Vicklyn Ebanes, 44, poses outside a small scale gold mine she operates with her husband in the Diwalwal area on the Philippines' southern island of Mindanao. Hers is one of several mining families fighting back against plans to displace them by the Philippine Mining Development Corporation, a front company for foreign mining companies that seeks to install a large-scale open pit gold mine in the area, also known as Mt. Diwata. The small miners were given notice to evacuate the area by June 5 or risk being forcibly removed by the military. The miners have defiantly refused to leave, and formed a formal association to demand respect for their rights in the Philippines courts. Ebanes, who is the chairperson of the local Catholic parish council, was chosen as the association's secretary..