journal #4

Asian Center for Journalism Ateneo de Manila University DIPLOMA IN PHOTOJOURNALISM DPJ199: FINAL PORTFOLIO

JOURNAL(Form 2)

(Fill in this form, “save as” and include the journal number and your FAMILY NAME at the end of the existing file name, and submit. Example: DPJ199_PORTFOLIO_Form_2_JOURNAL#1_Ahad)

JOURNAL NUMBER:#4 March 14, 2013

Name of student: Randy T. Nobleza

Title of photo story/essay project:Tailings: Portraits and Landscapes of a Dead River

Outline of project (give a single paragraph description):

The photo story is about the contemporary situation of three complainants against the Marcopper Mining Corporation which left Boac and Mogpog river dead. Godofredo Manoy, a community leader in Brgy. Bocboc, Mogpog has a first hand account of the December 1993 collapse of Maguila-guila siltation dam which flooded the riverside communities in Mogpog. Eliza Hernandez, a laundry woman along with Mamerto Lanete, a fisherfolk also experienced the same catastrophe on March 1996 in Boac river. What is left is the mine tailings at the bottom of Mogpog and Boac River. Not only did the Department of Environment and Natural Resources declared it dead a year, it also left people and communities affected.

What will you achieve in the NEXT 8 weeks: (since September 5).

With the accumulated experiences of Godofredo, Eliza and Mamerto, the state of Mogpog and Boac River could finally be retold and not be forgotten. Although apparently there is still a lot of life Boac river is capable of supporting, the Mogpog river is altogether a different story. When people in the riverside communities of Boac still enjoy traditional types of fishing methods, day and night, the same thing is not true with their counterparts in Mogpog. I am going to accumulate more visual evidence of the status of the Boac and Mogpog river through altered landscapes and everyday portraits of riverside communities in the said towns. Guided by the insight of Godofredo, Eliza and Mamerto, I am going to validate and re-examine the status of the two major river systems in the province of Marinduque.

How will you progress the project in the last 12 weeks:

I’ve already asked a web designer to help me out with the layout of the website. I also asked a graphic designer/visual artist to prepare a publication and probably a brochure for an exhibit of the photo story. Finally I am going to prepare the wide edit of my images that I’ve taken from September to April.

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CONTENTS

No. Section Page #1 Introductory Essay2 Research of Subject3 Shooting Plan4 Presentation of Images5 Methodology6 Ethical Code7 Risk Assessment8 Distribution, Publication and Audience9 Reading List10 Diary

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I. Introductory Essay

(Topics or themes of the project, brief background and description, context and objectives or reasons for selecting the topic.)

The main theme of the project is bringing the issue to fruition. Since 1997, there are a series of cases and legal action that culminated in granting a writ of kalikasan to the people of Marinduque. But the mining company refuses to take any responsibility. While it is true that a moratorium of 50 years have been given to small, medium and large scale mining operation in the province. Since the December 1993 and march 1996 mine spill disaster that effectively killed two major river systems in Marinduque, Marcopper Mining Corporation was shut down. But since there is not concrete resolution, three complainants sought the writ of kaliksan to make the mining company pay and restore the river systems to its pristine condition. So, in behalf of the province through the social action commission and the Marinduque Council for Environment Concerns, Godofredo Manoy, Eliza Hernandez and Mamerto Lanete has filed a complaint Placer Dome and Barrick Gold which owns majority shares of Marcopper Mining Company. By April 2011, after 15 years since the worst mining disaster in the country, the highest court of the land granted a writ of kalikasan which seeks at least $100 trust fund to rehabilitated Mogpog and Boac River.The photo story hopes to be an instrument of continuous advocacy and reminder that people should not forget and make the responsible pay the high costs of environment.

