Photographs of Mindanao, Philippines:
Landscapes, Nature and Its Destruction

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Beside the house of our host, Ricardo dela Camara (Datu Mabalao). There were lots of snakes inhabiting the grass there and a giant American bullfrog. Tahina, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur. February 21-24, 1977.

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Morning athmosphere in Bukidnon. Looking down from the highway between Cagayan de Oro and Malaybalay towards the mountain area between Bukidnon and Agusan del Sur. We are walking towards Damay, the place where the logging road to the mountain settlements Guilang-Guilang and Kalabugao branches off. The lure of the unknown... Bukidnon highway. February 6, 1983. In the morning.

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“... at the end of a rainbow, there is a pot of gold...” Mindanao, land of promise! In the Tigwa Manobo area. Sitio Kisayab, Bonacao, San Fernando, Bukidnon. September 3, 1993.

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Mindanao – land of promise! You shared your wealth with others. What did you receive in return? Sitio Kiudto, Hagpâ, Impasugong, Bukidnon. February 15, 1983. In the morning.

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View into the Salug river valley down from the road going to the south. Near San Fernando, Bukidnon. August 8, 1993.

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During a 3-hour walk from Kibongkog to Iglogsad (San Fernando, Bukidnon).                                     August 13, 1993.

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Beside the house of Datu Mabalao (Ricardo dela Camara), the “Overall Chieftain of the Higaunen Tribes” who was our host. Nearby Tahina, a small settlement of the Banuwaen people near the Libang river. Tropical brightness and steaming humidity in the middle of Agusan valley. Note the brown water of the small stream carrying the soil from the deforested areas to Libang river. Tahina, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur. March 11-17, 1977.

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Rainforest along Libang river, untouched by the heavy logging activities in the surrounding area. The part of the river towards which we are looking is said to be inhabited by spirits. Without knowing about this, we went there to take a look. Some days later, my companion became ill with amoebic dysentery and malaria at the same time and almost died. Sitio Salsalan, Tagbalili, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur. March 3, 1977.

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Driftwood in the Libang river after a heavy rain. The water of the river is brown and dirty from mud that is washed down from the deforested mountains between the provinces of Agusan del Sur and Bukidnon. Libang River. Tahina, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur. February 25, 1977.

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Looking towards the mountains near barrio Guilang-Guilang. Cogon grass growing on these deforested areas is regularly burned off. Guilang-Guilang, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. February 24, 1983.

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Morning in Songco, a small Talaandig settlement that used to be ruled by the now late Datu Kinulintang. In this place which is located at a rather high altitude, the clouds come down in the evening so that the village is often covered by thick fog at nighttime. In the morning, the fog disappears again. On this picture, we are looking towards the slopes of Mt. Kitanglad. Songco, Lantapan, Bukidnon. April 20, 1986.

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Area near Kalabugao settlement which is prepared for kaingin (slash-and-burn agriculture). Note the burned baliti tree in the background. Baliti trees (Ficus balete) are usually believed to be dwelling places of spirits and are highly respected all over the Philippines. Therefore, it probably meant a considerable risk for the farmer to set this area on fire. Kalabugao, Impasugong, Bukidnon. February 12, 1983.

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Rice fields south of Malaybalay, the provincial capital of Bukidnon. The photograph was taken during a jeepney ride through the Municipality of Cabanglasan. We are heading towards Freedom, a PANAMIN resettlement project with mixed Bukidnon, Umayamnon and Manobo population. Cabanglasan, Bukidnon. December 12, 1983.

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Bukidnon landscape in the evening athmosphere, halfway on the highway from Cagayan de Oro to Malaybalay, the provincial capital. January 4-5, 1983.

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After sunset in a settlement of the Banuwaen tribe. The brilliant sunset had gone, and there was only a glooming intensity left, like shining through a thick curtain. The many subtle shades of violet and blue cannot be reproduced here adequately. Tagbalili, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur. February 27, 1977.

Page designed and maintained by Hans Brandeis, Berlin, Germany.
All photographs and information collected by Hans Brandeis in 1976-1993.
Copyright © 1996 by Hans Brandeis. All rights reserved. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

Created: Sunday, April 28, 1996
Updated: Sunday, December 29, 2002

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