The Ilocos black gold

Episode on November 12, 2007 Monday late night after Saksi To the people of Burgos, Ilocos Norte, the perilous waves of the ocean carry a rare treasure. At this time of year, the harvest season for “gamet" begins. Gamet is an expensive black seaweed which sporadically grows on the rocks and coral reefs along the shorelines of Burgos. Gamet is similar to “nori", the sushi wrappers of Japan. Each small mat of gamet costs beween five and six hundred pesos. Because of its value, gatherers call it black gold. In her I-Witness documentary, Sandra Aguinaldo documents the death-defying harvest of gamet, where gatherers must outrun treacherous waves and climb sharp rocks in order to find and collect the prized seaweed. In order to save her own life, Becca Trinidad put her life on the line every time she goes on a gamet harvest. Becca has breast cancer, and it is through gamet collection that she is able to buy her medication as well as provide for her family. Roland Navarro began gathering gamet at the age of 10. Now at 42, Roland is considered the bravest gamet harvester in town. Through his skill, he has been able to send his children to school. But others are not as lucky. Just a week ago, two gatherers died after they were slammed by giant waves against rocks. Join Sandra Aguinaldo and the townsfolk of Burgos as they risk their lives for black gold in the midst of a typhoon, this Monday late night over GMA-7’s i-Witness.

---

Para sa mga taga-Burgos, Ilocos Norte, dala ng mga dambuhalang alon ng karagatan ang pinakaaasam nilang ginto. Tuwing buwan ng Nobyembre, sabay-sabay na sinusuong ng mga taga-Burgos ang matutulis na batuhan at nakikipag-unahan sa malalaking alon para manguha ng “gamet," isang uri ng seaweed. Dahil sa kamahalan ng gamet, tinawag itong “Black Gold" ng mga taga-Burgos. Ang presyo kasi, umaabot sa anim na raang piso kada isang banig. Kaya hindi alintana ng mga kumukuha nito ang panganib ng dagat. Nitong nakaraang linggo lang, dalawang buhay ang kinuha na naman ng karagatan nang dahil sa paggagamet. Pero sa kabila nito, walang takot pa ring nangunguha ng gamet si Roland Navarro. Sampung taon pa lang si Roland nang magsimula siyang manguha ng gamet. Ito ang ipinangtutustos niya ngayon sa pag-aaral ng kanyang mga anak. Si Becca Trinidad naman, isinusugal ang buhay para madugtungan ang kanyang buhay. May breast cancer si Becca, at ang kita nilang mag-asawa sa pagbebenta ng gamet ang pinambibili niya ng gamot na panlaban sa cancer. Sa gitna ng pananalasa ng bagyong Kabayan, naghihintay ang mga taga-Burgos ng pagkakataong makakuha ng gintong magbibigay sa kanila ng maaliwalas na buhay. Samahan si Sandra Aguinaldo at sundan ang pagtataya ng buhay ng mga nangunguha ng gamet sa i-Witness ngayong Lunes ng hatinggabi, pagkatapos ng Saksi sa GMA-7.