Summary
Highlights
A miner shares his 32 years of experience, highlighting the uncertainty of finding gold. While some become millionaires in hours, others might find nothing. Gold can fetch high prices (up to Php 3,000 per gram for 16-SP gold), but the work is extremely difficult and dangerous. Miners say they only feel alive once they are out of the mine.
The video introduces the Cordillera Mountain Range in the Philippines, specifically Pasil, Kalinga, where people still engage in age-old traditions. It focuses on two main trades: pottery and gold mining, which have sustained the community for centuries.
Pasil pottery is one of the oldest earthenware traditions, maintained exclusively by women. An urban legend attributes its origin to Kabunyan, the god of the sky world. This sacred craft, dating back to the third millennium, was once used as currency and has transcended cultural boundaries. With modern cookware becoming prevalent, Pasil potters are crucial in preserving this rare craft, especially as the quality of local clay has altered in many areas.
The video documents the women of Dangtalan as they collect clay from mountain shores and valleys, taking only what they need to maintain harmony with the environment. Upon returning, they prepare the clay by pounding and hydrating it before molding it into 'banga' (earthenware) with their bare hands. Rowena Gonnay, a farmer leader, explains that pottery is a key livelihood for women after working in the fields, with pots used for cooking, selling, or bartering.
Potters engrave unique designs using local materials and indigenous tools. They work in groups, with specialists sharing skills with younger women. Tools include a round stone, a 'pikpik' for shaping, an 'agaos' for thinning, and a 'puya'. After shaping, the pots are fired for about an hour. Almaciga sap, called 'libu', is used for sealing and strengthening, making the pots leak-proof and shiny.
The Pasil Potters Association, founded in 2005, aims to preserve the craft, growing from four to 48 members. President Albina Dimas showcases various finished products, including cooking pots, rice wine containers, piggy banks, and figurines. The video introduces several potters, including Elizabeth, who specializes in piggy banks, and Priscilla and Anita Alwood, who were among the first to make pots.
In Kalinga, people are constantly working, with men often toiling the land, building infrastructure, or mining for precious metals. Gold is more than a treasure in Pasil; it's a lifeline. Historically, indigenous people developed sustainable small-scale mining practices with minimal environmental impact. Pasil has been explored and mined since 1932, and was once home to the large Batong Buhay Mining Project.
The video follows miners Redford and Eric into the dangerous tunnels. Miners often face suffocation from gas or lack of oxygen, and accidents are common. To reach the mine, they undertake a steep trek up a mountain. Once inside, they build wooden frames, dig, and search for 'naba' (gold-bearing rock). After extracting the ore, they carry it out in sacks.
Extracted rock is hammered, then processed using a ball mill. The material is then washed on an inclined plane with a secondary sluice to capture finer gold. Acid is used to remove iron, and acetylene for large gold pieces. Miners measure gold purity using 'SP' (specific gravity), a local method that determines density. A precision scale, water, and a calculator are used to determine the SP, with 24 being the purest standard globally.
The gold trade in Pasil exemplifies the community's resilience and profound connection to the earth. Despite the high risks, the heritage and spirit of Pasil's people shine brightly, proving priceless. The video concludes by emphasizing that Pasil remains a self-sustaining economy, with pottery and gold mining alongside agriculture serving as pillars for its future, despite environmental and social challenges.