as the official name of their barrio. It was the custom during that period that whenever the name of a benevolent person is being used as the name of a barrio, the word San is affixed to his name although the person being honored is not a saint.
After many years, electric service reached the households in San Luis. With the cooperation of the residents of this community and the support of local and national officials, the leaders of this barangay were able to construct the barangay hall, day care center, waiting shed and plaza.
The persons who served as leaders of San Luis were Francisco Mulingbayan, Eduardo Mulingbayan, Luderio Paglicawan, Mariano Mulingbayan and Sancho Mulingbayan. The leader of the barangay at present is Brgy. Captain Oscar Olleros.[xxii][22]
5. TALABAAN
The original name of this barangay was Talabahan. The persons living in nearby sitios gave this name for they used to gather oysters or talaba and other marine life in the swamp of this place. As years passed and for unknown reasons, the letter h disappeared from the name of the barangay and only Talabaan remained.
Like other communities at the northwestern part of
A few years before the American occupation, the families of Anoba, Tadeja and Pajayon from Zambales; Tañedo from Tarlac and Cortuna from Abra de Ilog,
The population grew when people from other places transferred to this community and permanently settled here. In 1900, this sitio was made as a barrio of Mamburao.
In 1910, the American government organized a settlement of the indigenous people in the nearby sitio of Tii, Brgy.
Since Tii was near Talabaan, the families of indigenous people living in Talabaan sent their children to the school established by the Americans. However, due to poverty and the culture of the indigenous people to transfer from one place to another, their children stopped going to school. As a result, after a few years, the elementary school in Tii was closed by the government.
The inhabitants of Talabaan requested the authorities of the American government to open a primary school in their barrio in order that their children would not hike for hours to attend their classes at the
Meliton Anoba donated a portion of his farm to the government for the buildings and campus of the primary school. When the said benevolent person learned that the Catholic Church needs a lot for its chapel and cemetery, he also donated a portion of his farm to the church.
Due to the generosity of Meliton Anoba, his barrio mates elected him as municipal councilor of Mamburao, during the American regime. In the desire of Councilor Anoba to facilitate the flow of transportation from Mamburao to his barrio, he allowed the construction in his farm of a portion of the feeder road from the national highway to Talabaan.
Aside from Meliton Anoba, the leaders who served as teniente
6. TANGKALAN
During the early days, it was in this place where the travelers from Mamburao to Abra de Ilog would always see chicken cages or tangkalan. When asked as to their place of residence, people who built huts here would answer In Tangkalan. As a result, the early settlers who formed a community here, called this place by that name.
Tangkalan was a forest during the Spanish occupation of the
During the American regime, the families of Daprosa, Eje and Villanueva from Calapan, Oriental Mindoro and the family of Contreras from Balayan, Batangas settled in this place. Government authorities allowed them to occupy this forested area as their homesteads. After they have cleared the forest and made the land productive, many of their relatives and friends decided also to settle in this place. The community grew until it became a sitio of Mamburao.
In 1935, when the Department of Public Works and Highways constructed the road connecting Abra de Ilog with Mamburao, it passed through Tangkalan. Despite the said development project, whenever a resident of this sitio wanted to go to the center of any of the two towns, they have to hike or ride on horseback because no passenger jeep regularly ply the Abra de Ilog-Mamburao route.
When World War II broke out, many residents of Tangkalan hid in the mountains to avoid the cruelties of the Japanese soldiers.
After the war, groups of farmers together with their families from
Since their children have to hike for hours in order to attend their classes at
When the trips of passenger jeeps plying the Mamburao-Abra de Ilog route became regular, many residents of Tangkalan built their houses along the national highway. Their leaders constructed a few waiting sheds on both sides of the main thoroughfare.
When Congressman Pedro Medalla, Sr. was the representative of Occidental Mindoro to the Philippine Congress, he worked for the widening of the national highway and the construction of concrete bridges in the province. This project was continued by Asemblyman Pedro Mendiola, Sr. The farmers benefited from the project for they could easily bring their agricultural products to the public markets.
The rebel group known as New Peoples Army intensified their anti-government activities in the barrios during martial law period. Occasionally, they would invite some barangay leaders to their hideout. Unfortunately, Brgy. Captain Venancio Camonino who was invited to the hideout of suspected members of the rebel group, during the last days of martial law, was not able to return to his community.
Through the cooperation of the inhabitants, barangay leaders and national & local officials, a barangay hall, day care center, concrete stage and multi-purpose pavement were constructed in Tangkalan. At present, the gravel & sand portion of the national highway which passes through Tangkalan was turned into concrete by the provincial government.
Aside from the aforementioned leaders, those who served as teniente
7. TAYAMAAN
The name of the barangay came from a medicinal plant called tayam which grew abundantly in this place during the early days. To cure chest pain and cough, the medicine man of the indigenous people used to boil the roots of the said plant and tell the sick person to drink the solution. When asked as to where did he get that medicinal plant, the medicine men would answer From Tayamaan.
