Online Cantilangnon

Still a “No,” Cantilan tells MarcVentures Mining

By Carolyn O. Arguillas

SURIGAO CITY (MindaNews/03 August) – The local government of Cantilan in Surigao del Sur has denied for the second time a mining firm’s application for a business permit, claiming it has no legal basis for its application.

Cantilan Mayor Genito Guardo, in a letter to the lawyer of the Marcventures Mining Development Corporation (MMDC) said records at the Sanggunian Bayan show that MMDC “acquired its Certificate of Registration as a corporate entity with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) 43 days after the original Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) holder, Ventura Timber Corporation (VTC) and MMDC signed the Deed of Assignment transferring mineral rights to MMDC. This puts MMDC’s right as an assignee under the cloak of fictitious representation from the very beginning.”

“Furthermore, records also show that Mr. Mario G. Vijungco was authorized by the MMDC Board of Directors to represent MMDC in the Deed of Assignment (DA) 13 years after the signing of the Deed of Assignment,” the mayor said.

Guardo said the transfer of mineral rights to MMDC was void ab initio, because VTC holds a cancelled MPSA.

MMDC has a nickel mining project in Cantilan and is a subsidiary of Marcventures Mineral Holdings (MARC otherwise known as AJO.net) whose stocks are actively traded at the Philippine Stock Exchange, a press statement from Baywatch said.

Emma Hotchkiss, Baywatch President told the 1^st Caraga Media Summit last Saturday that VTC entered into a Deed of Assignment with MMDC on December 7, 1994 but MMDC  was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 1995.

Since the grant of their MPSAs, VTC and Carac-an Development Corporation (CDC) both owned by Vijungco, “grossly violated the conditions of the Memorandum and disregarded requirements stated in the conditions. VTC and CDC admitted that they did not have any mining activities in the area from 1995 until 2004, thus, abandoning the said mining areas.” Hotchkiss said.

On February 1, 2005, then Environment Secretary Michael Defensor issued Memorandum Order No. 2005-03 declaring both MPSAs as “abandoned/non-performing tenements” and therefore “cancelled” because there was “no record of actual mineral production; non-payment of fiscal obligations; non-submission of required reports; and non-filing of declaration of mining feasibility study in gross violation of the conditions of the grant of MPSA.”

On May 31, 2005, VTC filed a Motion for Reconsideration, while CDC filed its own on July 1, 2005.

On February 27, 2007, then Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes reinstated the MPSAs of VTC and CDC.

On March 23, 2009, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Presidential Proclamation No. 1747 declaring the portions of the public domain of Alamio, Buyaan, Carac-an, Panikian Rivers and Sipangpang Falls, situated in the municipalities of Carrascal, Cantilan and Madrid, Province of Surigao del Sur and in the municipalities of Jabonga, Santiago, and Cabadbaran, Province of Agusan del Norte, as watershed forest reserves.”

The area comprising 43,601 hectares was declared as critical watershed forest reserves subject to prior rights and without prejudice to the rights of the indigenous peoples and other related rules and regulations.

P1747, however, stipulates that  “Any valid contract, permit or license for the extraction or utilization of natural resources already existing prior to the Proclamation shall, subject to national interest and to existing laws, rules and regulations, be respected until their termination.”

“This clause continues to concern the pro-environment groups since the DENR continues to allow the mining company to continue its operations despite the numerous resolutions issued by the Protected Area Management Board to (then) Environment Secretary Lito Atienza to issue a cease and desist order to MMDC pending delineation of the watershed area,”  Hotchkiss noted.

MMDC lawyer Noel Libres, who had sought the mayor’s reconsideration, explained that  the local government unit’s ordinances and resolutions against mining are contrary to the Philippine Mining Act. He also cited Section 17, of RA 7160  (Local Government Code of 1991) which  provides that the “enforcement of forestry laws, pollution control law, small scale mining law, and other laws on the protection of the environment, shall be pursuant to national policies and subject to the supervision, control and review of the DENR.”

