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People of Mount Apo speak People of Mount Apo speak

By Michael Kho Lim, Contributor

07/02/2009

The Energy Development Corp. (EDC), the Philippines’ largest integrated geothermal energy company and the acknowledged global leader in wet steamfield technology, recently integrated two more power plants into its operations.

In order to make this more memorable, EDC also launched its second coffee-table book titled Voices of the Mountain. It is EDC’s way of giving the silent but venerable host of all its facilities in Mindanao another opportunity to be heard.

Voices of the Mountain is actually a follow-up of EDC’s first book called Celebrating Mount Apo: The Living Mountain, published in 1996. The first book gave an overview of Mount Apo and its many aspects — as a geological and cultural landmark, as a natural wonder and ecological reserve, and as a potential source of geothermal energy. Later on, this book won prizes and acclaim for its treatment of the subject —the protection and development of Mount Apo’s resources and how this affected the lives of the mountain’s peoples and its other creatures.

On the other hand, the new book tracks the many changes resulting from the Mount Apo geothermal project on the lives of the mountain’s inhabitants, through stories told in their own voices, 12 years later. It also chronicles the success of the Mindanao Geothermal Production Field as a story of transformation, from being the most controversial infrastructure project in the island’s history to becoming a showcase of environmentalism and sustainable development.

“Mount Apo is much more than an inventory of its resources,” writes EDC president and chief executive officer Paul Aquino in the book’s foreword. “It is home to vibrant communities of Filipinos, most of them indigenous people who have enjoyed and who treasure a special relationship with the mountain and its spirits.”

The book is divided into two sections. The first part, “Power from the Mountain,” tells about the beauty and mystery of the so-called “living mountain” that is Mount Apo, and narrates the historical account of how the different geothermal projects of EDC came to be.

The second half of the book is called “Power for the People,” and talks of how EDC’s geothermal projects benefited many people. Several notable personalities are featured in the book and they share the experiences and blessings they had from these various projects. Included in the book are scholars of Mount Apo Foundation Inc. (MAFI), a Manobo lawyer, chairman of Cotabato Consultative Tribal Council, councilor of Davao City, vice mayor and mayor of Kidapawan City, and former and present employees of EDC, among others.

“Beyond the experts, we are listening here to the voices of ordinary citizens, community leaders, social activists, and company workers whose lives were changed by the geothermal project and its ancillary activities,” Aquino continues. “They are, ultimately, the mountain’s most precious resource, to whom this book is warmly dedicated. And as a living mountain, we can expect the story of Mount Apo and its inhabitants to continue. These tales are worth sharing so that they can both enlighten and inspire future generations.”

Voices of the Mountain offers many parallelisms between the mountain and the lives of its residents, and how their fortunes are inevitably connected to the other. It also gives light to the hardwork and dedication of EDC employees as well as the satisfaction they derived from all the challenges they encounter day to day. Overall, the book is a collection of stories about ordinary people and how their actions can sometimes produce extraordinary results.

EDC commissioned prolific and multi-awarded writer Jose “Butch” Dalisay Jr. to write the book. Dalisay has won numerous writing awards and has also authored books on Philippine geothermal development, natural gas exploration, and other aspects of the country’s economic and social life. He teaches English and creative writing at the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, where he also serves as director of the Institute of Creative Writing.

On the other hand, Felix Magno Miguel is responsible for the captivating design and imagery found in the book. He graduated cum laude from the UP College of Fine Arts. He has also won awards from the Manila Critics’ Circle for his book designs. He has distinguished himself in several prestigious art competitions and his works have represented the country in international exhibits.