Multo ng Isla, $100m settlement, and the continuing quest for Rights of Nature
Marinduque, Philippines – The Marinduque State University (MarSU) Theatre Guild commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Marcopper Mining disaster with the play “𝘔𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘨 𝘐𝘴𝘭𝘢”. The play was staged at the MarSU Quadrangle on March 25 and at the Marinduque Expo last March 28. It reflected on one of the Philippines’ most devastating environmental tragedies, which continues to impact Marinduque’s communities and ecosystems three decades later.
“Multo ng Isla” used symbolic storytelling to follow Nina, her grandfather Lolo Tasyo, and friends Tinay and Kaloy. They encountered ghostly figures representing rivers, mountains, and landscapes scarred by the mining. These haunting images conveyed the fragility of Marinduque’s environment, and the deep social wounds left behind. By blending folklore and memory, the play highlighted how art can preserve history and raise awareness of ecological issues.
The performance conveyed the central message, while brief remarks from MACEC Secretariat Head Elizabeth Manggol, Dr. Randy Nobleza, Head of Sentro ng Wika at Kultura, and Artistic Director Carl Ian Lagar reinforced the community’s pursuit of justice, the struggles faced, and theatre’s role in preserving collective memory. These remarks did not overshadow the play.
Ultimately, “Multo ng Isla” was more than an artistic tribute. It served as a call to action, urging accountability, environmental justice, and the protection of Marinduque’s natural heritage. Thirty years after the Marcopper tragedy, it remains a powerful reminder of the need to safeguard communities from ecological harm.
As the Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns (MACEC) held a roundtable discussion last March 24, “ipamana, huwag impamina” (let the future generation inherit the island by not allowing mining). The student director of MarSU Theater Guild, Kyle Angles, remarked, “Sa loob ng tatlong dekada ng pakikipagsigawan para sa hustisya, muling nagparamdam ang mga multo ng ating isla ng mga tinig ng nakaraan na patuloy na nananawagan at nais marinig. Ngayon, sila ay hindi na lamang alaala, kundi buhay na kuwento na ating ipinapasa sa kasalukuyan. Taos-pusong pasasalamat sa lahat ng mga estudyante ng MarSU na nakiisa at nanood ng aming pagtatanghal. Ang inyong suporta ang nagbibigay-buhay sa sining at sa mensaheng nais naming iparating.”
Multo ng Isla was originally intended for online screening with the help of PETA (Philippine Educational Theater Association) Lingap Sining in 2022, just prior to the elections. Then it was mounted during an arts appreciation culminating activity last year. Then there was a recorded reiteration by the BS Social Work students for the 2025 10th Dalumat Colloquium of the MarSU College of Arts and Social Sciences. Through this literary spectacle, may raise awareness about the Rights of Nature campaign, Marinduque no go for mining, and the $100m settlement agreement. # Randy T. Nobleza, Ph.D.