But Mayor Guardo, who ran on an anti-mining platform, said the LGU has the ultimate mandate over the approval of the proposed mining project. He cited DENR Memorandum Circular No. 2008-08, dated December 24, 2008, entitled: “Clarification of the Role of LGUs in the Philippine EIS System in Relation to MC 2007-08”, particularly, paragraphs 2 and 3 thereof.

Paragraph 2 states that the issuance of the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) “is not an automatic approval of the project. Through the EIA Process critical issues that should be addressed by the various agencies are identified for guidance on environmental considerations of final approving entities.”

Paragraph 3 states that although LGU endorsement of the proposed projects is not mandatory in the processing of the ECC applications, “it should be inevitably be required and subsumed under the local government’s permitting requirements where the results of the EIA and recommendations in the ECC should be considered along with other factors. It is believed that the LGU has the ultimate mandate over the approval of proposed projects. Hence, the result of the EIA process is an input to the LGU endorsement of proposed projects.”

Upon receipt of MMDC’s business permit application, the mayor inspected the mining site along with members of Baywatch, and found the mining company was in full blown operation with three stockyards full of ore that were ready to ship.

The Baywatch press statement said the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) authorized MMDC to start its Development Phase even without endorsements from the Cantilan LGU and the Sanggunian Panlalawigan. MGB’s OIC Basadre issued the mining company permission to proceed to Development Stage citing company receipt of an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and endorsements from Brgy. Cabangahan, where the mining site is located, and from then Surigao del Sur Gov. Vicente Pimentel.  The law requires two out of three LGU endorsements before it can proceed to the Development Stage.”

‘The governor is not the Sanggunian Panlalawigan,” a member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan said when an MMDC official told members in a hearing that they have secured an endorsement from Pimentel. (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews)

reposted from: mindanews

by: Bebong Arreza

If there’s one food that’s close to being endemic to Cantilan, then it would probably be the kinilaw. All those sarsiado putajes – those swimming in sauce that they make a glooping sound when you ladle them on to your plate – are either imports from China, or imitations of Spanish cooking .

Kinilaw , on the other hand, is true-blue Cantilangnon cuisine , something which has been handed down through generations, that a kinilaw loving- gene has probably morphed in our DNA. It is a food that intertwines with our cultures, and captures who we are . If you want a gastronomic definition of what a Cantilangnon is , the kinilaw may come close it.

For example, if many are wondering why Cantilangnons are so passionate in their defense of the environment, they may find the answer in that dish.

You don’t burn fossil fuel or wood to prepare a fish kinilaw . Because it must be prepared fresh, then you need not refrigerate it . Hence, spared of the trip to the icebox, it will not consume a single watt of electricity . No other dish can boast of such green credential.

And because of this premium for freshness, then the fish to be “kilaw-ed” must be locally-sourced. Unlike Wagyu beef which must be flown halfway across the world, the kinilaw must jump from the fishpond to the plate, in minutes, not in weeks, in meters, not in miles.

It’s preparation likewise leaves a small carbon footprint . You don’t have to burn a forest of wood to cook it, the way lechons are roasted to cardiac perfection . Even the ingredients to accompany the raw fish are locally available . Basic kinilaw can be made out of two ‘S’ – suka and salt. Make it four ‘S’ – by adding ‘sibuyas and sili’ , then its perfect . Add balibajon and luj-a, then welcome to kinilaw Nirvana.

You also need no fancy gadgets to prepare it. You just need two. Slice the fish with sundangay, mix the four ‘S’ in a plate, then it’s done. Leave the Oysterizers to the Bobby Flays of this world. In kinilaw, the recipe can be summed up in six words : Have knife and plate , will kilaw .

Kinilaw also captures the Cantilangnon traits of dili kun buraho and mahinatagon . In kinilaw , you only prepare what you can eat at the moment . It is not humba that can be hoarded . It is not adobo that can be reheated. It is not a glutton’s food because if you overeat kinilaw your stomach will punish you for your greed.

Kinilaw is meant to shared and not be savored in solitude. The man who eats kinilaw alone is probably the loneliest in the world. Kinilaw is Cantilan’s original boodle fight food. It is a communal dish that you share with kith and kin. In fact, the joy in eating kinilaw is not in the tasting but in the sharing.

