Philippines, Harvest of Struggle | Deadliest Journeys

In the south of the Philippines, on the island of Mindanao, modernity has not yet taken over completely. In the heart of Bukidnon province, the rice harvesting cycles dictate the pace of life. After each harvest, the small village of Kalabugao, perched on the mountain, hands over its precious cargo to drivers and brokers responsible for selling it at the market. The 70-kilometer journey to the market, usually a 6-hour trip, can extend over several days during the rainy season due to mudslides and landslides. Time is of the essence for rice delivery because every hour of delay increases the risk of the rice spoiling. Further south, in the Compostela Valley, peculiar trucks named “Saddam,“ after the former Iraqi dictator, make their daily rounds. Their task is to serve the isolated gold mines, carrying bags of precious stones extracted at great risk by the miners.