- 5/31/2025
The Aurora Province is located on the East-Central part of Luzon Island, the main Island of the Philippines. The province of Aurora covers the eastern portion of the Sierra Madre Mountains, hence it is generally mountainous. Its coastline spans 332 kilometres in length. Aurora is a province blessed with an abundance of tourist attractions. It has its share of historical sites such as the home and resthouse of former Phil-ippine President Manuel L. Quezon. The province also has a beautiful Catholic church and several historical markers. Its natural attractions include picturesque waterfalls, lush greenery on mountainsides, and panoramic beaches. Surfing, snorkelling, scuba diving, mountain climb-ing and trekking are only some of the activities you can enjoy in Aurora. The social life is dominated by a mixture of old traditions of the natives and modern arts. So the displeasing dances of former head hunters can be admired as well as the work of highly talented artists of today's time. The population lives predominantly on farming and skilled crafts. It is conspicuous how engaged scientists work out solutions for an eco-logical lasting way of managing agriculture and to increase the conser-vation management. The influence of Spanish conquerors in Auroras history is still present at many places trough to the architectural style of historic buildings. Also a big Part of the population is Catholic.
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00:00I love you
00:30For many people groups on Earth, it is very important to them to preserve their traditions
00:53and to treat the beauty of their natural environment as the priceless treasure that it is.
01:00It is different in Aurora.
01:02Here the traditional and the modern coexist in harmony with one another.
01:23The Filipino province of Aurora is situated on the east coast of the northern part of
01:27the main island, about five hours' drive from the capital city of Manila.
01:32It is a small strip of land between the Sierra Madre Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.
01:39Aurora means pre-dawn light.
01:42And that is fitting, as this is the place the morning sun hits the Philippine Islands first.
01:49Aurora's landscape makes the region a land of contrasts, a place of peaceful yet passionate beauty.
02:01The Philippines' largest forests are located here.
02:04About 70% of the region is covered with rainforest and offers refuge for many animals.
02:11The Philippine deer is one of them, as well as the Filipino rhinoceros berg, or hornbill.
02:20He often suffers the consequences of the destruction of his natural habitat.
02:25But here in Aurora, he finds refuge.
02:32Aurora is the land of waterfalls.
02:34The Titumabu waterfall, for example, cascades down a 40-meter-high cliff face.
02:39The clear water makes its way down into the valley, over other cliffs, and around other rocky obstacles in its way.
02:50In the midst of the wild flora lies the mother waterfall.
02:54The cool mountain water flowing down its overgrown face fills the crystal-clear pool that is formed at its base.
03:01It is a welcome salve to our travel-weary bones after our long trek to get here.
03:12Hidden deep in the mountain rainforests, we discover the spectacular Dibolo Falls.
03:18This 80-meter-high waterfall is located in Dilasak, the northernmost community in Aurora.
03:24Primates, such as the Filipino macaques, call the rainforests their home.
03:29This one is looking for something edible in the crown of the trees.
03:32A few guavas are his reward.
03:38But they don't seem to be quite his taste.
03:41These small monkeys are also called shrimp-eating macaques.
03:45They like to augment their diet with seafood that they find in the mangrove thickets.
03:53Has he found something?
03:56Sadly not.
03:57Another macaque takes the time to enjoy a banana.
04:05The other's good fortune seems to make our friend a bit sad.
04:08But he has no choice but to resign himself to just keep on foraging for his next morsel.
04:15Aurora's vast rainforest has only been partially explored.
04:19Scientists expect to find yet unknown types of plants and animals as they press in to unexplored parts of the jungle.
04:26Arvind C. DeMoss of the National Museum in Manila is a hepatologist, a snake expert.
04:32He is leading the expedition.
04:34The oriental whip-adder is well camouflaged in the leafy canopy flooded by sunlight.
04:40But on darker leaves, our snake expert spots them very quickly.
04:43To get the measurements he needs, the snake is packed securely.
04:50Our expert assures us that that is not done out of fear.
04:53This is a completely harmless snake.
04:58And it's one of those very common forest species of snake that you find on top of trees.
05:07And you seldom find them outside of the forest habitats.