Kinilaw is Cantilan’s party food. You serve it and the feast will automatically follow. It loosens wine bottles ,and tongues too , for serving it heralds drinking and bakak-bakak. It is bonding food that is the predicate for drinking , the premise for singing, and the preamble for drinking.

Because kinilaw must be sourced nearby, then it necessitates the imperative to protect its source . The right to enjoy kinilaw carries it with the duty to protect and preserve the seas which yield this bounty. Kinilaw and bad ecological practices don’t mix. You don’t poison the fishpond nor pollute the seas. What motivates the intrepid fishermen of Ayoke to protect their seas ? Kinilaw . Haven’t you noticed that they and the rest of Cantilangnons measure environmental degradation in kinilaw terms : “Waya nay bolinao na makilaw., Nihit na an angsuhan na puyde kilawon”

The kinilaw allowed our ancestors to sail far and wide , nourishing them in their long journeys, as they traded with villages and , yes, occasionally raiding them too . It was the convenient food-on-the-go , needing no firewood to prepare and with the teeming source just under their boat’s hull. It was also probably the combat rations of the Bajujo-Calagdaan-Palasao bravehearts when they drove the Moros out of Tandag fort in the 1750s. It could be the reason that until today, “kinilaw “ is the ultimate trash talk to one’s opponent for no threat drips with much insult and sarcasm than “kilawon ko kaw !”

I hope that like our forefathers, kinilaw remains our comfort food in the years ahead .

Kilaw ta !

Imbes kay mopanaw na kaw tana kay magduwa nan Bilin-bilin Nan Kawit, tagtawag na sab kaw ni Nanay nimo: Ibuyad an battery kay moayop na an radyo. Mamati ak naz-an nan Handumanan Sa Usa Ka Awit kay bagan gana ad-on na kaagi!

(kodak: jamactivewear.com)

Kun sa NBA jaoy Celtics vs. Lakers, sa PBA jaoy Toyota vs. Crispa, sa UAAP jaoy Ateneo vs. La Salle, sa ato lungsod sa Cantilan jaoy sab Linintian vs. Magosilom. Mutuo na ak gajod na an  mga Pilipino regionalistic, kun jaoy pa term na “Barangaylistic” pwede gajod mu-apply sa mga Cantilangnon.

Magduwa na gan nan basketball an Linintian sanan Magosilom puno na dajon an Cantilan gym. Amo ra nan finals permi an duwa maskin lajo pa an finals. An iban intawon na team, kun sila na an magduwa gamay dakan gajod manan-aw.

Nan high school pa ako dayhon gihapon an storya sa classroom. Maglalis kay si kwan limbungan, si kwan naniko, si kwan bayot, na! maskin mu-abot sa Buyan an storya di gihapon magdaog kay wayay mag papildi.  Hibayo na man kamo nan ugali nan mga Cantilangnon. Si Maam Dading sanan si Maam Tabudlong, mga high school teacher ko, mu-intra sab nan istorya. Si Maam Dads adto dapit sa Magosilom, si Maam Tabs sa Linintian mudapit.

Harooy, di gajod gihapon magdaog.

Na di ra kun sa basketball. Kun pista, amo gihapon, pagana-gana nan mga bandiritas sanan mga booth, pagwapa-gwapa nan mga senior citizens na usahay daba punto na kabaga an mga make-up dakan kunu mudyaga tan-awon.

Kun pasko, amo gihapon, pasanag-sanag nan mga lanterns kada bayay, kuyang dakan pun-on nan Christmas lights an mga bayay bahala dako an bayranan sa kuryente. Bagan Linintian man an permi mudaog nan jaon? (hehe sorry im being bias, aga Linintian ako, ok da kun jaoy mo react na taga-Magosilom)

Bitaw, ok da jaon, jaon gihap an spirit nan sportmanship, part na ini nan kultura nan Cantilan. Maskin haon putda an Cantilangnon daya-daya gajod an ato mga kina-ija. At the end of the day, lipay-lipay da gihapon ta.

