Forgotten Gold

by Abbie Christel Esguerra, OD Junior Staffer

As the abaka farmers look at their ₱100 bill on their trembling hands, they are not just looking at an ordinary cash but also the life that was slowly being forgotten. While they stare at it deeply, they cannot help but wonder— “As banknotes change to something more modern, what about those strands of gold left behind?”

In the town of Valencia, Negros Oriental, three farmers have long been selling abaka for their daily income. Jun Montecino started when he was 17 years old because he had no other job. Jessie Tumerona was barely 10 years old when he began because his uncle taught him how. Jane Ann Taguiam, a housewife, did it because she wanted to help her husband. Although they are three different people, they all had the same reason on why they were doing it—to earn an income.

Farmers often use abaka to build handicrafts and sell fibers. But apart from that, it can also be used to produce banknotes. So, when they heard that polymer would replace abakas for banknotes, a frightening though comes to mind—”If they consider every strand of it as gold, then what would happen if it vanishes?”

Their job became harder than it already was. Before, it was already risky as it requires strong force to create the abaka fibers. Now, although it poses the same risks, the difference is that their income had decreased.

“Nagulungan ng bato mula sa taas. Kaya ang paa ko, nabali” Jessie shared.

When modernization comes, will their scars be finally healed? Or will their hands and feet bear more wounds?

Despite all of the continuous hardships and trials, the farmers continued their best.

“Natural treasure natin ang abaka, endemic to the Philippines but we are not using it,” Ali Atienza, executive director of Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) said.

Using polymer for our money instead of abaka lessens the opportunities of farmers.

As the farmers pull their abaka stronger, it did not compare to the feeling that their dreams were being pulled away from the other side.

PhilFIDA distributed abaka seedlings to farmers—seedlings that they hoped would sprout into a better future.

But, something can be natural from nature yet it would not matter if all they really seek for is modernization.

For years, the town of Valencia was known for its high quality fiber. But, while they carry the strongest natural fibers but they also bear the hardest battles. Abaka farmers were already considered as one of the poorest farmers. Yet, with calluses and scars on their shakey hands, they do not care if it hurts them because as long they are earning in a clean way, it was more than enough to keep them going.

The strands of gold was never destroyed.

It was forgotten.

As the abaka farmers stores their ₱100 bill with their soar red hands, they are not just putting away a ordinary cash but also the risks they faced while attaining it. While they tuck it deeply into their pockets, they cannot help but wonder—“If the strands of gold soon lose to change, were they ever meant to last?”#