05:12This is quite common in the forest of the Sierra Madres in Aurora province.
05:17But it's also found in other places of the Philippines.
05:23The mountain streams flow fresh and clear in the direction of the wide valleys.
05:28The Sierra Madre mountains dominate Aurora's landscape.
05:35But there are also broad expanses of cultivated agricultural land.
05:39A variety of field crops are grown here, such as coffee, peanuts, corn, and other vegetables.
05:49Rice is an extremely successful crop in Aurora, thanks to a well-developed irrigation system.
05:55The system allows water to be sent to exactly where it is needed, when it is needed.
06:00Nature rewards the farmers' tedious work of planting the rice plants by hand.
06:06In this climate, the farmers are able to harvest the fields up to twice a year.
06:11After it is harvested, the rice is dried at the side of the road.
06:15Moist rice spoils very quickly.
06:18After a few hours under the tropical sun, the grains of rice still in their husks
06:22are packed in bags and transported to a modern rice mill.
06:26The mill is the result of a cooperative effort with the government of South Korea.
06:32Aurora's agriculture is very diversified.
06:35Fruit grows here in abundance, and there are many different kinds.
06:39Papaya, avocado, or dragon fruit.
06:44Bananas also grow all over the place here.
06:47There is even an indigenous type, the saba banana.
06:51Some claim that the sweetest pineapples in the entire Philippines
06:55grow right here in these fields.
06:58Extensive coconut plantations produce fruit that are a good 20% larger and more heavy
07:04than the country average.
07:07It's no wonder that coconut juice is a favorite thirst quencher in this area.
07:14This majestic tree is called the millennium tree.
07:17It is a fig tree belonging to the Phiccus bengalensis family.
07:21They are also referred to as strangulation fig trees.
07:25In the course of its growth, the host tree dies, leaving a hollow center.
07:30Biologists have determined that this tree is between 400 and 600 years old.
07:35Aurora's eastern flank is a 410-kilometer-long coastline on the Pacific Ocean.
07:47The oldest mangroves in the Philippines are found here.
07:51They provide habitat for a myriad of animals, among them the mudskipper, for example.
08:00When the tide goes out, the fish come out of their caves to feed on the mud banks.
08:05The mangrove crabs make their home around the aerial roots of the mangroves.
08:15These crabs are only two centimeters in size, and yet pretty courageous,
08:20as this battle over a fallen leaf shows.
08:22And, as is the case so often in life, the stronger one takes the prize.
08:35The ocean reefs along Aurora's coast are still completely undisturbed in many places.
08:41Divers and snorkelers glide along in a virtual underwater paradise among an impressive variety of sea life.
08:48Hermit crabs are at home here, as well as the giant clam.
08:55A distant relative of the giant clam is the Kauri snail.
08:59It has become very rare in most places.
09:02It has been hunted to near extinction because of its shell.
09:05In Aurora's marine environmental reserve, it is still able to flourish.
09:12In contrast to their relatives on land,
09:15the nudibranchs, or marine slugs, are particularly beautiful and exquisitely colored.
09:20Instead of carrying a shell on their backs,
09:22they carry their breathing apparatus, feathery gill sacks.
09:28The clownfish, well-loved thanks to a popular animated film,
09:32finds his refuge among the poisonous tentacles of the sea anemone.
09:36Our journey takes us on to the Kasapsapan Bay,
09:41where a member of the Dumagat tribe demonstrates his fishing skills.
09:47His name is Francis.
09:49The small Dumagat tribe has preserved many of its traditions over the centuries.
09:54Among them is the art of fishing by casting a net.
09:57Unfortunately, today he catches nothing and returns to his clan empty-handed.
10:08Francis lives in the nearby Dumagat village,
10:11not far from the community of Kasiguran in the northern part of Aurora.
10:17The Dumagat are half-nomads and move their dwelling place
10:21according to prevailing conditions and the availability of food.
10:24When resources run out in one place, they move on.
10:29They will not return to the same place for many years.
10:32That gives nature sufficient time to regenerate.
10:43The Dumagat are a very creative people.