Mahinumdum gajod ako sa una, gamay pa ako, masin duwa ako nan pusil-pusil iban an mga kabatan-onan sa una sa Barangay Linintian, Cantilan. Mabibo gajod karajaw. Nahinumdum ako na an kontra nam permi mga taga Embarkadero sanan mga taga Magosilom. Mag lanat-lanat, mag-tiruhay, mag-pinukpokay nan puyo nan pusil-pusil. Kun mapuk-pok kaw, aw na manhubag gajod an uyo, man-labag an likod, pero yay gihap labot basta makabayos puk-pok sanan sipa sa kontra payts na.

An amo leader-leader kunu jadto na mga panahon si Taay an ngayan, taga Linintian da gihapon. Jaoy sab amo mga strategy jadto, waya waya pa lagi, amo da kunu mga sundalo, sundalo nan Linintian, Linintian brigade.

Strategy 1.

Duha ka linya na straight, dungan atakehon an mga taga-Embarkadero, an una na linya mu-atake hampan musunod an ikaduha na linya pag-atake, hampan an una na sab mubunot na dajon nan puyo pinuk-pukay na dajon.

Strategy 2.

Mu-atake, hampan pan-snatchon da an “pusil-pusil” nan kontra.

Strategy 3.

Kun dabo an kontra, mangihi, putson an ihi nan plastic selopin, hampan amoy ipan-labak sa kontra. (This is 2nd most effective strategy nan jadto na mga panahon)

Strategy 4.

Dynamita. Malibang or manhanap nan basa pa na tae nan ido, putson nan newspaper sanan plastic, ilabak sa kontra, BOMBS AWAY! Aw na mag-sibyagan lagi dajon sila. (#1 most effective strategy hehehe)

Ay-ay kabibo lam gajod adto na mga panahon, kun an kalaban an mugamit nan strategy 3 sanan 4, aw ok da gihapon, diretso sayom sa suba sa Linintian (Limpyo pa bagan adto na mga panahon).

Nahurot gajod an mga kawahan jadto na panahon sa Baybay, Consuelo, sanan sa Tambis, kay tanhimo nan pusil-pusil. Dabo sab nakakwarta kay an iban na mga kabatan-onan magpahimo dakan sab. Nahimo sab matod sija gamy na negosyo. Tag 10 pesos kun magpahimo kaw imo na an mga lastiko sanan chinese garter na gamiton. An di silencer 20 magpahimo. An mamaligja-ay nan lastiko hurot-hurot sa an ila mga baligja.

Ay-ay kabibo lam gajod. Marajaw gani naka-experience pa ako jaon sa Cantilan. Lahi na man gud an uso kuman, DOTA ALL-STARS naman sa computer. Puno na bitaw nan computer shops sa Cantilan kuman kay kusog an demand. Kun an mga TFC na naka-apil pa nan ini, kun manguli kamo sa ato lungsod, tya dijo, magduwa ta pusil-pusil, hampan mag-pinuku-ay tae!hehe

Bitaw, magkalipay gajod ako kun jaoy ako hikit-an na magduwa pa nan pusil-pusil sa ato lungsod, kun waya na man, kay pas-pas man gajod an panahon, lahi lahi na man uso kuman, maskin mahibay-an lam nan mga kabatan-onan kuman o sa mga musunod pa na mga panahon sa Cantilan na jaoy baja pusil-pusil na kalingawan nan waya pa an mga computer.

Kagana lam kun madajon adto nabasahan ko sa thread sa Barangay FB about sa “museum” ba adto?

Note: Sa waya kahibayo kun unoy pusil-pusil, made of kawajan jaon. An bala binasa na papel, mostly newspaper kay mas hapdos kuno mu-igo sa panit. An iban mugamit sab nan kapaja, balahon.

Cantilan Surigao del Sur Tarsier

Our little friend battles illegal mining

by: Yasser Eli Almeda

CANTILAN, PROVINCE OF SURIGAO DEL SUR, PHILIPPINES (22/Sept) –Following the discovery of tarsiers (Tarsius syrichta) in the mountains of Cantilan, the people rejoiced as they can now add a natural icon to promote for the eco-tourism programs of the town.

However, the Philippine Tarsier found in Cantilan is facing destruction because of the continued illegal logging and mining operation of Marcventures Mining Development Corporation (MMDC).