II. Research

1 List any other projects by photographers on the same subject, topicEdward BurtynskySimon NorfolkMaciek NabrdalikAllan Lissner

2 List any leading academics in the world specializing on your subject, topicDr. Diosdado ZuluetaProf. Panchito LabayUSGS Geoffrey Plumlee, Robert Morton, Terence Boyle, Jack Medlin, and Jose CentenoUSGS R. Scott Carr, Marion Nipper and Geoffrey Plumlee

3 List the key news articles you have found on the subject, topic

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/03/08/11/sc-issues-writ-vs-placer-dome-marcopper-disasterhttp://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/regions/1898-ca-ordered-to-take-action-on-marcopper-mine-disasterhttp://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?title=Supreme%20Court%20issues%20writ%20on%20two%20firms%20over%20toxic%20waste&id=27737http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-251185149/supreme-court-issues-writ.htmlhttp://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20110324-327284/Marcopper-mine-spill-still-haunts-Marinduquehttp://bulatlat.com/main/2011/03/25/marinduque-still-suffering-from-mine-spill-fifteen-years-after/

4 List any documentary films that have been made on the subject, topicBleeding HeartManufactured LandscapesA Place called Chiapas

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5 List the key organizations,/NGOs working/dealing on your subject, topicMarinduque Council for Environmental ConcernsNorwegian Mission Alliance Philippines

6 List any key books, journals or websites connected with your subject, topicUSGS studyConference paperOxfam report

7 List any other relevant works or people connected to the subject, topic

III. Shooting Plan

1 List the dates of your shootApril 13-Calancan Bay, Sta.CruzApril 14-Ino-Capayang, MogpogApril 15-San Antonio-Labo, Sta.Cruz

2 List the locations of the shootMining causewayMarcopper Mining site CMI Mining site

3 List all your travel itinerary including method of travelJeepneyMotorbikePublic utility vehicle

4 List the equipment you will useD3100 nikon18-55mm kit lens55-200mm lense350 e-machines

5 List the other materials you will need for the shootPen and paper

6 List, describe your key images6.1. – children playing at boac river, 6 boys and girls use a coconut trunk as dive boards who don’t have security over the future of the province

6.2. – godofredo manoy explains the constant risks of flooding due to the eventual collapse of maguila-guila siltation dam

6.3. – children fishing at brgy.bocboc, mogpog who use earth worms to catch small fish

6.4. – eliza Hernandez washes clothes while reminiscing her childhood of bountiful river and going back to the day of mine spill

6.5. – laundry women in boac takes advantage of the free flow of water, clear skies and direct sunlight to dry clothes and broken ripraps to hang the clothes

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6.6. – gravel and sand diggers quarry the riverbeds to the concessioners who builds hollow blocks and construction sites

6.7. – mamerto lanete rides the bicycle to catch people rather than fish a pastoral workers since the fish stock decreased due to the mine tailings contamination

6.8 – bonbon/ayti fisherfolks try their luck by scavenging what is left in the boac river

6.9. – shrimp catching at night despite shallow waters use makeshift harpoons and rechargeable headgears with flashlights get dinner

6.10. –

7 List you planned budgetP50 boac to sta.cruz town properP50 sta cruz to calancan bayP45 boac to ino-capayang, mogpogP50 sta.cruz to san Antonio, sta.cruz

IV. Presentation of Images

(You will need to fill out either Item or C depending on the planned presentation. The website is a mandatory requirement. The text boxes will expand as you type.)

A. BOOK PUBLICATION

1 Book Size (in inches)A4 size hardbound with inkjet print colored pages

2 Estimated number of pages, including cover50 pages

3 Paper stock (book paper, matte coated, etc.)Matte paper

4 Printing Process (offset, inkjet, etc.)inkjet

5 Examples of book design and lay-outs you will be influenced by and why (Insert a PDF or a URL link if possible)

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6 List other relevant project presentation specifications

B. WEBSITE

1 The software/s you will use to create itWordpressjoomla

2 The URL of your websiteMediamarinduque.tumblr.comImcmarinduque.blogspot.com

3 URLs of examples of photojournalists’ websites, online multimedia shows which will influence you and how

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4 URLs of your sample uploads

5 List other relevant project presentation specifications

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C. EXHIBITION

1 Floor or wall area needed (in square meters)10x15 meters

2 Exhibition panel sizes (in meters)3 x 6 feet

3 Samples of photo panel design and lay-outs which will influence you and how

4 URLs or images of photo exhibition presentations or mounting which will influence you and how

http://jeanmakisig.blogspot.com/2013_02_01_archive.html#5466863857673512180I’ve worked with the visual artist already, he has done a couple of one man shows and participated in a number of group shows. We also had a few collaborations in the past already.

