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The awe-inspiring Mt. Pinatubo, a pride of Zambales and one of the greatest known volcanoes throughout the world. It is revered by the Aeta people as sacred.

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The following slides would depict details of Zambales such as its History, Economy, Geography, and Demographics. It would also tackle on the issues the Province is currently facing and its relation to the Sustainable Development Goals of 2015.

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The Sambal people as depicted in the Spanish manuscript known as the Boxer Codex

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Even before the Malays came to our shores, the Aeta people have long inhabited the land that would soon be Zambales. Soon after, the Sambals came after the arrival of the Malays. The word "Sambal" came from the Malay word "Sembah" which means "to worship" as the early Sambals heavily practiced Anitism or the worship of "Anitos": gods of nature and the spirits of their ancestors.

When Spanish forces, led by the renowned conquistador Juan de Salcedo, first explored the area in 1572, they gained the trust of the early Sambals by freeing their chieftain from a Chinese raid party. The unity formed between them led to the province being organized and led to the formation of the first 5 towns: Subic, Botolan, Masinloc, Iba, and Sta. Cruz.

Masinloc was originally its first capital until 1901 when Governor Potenciano Lesaca assigned the town of Iba to instead assume the role due to its strategic location during the American Colonial Era. Zambales was also a major fighting force during World War II against the forces of Imperial Japan as it was a major training area and battlefield for native Guerilla fighters and the American army. Among the soldiers fighting within Zambales was former President Ramon Magsaysay.

In the post World War II era, Zambales has had its fair share of hardships as well. During the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos, the province was heavily militarized as the Sambal people were vocal critics and oppositionists against Martial Law. This led to multiple incidents of violence, especially against the Aeta population. In 1991, Zambales was severely affected by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo which weakened the province's economy and led to a loss of 400 lives and left 22,000 homeless and injured.

In the modern age, Zambales has been a known tourist destination and because of the Scarborough Shoal Standoff or the international tension between The Philippines and China in staking a claim over Scarborough Shoal, a shoal just off the coast of the town of Masinloc, due to its abundance in resources such as natural gases and oils.

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Zambales' economic pillars (Left to Right: Marine resources, Mining, The Zambales Mango, The Zambales Turnips, The Dinamulag Festival.

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Zambales is both abundant in agricultural and marine resources due to it being in between the Zambales Mountain Range and the West Philippine Sea. Among its known agricultural resources would be its Turnips, Carabao Milk, and its famed Mangoes, letting it earn the moniker of "The Mango Capital of Luzon". Its distance near the West Philippine Sea allows better support to the fishing industry and access to other resources such as oil and natural gases such as Hydrogen and Methane.

Zambales is also known as one of the most famous tourist destinations near Manila. Its known as both "The Wreck Diving and Triathlon Capital" and also renowned for its beaches, reefs, waterfalls, forests, valleys, and mountains which attract many adventurers and daredevils for different activities such as using jet-skis, cliff jumping, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, skydiving, hiking, survival training, boating, surfing, island hopping, treetop climbing, cycling, and bird-watching.

Zambales' culture and history also attracts tourists. Examples would be pilgrimages to Our Lady of Poonbato, a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary found by Aetas almost 400 years ago, the Mango or Dinamulag Festival which is a week-long thanksgiving for the prosperous harvests for Mangoes, the Binabayani Festival which commemorates the war between Christian settlers and Animist Sambals, the House of President Ramon Magsaysay, and Fort Paynauen, a former Spanish fort where revolutionary Aetas, Sambals, and Kapampangans were detained in the Colonial Era.

Olongapo City and neighboring Subic are the Party Capitals of the province due to the presence of various clubs, hotels, bars, and restaurants. Subic in particular is also the site of several music festivals and during Holy Week, holds a Mardi Gras feast that lasts for several nights.

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The Aeta, one of the prominent ethnic groups that inhabit Zambales, performing a dance that utilizes the movements of the Dragonfly, Monkey, and Warrior.

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According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Zambales currently has a land area of 3,630.35 square kilometers (sq. km). Its overall population as of 2020 was 909,932, which represented almost 5.23% of the entirety of Central Luzon's population, 1.04% of Luzon's population, and 0.60% of the population of the Philippines.

Although the Aetas and the Sambal are two of the first ethnic groups that have settled in Zambales, the Tagalogs, Ilocanos, Kapampangans, and the Pangasinense or Panggalato people are the 4 other known ethnic groups that constitute Zambales' inhabitants especially due to intermarriage.

Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion of the province, with about 78.22% of the population practicing it. 11.01% belong to other Christian denominations such as the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) and the remaining percentage consists of Non-Christian religions such as Islam, Hinduism, Taoism,and Anitism or Pag-aanito.

