Lepanto Mines, Mankayan, Benguet 2609

25/02/2026

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Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company of bilyonaryo Felipe Yap has secured majority support from barangays within the Mankayan Ancestral Domain as part of the Free and Prior Informed Consent process required for the renewal of its mining contract in Benguet.

Read full story in the comments.

13/02/2026

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04/02/2026

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"LEPANTO'S GOLD RESERVE"?

Located in Cruz, Lepanto, Paco, Mankayan, Benguet, this giant gold ore replica stands as a testament to the town’s rich mineral resources, highlighting its long-standing heritage of gold, copper, and silver mining.

Mankayan’s mining story is closely tied to Lepanto Mining Company, one of the oldest and most influential mining firms in the Philippines.

Established in 1936, the company began large-scale operations during the American period, turning the once-remote mountain area into a center of industrial activity. Lepanto Mining played a major role in extracting copper and gold, contributing significantly to the country’s mineral production and local employment for decades.

Beyond mining, the company shaped the growth of Mankayan, building roads, housing, schools, and basic services that supported generations of workers and families.

While mining activities have fluctuated through the years, Lepanto’s legacy remains deeply embedded in the town’s identity.

The gold ore replica serves not just as a landmark, but as a reminder of a history that helped define Mankayan’s economy, culture, and resilience.

Note: This post is shared for informational and historical purposes only. It does not intend to promote or encourage mining activities, but simply to provide background and context about the history of Lepanto Mining Company and its role in the community.

21/12/2025

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A Lepanto Igorot Family and Their Traditional House in Northern Luzon

Early ethnographic accounts describe several distinct types of dwellings among the Igorot peoples of Northern Luzon. In the Lepanto area, one of the most commonly observed house forms featured a steep, high-pitched roof, beneath which a storage space was built above the main living area. The floor of the dwelling was composed of compacted earth, enclosed by low wooden board walls that did not extend to the underside of the overhanging roof. Sleeping arrangements consisted of individual wooden boards laid directly on the ground, which were used by family members at night. In some instances, particularly among poorer households, dwellings were constructed of very light materials such as grass, reflecting both material scarcity and adaptation to the mountain environment.

Descriptions from this period often carried strong value judgments, portraying Igorot communities as unhygienic or backward. Such assessments mirror the colonial and ethnocentric perspectives of early twentieth-century observers rather than an objective evaluation of indigenous lifeways. Contemporary scholarship recognizes that Igorot architecture was closely adapted to climate, available resources, and social practices, emphasizing functionality, resilience, and cultural meaning rather than conformity to Western standards of housing.

Reference (Book Citation)

Worcester, Dean C. The Non-Christian Peoples of the Philippine Islands. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, 1913.

13/12/2025

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08/12/2025

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08/12/2025

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08/12/2025

Minas Christmas Village