Two visits. The first to design a management development program for mine staff. The second to run it. A long rough road journey from Manilla, followed by a 4WD track to the mine site. The first part of the track involved a river crossing but the river was in flood so a canoe crossing came first, except for me who was ferried across on a wheeled loader, suit pack over the shoulder. The loader bucket contained rifles and ammunition loaned by the army because they couldn’t spare any more troops to defend the mine site from the NPA rebels (New People’s Army). As the only European guy for miles, I was a prime hostage target so was pleased to see the several heavily armed guard posts at the mine site!
Though the original intention was to run the development program at the mine site, the security situation had deteriorated such that the course was run in a hotel in the nearest town - Naga. A new experience there. The hotel had a hollow core and I was intrigued by the smoke rising from it. First thought was smoke from the kitchen but a look from the surrounding walkway discovered a welding workshop where large steel sections were being fabricated.