10:48The spear this member of the tribe is crafting will serve as an excellent harpoon.
10:54In the last few years, Francis repairs his diving goggles.
11:08Harpoon in hand, he embarks on his next fishing expedition.
11:15Another group of Dumagat forages for food in the bushland, a bit further inland.
11:24In the meantime, the women prepare the dwellings.
11:28The Dumagat live mainly from foraging, fishing, hunting, and a little bit of farming.
11:34They know their natural habitat like the backs of their hands,
11:38and they are expert marksmen with a bow and arrow.
11:55Then they continue to search for lots of tournaments still gorgo.
11:56Then the people in the sea every little water줄 here in the sea.
11:59In the meantime, the valley has a great impact.
12:02You know you hang with a little kry Raht,
12:04and how do you manage that as well?
12:05You've got to give out all the deep directions about tors
12:09yourude
12:13and do your folklore to the sea in vitor.
12:13There's more clues on that is,
12:14what's the best mystery?
12:15Nature-based, and what's outside?
12:15What's the amusementoryMAat,
12:16the exception may be fed at kind of time this semester.
12:18In this particular ideology and from getting time,
12:20раели oribus,
12:52The history of Aurora has inspired countless local and international artists to some of their best works.
13:16Whether events out of the distant past or our more recent history, there is a good chance that they are reflected in Aurora's works of art.
13:28Archaeological proof of Aurora's settlement by the Dumagat and other tribes has existed since the 14th century.
13:41The first Spanish expedition to the Philippines took place in 1521.
13:48The Philippines were conquered less by politics or military force than by evangelization.
13:56The Franciscan monk, Blas Palomino, arrived in the coastal city of Baller in 1609 and converted the local farmers, fishermen and hunters to Christianity.
14:08The first church was built in 1611 and dedicated to St. Louis Obispo, who remains the patron saint of the city to this day.
14:18A dramatic event on December 26, 1735, documents the resilience of the inhabitants of Baller.
14:27This monument, the Tromba Marina, stands as an everlasting testimony.
14:32During the night of the tsunami, a tsunami devastated the city.
14:36Some of the people took refuge in the church and miraculously survived.
14:41Others were able to swim to a hill, which is still known as Ermita Hill.
14:47The most influential families in Aurora are descendants of those who survived the tsunami.
14:54They are the ones who rebuilt Baller about five kilometers further inland.
15:10The church was rebuilt as well.
15:12Out of this dramatic experience, the Franciscan monks had it built as if it were to be a fortress.
15:21During the Filipino Revolution, the church was the location of one of the most heroic battles in the history of the Philippines, the Siege of Baller.
15:30The survivors were celebrated as heroes in Spain and became famous through the classic film, Los Ultimos de Filipinas.
15:37On June 30, 1898, a garrison of 54 Spanish soldiers, among them a priest, barricaded themselves in the church.
15:46They anticipated an attack by the revolutionary army, the Capituneros.
15:53The Spaniards held their position for 337 days in spite of illness, desertions and death.
16:02They held the position for their fatherland and refused to believe that the war would end during the time of the siege.
16:10When they finally surrendered on June 2, 1899, there were only 35 of them left alive.
16:21The Capituneros and the inhabitants of Baller granted them safe passage to Spain, where they were celebrated as heroes.
16:28The more than 400-year-old church in Baller has survived natural disasters and man-made catastrophes over the centuries.
16:42In 1939, under the supervision of the country's First Lady, Dona Aurora Quezon, the church was renovated from the ground up and is now protected as a historical national monument.
16:57The siege of Baller was one of the longest in modern military history.
17:16To commemorate all of these historical events, Aurora celebrates the Filipino-Spanish Day of Friendship every year.
17:23The festivities are carried out with all military honors and are attended by high-ranking government officials and the Spanish ambassador.
17:38For one of the celebrations, young people paint the sails of these boats with scenes of the siege.
17:53The colonial occupation of Aurora is commemorated for an entire weekend with cultural events put on by both countries.
18:01That promotes tolerance and increases the common understanding between the two peoples.
18:13A triathlon has recently been added to the program.
