In the outskirts of Tondo, Manila, lies the infamous “Smokey Mountain,” a former waste landfill and garbage dumpsite that operated in the city for 50 years. The name “Smokey Mountain” originated from the million metric tons of waste that formed a silhouette of a mountain, spewing constant smoke from heat, methane, and other chemicals that accumulated within the mountains of garbage.
Anora Madrid, 21, is the Vice President of the Samahan ng mga Magkakapitbahay sa Upper Smokey Mountain (SMUSM), an alliance of residents formed in late 2025. SMUSM was initially created as a protest against the planned construction of PhilEco’s Php26-billion 100-megawatt Waste-to-Energy Incinerator, which threatens to displace over 2,000 families and their livelihoods. Anora highlights that this alliance is, more importantly, a barricade for their home and the future they hope to shape.
When asked what her favorite memory of Smokey Mountain is, Anora answers with certainty, flicking her waist-length hair and making her purple dangling earrings tinkle, “Yung pagka maglalakad ako papunta ng school dati, tapos masusuot ko yung binili sa akin na yellow na dress ng ate ko tapos mahangin (When I used to walk to school, I’d wear the yellow dress my sister bought me, and then it would be windy).”Anora further shares how their community is tight-knit and supportive, unlike any other. She says that in times of hunger and crisis, all doors are open not only for sharing food and resources but also for priceless acceptance and support.
“Habang lumalaki ako, hindi ko talaga ma-figure out sa sarili ko kung ano ako. May takot din talaga ako. Eventually, natanggap ko yung sarili ko as gay (Growing up, I struggled to understand my identity and deal with my fears. Ultimately, I accepted that I am gay).” Anora recalls her childhood and coming of age in Smokey Mountain. Until now, Anora shares that she has no in-depth knowledge of what her gender identity is, but this has never bothered her because her community has never ostracized her in any way. Her father calls her “Bunsong Dalaga (Youngest Maiden),” while Nanay Leni, SMUSM’s president and her constant buddy, refers to her as “‘Nak (Child).”
In their campaigning against community displacement, Anora shares how it is in the government offices where she has actually felt outright discrimination. During early negotiations, Smokey Mountain residents were offered financial compensation in exchange for their eventual evacuation. However, the National Housing Authority (NHA) had its own protocols for compensation—money would only be awarded if an individual belonged to a family unit. You receive no compensation if you are a single person, more so if you belong to the LGBTQ+ community.
Being a single gay adult, Anora lamented to the local government unit (LGU) office that the protocols didn’t acknowledge her existence, more so the LGBTQ+ communities’. She only received sarcastic laughter and was told, “Kung gusto mong pumantay ka, mag-asawa ka na lang ng tomboy tapos anakan mo para mapabilang ka namin sa compensation (If you want to be eligible, go marry a lesbian and have a child so we could include you among those for compensation).” Recalling the bitter experience, Anora remembers painfully walking out.
There are times when the barangay office doesn’t even let her in. The barangay captain also would not show up when she’s around, Nanay Leni adds. They highlighted that these occurrences drove them to further assess the situation, take collective action, and eventually create plans and launch campaigns to defend Smokey Mountain.
“Actually, kung babalikan, mali talaga yung protocol ng NHA. Yung ang kapalit lang namin is Php30,000 or Php50,000, ay parang napakababa ng tingin sa amin kasi yun lang ang halaga namin (Actually, if you review it, NHA’s protocol is really wrong. We are looked down upon, as if they think we’re just worth Php30,000 or Php50,000).” Brimming with greater resolve, Anora and Nanay Leni tell more stories about their lives in Smokey Mountain, highlighting that no amount of money can measure up to the culture, accomplishments, and strength of their community.
From heaps of garbage and spews of methane, the community has worked hard to rehabilitate the nutrient-rich soil of Smokey Mountain, providing them with kamote (cassava) tops, bananas, saluyot, and other crops for consumption and for sale. More than this, they share that they have Sunday classes for basic education, hold dance nights, and celebrate fiestas together. The sound of kids running around and playing in the morning is priceless.
Anora, Nanay Leni, and their community are not afraid to confront the LGU office that continues to discriminate against them, nor the company that plans to displace the Smokey Mountain community. Asked why, both say, “Dahil sama-sama kami at hindi lang Smokey Mountain ang ipinagpaglaban namin, pati ibang bahagi ng Maynila (Because we fight together and not only for Smokey Mountain but for other parts of Manila).”
Asked what her message would be for the LGBTQ+ community this Pride month, Anora said she hopes that the community comes together and is more vigilant and watchful of the system that continues to plunder and discriminate. She adds that the present system does not have any sympathy for us; therefore, we must always check on each other, especially those who are experiencing depression and discrimination. “The community will lose its voice if we do not come together, fight, and struggle, she asserts. “Love yourself, love others,” Anora ends her message with hope.
