Where the Rainbird sings..

Here in the rice and sugarcane fields deep in the central Philippines, the heat of the day has reached its peak, emphasising the stark contrast between the calm landscape and the economic hardships that weigh heavily on daily life. The humidity is through the roof, and even the dogs have slunk away into the shade, their tongues hanging out as they try to cool down, reflecting the pervasive hardship in this region. Yet the resilience of these communities shines through, inspiring the audience with admiration for their endurance amid adversity. 

I am lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling fan, trying to slice through the warm, heavy air that hangs thick in the room. Luckily, it creates a slight downward wind, making it a bit more tolerable to lie motionless on the bed, staring into the air, letting my thoughts wander. Some faint music from nearby adds a soothing backdrop. Having been here for several months now, in the central Philippines, on one of the poorest islands and provinces, I am trying to gather material for my story, an account of the stark inequality and resilience I witness daily, including photographs that capture this complex reality of my host island nation. Coming to this place for about thirty years now, besides some developments like malls and new suburbs on the outskirts of town, nothing much has changed. Still, myriads of tricycles swarm the road, now complemented by ever more vehicles as well as pedicabs and electric scooters. Most old jeepneys have been phased out, replaced by newer types, even the latest ones with air conditioning, while long-distance buses still plough the national highway and country roads at breakneck speeds. 

Many sakadas-seasonal sugarcane workers- and OFWs (Overseas Foreign Workers) face systemic challenges like exploitation, low wages, and limited social protections, highlighting the ongoing social inequality that shapes the community's resilience and struggles. The backbone of this province, sugarcane, remains ever so dominant in the landscape, with overloaded trucks delivering cane from the fields to sugar mills across the province. Huge haciendas and estancias run by various family clans that are big landowners still dominate the economy and the daily lives of the common people. Agricultural methods seem to have stood still, with workers (sakadas) still slicing and cutting through the meter-high cane fields with the simplest of tools, the Bolo, also known as a machete. In all my years, I seem to remember having only seen a combine harvester on these vast sugar cane fields once. Of course, then the argument remains that if the harvesting is fully mechanised, which I believe is possible these days with big investments into the combined harvesters, what, then, will happen to the myriads of Sakadas? Many of them would join the unemployed, underemployed or poorly employed and exploited masses one already finds in all cities and barangays of the island. Men' shooting the breeze' from early morning, in most cases not because they want to, and especially not because they can, but there is not enough work for everyone. And even the work that is available is often poorly paid, with restrictions placed on people like:' not older than 20-something, must be good looking', especially for women's employment, or age limitations arbitrarily enforced. Another sly trick is to employ people on temporary contracts with lower wages and minimal or no social security for just under six months, then fire them so they don't have to offer them permanent contracts before reaching the six-month employment date. As labour is so 'cheap', one sees dozens of associates or better sales personnel in shops and department stores, with every aisle having like two attendants, because the costs are minimal. This highlights ongoing social inequality and its impact on workers' livelihoods, illustrating the precariousness many Filipino workers face, both locally and abroad.

So the question arises, how do people survive under those circumstances? Well, many get by through odd jobs, working on haciendas and estancias as agricultural workers (obreros) on minimum wages or less, with everyone in the family having to contribute as best they can, or selling their little produce of vegetables and fish, etc., at town markets. For example, I met a family in a small barangay whose children skipped school to help their parents sell fish at the market, risking their education for immediate income. Often, this means children do not attend school regularly or at all, as there is no enforcement to attend. This lack of access to education hampers community development and perpetuates cycles of poverty, raising concerns about the long-term prospects for these children and their communities. Without education, opportunities for upward mobility are limited, trapping families in a cycle of hardship and social inequality that persists across generations, as I have observed in many rural areas over the years. Addressing these educational gaps is crucial for breaking the cycle of poverty and fostering sustainable development.

