Mountain Gold of the Philippines (Kalinga)

Historically, the Indigenous peoples of the Cordilleras developed their own sustainable practices of small-scale mining and gold processing, with minimum impact on the environment.
Pasil has been constantly explored and occasionally mined since 1932, when gold was first discovered. It was also the site of the now-defunct Batong Buhay Mining project, which was once considered among the largest mines of gold and silver in the Philippines.
In Balatoc, one of the 14 villages within Pasil, locals practice gold mining in harmony with nature. Using sustainable methods and rudimentary tools, small-scale miners laboriously work for this highly valued metal. Work and wealth are equitably shared by the community, with everyone involved sharing in the profits. It’s a delicate balance that ensures food on the table and respects their environment and heritage.
During our visit to Pasil, we met Raymart, a former miner who now buys gold from the younger miners.
Acknowledgements:
Erick Langgoc
Redford Oclit
Barangay Balatoc Gold-miners
Additional References:
Jill K Carino, “Philippines: gold mining and Indigenous Peoples in the Cordillera,” International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), August 31, 2023
The Balatoc ICCA, NewCAPP “Expanding and Diversifying the National System of Terrestial Protected Areas in the Philippines Project”
Susan Egan Keane, “Mercury Free gold mining takes hold in Northern Philippines,” Expert Blog, July 19, 2013
Kimberlie Quitasol, “Kalinga tribe questions NCIP on mining exploration nod,” Inquirer, December 23, 2013
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The Fat Kid Inside Studios
Erwan Heussaff - Founder
Kashka Gaddi - Content Producer
Eamonn Quizon - Cinematographer
Edel Cayetano - Story Producer
Harold Singzon - Story Producer
Mary Lournette Baligod - Story Producer
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Hans Rivera - Multimedia Producer
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MK Tayona - Editor
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Social Media:
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[@wordsandtricks]

Husay naman nitong Probe Team era ng Featr! Looking forward to more of these videos na grounded sa realidad ng food producers & marginalized workers.

[@thebanarrylife1605]

Aweaome

[@celineee6063]

I am so glad at how diversified your content has become. With the amount of effort you put in each of your videos, I really hope you get to draw more attention. Kudos to Team Featr!

[@featrmedia]

Maraming salamat!

[@cjtristanmaiyao2307]

Big thanks to FEATR for featuring how our community rocks! Man iyaman kami !

[@TewaAya]

Thankyou for featuring the region with the second city in Cordillera. Matago tago taku.

[@AngryKittens]

Super-claustrophobic. Napakadelikado nyan na walang proper ventilation.

[@raymondancog6741]

Thank you, FEATR people, for showing a video about a profession that relates to my own, geology.

[@candycrush7879]

This is what my two brothers.my cousins and uncles do for a living...Minero da ijy Alawing Talifugo,Conner Apayao...Matago tago Tako 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@chakra9580]

The claustrophobic me is shaking 😅

[@bcdefg_ijk___opq_stuvwx_z]

Pinapanuod ko pa lng parang ako ung di makahinga sa maliit na butas at daan gang sa loob

[@delanovinci]

Congrats Harold! ✨

[@st1hldelkin337]

In the end you gotta do what you gotta do to survive, i also experienced mining there's this they called (saga-ok). In my highschool days to afford my tuition fees

[@CornerDub]

Ninam sika kuma napan mag interview a. Nimal

[@AngryKittens]

I really don't know what happened during the 60s to 80s and why so many people got obsessed over Yamashita. Maybe Indiana Jones movies? At least sa Cordileras, may pre-colonial talaga na gold mines. Pero naging commercial na. Kaya nag-aaway na.

[@roamaloneph]

Nakakatakot pumasok, sa mga tunnels. Ingat po kayo.

[@pinoytambayantv]

hindi ko naintindihan ibang part ng video. ano yung SP? walang context po ung ibang part. hindi na elaborate

[@almaiyaojr.9833]

SP means the specific gravity of the gold. They based the purity of gold by its SP

[@hannahbelle63]

Hi. I'm from this place Balatoc

[@hannahbelle63]

@@danielblue4460 Wala pong nagsabi sa kanila na hahatiin ang balatoc

[@roamaloneph]

Early this time ,another interesting content.

[@JohnTB]

Kung gusto nyo pa mag future ng mga ganyan punta kayu dito sa Antamok mines, kung gusto nyo makakita ng nag babangka sa loob ng bundok, may lake kasi sa loob ng bundok...

[@ayrasanmiguel9363]

INTERESTING!!!❤🎉😮😮 I WANNA TRY THIS THING ONCE IN MY LIFE😮😮

[@crossover6958]

Matanong lng po nu po pala purpose nang mga hose doon sa loob?

[@lats1696]

Daanan ata ng hangin papasok na galing sa compressor.

[@EduSphere88]

How to buy po?

[@st1hldelkin337]

Those hoses tell's enough. their portal is so deep that they need hoses to pump air inside because of the gas

[@adnanw1367]

Can we please have English subtitles

[@frankiefernandez9225]

💙💙💙🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭

[@Heylookitscj]

Ang hirap kumita ng pera

[@hellshire11]

"ilang taon ka ng minero?", "5yrs, 2004 kasi ako nagsimula e"..

[@jinkybangal2117]

May iba po kasi na humihinto po, when they found a better work po tapos kung mawawalan nanaman po sila ng work is balik po sila sa tunnel po.

[@lats1696]

Kung panuorin mo ng maigi e tama naman, 5 years syang naging minero nagstart ng 2004 until 2008 or 2009 pagkatapos ay naging buyer na sya ng ginto.

[@Maria_Amethyst]

Too dangerous omg

[@cliffdaleocumen141]

Very dangerous job...

[@featrmedia]

It is!

[@rjindacanay616]

This made my anxiety spike up. What the miners are doing is so risky and hopefully the pay is worth it..

[@ReenreenTV]

Ang mura ng per gram pag bininta nila😢 samantalang dito sa Taiwan ang per gram naglalaro sa 18k sa mga shop.

[@reynanteapas5416]

Tindi din ng camera man!! Subrang hirap nito.😮😮

[@mhobylopez9647]

[@jamesbond-of9ty]

📷🥷☺️🤙

[@pogzie]

Its a missed oportunity to explain what the guy in 13:30 was talking about. 16:31 I also dont know what the heck the guy was saying. Naiintindihan ko sila pero their jargon is foreign to me. Is it what? 14 karat? 24 karat? Is it percent of purity? Good try on raising awareness about these people and their livelihood but after watching inasmuch as I want to emphathize.. theres a huge disconnect from storytelling and what, I believe, the residents wanted people to understand about what they do. I feel like the guy panning wanted to discuss more about the land, the bountiful fertile soil, their challenges and what about the geologists? The people on site didnt even bother asking. Whatever happened to the people who became instant millionaires? .. its like the crew just sat there and listened, didnt bother asking questions to dig deeper on the bigger problems of their tribe. Parang gusto na umuwi ng crew at parang walang interes sa storya. Would be nice to hear about what they do.

[@aloy5413]

For the 16:31 he might be referring to the SPECIFIC "SP" Gravity or how dense the gold is.

[@j.s.2694]

2nd

[@j.s.2694]

1st

[@j.s.2694]

3rd