captions revised

ACFJ DPJ199 PORTFOLIO | Form 3 CAPTIONS | Batch 8

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Asian Center for Journalism

Ateneo de Manila University

DIPLOMA IN PHOTOJOURNALISM

DPJ199: PORTFOLIO

CAPTIONS

(Form 3)

(Fill in this form, “save as” and include your family name at the end of the existing file name, and

submit.)

Name of student: Nobleza Randy T.

(Family name) (Given name) (Middle Initial)

Date submitted: April 8, 2013

A. SINGLE PICTURES

Photo

#

Filenames Captions

1

Alay sa Kalikasan, Malinis na

Kapaligiran project participants

dig in the sands of the Cawit

coastline on September 13,

2012. The Clean-Up Drive was

also a commemoration of the

Battle of Pulang Lupa later

declared as Marinduque

Day. Despite the poor weather,

with tropical storm Karen

becoming a typhoon and

monsoon, the coastal clean-up

drive took place and pushed

through as scheduled.


2

2

Sta.Cruz Institute part-time

lecturer, Gerald Gene Querubin

leads a prayer before an LGBT-

orientation on October 14, 2012.

This was part of the group’s

culminating activities two weeks

before the semestral break. SCI,

a private higher learning

institution has been established

for deserving and poor students

from the town of Sta.Cruz in the

1950s before the onset of the

Marcopper Mining Corporation

a decade later.

3

Marinduque State College

President Dr. Romulo Malvar

demonstrates the “aphrodisiac”

effect of the Chinese yam locally

known as “ulabi.” On October

24, 2012 - - during the United

Nations day -- -the Marinduque

State College School of Arts and

Sciences organized a research

colloquium with the theme,

Interdisciplinary Approach

toResearch on Communication,

Language, Science and Arts

towards “University-hood.”

4

The Boac riverbed soaks during

the tail-end of Tropical storm

Ofel that caused flash floods in

many areas in Boac,Marinduque.

Not too long ago, it was also

during the heights of the

typhoon when the Marcopper

mining corporation released 200

metric tons of mine tailings on

March 24, 1996. The incident

buried the riverside communities

in the capital town of

Marinduque.


3

5

A couple of students from the

Marinduque State College take

part in the 38th PSSP conference

at the Lyceum of the Philippines

from November 22 to 24, 2012.

Deah Rose Jalimbawa presented

a paper on the relationship of

music and emotions while

Nhonnie Jean Mayories shared

her preliminary study on

painting as a means of

expression for students. The

conference theme refers to the

Filipino traits of resilience

despite all odds s/he faces.

6

Buy nothing day at Gate3,

Taguig City on November 24

2012. Members of the Local

Autonomous network flock to

the small community with

around 30 to 50 households and

with mostly children to feed and

provide temporary remedy to.

While distributing anarchist

flyers and a really-really free

market, some were cooking

vegetarian pasta and mixing

some instant juice.

7

In commemoration to the

International Migrant’s day on

December 14, the transportation

workers showed some solidarity

for their comrades at the

culmination of the 5th World

social forum on migrations. The

migrants came from five (5)

continents and more than 200

countries to represent their cause

and articulate their calls to end

modern slavery in the 21st

century.


4

8

Tree-like belles represent Ilaya

Cluster among the 61

communities at the Bila-bila

festival in Boac, Marinduque

held on the 390th founding

anniversary of the capital town

on December 8, 2012. The street

dancing festival mimics the life

cycle of butterflies and a

thanksgiving celebration of the

Immaculate Mother of Biglang

Awa.

9

Candy Pangilinan and Jon

Santos hosts the parade of the

stars at the 38TH

Metro Manila

Film Festival last December

2012. The floats and the stars

converged at the Quirino

grandstand as the two comic

artists introduced each float for

the year’s participating entries:

from Enteng Kabisote, Shake

Rattle and Roll, Sisterakas,

Invasion, Thy Womb, El

Presidente, Sosy Problems.

10

Marinduque Academy launches

Maraca Rising, a secondary

school publication, on January

21, 2013 as part of culminating

activity of the Marinduque State

College School of Arts and

Sciences extension program.

The SAS Media Info-Techno

Dissemination Program sought

to hone the journalistic skills of

the Marinduque Academy

students to come up with their

own official publication.


5

11

Marinduque State College

participates in the 1-Billion

Rising (OBR) Project as Jojo

Matre made a commitment on

behalf of the LGBT community

in the province, supporting

women and gender equality.

From 11 schools and 4

campuses, the MSC Gender

Advancement and Development

unit organized the OBR and V-

day activity last February 14,

2013. This is part of the global

call to action by American

playwright Eve Ensler, the

author of “The Vagina

Monologues.”

