This past December, I had the privilege of spending time around the Philippines’ remote Balabac region just off the tip of Borneo, where I based myself on the remote Bugsuk Island.
Untouched with turquoise waters, swaying forests of towering palm trees and stretches of white sand beaches, these islands are paradise. Despite this beauty, behind the seemingly idyllic paradise there is an ongoing struggle here, unknown to us around the world. Specifically on Bugsuk, where the indigenous Molbog people have been fighting for their land for over 50 years.
Today, hundreds of acres of Bugsuk island are already owned by a private individual where some of the world’s most expensive peals are farmed. On top of that, developers are now fighting to get their hands on more land on this unspoiled island that belongs to the locals, and their bloodline.
Most locals in southern Palawan and the islands below are indigenous to the Molbog tribe that live along the small municipalities of Balabac.
52 years ago, under the rule of Ferdinand Marcos (the father of the current Filipino president, Bongbong Marcos) martial law was declared over the Philippines in 1972. During this time, over 7,000 hectares of this indigenous land were transferred to the late, extremely wealthy politician and tycoon Eduardo Conjuango.
Under this martial law and usurpation of the land, generations of Molbog people have been displaced from their homes. Along with the Pala’wanese and Kagayanen people, it is estimated that about 3,000 families have been displaced by this reform.
Five years after the land was taken and given to Conjuango, him and his brother brought in Jacques Branellec, a French businessman who they collaborated with to open the pearl farming business, Jewelmer International Corporation.
Before Eduardo Conjuango passed, the San Miguel Corporation-yes the $700+ million dollar corporation operating in food and beverage, fuel, oil, telecommunications and infrastructure-bought the 7,000+ hectares from him in 2020. When he passed away later in June of that year, he was estimated to be worth over $1.1 billion USD.
The Jeweler International Corporation has forcibly displaced the people, destroyed their homes, and taken over the land and water that provided these indigenous people their livelihoods. They’ve taken away the right to fish in their own waters, they’ve taken away the right to settle and live where their families have grown up.
In this 2007 UCA news article, an indigenous man, Renato Santican spoke in detail about armed guards aiming their guns at the locals, taking their boats, nets, and fish, and even detaining local children and holding them in their ‘security headquarters’.
You might be familiar with the winner of the 2024 miss universe pageant’s crown, made of pearls harvested on Bugsuk. To the rest of the world, that is nothing to think twice about. To the indigenous people of Southern Palawan, it is stark reminder of the ongoing situation on their home.
There are many instances of this exact situation happening all around the world, it is not just blood diamonds, it is blood pearls as well.
On June 27th 2024, on the tiny island of Maria Hangin just off of Bugsuk, villagers were visited by the Department of Agrarian Reform who let them know that they were going to immediately start demolishing their homes to build an ‘eco-resort’, a luxury tourism project on both Maria Hangin and Bugsuk island.
With this ‘eco-tourism’ project by the Bricktree Properties Inc. under the San Miguel Corporation, will also come a large landfill and sewage plant on the Molbog people’s homeland.
Two days later on June 29th, armed security surrounded the village with guns, threats, and money to pay them off to leave without putting up a fight. These armed men continue to guard the waters, preventing people from going back home after going out on the water, and they guard the land, even aiming and firing their arms at children.
Over 20 families have taken the money from these groups and uprooted their lives off of the island, but many of the families still remain, fighting for the rights to live on their own land.
28 years after the conflict truly began, the Sambilog-Balik Bugsuk Movement (SBBM) was formed to further advocate for the rightful return of their land, and to further communicate and expose their cause to the rest of the world, while the Department of Agrarian Reform continues to cast a shadow over their struggle.
While walking around Sebaring village on Bugsuk Island, I was invited into homes, into birthday parties, and karaoke sessions complete with 500ml bottles of Red Horse beer. What an amazing experience to have had seeing how the Molbog people live, and to experience the kindness and generosity they showed me as a stranger in their beautiful home.
I look forward to returning to the Balabac area and Bugsuk island in the future, and I look forward to the day that the land is rightfully returned to the Molbog people.
Madigan Murphy 