I remember the song Masdan mo ang Kalikasan by ASIN it goes ” lahat ng bagay na narito sa lupa biyayang galing sa diyos kahit nong ika’y wala pa ingatan natin at ‘wag nang sirain pa pagkat pag kanyang binawi, tayo’y mawawala na” …”bakit di natin pagisipan ang nangyayari sa ating kapaligiran”
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A local ferry transports a jitney across the Abra River in the the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), Philippines.
The heavy pollution of Abra River by gold, silver, and copper mining in its upper tributaries, undermines local resilience to climate change by making its waters unusable for irrigation and subsistence fishing. (source: http://healingtheearth.tumblr.com/post/49159584755/abra-river-philippines-a-local-ferry-transports)
A local ferry transports a jeepney across the Abra River. (photo by Healing Earth)
abrenian.com 
awanen dagijay dadakkel a pailileng ken bunog ta natuba da met aminen gapu ti mining.
Posted by uttig | June 4, 2013, 6:46 pmBassit pay ti danum nan saan nga kasla idin… Abuso talaga dgitoy pada a parswa
Posted by crimen | June 4, 2013, 8:27 pmNagsimple nga kataren kaprobinsyaan! Pinakan dagiti kaykayo nga pagurnongan iti danum babaen kadagiti ramot da. Illegal/legal logging ken mining ti gapu na amin dagitoy. Tatta awanen ti danum nga mapan iti karayan ta awanen dagiti kayo nga agurnong iti danum, Do dumteng iti napigsa nga todo, layos ti sagrapen dagiti mulmula tayo ti patag agraman dagiti balbalbalay, manok, baboy, kaldero, dinengdeng, ken dadduma pay. Saan laeng nga Abra ti agsagaba no di ket ti sibubukel nga Pilipinas aglalo diay Manila ken katanapan kas Bulacan, etc. Manon nga tawen dagitoy nga kalamidad ngem papay aya nga saan nga kanselahin ti Gobierno dagitoy mining, logging, etc. uray manon nga biag iti naibuis ken sanikua dagiti pada nga marigrigat? Ti katar ko kakabsat, agsipud ta dagitoy nga capitalista ti mining ken logging ket isu da met laeng dagiti lawmakers tayo diay Congress or Senado wenno agsasakop da ti profits kadagiti sinno man nga impanagan da kadagiti licensees/permitees. wenno political financer da dagitoy kadagiti kallabes ken sumangad manen nga Election, so kasano ngarud nga isardeng da or kanselahen da dagitoy nga mining/logging licenses? Excuse me no mali ako pero bakit, bakit lagi na lang tayong mahihirap ang biktima ng baha taon taon? Nasaan ang mga licensees? Bakit nasisikmura nilang hirap na lang at lungkot ang natatamasa ng mga kababayan nila? Bakit?
Posted by river cross | June 8, 2013, 8:41 pmAgpayso ngata nga ti paggapuan iti danum (OBBOG) nga mang-supply ti the whole Abra River ket diay ngato or somewhere in the Mt. Provinces? Idiay it kaadduan nga mining operation ket datayon a nga adda ditoy baba ti agsagrap it ipaay dagitoy nga problema or didigra. Idi un-unana, dagiti Igorots ti immuna ditoy Abra ngem idi simmangpet ti Tingguians ken Ilokans (according to Dr. Leo P. Tuazon’s Research) pinaksiyat da ida isu nga nagpangato da nga napan kadagiti diff. Mt. Provinces. Itan, datayon ti paayusan dan kadagiti rugrugit dagiti minas da tapno maperdi ti karayan, animales, agricultural products tayo. Is this a natural course of nature, man-made calamity, or just a coincidence of pay back time? No, these were all driven by greed lawmakers, politicians, and business capitalists. Someday I’ll meet them in Hell and make them answerable to what they did to the Abrenian people.
Posted by river cross | June 9, 2013, 1:56 pmcorr.: driven by greedy lawmakers, politicians, etc………
Posted by river cross | June 9, 2013, 2:25 pmNo pinukan mo iti maysa nga kayo, kasla metten pinukan mo ti biag ti maysa nga tao. Manon kadin nga kaykayo ti pinukan mo ngem dika pulos makon-sensiya kadagiti natnatay wenno nalmes nga tattao ken nadumaduma nga animales, sanikua, wenno dagiti mulmula da nga pangalaan da koma iti igatang da ti kanen da ken pagbado dagiti annak da. You are worse than the thief politician if you were not the same. You don’t live any longer for the devil is waiting excitedly now in hell to devour your soul. Poor President, kung alam lang lahat niya ito, kung meron lang sanang tapat na makapagpaliwanang sa kanya, hindi niya masisikmura ang lahat ng mga ito. Where is our alleged environmentalist senator? Sen. Loren Legarda, is that her? Hanggang pautot lang yata eh? kehey….