MMDC is directly mining the proclaimed critical watershed area under Presidential Proclamation No. 1747 dated March 23, 2009 by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Yet, the company still continue to operate regardless of the subsisting 7-month Temporary Environmental Restraining Order (TEPO) issued by the Regional Trial Court dated May 26, 2011 and released on June 7, 2011.

Mount Hilong-hilong, the area in which the mining company operates, has been declared as Protected Area for Endangered Wildlife by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). According to the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB), biologically rich areas in the country are still vulnerable to extractive activities like mining.

The mountains of Surigao and Agusan provinces are proclaimed to be “key biodiversity area” and are home to endangered flora and fauna.

Photo courtesy by: Frank

Sources:

Kantilang.i.ph

Save Cantilan

Cantilan’s Name-Calling Culture

By Euly V. Eleazar
Bandillo The CCMCL-USA Newsletter

EVERYONE knows that a.k.a. stands for the phrase “also known as.” It’s another way of saying “otherwise,” derived from the Latin “alias.”

Writers and artists have their professional aliases called pseudonyms or pennames. Actors use stage or movie names, too. In the crime world, aliases are used to waylay or deceive nosey law agents World Scope Encyclopedia, 1969 and the Oxford Word finder Dictionary and Thesaurus, 1996).

The usage of an alias is normally acceptable if the user himself designates it. But other than self-choice, it becomes name-calling (ngayan-ngayan), which is abusive.

Cantilan excels in name-calling for fun, which the public enjoys. Those given aliases, sans their personal consent become the silently resentful souls of the town upon knowing of their appellation. In the CarCanMadCarLan area alone, many persons are victims of unglamorous names appended to them. Some are more known of their alias rather than of their Christian or surnames. This abusive name-calling cultural practice is centuries old and universal in the region.

Historical and cultural researchers won’t be surprised to find out how name-calling originated in the area. The dense ethnic composition of the once huge Caraga Province (from the present Davao Oriental to the Misamises) that was recorded as Surigao Province on the last decades of the 19th century Spanish period is a rich resource of name-calling. The dominant Manobo, Mandaja (or Mandaya) and Mamanwa tribes then practiced the culture of naming their newborn after places or things of their fancy. The later generations, mostly of migrant Visayan stock made it a pastime of calling some persons other names than their own.

To start, Mantika (pork lard) was the appellation given to the father of Mania and Medardo (as of 1982, no one knows of their whereabouts). They were neighbors of Kutsara (spoon); Ekog (tail), baptized as Ambrosio Cubillan, father of Rolando; Tambuli (Pacific triton), known as Serapio Crabajales; Bager (slang for mischievous) was Bernardo Arreza, father of former town councilor Titoy; and Pating (shark) was Zosimo Uriarte.

Then there was Katsila (Spaniard), father of Pare Godo Urbiztondo. Berenghinas (eggplant) was the father of Tiyong Crabajales. Bagis (naughty) was a Millan in Baybay I (San Pedro). Buyagat (big eyed) was Genero (Alo) Arreza. His son Dativo was called attorney being extra-argumentative. Mandunggo (anatomically one of the stomachs of a cow) was father of Didi and Mesot Puerto. Karas (harrow or rake) was the father of the late mayor Diego Millan. Utsohan (a preserving jar that contains eight glasses of tuba or coconut sap) lived in Consuelo.

Upatan (a measure of palay containing 4 gantas) was another Consuelo man. Pala (spade) was the father of the late Samuel Azarcon. Baong (polished coconut shell used as a drinking vessel) was Antonino Guazon. Sako (sack) was a name given to Antonino Arreza. His neighbor, Senon Plaza was Parot (for parrot). Living close by them was Tap-ong (waste mound) known as Fortunato Mirabales. In Madrid Bulingot was Vicente Mollaneda.

Ang-ang (ladder rung) was Simeon Arreza, father of Ontong now a Madrid resident. Bugisak (young mullet or biyanak) was a paternal relative of Rolando Julve. Basilan (Basilan Island) was Paquito Roy’s father. Another son, Nonito was called Basi. Paquito himself was called Sargin by his father-in-law, Conos, but got the high ranking title Colonel when yours truly gave him a “rapid promotion” during Martial Law. Thus, the out-of-towners military men deployed in Cantilan addressed him, Sir.