The more fortunate families are those where one or even more family members managed to get a job as an 'Overseas Foreign Worker' (OFW) in a faraway and distant land, often in the wider Gulf Region of the Near and Middle East or East Asia. The majority of these OFWs are female, working as Nannys, maids or else for families that are not seldom unappreciative or outright hostile towards them, with some form of abuse often reported. Nonetheless, there are also professionals working in sales and administration, financial businesses, and the hospitality industry (Hotels), as engineers or architects, etc. Still, the majority are maids and/or household service workers. These OFWs contribute about 10 billion US dollars annually to the Philippines through remittances, enabling their often extended families not only to survive but also to experience a slightly better life than the average. A big part of these remittances plays the so-called 'Balikbayan Boxes', which are sent from those countries to families back home. These boxes are filled with everything from food to electronics to other useful items for the loved ones at home. Often, when those OFWs come back on their sponsored holidays, in most cases every two years, one can observe them in the mall, fashionably dressed, with a whole tail of kids and older adults going to the fast-food restaurant for a treat. Locally, they are called 'one day millionaires' as often they spend the money they bring with them on the first day or week of their holiday, treating the whole family clan to food and new clothes or other items. This country owes a lot to those OFWs, and mostly it is the female workers who work the hardest and contribute the most, looking after whole extended families in the Philippines. 

When asking young people or students out in the fields what they want to learn or study and which job they would like to pursue, one often hears that they want to be nurses or sailors. This is because those jobs often enable you to go abroad.
, especially nurses, as the Philippines seems to supply a large share of them worldwide, and sailors, as this profession pays well. These decisions are taken solely to help the family back home, to enable other siblings to attend private schools and pay for their tuition, so they have a better start in life, and yes, you guessed it, to even better support the family, too. People observe their neighbours and friends who have been lucky enough to succeed in those professions, and the desire to copy that success is overwhelming. Of course, many students choose other subjects, but those are from families that can afford them. It is hard, thinking of the rural and also minimum wage labour work force in the cities and barangays, not to stumble over the words 'bonded labour' or even 'slave'. This may be a hard judgment on my side, but it's not far from reality. Sometimes, in conversations with the people concerned above, they describe their situation with the same words. 

Now that I have described the socio-economic situation of my host environment, what role do I play in all of this? Well, I have been coming to this 'environment' for 30 years since my mother-in-law passed away. Owing to our own socio-economic situation at the time, this was the first time I had travelled to the far-flung islands of the Philippines since our marriage 11 years earlier. My spouse had been visiting her family several times during those eleven years, but due to work and other commitments, I had not been able or keen to travel with her. The untimely death of her mother changed that, as I had no excuse not to come along for the funeral. I was a bit apprehensive as I knew that the family lived in the sugar cane fields of one of the haciendas near the town of Bago in the province of Negros Occidental. I had met my wife, an ICU nurse, eleven years earlier while working at the German embassy in Damascus, Syria, where I had been assigned. 

Upon landing at the old airport in Sincang, Bacolod, a group of her family, mostly her two older sisters, met us with a hired Jeepney to bring us back to the sugar cane fields. Upon deplaning onto the tarmac of the small airport at the time, heat and humidity greeted me, and I understood what the tropics meant: relentless sunshine and humidity, exacerbated by rain. On our way from the airport to the family home, I was distracted by the views through the jeepney's open side windows. Green fields with people and water buffaloes, a distant mountain range dividing the island into occidental and oriental sides, visible through the day's haze, with Mount Kanlaon, a volcano, as the island's highest peak—a classic Asian romantic scene. Now I can not remember every detail of our arrival at the family home. Still, I was impressed by the wooden timbered traditional house, surrounded by flowers and orchids, located under a big mango tree. Everything was tidy and clean; the house was divided into two parts: the sleeping quarters, about 1.5 m above the ground, and the living quarters and kitchen, on the ground. We were welcomed by the rest of the family, including the father, who was still alive at the time. Everyone present was amazed by how tall the 'Kano' (local slang for foreigner) was and how white as well, and, apparently, I was deemed good-looking (gwapo).

The mother was lying in state, embalmed, in an open coffin (with a glass plate above the body) in the living room area of the house. This was entirely new to me, as the only death I had witnessed in the family so far was that of my grandparents, which was a rather anonymous affair. In Germany, death is somehow seen as something that has to be dealt with quickly and efficiently; within a few days, the funeral has to take place, with as little interaction as possible. Here in the Philippines, the dead person is embalmed and then returned to the house, to lie in state for a week or so, enabling neighbours, family and friends from near and afar to say their last goodbye and pay their respects. The family hosts all-night vigils, often accompanied by Bingo games and other community entertainment, and also provides food for those who come to pay their respects. This all happens in the same room, the dead body is lying in state, or in adjacent rooms, as well as outside of the house if the place provides for it. This was all new to me, and I was excited to be a part of it. I took to it like a fish to water, especially since it allowed me to get acquainted with the family and, of course, take photos. Now, all of this is not a solemn affair, but rather jolly at times, with laughter and lots of stories to be told and gossip to be exchanged among family, friends, and others who often haven't seen each other in years. On the day of the funeral, I remember that we all went to the biggest church in town, where a memorial service was held for my mother-in-law. The church was full of people, and the air was hot and thick, one could have sliced it. I felt like collapsing, the sweat running down the side of my face, into my eyes and the corners of my mouth. Of course, the last thing I could do was to collapse, not now and not here. I stood out in the whole crowd, because of my size and my skin, so I could not go down on the ground. It felt like the service took forever, and once it finally finished, we had to walk in procession to the cemetery, only two kilometres away, under a blazing February sun.