Posted by river cross | June 9, 2013, 2:18 pmPinukan kunak koma….hmmmm…
Posted by river cross | June 8, 2013, 8:41 pmDagiti chemicals nga pagdaldalus da kadagiti nakali da nga balitok, etc. ipuruak da uray dinno ditan ket agayos to dagitoy nga mangperdi kadagiti mulmula, lames iti karayan, ken inumen to pay dagiti baka ken nuang tayo. Safe pay ngata dagiti lames ken animal nga sidsidaen wenno inut-inuten tayon nga patpatayen gapu kadagiti sakit nga maala kadagitoy apaman nga kanen tayo ida? Department of Health, masapul nga eksamenin yo dagitoy nga makmakan amangan no adun ti cancer nga aglemlemmeng kadagiti bagbagi mi, wenno magustuan yo latta nga kanayon nga agpapaagas kami kadagiti doctor nga awan rikna na, basta adda latta bayad na?
Posted by river cross | June 9, 2013, 1:35 pmSaan tayo koman nga sangitan ti padas tayo ti napalabas. Usaren tayo ketdi dagitoy nga adal tapno mapasayaat ti agdama ken masakbayan. Pudno nga abusado nga agtuturay nga konsabos dagiti capitalist ken generals ti puon ti kaaduan nga panagririgat. Kas kuma ken Enrile nga nakanselar ti logging concession idi saan pay kimmaduan kenni utro coracot ate Glo. Layos nga nangted ti kadadaksan nga pannakatay ti rinibu nga Tao diay Ormoc City diay Leyte ken diay Mindanao.
Napintas daytoy gannuat ni Engr. Ernesto Aton ti DENR nga pangsuportar ti nag pintas manen nge programs ni apo Ponoy ti Phil green program nga agmula ti Abra ti 5000 hectare ! Thru the supports of our governor, whom I believe always ready to provide hands in such kinds of projects, our mayors who should spend more time for such projects instead of his cockfighting roasters, barangay captains to encourage every setiod n family to have their own nurseries.
Ti bulan ti Augusto ken sept., adu ti agtubo t sirok ti dadakkel nga narra , mahoganies,gemilina, acacia etc. ngem napinpintas pay no maadalan dagiti ti tattao nga agpatubo , nga mangrugi koma diay ub- ubbing diay eskwela. Wen, agtitinnulong tayon, saan tayo lattan nga agbabbabalaw. Masakbayan adda ti ima tayo!
Posted by Tagamasid | June 20, 2013, 7:11 amTHE ARTICLE OF RIVER CROSS DATED JUNE 9, 2013 caught my attention as it mentioned my name
Dr. Leo Tuason regarding a Research I did on the early immigrants of the province of ABRA.
Posted by DR. LEO TUASON. | September 19, 2013, 4:32 amADDENDUJM:>>>>
The first wave of people who migrated into the high mountains of the Cordilleras of the Philippines 2000
years plus were people who came from the Islands of Indonesia, or Malaysia Sulawesi and Borneo .
The second wave of immigrants come from a more advanced culture “TINGGGUIANES or ITNEG” they
come from the provinces of southern part of mainland CHINA… Namely, THAILAND, LAOS, VIETNUM and
CAMBODIA . These were people who were adopted to the cultivate of flat lands and the use of Plow and
domesticated Carabao to cultivate rice plants.
The last immigarnts were the ILOKANS.
Posted by DR. LEO TUASON. | September 19, 2013, 3:36 pmCONTINIUM;….
The ILOKANS were people of mixed ethnicity they were from the low lands- regions of the Philippines people
different races like…, people of the Middle East-Arabs traders, Indians from India, Chinese traders, Spaniards and
Malayan brown race… inter-marriages between these different ethnic people the so called “MESTIZOS”… These
were more educated people who stayed in the government employment, and those of less education remained in
the work force , field workers or farmers. who were adopted to the use of domesticated carabao and plow.