18:16The swim-bike run is a friendly competition which draws athletes from all over the country.
18:30Following these footprints leads us right to Baller's museum.
18:36Behind its doors, the visitor is presented with the highlights of the local history and culture.
18:41Relics, works of art and photographs make up most of the display.
18:48Nemesio Diego Jr. from the National Museum in Manila illustrated Aurora's wealth of flora for the museum.
18:55A complete section of the museum is dedicated to the display of Aurora's natural riches.
19:00Right next door, the museum has dedicated a display to the Ilongot tribe.
19:18This tribe was nearly wiped out by countless blood feuds.
19:21Even though modern life has an ever greater influence on their lifestyle, the remaining Ilongot still hunt regularly.
19:29They use improvised animal calls to lure their prey out of hiding.
19:34Their most common prey includes ape, deer and wild pigs.
19:38They hunt with traps, spears or bows and arrows.
19:42The women of the tribe carry their load as well.
19:52Among other things, they gather various fruits and vegetables to augment the tribe's diet.
19:58Over the generations they have learned to differentiate between edible and poisonous plants.
20:03Even when they look nearly exactly alike, like these two.
20:06They also take care of the rice harvest.
20:10They separate the valuable grain from the chaff using heavy wooden poles.
20:14When an Ilongot man wants to make his interest in a woman known,
20:18he will try to help her in her work as often as possible,
20:22in the hope of being able to briefly stroke her hand while they work.
20:28The Ilongot are expert climbers and use a special raton rope to get up into the trees.
20:33From there, they connect strong branches and the crowns of the trees together using durable raton lines.
20:40It takes a lot of practice to develop the skill required to move gracefully among the treetops along this raton highway.
20:47In this way, they are able to cut the wood they need without having to fell the entire tree.
20:52When the tribal elders tell the children exciting stories, they are also passing on the cultural rules of the tribe.
21:07This ancient teaching method is practiced by many primitive peoples.
21:10The Ilongot have a long history of headhunting.
21:19Before the Spaniards arrived, headhunting was quite common among Filipino tribes.
21:24The Ilongot continued this tradition until far into the 1970s.
21:29The violence did not even stop at the boundary of one's own family.
21:32This forced the Ilongot to put distance between themselves and spread out over large areas.
21:39The performance of the headhunting ritual is a reminder of those violent times.
21:45In times past, the men would have thrown the heads of their enemies to the ground and mocked and ridiculed them.
21:50Only if a man were a successful headhunter would he be allowed to wear the headdress of the hornbill or rhinoceros bird.
22:09Their rituals and festivals are not the only things accompanied by music and dance.
22:13The Ilongot dance to everything from the hunt to weddings to death and war.
22:20The tagem, a dance performed after the hunt, shows the aggressive manner with which the Ilongot handle their weapons to this day.
22:29The women, on the other hand, reveal a peaceful aspect of the dance one would not expect from the former headhunters.
22:36Music is made with traditional instruments, such as the bamboo guitar or zither, the bamboo fiddle and the flute.
22:54The advancement of civilization in the Philippines has not weakened the established tribal culture of the Ilongot.
23:00It is carried on to this day.
23:06The hunters have brought back a wild pig.
23:11The meat is cooked or grilled and everyone takes part in the meal.
23:15Everyone gets an equal share.
23:24As almost all Filipinos, the peoples of Aurora are very religious and treat all religious people with respect.
23:31The local people have maintained their ancient beliefs and merged Christianity with them when it came on the scene later.
23:44Today, Christians make up the majority of the population.
23:48As in most of the rest of the country, the people of Aurora deny themselves by fasting during the week of Easter.
23:54On Good Friday, the believers carry their Christian icons through the streets of the cities in solemn procession.
24:03Clothed only in a skirt of coconut leaves and a crown of leaves, some extreme believers begin a long and painful process of self-chastisement.
24:13They beat themselves on the back with whips tipped with sharp bits of wood.
24:20In addition, the skin of their backs is cut open with razor blades to ensure that sufficient blood flows in this attempt to share in the sufferings of Jesus Christ.
24:27And the blade used on each believer is not always a fresh one.