Due to the inward shape of the coast of this place which made it a good harbor, the Chinese traders bartered goods with the indigenous people living in this area during the pre-Spanish era. They avoided the pirates who also sought shelter at the coast of
When the pirates made Mamburao as their headquarters during the height of their piratical activities in the
The indigenous people left Tayamaan when the pirates used this place as harbor for their vintas. With the exception of its coast, the wide plains of this place became a forest again.
Since the sea near Tayamaan is a good fishing ground, a few families from Lubang, Romblon, Panay and
When peace was restored, the families who evacuated to other places returned to Tayamaan. Years later, families of Ilocano and Bicolano farmers also migrated to this place. The community grew until it became a sitio of Mamburao.
In 1949, the people of Tayamaan requested the Municipal Council of Mamburao that their sitio be created as a barrio. The request was granted. Tayamaan was elevated to the status of a barrio in 1950. Sario de Luna was elected as the first teniente
In order that their children would not walk for kilometers to be able to attend classes at
Due to his benevolence, active service and good relationship with the people, Teniente
During martial law period, when Hon. Cesar Servando served as municipal mayor of Mamburao, a concrete pier was constructed in Tayamaan. The number of sea vessels which loaded and unloaded goods & passengers in this pier increased.
During the administration of Brgy. Captain Segundo Maguad, a number of school buildings were constructed in Tayamaan. It included the building donated by the officers and members of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
In 1998, a tragic incident happened when Brgy. Captain Michael Quintos of Tayamaan and his brother Paul, both sons of former Assemblyman Ricardo Quintos, were killed by unidentified armed men in a party which they attended. A group of men, together with a well known politician of Occidental Mindoro were tried before the court and sentenced with the maximum penalty for allegedly committing the crime. The case is presently on appeal before the Supreme Court.
Aside from the aforementioned leaders, those who served as barangay captain of Tayamaan were Silverio Taroma, Salus Sanchez, Domingo Umeres and Tita Aguilar. The leader of the barangay at present is Brgy. Captain Norberto Inmenzo.[xxv][25]
[ii][2] Remigio Agpalo, The Political Elite and the People, 1972, p. 32
[iii][3] Antoon Postma,
Vol. 5 (1997), p. 260
[iv][4] Delia Venturero, Ang Kasaysayan ng Brgy. Bulacan, 1990, p. 3
[v][5] R. Agpalo, The Political Elite and the People, 1972, p. 37
[vi][6] Emilio Aguinaldo, Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan, 1948, p. 18
[vii][7] Decree on the Martyrdom of the Servants of God, Congregation for the Causes of Saints, 1997, p. 4
[viii][8] R. Agpalo, The Political Elite & the People, 1972, p. 45
[ix][9] R. Agpalo, The Political Elite & the People, 1972, p. 166
[x][10] AVSJ Staff, History of the Apostolic Vicariate of
[xi][11] Elias Dotimas, Ang Kasaysayan ng Mulawin, 1998, p. 1
[xii][12] Rodolfo Acebes, The
[xiii][13] R. Agpalo, The Political Elite and the People, 1972, p. 50
[xiv][14] R. Agpalo, The Political Elite and the People, 1972, p. 56
[xv][15] R. Agpalo, The Political Elite and the People, 1972, p. 166
[xvi][16] Interview with Mr. Orlando Miñon, Dec. 6, 1998
[xvii][17] AVSJ Staff, History of the Apostolic Vicariate of
[xviii][18] The
[xix][19] Interview with Ms, Indac de Vera
[xx][20]Interview with Brgy. Kagawad Joselito Fulgrncio
[xxi][21]Information supplied by Dr. Remigio Agpalo
[xxii][22]Interview with Brgy. Captain Sancho Mulingbayan
[xxiii][23] Interview with Brgy. Captain Sancho Mulingbayan
[xxiv][24]Information supplied by Enrico Tadeja & Nilda Ubaldo
[xxv][25] Information supplied by Brgy. Captain Tita Aguilar
REFERENCES
A. Published Materials:
1. Acebes, Rodolfo
1994: The
2. Agpalo, Remigio
1972: The Political Elite and the People
3. Aguinaldo, Emilio
1948: Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan
4. Editorial Staff
1970: STAA Souvenir Program
B. Unpublished Materials:
1. AVSJ Staff
1956: History of
1995: History of the Apostolic Vicariate of
2. Congregation for the Causes of Saints
1997: Decree on the Martyrdom of the Servants of God
3. Dotimas, Elias
1998: Ang Kasaysayan ng Mulawin
4. Venturero, Delia
1990: Ang Kasaysayan ng Brgy. Bulacan
C. Resource Persons:
1. Dr. Remigio Agpalo
2. Brgy. Capt. Sancho Mulingbayan
3. Brgy. Capt. Percival de Lemos
4. Brgy. Capt. Tita Aguilar
5. Brgy. Kag. Joselito Fulgencio
6. Ms. Indac de Vera
7. Ms. Nilda Ubaldo
8. Mr. Enrico Tadeja
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