5 List other relevant project presentation specificationsWe’ve already talked about the initial concept and in coordination with the local NGO in Marinduque, will be finalizing an exhibition plan.

V. Methodology

1 What format will you shoot the project in (media and colour) Note: You are required to shoot in RAW format and/or largest JPEG setting in your camera if RAW format is not available.

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I will be using the largest file settingI don’t usually use any image manipulation software, I just use Gimp to resize my images.

2 Insert images that include your work experiments as well as copies of other works of photographers/artists. This should indicate your intended aesthetic for the project. PLEASE COMPRESS THE FILE SIZE OF THE INSERTED IMAGES.

3 Which photojournalists/artists/bodies of work have influenced your choiceThe documentary manufactured landscapes made a lasting impression on my work. Also my reference point for my present project is the Oxfam report on marinduque mine spill disaster.

4 How do you intend to work (please outline a working methodology including consultations with adviser and reviewer)Since September 2012, I have been accumulating images in both Boac and Mogpog river. I would usually go on the weekends and if the schedule allows it, I would go on extended trips. I also coordinated with the municipalities and riverside communities involved. But I zeroed in the three complainants seeking for a writ of kalikasan. I don’t have any particular reviewer on mind, but I would usually consult also MaCEC with progress of my work as I also keep myself posted with the progress of the legal cases with pending resolutions.

VI. Ethical Code

1 Outline your code of ethical practice which will guide you in completing the project I follow the editorial policy of the local newspaper and online media I belong to. Whenever it is possible to get the feedback of my subjects, I would show them my preliminary output and ask them what they think. They influence my work as I progress with the completion of the project.

2 Who will appear in your pictures?Godofredo ManoyEliza Hernandez

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Mamerto Lanete3 What information do you intend to include in your captions about the people photographed?

I would be citing studies done by the US Geological Survey, Oxfam Australia, MaCEC and some academic papers of local intellectuals on the subject of extractive industries

4 Will you be using model/property release forms? If YES, please attach a copy. If NO, why?No, I personally know the subjects. They trust me and I am based on Marinduque. Whenever I engage them I don’t withhold any information from them. I also keep them abreast of what is my progress.

VII. Risk Assessment

1 Who is your travel insurance with (please attach/paste a copy if you have one)?Na

2 List extent of coverage for medical, loss of equipment, moneySince I am a government employee, I do have an insurance policy with GSIS. And until now I pay my dues to SSS.

3 What will you do if you lose your wallet/documents/tickets?I would be asking the local government, community and people that I am affiliated with

4 List emergency numbers for the areas/regions you will be working(042) 3322028(042) 7540158

5 What is your back up plan if you can’t get the pictures you want – camera stolen/bad weather, political problems cut the region off, etc.?

I always transfer my files in a portable hard drive and keep multiple copies in the netbook, upload it to the blogsite, etc.

6 How do you intend to minimize the impact of loosing film/data?By keeping multiple copies

7 Name and give contact details for the fixers (guides) you will be working with plus the dates you will be with them?Na

8 What will you do if you are detained by police/military for taking pictures, please list contact names and numbers of people you will contact?Edgardo Nobleza – 09193064393Floyd Padilla – 09184579443

9 Outline a self assessment of the main risks in undertaking your projectSince I either use public utility, there is always risks along the way. I just keep myself awake and full conscious. When I use my motorbike, I check if its condition is road worthy. If not, I would opt to use public transportation

10 What precautions will you take to minimize this risk?Na

11 Outline the privacy laws of the places you will be working and your own code of conduct in relation

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to protecting the subjects privacyNa

VIII. Distribution, Publication and Audience

1 Where will your images be distributed/published/exhibited? (Please give evidence of communication with the agency/publication/gallery etc. if it has taken place and if not, evidence of research about the intended agency, publication or gallery you are hoping to interest in the project.)I would just be producing a limited series of copies for my subjects and ACFJ. I don’t intend to produce many copies unless I would be given support by the local NGOs or other funding agencies.