24:36Easter Sunday is the climax of the celebrations.
24:40Church services and processions take place throughout the day.
24:44The local faith healers and many other believers put amulets and talismans in the glass coffin of Santinchero to have it laid at the feet of a statue of Jesus.
25:10That is supposed to bring good luck during the year until the next procession.
25:16The coming of the Holy Spirit, symbolized by lighting the fire, marks the end of the Easter celebrations.
25:27Aurora also cultivates more modern, secular forms of art.
25:31In Baller alone, there are several choirs that are renowned far beyond the borders of the province.
25:40The bells of Baller, for example, combine beauty with gentle voices.
25:44Only few artists are able to play the rondalia, a twelve-strength guitar, with such perfection and feeling.
26:00This group with their skill and the charm of their traditional dress leaves a lasting impression.
26:05The angklong, made from bamboo, produces only one note.
26:21An entire ensemble is required to play a complete song.
26:25A group like this children's orchestra, for example.
26:27Aurora's capital city of Baller boasts of the oldest community theater in the Philippines, the Comedia de Balear.
26:45The pieces performed here deal with typical themes of classic Comedia.
26:51The conflict between Muslims and Christians.
26:54Complex costumes, choreography and real weapons play a major role in the very lively theater productions.
27:02The comedy Conde Orbano deals with an Albanian prince who takes part in a tournament to win the hand of a princess.
27:09The piece was performed for the first time in Baller on the 24th of October 1927, the day of the patron saint, Raphael.
27:19The art academy in Baller offers youth an education in the arts, but it is not the only place for artists, and those who would like to become artists, can express their passion.
27:44This is an artist colony on the Dicasalarin Bay.
27:50Here, creative individuals find display rooms, studios, and places to work together.
28:04Under the patronage of experienced artists, such as Sherwin Gonzalez, for example, developing local artists are helped along their way.
28:11The landscape around Aurora is breathtakingly gorgeous.
28:21It invites the visitor to admire its rugged coastlines and to explore the inland mountains.
28:26Mountain bikes are the right vehicles for that.
28:37Many of the roads in the Sierra Madre Mountains are still mere dirt trails.
28:41All of the many rivers in Aurora empty into the Pacific Ocean.
28:58The Sierra Madre Mountains form a useful watershed, protecting the backlands from storms, and the romantic beaches seem to go on forever.
29:06Heavy surf doesn't come up all the time, but seasonally, the waves can get up to three meters high.
29:20It is only natural that water sports like surfing would be very popular among the younger generation here.
29:25The numerous beaches offer beginners as well as experts the chance to show what they can do.
29:31And when the ocean is calm, they simply enjoy the pleasant climate.
29:35In Aurora, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, or PAGASA, which means hope in Filipino,
29:50maintains one of the two weather radar stations in the country.
29:54It is a vital link in the Southeast Asian weather forecasting system and provides storm warnings for the more than 7,000 islands of the Philippine archipelago and the surrounding region.
30:03In addition to the radar, the weather station keeps track of cloud formation and temperature development of the ocean water.
30:11The weather can turn within moments between the Sierra Madre Mountains and the ocean.
30:18In the best case, that results in fantastic waves for the surfers.
30:22Surfing became popular during the American occupation after World War II.
30:27Soldiers from California brought their surfboards along with them.
30:33According to the locals, even Hollywood has been to Aurora.
30:37Francis Ford Coppola's film crew supposedly shot the napalm attack scenes in the American war film Apocalypse Now, as well as the famous scene of the surfing general here.
30:47According to legend, the actors left the first surfboards behind on Ballers Beach.
30:56Today, Aurora is one of the bastions of the Filipino surfing scene.
31:01The number of surfers coming here to find the perfect wave has grown astronomically over the past few years.
31:06Some of the most modern hotels in the country have been built in Aurora to accommodate a growing number of tourists.
31:15Amper Beach is located to the north of Baller.
31:21The dark pebble beach is a local insider's tip and only rarely visited by tourists.
31:26Casiguran is the second oldest city in the province.
31:35It lies in a natural harbor that was used already by the Spaniards to anchor their galleons.
