CRISIS-RIDDEN
Crisis-ridden La Castellana, Negros Occidental remains at the “core of disaster.” When the rainy season arrives, flooding seems inevitable, as four of its rivers remain heavily silted with boulders (giant rocks) and hardened lahar from the restive Mount Kanlaon.
It is no easy task.
The local government of La Castellana appears both helpless and hapless in excavating the pyroclastic debris that has already choked its major waterways.
Vice Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan admitted they lack the funds to support the excavation and hauling of these boulders and hardened lahar.
“We can’t afford such tedious work. It’s financially draining. It could take even three to five years,” Nicor-Mangilimutan told this writer.
With rocks nearly the size of houses, the vice mayor noted that renting specialized heavy equipment to remove, haul, and crush them is extremely costly — more so with hardened lahar.
If these boulders and thick lahar deposits — particularly along Bungahin and Hinduroyan rivers — remain unremoved, neck-deep flooding in much of the town’s poblacion remains a real threat during heavy rains.
This was tragically proven during the onslaught of Typhoon Tino on November 4, 2025, when La Castellana was hit by what residents described as a “brown tsunami” — floodwaters laden with mud and cut logs.
Thirteen La Castelleños died, and some remain missing to this day.
Why?
Because the natural flow of the town’s waterways has already been altered or diverted by unusual sediment deposits spewed by Kanlaon since its unrest began on June 3, 2024.
MISSION EXTRAORDINAIRE
Enter a known altruist in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City — Jerry Sy.
Sy, through his construction company, volunteered to quarry these extraordinary sediments from La Castellana’s four rivers for more than a year — at no cost to the local government.
What a mission extraordinaire, indeed.
When I spoke with Sy, I asked how tedious and costly this undertaking is, especially now that operations have begun after Holy Week.
He replied simply: “For the sake of the people and communities of La Castellana, I’ll do it.”
Then he summed it up in two Hiligaynon words: “Grabe kagasto (too expensive)!”
RAW CHAOS
Seeing the situation firsthand along Bungahin River, I can only conclude that La Castellana’s waterways remain in raw chaos.
The rocks are massive, and the siltation is thick and hardened.
Sy’s company, Silver Dragon, Inc., will undoubtedly face a daunting challenge in clearing these rivers.
Even surface excavation alone will be laborious.
When asked what comes next after clearing operations — and what will happen to the boulders and lahar — Sy said: “Nothing yet. They will just be stockpiled or kept on standby for future use.”
He added that if the town wishes to use them as construction materials, “we will give them, too.”
KNAPPING MISSION
What caught my attention, however, is the possibility of Sy venturing into a so-called knapping mission.
After clearing operations, his company may proceed with comminution — the crushing of stones into aggregates such as crackstone, essential in construction. That is standard.
But knapping is something else. It is the ancient craft of shaping stones into tools, blades, or decorative pieces.
Quite fascinating — especially since the massive stones scattered along La Castellana’s rivers possess a certain rugged beauty from an artist’s perspective.
Any stone sculptor or carver would likely be drawn to them, imagining what could be created from these raw materials.
ARTSY PER SE
It is not far-fetched to think that Sy might venture into stone artistry. He is, by nature, an artistic person. This is evident in his office — from furniture to collections — reflecting a deep appreciation for art.
Should he seriously pursue a knapping mission using La Castellana’s volcanic stones, it would not be surprising to see, one day, striking rock art pieces bearing his imprint.
It will not be easy. But step by step, it is possible. It will take focus, determination, and that unmistakable “gana” (drive) to bring such a unique endeavor to life.
PURPOSE BEYOND SELF
Sy’s work in clearing La Castellana’s rivers of chaotic boulders and hardened lahar is part of a mission extraordinaire. It carries a purpose beyond self — for the environment, for the people, and perhaps even for art.
To me, it reflects a form of quiet, almost divine compassion — one that creates real value for human lives. Such a mission is rare. Yet Sy is wagering his time and resources on it.
At stake is not just his reputation, but the immense challenge of confronting nature itself — those towering rocks that threaten lives and communities.
Still, as I see it, Sy has embraced what can only be described as a calculated gamble in La Castellana’s waterways.
In the end, his selfless act of quarrying boulders and hardened lahar is rooted in kindness and compassion — a mission carried out for the sake of humanity in La Castellana./PN