Posted by DR. LEO TUASON. | September 21, 2013, 6:13 amADDENDUM:
CULTURAL DIFERRENCES AMONGST THE THREE ETNIHC GROUPS ( IGOROTES >TINGGUIANES/ITNEGS
>ILOKANS) that migrated the high mountains of the PHILIPPINE CORDILLERAS would determine the
distribution of the 3-ethnic groups in the regions. The less cultured IGOROTS would be displaced and populate
the higher grounds by the TINGGUAINES/ ITNEGS who were with more advanced in Culture. and remained in the
flat lands to continue the cultivation of the land.
In the year 1700 -1800 when the SPANISH CONQUISTADORES opened the PROVINCE OF ABRA
for MIGRATION. This was the time that the ILOKANS from the low lands decided to migrate to Abra ,the stepping
stone was Vigan, ILocos Sur, the most industrialized, sophisticated city at the time…asiento de gobierno espnola
(Seat of Spanish Government).
Posted by DR. LEO TUASON. | September 23, 2013, 2:41 pmCONTINIUM:…
At this point, I WOULD ENCOURAGE ABRENIANS who are knowledgeable of any name of families and for
them to discuss those who have contributed to the betterment of the province of Abra before the advent of
WORLD WAR II (1941).
To be continued:….
Dr. Leo Tuason.
Posted by DR. LEO TUASON. | September 24, 2013, 4:20 amCONTINIUM:…
Families that has contributed to the betterment before the advent of WW II (1941)…
Names like>>>>
1. DON VIRGILIO VALERA…. GOV. OF ABRA
2. DON EUSTAQUIO PORRUGANAN…. GOV. OF ABRA
3. DON BIENVENIDO VALERA … GOV… OF ABRA
4. DON JULIO VILLAMOR BORBON … GOV. OF ABRA
5. DON LONGINO VILLAMOR BERSAMIN … MAYOR OF BANGUED (capital of Abra)
I’M SURE THERE ARE MORE NAMES I CAN NOT RECALL….. BUT THE ABOVE
MENTIONED NAMES HERE WERE ALL “ILOKAN HERITAGE”.
TO BE CONTINUED:…
DR. LEO TUASON.
Posted by DR. LEO TUASON. | October 27, 2013, 5:54 amADDENDUM:….
A commentator by the name Crimen posted June 4, 2013 >>>> “BASSIT PAY TI DANUM NAN SAAN NGA
KASLA IDIN” …. referring to the topic “The killing of the Abra RIver”.
Friends, it is true that the Abra River once called by Spanish Conquistadores ” RIO GRANDE DE
ABRA” a MAGESTIC – VOLUMINOUS body of water has its head-water source in the high mountains
of the province of Benguet getting tributaries from Mt Province passing through the province of Ilocos
Sur and cutting through the province of Abra thence exiting into the CHINA SEA via a water-carved -outlet
at (Banaoang, Ilocos Sur) on the western Cordillera Caraballo mountains ranges that separates Abra
from Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.
To be continued:…
Dr, Leo.
Posted by DR. LEO TUASON. | October 29, 2013, 1:40 amADDENUM:…
The amount of water a river carries defends on the nature of “WATER SHED” that surrounds the river basin.
lush growth of timber/ trees. has something to do with volume of water in the river.
The drying – up of the Abra River begun when there was great demand for fire wood in the 1970 – 1980
which was required in the curing of tobacco leaves as needed in the manufacture of cigarettes.
At that time ILOCOS SUR and some municipalities of ABRA started Curing Virginia ( tobacco specie) for the
TOBACCO INDUSTRY a lucrative business for the entire nation. The Philippine Government spear-headed the
initiatve The Government has increased its revenue from the (CIGARETTE – INDUSTRY)
Posted by DR. LEO TUASON. | October 29, 2013, 2:05 pmCONTINIUM:….
The GOVERNMENT, MEMBER S OF THE SENATE / REPRESENTATIVES have their eyes closed during
these catastrophic events when the “WATER-SHED” of the ABRA RIVER was being destroyed by
wanton cutting of timber/ trees “ILLEGALLY” without supervision and ‘legally’ in which case its under the
supervision of the Bureau of Forestry who helped in the reforesting the area by planting young (seedlings of
mahogany – hard wood trees in replacement of the legally cut -fallen tree).