31:41The bay is protected by the San Ildefonso Peninsula.
31:45The Kasapsapan beach is located on the northern side of the peninsula.
31:54Someday, its fine white sand will certainly attract numerous visitors.
31:58But for now, hardly any tourists find their way to this isolated paradise.
32:03Only one of Aurora's eight communities is landlocked with no direct access to the ocean.
32:08So it is no wonder that fishing is the main source of income for about a third of the region's population.
32:17The fresh catches are taken to the market daily and prepared then and there for final consumption.
32:24High quality fish is the rule here.
32:29Most customers buy their fish fresh each day.
32:33There are not enough refrigeration possibilities in the country to allow for longer storage.
32:37But the great catches of fish have a dark side to them.
32:41No nation in the world could equal the wealth, the beauty and the biodiversity of our seas.
32:49But lately, our seas have been depleted because of the combination of neglect and abuse made by the fishermen themselves.
32:59So our seas became depleted and the government has to look for a new source of food for our ever increasing population.
33:12And this new source is aquaculture or fish farming.
33:15This aquaculture facility is a government-funded pilot project.
33:20In the 321 hectare facility, one hectare being 10,000 square meters, fish are being raised for human consumption.
33:27With this project and others like it, the government hopes to assure a significant increase in fish production in the years to come.
33:35Scientists are working to optimize every step of the process as they go along.
33:43Besides working with enclosed fish ponds, tests are being carried out in permanent net facilities in the open waters of the ocean as well.
33:50Some things have already become clear.
33:53Protected from their natural enemies, the fish have a better chance of survival.
33:57And thanks to regular feeding, they grow more quickly.
34:02In Aurora, the importance of the ocean to the human population has been recognized and large areas have been placed under environmental protection.
34:11That has saved many natural habitats from serious damage.
34:13Where the ocean meets the land, mangrove forests have developed over eons of time.
34:20They form one of the most complex ecosystems on Earth.
34:24The mangroves serve as nurseries for young fish and as habitat for crabs and other shellfish, as well as the smallest of life forms.
34:32The University of the Philippines carries out regular research projects under the leadership of Dr. Miguel Fortes.
34:38The mangroves serve not only as a natural habitat, but also as a type of coastal line of defense against the forces of erosion, storms and tsunamis.
34:49If you look at the normal arrangement or sequence of ecosystems, deeper area of the coral reefs, shallower area of the sea grass beds, and the shallowest you have the mangroves.
35:00In terms of dissipation of the impact of waves, the coral reefs is the first line of defense among those three.
35:10And with the contribution of the sea grass beds, the waves are much uptenuated, and then finally the mangroves.
35:18So those three really act as one to protect the coast.
35:21The Aurora State College of Technology, ASCOT for short, is a driving force behind the protection of the ocean.
35:31It is Aurora's most highly respected institute of higher learning and works closely with the Institute of Oceanography of the University of the Philippines.
35:39Work is being done in cooperation with other institutions as well to find new methods of using marine biological resources more wisely.
35:50For example, algae are well suited as animal fodder, but also in the production of biodiesel.
35:58The ocean has already provided us with ingredients that have become a standard part of our diet.
36:05One example being brown algae extracts used in the production of yogurt and gummy bears.
36:16The ocean is a virtually immeasurable source of new elements which are playing an ever greater role,
36:22not only in the food industry, but also in the pharmaceutical branch.
36:28That is another reason to invest in the protection and preservation of the world's oceans.
36:33Aurora has many untapped resources that have never been studied before.
36:41I think it will open up a big area for the people in Aurora, for the young scientists to tap the treasures of their marine environment.
36:53A multitude of culinary jewels can also be found in Aurora thanks to fresh ingredients from the land and the ocean.
37:02Aurora's cuisine is simple but authentic. Homemade dishes are rich in aroma and flavor.
37:08Visitors find culinary delights of a special kind in Aurora's restaurants.
37:15In Saladang Paco, for example, consists of fern-like leaves dressed with tomatoes and onions.
37:21Adobu is a Filipino delicacy. The version made in Balar is particularly tasty because it is cooked not only in vinegar but also in coconut milk.