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A map of Zambales with all of its known landmarks and features

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Zambales is situated on the Western coasts of the Philippines, directly near the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea. It is bound on the North by Pangasinan, bound on the East by Tarlac and Pampanga, and bound to the South by Bataan.

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Coastal Mining in the town of Masinloc and Mountain Mining within the Zambales Mountain Range. 

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6. ISSUES IN ZAMBALES: OVERMINING AND DAMAGE TO MARINE LIFE AND HABITATS

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6. ISSUES IN ZAMBALES: OVERMINING AND DAMAGE TO MARINE LIFE AND HABITATS

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Any Zambaleño knows that Mining is one of the most prevalent and widespread issues that have been affecting the province's geography, tourism, and the lives of its people. Done by both local and foreign corporations, Mining has had both its pros and its cons within the province.

Mining became a source of livelihood, particularly for Zambaleños in the poverty line. It is also the reason why Subic has become a technological hub within Central Luzon due to the province's abundance in metals such as copper, chromium, iron, and nickel. However, the numerous operations of small scale mining, particularly within the Zambales Mountain Range and within the coastline of the towns of Masinloc and Botolan, have resulted in numerous incidents of environmental hazards such as repeated occurrences of soil erosion, flash floods, loss of wildlife, pollution, and toxic buildup in the marine environment.

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The 17 SDGs as depicted by the United Nations

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7. THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS OR SDGs

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7. THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS OR SDGs

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The Sustainable Development Goals or the SDGs are a group of 17 global goals developed in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly or UN-GA. They are seen as blueprints for a more sustainable future. The 17 SDGs are as follows:

1. No Poverty
2. Zero Hunger
3. Good Health and Well-Being
4. Quality Education
5. Gender Equality
6. Clean Water and Sanitation
7. Affordable and Clean Energy
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
10. Reduced Inequalities
11. Responsible Consumption and Production
13. Climate Action
14. Life Below Water
15. Life on Land
16.  Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
17. Partnership for the Goals.

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The photo above shows the current mining operations currently being conducted on Scarborough Shoal.

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As previously stated, Zambales is a province that relies heavily on its marine resources which not only consist of minerals and gases, but also due to its biodiversity and the dependence of nearby fishermen on its waters. The coasts of Sta. Cruz, Masinloc, Palauig, and  Iba are known for their abundance in coral reefs, numerous species of deep sea fishes, and even squids and octopi. The town of Botolan is a known haven and egg-laying site for Leatherback Sea Turtles.

However, the current mining operations being done have caused foreign particles and chemicals such as Lead, Mercury, Cyanide, and Cadmium to seep into the nearby bodies of waters, particularly in the Sea. This has caused mass deaths of marine organisms and the bleaching of the nearby coral reefs. The water's acidity has also been raised, leading to a lesser chance for these reefs to develop and for marine organisms to find themselves a home. In turn, this causes a shortage for the inhabitants of the coastal areas who depend heavily on fishing as their primary source of income and food.

Hence, SDG 14 or "Life Below Water" is the chosen SDG for this specific issue encountered.

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Juan de Salcedo, the Spanish Conquistador who first made contact with the native Sambals.

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When Spanish forces, led by the renowned conquistador Juan de Salcedo, first explored the area in 1572, they gained the trust of the early Sambals by freeing their chieftain from a Chinese raid party. The unity formed between them led to the province being organized and led to the formation of the first 5 towns: Subic, Botolan, Masinloc, Iba, and Sta. Cruz.

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Former President Ramon Magsaysay in Guerilla gear prior to involving himself within the political world.

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ZAMBALES IN THE AMERICAN ERA AND WORLD WAR II

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ZAMBALES IN THE AMERICAN ERA AND WORLD WAR II

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Masinloc was originally its first capital until 1901 when Governor Potenciano Lesaca assigned the town of Iba to instead assume the role due to its strategic location during the American Colonial Era. Zambales was also a major fighting force during World War II against the forces of Imperial Japan as it was a major training area and battlefield for native Guerilla fighters and the American army. Among the soldiers fighting within Zambales was former President Ramon Magsaysay.

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Due to Zambales being a known area of opposition, it was formerly a site rife with violence due to Martial Law enacted by former President Ferdinand Marcos.

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In the post World War II era, Zambales has had its fair share of hardships as well. During the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos, the province was heavily militarized as the Sambal people were vocal critics and oppositionists against Martial Law. This led to multiple incidents of violence, especially against the Aeta population. In 1991, Zambales was severely affected by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo which weakened the province's economy and led to a loss of 400 lives and left 22,000 homeless and injured.

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In the modern age, Zambales has been a known tourist destination and because of the Scarborough Shoal Standoff or the international tension between The Philippines and China in staking a claim over Scarborough Shoal, a shoal just off the coast of the town of Masinloc, due to its abundance in resources such as natural gases and oils.