The TIME-MACHINE will bring us to the year 1970 the Governor of ABRA was Mr. Carmelo Barbero of a
prominent Barbero family of Dolores, Abra who later became the Congressman of the province during the
presidency of Mr. Ferdinand E. Marcos.
To be continued:…
Dr. Leo
Posted by DR. LEO TUASON. | October 30, 2013, 4:41 amADDENDUM:…
The year 1970 when the CEROPIL (a company located in the vicinity of the town of TAYUM ) that deals
on lumber exported to Japan) was created by Cong. BARBERO with his co-investors with the approval of
PRES. MARCOS.
The product was lumber from cut timbers from the high mountains of Abra…..resulting to the destruction of
the “water – shed”.
Posted by DR. LEO TUASON. | October 30, 2013, 10:31 amADDENDUM…
The rapid cutting timber in the high mountains of the province of Abra had alarmed the Tingguian / Itneg
indigenous people of the high mountain ranges of the province. They formed a group against this big
CEROPHIL company headed by catholic priest Father Balweg of TINGGUIAN/ ITNEG heritage.
This group later was joined by other groups, which became a lager organization ‘NGO’… was created
whose objective was to stop the operation of CEROPHIL.
It was a dark history of the province where there was lot killings of those people who opposed the
activity of CEROPHIL which was backed by the government.
Father BALWEG fell victim of this carnage. Ultimately the NON- GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION —‘NGO ‘
prevailed… thus the CEROPHIL closed. But the damage had been done…. the once lush of trees and
vegetation in the high mountains of ABRA. eventually the drying-up of the RIO GRANDE DE ABRA.
Posted by DR. LEO TUASON. | October 30, 2013, 12:44 pmADDENDUM>>>>CONTINUM….
I went back on my collections of ‘hard copies’ on the topic of “THE ABRA RIVER” and I have found one
article that is fascinating / intriguing to me written by one Abrenian by the name of MR. SALACNIB (nom de
plume) dated 9/26/2005 !!! A very articulate article and I believe written only by a well educated person maybe
a ‘LAWYER’ . MR. SALACNIB’S ARTICLE blames LEPANTO MINING COMPANY as the cause of the
IMPENDING DEMISE OF THE ABRA RIVER. Whether it is true or not…. we shall analyze such allegations.
by the way such sentiment have been forwarded to LEPANTO, BFAR, branches of the GOVERMENT…
CONGRESS. all with deaf – ears. …UNRESPONSIVE.!!!
Posted by DR. LEO TUASON. | November 1, 2013, 5:54 amADDENDUM>>> CONTINUM:…
Staying on the same TOPIC>>> ” THE KILLING OF THE ABRA RIVER” by ; pollution and climate changes
have rendered the river unsafe for irrigation of farms and unlivable condition for marine/ aquatic
lives… “FISH – KILL” in 2006 at the municipality of TUBO, ABRA . mutation of aquatic lives
More to be said regarding this subject mater.
Dr, leo.
Posted by DR. LEO TUASON. | November 3, 2013, 1:23 amADDENDUM:..
Several factors must be considered regarding the cause of the “KILLING OF THE ABRA RIVER”….or
”THE EARLY DEMISE OF THE RIO GRANDE DE ABRA”.
Existing facts must be mentioned first….
1. THERE ARE FOUR PROVINCES THAT ARE CONTIGIOUS TO THE RIVER….namely BENGUET, MT.
PROVINCE, ILOCOS SUR, and ABRA.
2. RAPID INCREASE IN POPULATION. and URBANIZATION.
3. INCREASE ACTIVITY OF THE CORPORATE LEPANTO MINING COMPANY.
Let’s individually analyze each of the facts….
a, The provinces has creeks or canals or water-ways that empties into the river, so therefore
any “wastes” from human activities like commercial / industrial or caged-animals like chicken,
hogs , will eventually ends in the water-ways into the river.
b. WASTES OF ANY KIND FROM AN INCREASING POPULATION AND URBABIZATION
EXASERBATES POLLUTION TO THE ABRA RIVER.
c. CORPORATE LEPANTO MINING COMPANY HAS ADDED CYANIDE TO MERCURY IN THE
EXTRACTION VALUABLE MINERALS LIKE GOLD, CHROME, NICKLE, AND MANY MORE
HEAVY METALS and the cutting of timber in many hectares of trees that the company owns
contribute to the pollution / siltation of the river.
MORE TO COME;…
DR. LEO.