Burot (bloated) was Kesyo and Cardo Guillen’s father. Vice Gov. Jose Arreza was called Wayahan (for his left handed slap of unruly persons). Batuhan (basket made of pandanus leaves used to store newly harvested palay) was the father of Rafael Lozaldo of Consuelo. Celestino Cuartero, father of Pare Candong was named Espelman being tall like the Texan Robert Spielman, who came to Cantilan then as a guerilla commander during World War II. Parotpot (tiny fish caught in fine-meshed baling) was the name given to Teofilo Pingol, father of Marianita P. Urquia and Leoncia P. Catre, and stepfather of Benjamin U. Guimary, husband of Portia Nena Arreza.

The father of Procopio Olvida was named Angsohan, a tiny species of shrimp (not shrimp fry as misconceived). Palalay, an indiscriminate womanizer was the grandfather of the late Anatalio, and Orcesio Lozaldo, and by some reportedly “unclaimed” descendants from Cantilan up to Consolacion and Siargao islands in Surigao del Norte. Bigas, Tagalog for bugas of polished rice was a monicker given to Vicente Cuballes.

Kabang (with spot like skin pigmentations) was Montano A. Ortiz I, Colero (a corruption of the word cholera) was given to Pedro A. Coleto who was considered by some as choleric and sweeping when angered. Karkab of Magasang have no connotation or equivalent in Cantilan terminologies.

Pagod (charred object or charcoal), also of Magasang was so called due to his very dark skin. Another person named for the color of his skin was Mr. Santos, an Ilocano teacher. He was called Black Santos. Later on, Santos Azarcon got the same name – Black Santos. Karagan (garruluous and somewhat clumsy) was the name of Catalino, father of former town councilor Tinong Urquia. Pasilit became the name of Tapi Barrangay Captain Crispin Sual, who can hardly pronounce the word “facilitate” without pausing on “facility”.

Baga (lung), grandfather of Virginia Sering Segar-Lugo was the great grandfather of Mare Malou Lugo Herrera. Hapuyas (fondler) was the father of the late Procopio “Reddy” Almeda, grandfather of Yolanda Almeda Millan who is the wife of Rizalino or “Isang”. Isang’s father Manuel “Awing” Millan was also called Dinagit, meaning, snatched by a hawk and dropped. Gara (short of gara-gara or show-off) was given to Gaudencio Cuartero. Ciento-trayenta was a Guimary married to Bernardita Orneta of Magasang. Sometimes he was also called Davao-Oregon, his favorite places to recall. Pompio Cuballes was called Lagtab for supposedly being physically forceful in entering the houses of helpless widows at night by using his bolo as the weapon of doorway destruction.

Some stories behind the name-calling culture in Cantilan are very apparent with no further explanation. Others have tales too long to write down and unmentionables like bata pa (still a baby), camisola (chemise), trombone slide, etc. (all of them meaning uncircumcised).

One of my “respondents” in Cantilan who happily accepted the jokes of name-calling was Father Herman Maalman, MSC. At a drinking bout of “Kulafu” at a store near the old public market that was flattened by a fire of suspicious origin, he said he respected Cantilan culture and won’t impose his European manners. The 23-year Cantilan parish priest, who retired and died in about 1982, said he loved to be named as Holitawo (his corruption of olitawo) among his catechist-angels, led by durable Agatonica “Tikay” Lugo.

Reposted from Cantilan FB Group

Posted by: Don Uriarte

Kada Kantilangnon Solusyon

Photo courtesy of Kada Kantilangnon Solusyon

by: Clipse Iriberri

pero aja ra ako magsan announce man diri sa FB hehe, the real leaders are those who work on ground, all those volunteers helping in our activities, and that by sharing their time and talent they get to prove that through their care and concern for our town, there is a future full of hope for a better Cantilan and a better Surigao del Sur. but then again, it’s only possible when every single Cantilangnon does his share in helping his community rise. =))