This year, i.e., in February 2026, we did the same for the oldest sister who passed away while we were here in the campo on our yearly visit. Her health had declined rapidly from 2023 to now; even last year, she was not well anymore. She was just a few weeks short of her 91st birthday, having lived a long but for sure not easy life, shaped by her early years through World War II and the Japanese occupation of the island. She had trained to become a fashion designer and tailor initially, but then in her young years had fallen for the same trap I might call it, met her sweetheart, got pregnant with her first child, as planned parenthood is a synonym of evil in this country for many, especially in those years of the early 1950, and abandoned her dream of being part of the fashion industry. Over the many years that followed, she gave birth to five children and toiled on the land in the service of one of the hacendados as an agricultural worker. This time the memorial service was in a small chapel near her home, and we only walked the distance between the house and the church, less than a kilometre. We were lucky, though, as it was on a day off between two low-pressure areas that brought a lot of rain before and after the funeral. Funerals are also social events, as described above, here and elsewhere around the world. This time it was no different.  

Purok Masinadyahon

Driving south on the Negros National Highway, right after the bridge over the Bago River, is the left turn towards the Kanlaoon Volcano National Park. As is mostly the case on Negros Island, and especially in the province of Negros Occidental, the countryside is predominantly covered by Sugar Cane or Tubo, as it is widely called here in the local language, Hiligainon. The roads are often clogged with slow-moving Tubo Trucks that move day and night from the sugar cane fields of the haciendas to the sugar mills that are located at many places across the island of Negros. Often, the trucks drive in convoys at night and are halted on the side of the road before dawn to avoid rush-hour traffic, for example, in Bacolod City.

Once you take the turn from the Negors National Highway south onto the road to Maao, after a few hundred meters, one comes to the locality of Crossing Bago. Until the 1980s, this was the point where the old highway crossed the Bago River, and a bridge had been built in the 1920s before World War II; hence, this hamlet was called Crossing Bago. This bridge was a one-way bridge before crossing the Bago River to Bago and the south of Negros Occidental. The pillars can still be seen looking east. It was destroyed in 1991 by a major flood during Typhoon Ruping, when trees and logs from the mountains clogged it, practically damming the river and backing up, flooding many upstream areas before giving way and causing a flash flood downstream, drowning many people. The Ormoc flash flood, which happened about the same time, upstaged the tragedy in Bago City. It survived during the liberation in 1945 when the Japanese tried to demolish it with explosives. Still, an American soldier, Pfc Theodore Vinther, gave up his life when he fought the Japanese, giving way for the US Army to cross and liberate Bacolod City. The Battle of Bago Bridge is commemorated every 29th March. 

Crossing Bago has hence descended into a little-known roadside locality on the road to the Kanlaon Volcano National Park. Today, it consists of a few dozen small houses and a church belonging to the local parish. The road to Kanlaon Volcano National Park is dotted with similar locations, small villages or hamlets that house the people and families of the workers who labour on the various Haciendas along the road. Sugar cane is the predominant crop, with rice now also making a larger appearance. If one drives along any of these country roads on the island, there is always some Tubo harvesting going on.

