Minera: The Women Miners of Benguet

In the province of Benguet in northern Philippines, small-scale gold mining has been an important source of livelihood for centuries for indigenous communities. Artisanal and labor intensive, most of Philippine gold is still extracted with the simplicity of picks, shovels, human hands, and water; sometimes just besides large mining corporations. Men are thought of as the usual prominent actors in these communities. This documentary corrects this misimpression. Women miners are as essential to small-scale mining as the male workers. And unlike men, they must combine numerous daily responsibilities, in the household, the field, and the mine. However, these duties are balanced neither with compensation nor representation, in the family as well as in the community. This documentary is a story of the women miners of Itogon, Benguet who have moved mountains and have kept pushing on, how they have transcended the weariness of the body and the strictures of gender to live a life in their own terms and to unselfishly care for others.

[@merlyntubiera4554]

I salute u ate, GOD BLESS you and your family

[@cristinaechavarria7109]

Thanks for highlighting the role of women in small scale mining, and the role of mining in their lives and in the education of their children.

[@redenc.garcia748]

but do they know what will be the effect to the environment, there are a lot of things where you can do for a living, but mining which can destroy the environment, the beauty of mother earth? will the next generation can see the beauty of mother earth?

[@cristinalobinto1274]

@@redenc.garcia748 of course. But that’s only the source of our living. Let’s throw your question to the big companies of mining? It’s them who destroyed the Mother Nature and just left when they took all the gold in Benguet especially our Municipality- Itogon.

[@danielngoslab]

This is an industry where family members are involved. They help in generating economic activities in the community and even in urban area when they purchase basic items after they sell their gold buttons.

[@danielngoslab]

Maganda ang small scale mining. Involved lahat ang family members. Doon sa loob ng bahay ka mag observe. Halos kumpleto ang appliances nila.

[@jobeysmith1534]

hahaha not all but most.

[@cedikim4285]

Thank you for your documentation. It's nice..

[@TheMimyrg]

Bravo !! J'ai adoré, très bien réalisé et le sujet est super original !

[@marwilnaunlud5525]

right now, mining in all forms in Itogon, except for the big mining corporation, had been stopped

[@montanozabaaak2921]

Mayat nga documentary about minera matago tago kayu am in

[@noblasebve7665]

Maki xtraak man apo mabalin ok GOD bless po dyan SA Inyong lahat agsubliak to manin bumittak nak toy balay u Tay ADDa gold na nga bato

[@aljuncomisas7938]

Ang mining kung dumating ang suerte na bigay ng ginto syo hwag mong sayangin iponin mo ung pera kasi ang ginto dumaan lng yan parang hangin madaling mawala..maraming nagsising minero kasi my biyaya bigay ng ginto .piro weniwaldas nla..kya..dapat tlaga gamitin sa maganda.para makinabangan pagdating ng panahon..

[@igorotak2956]

agbiag t minera t kabenguetan

[@babyboygat-ud7979]

anty makisagaok nak kud hehe

[@larryforgotten3366]

matagotago kau ay umu usok sapay kuma makadteng kau c dit-iw ay kanan di nanakay,,,ampucao,dalicno,

[@cosapesilvestre9833]

Wen mabalin

[@larryforgotten3366]

matago tago kau ai sagaok ya dumistino