12

Several visitors and participants

of the Black and Green Forum

also attended the 2nd

eco-

solidarity camp in the mountains

of Tanay, Rizal from March 9 to

12, 2013 in hopes to share

insights of struggle and

convergence points. Guests

included Keith McHenry, the

founder of “Food not Bombs”

from the US; Taku, a

radioactivist from Japan, and

other friends from Indonesia,

Greece and Germany.

13

A young moryon takes a

breather before the traditional

“pugutan” or beheading of the

roman centurion Longinus, who

became a believer when he was

cured for blindness when Christ

was crucified. The moryonan

rites began in the 1870s to

commemorate the change of

pagan beliefs to Christianity in

the southern town of Mogpog,

Marinduque.


6

14

Municipality of Boac

subcontractors strip down and

totally wreck the town market to

pave way to the new and state-

of-the-art-market place. The

traditional market was

constructed after the war and has

yet to have any form of

renovations or development

since the 19950s. The municipal

government received a lot of

flaks especially from the

traditional stall owners and local

merchants.

15

The festival queen of Brgy.

Pangi, Gasan cradles a figure of

the risen Jesus at the 11th Gasang

Gasang street dance and Easter

Sunday festival. There had been

long and winding disagreements

whether to consider Moriones a

festival or just a Lenten rite. But

in the town of Gasan, all the

festivities take place after the

resurrection of Christ on Easter

Sunday

B. PHOTO STORY / PHOTO ESSAY PROJECT

Title Tailings: Life on a Dead River

Introductory Text There has been a consensus between the Mining and Geosciences Bureau of

the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the United

States Geological Survey, and the folks at the Riverside community. In March

1996, the Marcopper Mining Corporation committed an irreversible atrocity

against nature. Also, the Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns

raised the alarm on the lasting effects of the mine wastes which have remained

stuck in Boac River. Out of 61 communities in the town of Boac, only nine

communities would be covered, to triangulate the living conditions along the

river. Various economic activities are apparent at the Boac River, which was

declared biologically dead more than 10 years ago following the Marcopper

mine spillage. Seeking to gather indicators of the current status of the river, the


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riverside communities represent just a fraction of the total town of Boac but

have equally encompassing implications. From mineral wastes to the man-

made wastes, with the effects to river ecosystem and marine life. The

relationship of the people, living the daily grind: from shepherds, backyard

farmers, laundry women, crab and shrimp catchers, etc. So far, there are small

fisherfolks who practice sustainable fishing, using aggregates and tools to

catch fish, crabs and shrimps. There are also laundry women who rely on the

steady flow of the river. The Boac river also is home to an array of different

life forms and organisms: cattles, horses, birds, fishes, dragon flies, butterflies,

etc.

Photo

Number

Filenames Captions (The box

expands as you type)

1

A common butterfly

glides over mine tailings

in Boac river. Along with

Mogpog river, both are

considered biologically

dead, although there is an

on-going debate among

the academe, line

agencies and non-

governmental

organization to its current

state. Nevertheless the

mine tailings is still at the

bottom of the river and

the people around the

river is at constant risk.


8

2

The Boac River seems to

serene and pristine like

a pastoral landscape for

cows, horses, goats and

other animals. The

Provincial Health Office

considers the mine

tailings as a silent killer, it

has long and lasting

effects that could not be

directly observed.

3

At the mouth of Boac

River, boats are parked

waiting for a better day.

The toxic mine tailings

have caused the death of

Boac and Mogpog Rivers

since December 1993 and

March 1996 respectively

when the Marcopper

Mining Corporation

systematically dumped its

wastes to the water

systems of Marinduque.

4

Under the Biglang Awa

Bridge is a resident from

Brgy. Tampus uses a

fishing rod and some

earthworms to lure the

local catch. The mining

company refuses to take

any responsibility saying

that the dumped mine

tailings have little to no

risk to human beings.


9

5

A laundry women

advantage of free supply

of water the river

provides. Notwith-

standing the health risks

of toxic- contaminated

waters of Boac river.

Extended exposure to

contaminated is a health

risks which ranges from a

simple case of skin

irritation to life

threatening cancer.

6

A boy from Brgy. Sawi

contemplates before

jumping in knee-deep

Boac river. According to

accounts of old folks

along the riverside before

the 1996 mine spill, the

water is still clear and

deep. But more than 15

years later, the waters in

Boac River seemed to

have recovered from the

tailings disaster.

7

Biglang Awa bridge

connects Brgy. Bantad

and Tampus yet after a

tropical storm Ofel has

swelled the Boac River.

The mine tailings remain

at the riverbed and bottom

even if flooding and

landslides occur.