Hamlet Purok Masinadyahon is located along one of the Sugar cane plantations, off to the side of the road. One reaches it via a dirt road, with a turn-off from the main road nearly invisible to outsiders. There is no road sign, and only people who know where the turn-off is, marked by a light pole and a stick with an empty Sprite can, can find it. At night, a light often burns on that light pole so that people who get off their Tricycles, buses, or Jeepneys know where to go. There is no road sign or other sign towards the direction of this hamlet. The dirt road leads into another world, with both sides usually covered in high grass, and the sugar cane grows to nearly 3 meters tall. At night, it is advisable to have a flashlight handy to shine in front of you when walking on the track, as snakes and monitor lizards sometimes cross from the water canal to the sugar cane, or vice versa. Purok Masinadyahon consists of rather well-built traditional houses, i.e., a combination of stone, bamboo, and other wood-and-stone bungalows. Many of the inhabitants of the Purok either work on the Hacienda, currently owned by one of the local families. Others have progressed and work in the city or in the capital, Manila, in various occupations or as Overseas Foreign Workers (OFW). Many of them have lived their entire lives in this location, gone away, and returned to settle on their ancestral land and live with their extended families. Many are interrelated, which makes them one, mostly happy family. 

Many things are plenty in the Purok, like plenty of dogs, plenty of children, plenty of chickens, and often plenty of happiness, which, by the way, is the meaning of Masinadyahon. I have been travelling to visit Purok Masinadyahon for thirty years and have enjoyed every stay with the friendly people of my family and, in extension, the larger family. Known to many as Tito Achim, I have been running around and taking photos with my cameras all these years, initially with my analogue cameras and later with my digital cameras. I have shared very few of those images and will make up for it by creating various publications to distribute to my family as keepsakes.

The Big Five of Purok Masinadyahon and the Philippine province:

The Carabao

(or Kalabaw) It is more than just a beast of burden in the Philippines; it is the national animal and a living symbol of Filipino resilience, patience, and industry. Known scientifically as Bubalus bubalis, this swamp-type water buffalo is the silent engine behind the country's agricultural history.

Though the Carabao is synonymous with Filipino identity, it isn't strictly native to the Philippines. They were likely introduced to the archipelago from Southeast Asia and Southern China via early trade and migration routes long before the Spanish arrived.

For centuries, the relationship was purely symbiotic:

• The Tiller of Soil: Before the advent of modern tractors, the Carabao was the only way to prepare the heavy, clay-rich soil of Philippine rice paddies.

• The Lifeline: During the Philippine-American War and WWII, the Carabao became a symbol of survival, as they were used to transport supplies and wounded soldiers through terrain inaccessible to vehicles.

Even in the 21st century, you'll find the Carabao in the heart of rural provinces. They are preferred over machinery in many areas because they are environmentally friendly and can navigate steep, muddy terraces that would swallow a mechanical engine.

"A farmer without a carabao is like a soldier without a rifle." — A common Filipino agricultural sentiment.

The Carabao's influence extends far beyond the farm:

In Pulilan, Bulacan, the annual Pasinaya festival features carabaos trained to kneel in front of the church, a gesture of gratitude to San Isidro Labrador (the patron saint of farmers). Beyond labour, the Carabao provides high-fat milk used for delicacies like pastillas de leche and kesong puti (white cheese), and its hide is used for leather and traditional percussion instruments. The Filipino people see themselves in the Carabao—quiet, hardworking, and incredibly strong, but possessing a fierce protective streak when pushed to the limit.

Today, the Philippine Carabao Centre (PCC) works to improve the genetic breed of these animals. By crossbreeding local carabaos with Murrah buffaloes from India, the goal is to increase milk production and meat quality, turning this cultural icon into a sustainable economic powerhouse.

In a world moving toward automation, the "beast of burden" remains a steadfast companion, reminding the nation that some of the greatest progress is made at a slow, steady, and rhythmic pace.

The Sugarcane

Sugarcane is a vital part of the Philippine agricultural industry, contributing roughly PHP 76 billion annually and covering nearly 400,000 hectares, primarily in the Visayas (Negros Island). It is a top-five crop, supporting ~700,000 workers and 5–6 million dependents, with Negros accounting for over 50% of production, followed by Mindanao and Luzon.

As of 2025, the Philippines produced 2,085,000 metric tons of sugar, ranking 16th globally. In 2005, the Philippines was the ninth-largest sugar producer in the world and the second-largest among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, after Thailand, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation. At least 17 provinces in the Philippines grow sugarcane, of which the two on Negros Island account for half of the nation's total production. Sugar is one of the Philippines' most important agricultural exports. In crop year 2009–2010, 29 sugar mills were operational, divided as follows: 13 mills on Negros, 6 mills on Luzon, 4 mills on Panay, 3 mills in Eastern Visayas, and 3 mills on Mindanao. As of crop year 2023–2024, 25 mills are operational. Of 25 sugar mills, 11 have their own sugar refineries. Among the major island groups, Visayas has the greatest number of operational mills, with 17, 13 of which are from Negros Island alone. Sugarcane is not a sensitive crop and can be grown in almost all soil types, from sandy to clay loam and from acidic volcanic soils to calcareous sedimentary deposits. The harvest period is from October to December and ends in May.