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A replica of Inang Poonbato, the miraculous image of the Virgin Mary found by the Aeta Chieftain Pan-Djadig 400 years ago.

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Zambales' culture and history also attracts tourists. Examples would be pilgrimages to Our Lady of Poonbato, a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary found by Aetas almost 400 years ago, the Mango or Dinamulag Festival which is a week-long thanksgiving for the prosperous harvests for Mangoes, the Binabayani Festival which commemorates the war between Christian settlers and Animist Sambals, the House of President Ramon Magsaysay, and Fort Paynauen, a former Spanish fort where revolutionary Aetas, Sambals, and Kapampangans were detained in the Colonial Era.

Olongapo City and neighboring Subic are the Party Capitals of the province due to the presence of various clubs, hotels, bars, and restaurants. Subic in particular is also the site of several music festivals and during Holy Week, holds a Mardi Gras feast that lasts for several nights.

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The Province of Zambales is known for the different spectrums of its natural features like Volcanoes such as Mt. Pinatubo which last erupted in 1991 are some of its known features. It also has the Zambales Mountain Range which are heavily mined due to its rich deposits of metals particularly chromium, iron, and nickel in the Northern regions. Due to Mt. Pinatubo's eruption, many open areas, such as in the town of Botolan, are covered in lahar or fragments of volcanic flow. Zambales also has numerous bodies of water that attract different travelers such as the rivers of Bagsit, Bancal, and Pamulaklaki, Uacon Lake, Nagsasa and Anawangin Cove, Pundaquit Island, and Magalawa Island.

The Northern parts of Zambales, particularly in the towns of Masinloc to Sta. Cruz, are usually swampy and rich in Mangrove trees which local fishermen have learned to harness to aid in fishing. Lastly, the province is also abundant in open fields and forests in both lowlands and highlands. Its moniker of "One of the Mango Capitals of the Philippines" comes from the fact that its terrain and climate are well suited for the growth of its sweet mangoes.

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The Sta. Cruz portion of the Zambales Mountain Range under heavy mining operations. Almost 128,426 metric tons were taken.

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It is common knowledge to know that Mining is also a field that involves taking and harnessing geological resources for the general benefit of all. We cannot deny that mining is responsible for some of the comforts we have in life such as building materials for homes and infrastructure, potential sources of renewable energy, low-cost electricity, and minerals used in the food and medical industry.

However, in the case of Zambales, Overmining, or the act of mining a specific area excessively to the point of the depletion of the mined area's resources, is a common occurrence. The excessive mining done in the province, particularly by private firms, has caused wide-scale destruction to both the industry, the nearby wildlife, the environment, and to communities nearby who are at risk of being affected by Erosions when the rainy season comes.

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10. MEASURES THAT CAN BE TAKEN ON OVER-MINING

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10. MEASURES THAT CAN BE TAKEN ON OVER-MINING

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In countering excessive mining or overmining, technology is just one of several measures that can be taken. It would be best to utilize measures and analytics-based technology. Measures such as minimizing the use of water, chemicals, and amounts mined by formulating and strictly implementing policies that would regulate the amount (metric tons) of rocks and minerals mined over a specific duration within a designated area. Promoting the repurposing of waste rock or rocks that have been discarded in the mining processes into being resources that could be helpful such as helping further in the mining process, fuel, and construction materials for repairs in any destruction that mining may have caused.

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A damaged portion of a coral reef off the coast of the town of Palauig, Zambales.

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Soil and water treatments of affected areas are crucial steps in solving the crisis of marine damage due to irresponsible mining. However, according to the American Geosciences Institute, the treatment of soil and water usually involves the oxidation of sulfide minerals such as Iron Sulfide. The oxidation of sulfide minerals allows the production of acidic conditions that, in turn, also allow the spread of heavy metals in the water such as cadmium, nickel, iron, copper, chromium, and mercury.

In Water Treatment, the most common countermeasures for metal filled and acidic waters usually involves adding neutralizers such as lime or calcium hydroxide, a low cost and low toxicity choice. Lime works by precipitating heavy metals within the water, however this requires an expensive construction of a treatment facility and its long-term maintenance. A negative effect of this would be that treatment plants usually generate large volumes of industrial sludge, which may also cause further destruction of marine life and resources. Hence, proper sludge disposal is a major issue.

For waters with low volumes of heavy metals and low levels of acidity, a passive wetland treatment system is usually utilized. This involves the use of sulfate reducing bacteria which is capable of neutralizing acids and heavy metals. Additionally, it has the benefit of improving wildlife habitats.

In Situ or On-Site Water Treatment is a broad range of different techniques done to waters that have also been affected by industrial actions such as mining. Similar to the passive wetland system, it utilizes microbial remedies with the addition of using aquatic plants and animals.

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