37:34Sometimes fern is added.
37:36This specialty of Aurora's cuisine is known far beyond the borders of the province.
37:49Suman is a kind of rice pudding. The purple-colored rice is a special type which grows in the mountains of Aurora.
37:56Suman is made fresh daily. Without preservatives, it would spoil in a very short time.
38:05Suman is already very tasty on its own, but it can also be combined with other specialties.
38:10Coconut marmalade and peanut butter, for example.
38:19Aurora's cultural history is reflected in its traditions and handcrafts.
38:23They testify to the creativity and active fantasy of its people.
38:30In every community, there are entire businesses built around processing local materials by hand.
38:38These businesses not only produce additional income, but also help retain the artistry of the ancestors.
38:47The production of basket-woven products is particularly widespread.
38:50Raton is a thin, very flexible, vine-like palm which grows almost everywhere in Aurora.
38:57Robust and lightweight at the same time, it is used in artistic handcrafts and for making furniture.
39:05The flexible raton can be woven into many different products, from simple mats to vases and baskets, up to larger pieces of furniture like chairs or tables.
39:15Large areas of land in Aurora are designated to the so-called tree of life, the coconut palm.
39:25Every bit of the coconut is put to use.
39:29Even the rough fibers of the coconut husk are used, as filler material for German automobile seats, for example.
39:35But a local industry has also developed around the coconut fiber.
39:43Machines separate the long, soft fibers from the more coarse, short ones.
39:48Another machine is used to extract even the last fibers from the coconut.
39:53In the threshing machine, what was a solid shell a moment ago, is reduced to nothing more than a pile of fibers.
40:03Coconut rope can be spun from the fibers and used in other products.
40:11Some are made into flower pots or floor mats.
40:13By far the greatest portion is used to make nets. Buried under a layer of soil, for example, they keep earthen slopes from eroding.
40:26For Filipino travelers, it is customary to buy gifts for those that stayed at home.
40:31This souvenir shop offers a broad selection of local delicacies and various products such as hats and baskets made from Sabutan.
40:44Besides Aurora, Sabutan grows in only a few places in the Philippines.
40:50The Sabutan plant belongs to the Pandan palm family.
40:55The work of processing the plant is very intensive.
40:58The main stem of the leaf is removed and the leaf divided in a single stroke.
41:06The leaf sections are then cut into thinner strips and the thorny edge removed.
41:13Wrapped into bundles, the strips are softened in water and cooked to make the leaf fibers maleable.
41:19In keeping with tradition, the work is done by hand without using modern machinery.
41:25Through cooking, the fibers are not only softened, they also lose their natural green color.
41:37The Sabutan leaves are dyed in boiling water using various pigments.
41:42Often, chemical pigments are still used.
41:45But ecologically produced, organic pigments are finding their way into the production process more and more often.
41:54After the coloration process is complete, the residual dye is rinsed out and the leaves dried on linen for the rest of the day.
42:01In the past, the dried Sabutan fibers were woven into products for day-to-day use, such as hats or mats.
42:14In the meantime, the demand for natural fibers has grown so dramatically that they fetch high prices on the international market.
42:21A special process awaits the brightly colored Sabutan fibers.
42:26This dress will have its debut at a very special occasion.
42:41At the National Mutianang Filipinas Beauty Contest, the Beauty Queen of the Philippines is chosen.
42:51To complement the typical selection categories such as bathing suits and evening dresses,
42:57this time the category Best in Sabutan has been added with a prize for the Best Designer.
43:02All over the world, efforts are being made to live in harmony with nature while still embracing progress at the same time.
43:22It looks like these efforts are beginning to work out in Aurora.
43:25The right conclusions are being drawn from the past, the results applied to life in the present with a thoughtful eye toward the future.
43:34Visitors to this small province in the Philippines will have fond memories of their stay for a long time to come.
43:42Its culture and colorful history will continue to touch people,
43:47and the timeless beauty of Aurora's landscape and nature will amaze future generations as well.
43:52Aurora is a piece of heaven at the other end of the world.
43:56Aurora is a piece of heaven at the other end of the world.
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