The Negros famine took place on Negros Island in the Philippines in the mid-1980s, during the waning days of the Marcos dictatorship. It was a key moment in the history of sugar production in the Philippines and in the broader political history of the Philippines. Caused by the Marcos administration's efforts to control sugar production through the NASUTRA monopoly held by Marcos crony Roberto Benedicto and by a sudden crash in international sugar prices, it created what popularly came to be known as a "social volcano", with tensions culminating in the Escalante massacre, and with negative effects still felt even after the ouster of Ferdinand Marcos and his cronies during the 1986 People Power Revolution. In 1984, over 190,000 sugar workers lost their livelihood, and about a million sacadas and their families in Negros suffered in the famine. By 1985, a survey by the National Nutrition Council of the Philippines estimated that about 350,000 children – 40 per cent of Negros Occidental residents under the age of 14 – were suffering from malnutrition. The 1985 infant death statistics at Bacolod City Hospital rose 67 per cent, and Negros' infant mortality rose to nearly double the national average, with most of the deaths attributed to malnutrition.

The Philippine Askal Dog

Askal, meaning "street dog", and aspin ", Filipino dog", refer to the diverse population of mongrel free-ranging dogs found in the Philippines.

The term "askal" is a new Filipino word and is commonly used as a derogatory term for stray or mixed-breed dogs that roam the streets of urban and rural areas across the country. It is considered to reflect class discrimination in the country, particularly towards indigenous elements.[1]

The origins of askals can be traced back to two main categories. Firstly, some askals are entirely descended from indigenous dog breeds that have evolved in the Philippines. Secondly, it is believed that dogs were introduced into the country from Mainland Asia, via Taiwan. Excavation sites reveal that dogs served two main purposes: consumption and companionship. Tagalogs, along with other ethnolinguistic groups like the Kalinga and Bontoc, were known to have domesticated these dogs into hunting companions, often forming close bonds, mourning their deaths, and burying them near their owners. They may even have received the same burial treatment as humans. These native breeds have adapted to the local environment and exhibit a range of physical characteristics and temperaments. These dogs have since played an integral role in the lives of Filipinos, serving as loyal companions, guardians, and even working animals.

Askals often display a unique blend of characteristics from various ancestral backgrounds. This diversity contributes to their distinct appearance, temperament, and adaptability. They are highly adaptable and resilient dogs, capable of surviving in challenging conditions. They possess a remarkable ability to navigate the urban landscape and survive on scraps and leftovers. Their resourcefulness, intelligence, and innate street smarts have earned them the nickname "asong kalye," reflecting their association with the streets.

In recent years, there has been a growing movement to celebrate and protect the cultural heritage represented by askals. Various organisations and animal welfare groups are working towards providing medical care, shelter, and adoption opportunities for stray and abandoned dogs. Additionally, initiatives have been launched to educate the public about responsible pet ownership, including spaying and neutering programs, vaccinations, and proper training. Aspins do not have clear lineages that account for their appearance today because they are bred from a diverse mix of mutts and mixed breeds that roam the streets of the Philippines. However, they have a few distinct characteristics. Given their varied background, aspins can come in different shapes, sizes, and colours. The coat can be short-haired or rough. Coat colours range from black to brown, white, ginger, brindle, grey, cream, and red merle. Spots are commonly found at the base of the tail and on the back in a semi-circular fashion. The snout sometimes appears black if the coat colour is brown. The tail is usually held high, and the ears can be floppy, semi-floppy or fully pointing upwards. The bone structure of a native Askal is on the medium range, never as heavy as that of the Rottweiler.

The Rice

In the Philippines, rice production is an important aspect of the country's food supply and economy. It is also the staple food that provides about 35% of the average Filipinos calorie intake and is a major source of income for millions of Filipino farmers. The Philippines is the 8th-largest rice producer in the world, accounting for 2.8% of global rice production. Rice is the most important food crop, and is a staple food in most of the country. It is especially produced in Luzon, the Western Visayas, Southern Mindanao, and Central Mindanao. There are an estimated 2.4 million rice farmers in the Philippines as of 2020. The average age of rice farmers is 56 years; 82% of rice farmers are men, and 18% are women. Many Filipino farmers live in poverty due to a combination of factors, including economic policies, environmental issues, land ownership, and government corruption.