10

8

Eliza Hernandez (71)

from Brgy. Balimbing is

a laundry women since

her teens. She could

recall the day during the

company released mine

tailings to Boac River as

if it happen yesterday.

9

Manang Eliza is one of

three petitioners who

sought for a writ of

kalikasan. She was

approached by some

representatives from the

Mining company to fold

in the case. Manang Eliza

was offered to get

monthly compensation in

return of being mum.


11

10

Manang Eliza is still

hopeful and continues to

wash clothes in Boac

River. As studies

indicate, certain plants

have pytoremediation

capabilities to absorb

heavy metals and toxic

chemicals.

11

Mamerto Lanete (63) a

fisherfolk from Brgy.

Lupac, along with

Manang Eliza, he is also

a petitioner. Mang

Mamert does not go to sea

anymore to catch fish,

instead he catches people.

He preaches the word of

god and helps out with

pastoral work at the

Sacred Heart Parish in the

riverside communities in

Boac.

12

A fisherfolk from brgy.

Tampus takes a break

from his fishing rod and

shows his catch, a

meager freshwater palos

and buya.

13 A can of worms could

lure freshwater fish at

Boac River with or

without prior the mine

tailings. Toxic and heavy


12

metals mix with air, found

in local water supply and

even with water animals

who are exposed to

contaminated river.

14

A local uses fishnet to

catch fish at Boac River.

Although it is declared as

biologically dead, it can

still support life and

livelihood.

15

Children turn stones in

search of edible riverine

shells (butgay) with the

aid of improvised

aggregate. Rather

participating during the

Lenten Rites, fasting is

not a matter of choice but

an outcome of everyday

necessity and lack of

opportunities in the Boac

River.


13

16

Traditional hand-fishing

and coral technique

(hayti) is still being

implemented to catch

fish, eel, shrimp and

other river animals.

Using hand made

harpoons from kitchen

wares, dried buri leaves

and improvised goggles

and diving skills, they are

able to bring food to their

tables.

17

Local folks scavenge the

river for shrimps and

small fish varieties

which learned to adopt

to the toxic waters of

Boac River. Dr. Honesto

Marquez, the Provincial

Health Office head has

been proposing but to no

avail. The Department of

Health has been asking

for a copy of the proposal

to set up a laboratory

equipment to test the

toxicity of the river

systems in the province.

18

Both humans and

animals share

harmoniously what the

Boac River has to offer.

The province of

Marinduque has been

stuck since the 1950s as a

4th class province. Even

with the boom of the

mining industry in the

preceding decades, the

province is yet to get

better economic standing.

19 Young-adult residents of

Brgy. Tabi uses battery


14

operated lights and

improvised harpoons to

catch river creatures

even in the dark of

night.

20

Children from

Brgy.Bocboc cross the

Mogpog river without

using any footbridge or

safety gear. The water’s

varying color in Mogpog

river is a clear indicator of

acidity and toxic levels of

the water from the San

Antonio Pit in the

Marcopper Mine Site.

21

A couple of boys use

bamboo fishing rod with

earthworms as bait to

catch their next meal.

The reddish and greenish

color of water indicates

the sulfur and copper

acids present.


15

22

Mother and daughters

wash clothes at the

Mogpog river but not as

much as in other rivers.

Folks could not afford to

pay someone else to wash

their own clothes. They

could only manage to

wash their own.

23

A child takes refuge

from an empty basin

against the heat of the

sun. Children in Mogpog

from 7 to 12 since

December 1993 has

dwindling trend of their

academic performance.

Their achievement tests

show lower and lower

passing scores.

24 Godofredo Manoy of

Brgy. Bocboc,Mogpog is

a pioneer member of the

Marinduque Council for

Environmental Concern.

With the support of the

people of the province,

MaCEC was able to

shutdown permanently the

large-scale mining

operations of Marcopper.

But the company is yet to


16

take responsibility.

25

Children taking a dip,

some young boys opted

to take a bath. Mogpog

river is preferred rather

the beach or the pool; the

grasses may grow abound

but mine tailings are still

stuck in the Mogpog

riverbed.

26

The Mogpog river is

more often stucked up

rather than free-flowing.

Because of the old

structures of the mining

company, the river waters

have been stopped its

natural flow.

27 An old man washes

clothes at Mogpog river.

The green and white-

brown waters of Mogpog

river is a constant

reminder of the chemicals

present in the waters.


17

28

Brgy. Bocboc is the first

community to be at risk

when flooding occurs

due to its low lying

position. Footbridges

have been built to lessen

the exposure of residents

to the toxic waters. But

when it floods, it takes a

while before it can be

fixed.