2 Describe the social and cultural makeup of the audience of your storyThe people of Marinduque has an ambivalent attitude towards mining. They usually seek benefits from mining but when a disaster strike, they become opposed to the idea. But the imperative is not to convince people but to keep them forgetting the issue.

3 Describe how you envisage the place/issue/topic you photograph will be perceived by that audienceI hope that the project would be used to the advantage of the community who is after the complete rehabilitation of the river.

4 In relation to the subjects and communities where your stories are based, outline the positive impacts of the distribution/publication/exhibition of your imagesSince the writ of kalikasan is already granted by the supreme court, the other courts should be able to compel the mining company to clean up and compensate for all the damages it caused the province.

5 In relation to the subjects and communities where your stories are based, outline the negative impacts of the distribution/publication/exhibition of your imagesThe mining company might use the project not to take responsibility and argue that the river is not really dead because there are many activities already happening around the river.

6 Do the positives outweigh the negatives? Why?Yes, because having won the moratorium the next step is make the company more liable and pressure them to get the river back to life.

IX. Reading List

1 List the books you have/will read to support this projectWrit of kalikasan documentsMaCEC advocacy worksNMA Philippines development thrusts

2 List the articles you have/will read to support this projectAbscbn online newsBulatlat.comPCIJ blogsitePhilstar online editionInquirer.net

3 List the websites you have/will read to support this project

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http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/03/08/11/sc-issues-writ-vs-placer-dome-marcopper-disasterhttp://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/regions/1898-ca-ordered-to-take-action-on-marcopper-mine-disasterhttp://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?title=Supreme%20Court%20issues%20writ%20on%20two%20firms%20over%20toxic%20waste&id=27737http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-251185149/supreme-court-issues-writ.htmlhttp://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20110324-327284/Marcopper-mine-spill-still-haunts-Marinduquehttp://bulatlat.com/main/2011/03/25/marinduque-still-suffering-from-mine-spill-fifteen-years-after/

4 List the interviews you have conducted/will conduct for this project and list the main objectives of each interviewMaCEC coordinator Beth ManggolWrit of Kalikasan Complainant:Godofredo ManoyMamerto LaneteEliza Hernandez

5 List any other resources you intend to use for the project

X. Diary

(Write a daily account of the days you work on this project. This should cover your thoughts, success’, failures as well as a factual account of what you did on a day by day basis. You may wish to include a diary of the days spent travelling and acclimatizing to the area you shot in however the only requirement is that you include a diary of the days spent shooting/editing the project. This diary will be updated as you submit enhanced versions of your journal.)

Date/s Activity OutcomeJanuary 2013

Mogpog river reconnaissance I was able to get back to brgy. Bocboc and Nangka and shot the manggamnam bridge.

February 19 to 23, 2013

SAS educational tour I was out the whole week due to the annual extended field trip when some of our students and fellow teachers met an accident at Tuba, Benguet.

February 26 to March 2, 2013

UNP Techno-Demo Transfer on ceramics and pottery production/ AACCUP accreditation survey

When we came back from the education tour, both of our programs AB English and BA Communication was subjected to a re-visit, I was designated as chairman for the area 6: community involvement and extension

March 9, 2013

2nd eco solidarity camp at Tanay, Rizal I felt I was lagging behind and needed to shoot some. I was invited to share my experience in Marinduque and got an opportunity to process the images which I already took and what I needed to take during the ecological get together with guests from Japan, Germany, Greece, US and other parts in Indonesia

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March 28, 2013

Maundy Thursday at Brgy. Lupac, Tabigue and Tabi

After the final exams during the 2nd week of March for graduating and the third for non graduating, we needed to submit rating sheets and distribute the class cards. It was only the holy week when I got back on track

March 29, 2013

Good Friday at Brgy. Balimbing, Tampus and Sawi

I visited again the sites and integrated with the writ of kalikasan complainants.

March 30, 2013

Night fishing at Brgy. Bangbangalon I was waiting for some time to get some images during night time and it was really challenging.

March 31, 2013

Easter Sunday Gasanggasang street dancing festival

Again, I got a chance to distance myself with the project bearing in mind that it’s almost april and needed to finish up. I shot some portraits and streets during the annual easter Sunday which brings festivity after the solemnity of lent.

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