Black rice, also known as purple rice or forbidden rice, is a type of rice of the species Oryza sativa, some of which are glutinous rice. There are several varieties of black rice, including Indonesian black rice, Philippine heirloom balatinaw black rice, pirurutong black glutinous rice, and Thai jasmine black rice. It is also known as chak-hao in Manipur, India and as "kavuni arisi" or "kavuni rice" in Tamil Nadu, India.

The bran hull (outermost layer) of black rice contains one of the highest levels of anthocyanin pigment found in food. The grain has a similar amount of fibre to brown rice and, like brown rice, has a mild, nutty taste]

Black rice has a deep black colour and usually turns deep purple when cooked. Its dark purple colour is primarily due to its anthocyanin content, which is higher by weight than that of other colored grains. It is suitable for creating porridge, dessert, traditional Chinese black rice cake, bread, and noodles. In marketing, black rice may be called "forbidden rice", based on claims that it was once reserved for Chinese royalty. Its rarity, nutritional value, and low yield may have contributed to its association with privilege and imperial use in ancient China. 

 

The Snakes

Negros Island is home to a diverse population of endemic snake species, including both non-venomous and highly venomous species. Environmental disturbances, including the 2026 active volcanic eruption of Mount Kanlaon, have altered local habitats and driven more snakes into populated areas. 

• King Cobra: Highly venomous, massive elapid recently expanding territory into the region. 

• Samar Cobra: Deadly neurotoxic spitter native to the Visayas region 

• Philippine Pit Viper: Camouflaged, arboreal ambush predator with hemotoxic venom. 

• Negros Island Blind Snake: Small, harmless insectivore entirely endemic to the island. 

• Maren's Bronzeback: Active, harmless tree-dwelling snake frequently found in gardens. 

• Common Mock Viper: Mildly venomous, harmless to humans, mimicking true vipers. 

• Dog-faced Water Snake: A mildly venomous estuarine species found in local river upstream networks. 

• Oriental Wolf Snake: Harmless nocturnal mimic of venomous kraits. 

The Volcano(s)

The 4 Volcanoes of Negros Island.

Aside from Mt. Kanlaon, there are 3 strato volcanoes, all of which are dormant. Mt. Talinis in Negros Oriental, Mt. Mandalagan and Mt. Silay in Northern Negros. Geothermal activities are present in these mountains. Since these mountains are dormant, they have no imminent danger. 

Mount Kanlaon and Kanlaon Volcano are an active andesitic stratovolcano and the highest mountain on the island of Negros in the Philippines, as well as the highest peak in the Visayas, with an elevation of 2,465 m (8,087 ft) above sea level.[1] Mount Kanlaon ranks as the 42nd-highest peak of an island in the world. The volcano straddles the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, approximately 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Bacolod, the capital and most populous city of Negros Occidental and the whole island. It is one of the active volcanoes in the Philippines and part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Mount Mandalagan is a complex volcano located at a latitude of 10.65° North (10°39'0"N), longitude 123.25° East (123°15'0"E), in the province of Negros Occidental, on the north of the island of Negros in the Philippines. It is located inside the Northern Negros Natural Park. Mandalagan is a solfataric, fumarolic, potentially active stratovolcano. Mandalagan is also known as Nahigda nga Babayi, or Lying Women, among the Bacolodnons and Negrenses.

Mount Silay is a stratovolcano and potentially active volcano located on Negros Island, in the Visayas area of the central Philippines. It is located inside the Northern Negros Natural Park. The area is accessible through the Silay−Lantawan Road. 

Mount Talinis is a complex volcano in the province of Negros Oriental, Philippines. At about 1,862 metres (6,109 ft) above sea level, it is the second-highest mountain on Negros Island after Mount Kanlaon, and the tallest peak in the mountain range known as the Cuernos de Negros ("Horns of Negros"). The volcano is located 9 km (5.6 mi) southwest of the municipality of Valencia, and 20 km (12 mi) from Dumaguete, the capital of the province. 

 

Note: The text of the Waterbuffalo, Sugarcane, Rice, Snakes and Volcanos is copied from Wikipedia and not my own text. Some of the links are working for interested people to further their information.