Philippines: Diving for Gold
Synopsis
Two grams of gold can yield 3,600 pesos for a group of divers in the Bol Sea, where children often work in hazardous underwater conditions.
Synopsis
Rilio Ramos takes his 13-year-old son Atto and his cousin Andro into the swamps of the Philippines in search of gold. They use a car tire air compressor to help Atto dive underwater and dig for gold particles. The Philippines holds the fifth largest gold reserves globally, with many families relying on small-scale mining. Child workers like Atto face dangerous conditions in unregulated mines. In another region, 14-year-old Dennis Jr dives for gold in the Bol Sea, using only a plastic tube for air.
Deep Dive
Why Watch
- Follow Rilio and Atto's daily gold mining quest.
- See how children dive for gold using only a plastic tube.
- Discover the impact of unregulated mining on families.
Did You Know
- The Philippines has the world's fifth largest gold reserve.
- 70% of the gold circulation in the Philippines comes from small mines.
- Atto spends 2 hours underwater collecting mud for gold.
- Each bag of mud weighs 30 kilos, and they need 15 bags for one gram of gold.
Perfect For
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the world's rank of the Philippines in terms of gold reserves?
The Philippines possesses the world's fifth largest gold reserve.
How much gold do small mines in the Philippines contribute to the country's circulation?
Seventy percent of the gold circulation in the country comes from small mines.
What do divers in the Bol Sea use for air while searching for gold?
Divers in the Bol Sea use a plastic tube that spits out compressed air as their only source of air.
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