Posted by Leo B. Tuason, M.D. | November 15, 2013, 3:42 amADDENDUM:
The Topic is Pollution Of The ABRA RIVER or called RIO GRANDE DE ABRA.
Pollution could be wastes from:…
1 HUMAN / house-hold activities….
2. CAGED ANIMALS, like chicken or hogs, sheep. cattle
3. COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL WASTES
Posted by Leo B. Tuason, M.D. | November 21, 2013, 7:28 amADDENDUM:…
WE SHALL DISCUSS HOW WASTES ARE CONTRIBUTING TO POLLUTION OF RIVERS…
Wastes from Humans, Caged animals, and Commercial-Industrial Enterprises (LEPANTO MINING ) in a
community has to be treated (To make it biodegradable, chemically- organically before it (waste-water) is
discharged into a water-ways / river).
To discuss this issue, I shall take you to the “water treatment plant in the community of Martinsville, Indiana
where I practiced MY PROFESSION in Surgery for 3O YEARS.
Human waste from the bathroom, kitchen-dishwasher, all these ends up at the water treatment plant to be
treated and declared clean and safe before the water-waste is discharged into the water-ways… creeks or river.
where people swims , or animals drinks water.
There are several stages that wastes passes through>>>>
1. Primary treatment uses mechanical means to remove “solid” pollutants that either settle or float in the
water waste.
2. Secondary treatment uses bacteria to consume organic parts of the waste-water,
3. LASTLY, Chlorine in used…chlorination…then the treated wastes as water- waste is discharged into the
water-ways / river….. safe for humans (SWIM and BOATING) and domestic animals (DRINK) to use.
MORE TO COME:..
Dr. Leo.
.
Posted by Leo B. Tuason, M.D. | November 24, 2013, 7:09 amADDENDUM:…
CHLORINATION… the last step in the whole treatment of wastes by adding “CHLORINE” to kill the remaining
bacteria / germs in the water waste before the effluent is dumped into the creek / river safe for all aquatic /
marine lives (FISHES, FROGS, EELS), domesticated animals ( carabao, cattle, sheep,, dogs, ) humans .
Posted by Leo B. Tuason, M.D. | November 25, 2013, 5:18 amthanks Dr. Leo for all these information. I just hope DENR is listening. Also can you comment on the story regarding the soon to be opened gold-processing-plant in Lagangilang,Abra? Please go to this thread https://news.abrenian.com/2013/12/04/abra-residents-opposed-gold-processing-plants-opening/
Posted by SysOp | December 6, 2013, 3:02 pmSYSOP;
EARLY TODAY DEC. 14TH I WROTE AN ARTICLE ON THE Abrenian.Com Website but my article
was denied entry into the web. The article was written under the thread that has “GOLD PROCESSING
PLANT IN LANGAGUILANG, ABRA”
Dr. Leo. .
Posted by Leo B. Tuason, M.D. | December 14, 2013, 5:18 amI don’t see your post Dr. Leo please send it again. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Posted by SysOp | December 14, 2013, 7:14 pmSYSOP:>>>
Before going beyond this TOPIC, I want to know if the municipality Bangued has a treatment facility for
waste (from household – kitchen wastes) SPECIALLY NOW THAT THE NEW PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL was
built.
Will anyone ABRENIAN knowledgeable of waste treatment in the municipality of Bangued care to discuss
this subject matter?
Posted by Leo B. Tuason, M.D. | January 11, 2014, 3:46 amSYSOP;…
SIR, IN YOUR STATEMENT YOU SAID; YOU’RE HOPING DENR for that matter, other ORGANIZATIONS
LIKE STARM OR NGO (HELPING THE ABRA RIVER) is listening to what is being DISCUSSED in the
web-site…. :like “WASTE MANAGEMENT” or anything about “RIVER POLLUTION” , the INFORMATION
MAYBE DISSIMINATED THROUGH THE MEDIA VIA NEWSPAPER OR RADIO.
Posted by Leo B. Tuason, M.D. | January 11, 2014, 5:22 amON THE SUBJECT OF “WASTE MANAGEMENT (W.M.)” Any one ABRENIANS specially those who are in
the ‘LEGAL spectrum ‘ of citizenry care to discuss the W.M. of the municipality of BANGUED. May I know how
well you’re informed of the W.M. of you your beloved BANGUED.
Posted by Leo B. Tuason, M.D. | February 7, 2014, 7:28 am