29

A young girl crosses the

Mogpog River without

using any bridge while

texting and calling with

a mobile phone. Those

who live on the other side

of the riverbed, needs to

cross the river time and

again without any safety

gear.


18

30

The waters run deep.

The residents of at least

16 communities along the

Mogpog river are always

at constant risk for natural

disasters including flash

floods.

31

The local government

intervenes occasionally

to repair the river by

dredging and

maintaining the

riverbed. The repair of

ripraps to lessen the risk

of landslides is being

done on a regular basis

because of the looming

threat of the Maguila-

guila earth dam collapse.

32

Solid structures lay at

the bottom of the

Mogpog river for the

time being. The natural

flow of the river is

affected by the human

activities.

33 The residents of Mogpog

riverside communities is

constantly looking for

alternative means. They


19

could not go the public

market everyday for lack

of livelihood and

opportunities.

34

After the collapse of the

Maguila-guila earthen

dam on December 1993,

there is a permanent

threat. Even earlier than

the Boac River mine spill,

there has always been a

constant threat that this

scene could change.

35

Should any typhoon or

strong rainfall make the

river swell. The Maguila-

guila earth dam could

crash and engulf the

whole town. So bridges

that were built to lessen

the exposure of residents

from the toxic waters

could be washed away.

36 Manggamnam River is

on the receiving end

whenever rains chip

away from the Maguila-

guila earthen dam. The

cofferdam stands between

the mine tailings and the


20

rest of the Mogpog river.

37

Pedro Manuba (63)

from Brgy. San Isidro

has fished along the

Calancan Bay for

decades. Since the

Marcopper has

systematically dumped

their wastes to the sea, it

affected the livelihood

and the live so people

around the Marcopper

spill way.

38

The tapian Pit has

already been exhausted

by the Marcopper

Mining Corporation.

Since the early 90s after at

least two decades of open

pit mining. After which,

they started the operation

of the San Antonio Pit

which ultimately

collapsed and affected

Mogpog and Boac Rivers.


21

39

Albert Perlada (28) from

Brgy. Labo takes a rest

at the source of the

Mapalos river. Along

with Bol river, it is the

main water reservoir of

the mine site. Incidentally,

Mapalos and Bol River is

also the source of clean

water of Boac River.

40

Felicisima Pantoja (71)

inspects her skin and

joints for chronic pain

and weakness. She tested

positive for lead content

in her bloodstream.

Manang Cima used to be

outgoing and active in

civic affairs. Nowadays,

washing clothes and

taking a bath is a

challenge.

41

Ana Joy Rolloqui (13)

sends a text message as

she look forward to

summer vacation. As a

secondary school student,

she is met with difficulties

in school. Undergoing

puberty is the least of her

concern, as she also found

out high levels of lead in

her blood.


22

42

The Calancan Bay is

marked by a 7km

spillway from decades of

dumping from the

Tapian Pit. The

causeway impeded the

movement of fish and

boats. Most of the

fisherfolks from the area

complained of declining

fish stock. They needed to

go to the next town to

catch their meals.

43

Downstream in Boac

River, a fisherfolk dives

into a coral of buri

leaves using the hayti

method. Although there

is a seemingly abundant

catch and bounty from the

river, it is unclear if it is

safe for human

consumption.

44

It’s almost lunch but

there’s no catch yet, only

plenty of firewood. A

resident from

Brgy.Tabigue has

gathered more than

enough firewood but does

not have anything to cook

yet.


23

45

A father and son cast

their nets at the mouth

of Boac River. Before

going out to the sea, the

water from the river

passes by several tributary

and passages.

46

Wilson Manuba (42) of

Brgy. San Isidro goes

deeper in the jungle to

prepare charcoal from

coconut husk. Before he

used to catch fish at the

Calancan bay, but since

he was 7 he had skin

lesions. His dermatitis got

worst, with extended

exposure to the land, air

and water of mine

tailings.

47 He was given only 15

days to live. Wilson’s

case was already terminal

and needed operation

right away or blood

transfusion. His blood

was severely damaged to

the point the wounds he

incurred won’t heal.


24

48

Mamerto Manoy is a

fisherman from Brgy.

Lupac, Boac,

Marinduque. He is

among the three

complainants who sought

for writ of kalikasan to

make Placer Dome Inc.

and barrack gold

accountable for the death

of Boac river.

49

Godofredo Manoy is a

community leader in

Mogpog and a pioneer

member of MaCEC. He

filed a complaint against

the multinational

company which controls

the majority of shares of

Marcopper mining

conglomerations.


25

50

Eliza Hernandez is a

laundry woman since

she was 15. Hernandez

still fights against the re-

opening and operations of

mining in the province.

captions revised

Documents

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filenames captions

capital town of marinduque

photojournalism dpj199

poor students