Antique Western Visayas (Region VI)
A week travel in...
ANTIQUE GROUP OF ISLANDS
Region VI - Western Visayas
ANTIQUE GROUP OF ISLANDS
Region VI - Western Visayas
(Caluya, Sibay and Semirara Islands)
This is my 5-day Trip Experience. My immersion with the so-called Marginalized Sector: the Fisherfolks and the Farmers.
It’s been months now since I joined the group from an island travel. I am too eager to travel back again on the road… as usual I have to pack my things, making sure everything is inside my reliable and my dearest backpack (thanks to my friend in Texas for my purple bag, Tess W thanks!)… clothes… pair of slippers… medicines… paper… pens… voice recorder… batteries… my compact camera (just my smart phone)… ooops! No computer please? Yes, no computer, ‘coz I don’t know if there will be power and internet access there!
I checked the map… it is a group of Islands… far-flung areas… unreachable by the National Government’s attention, it could be under-developed, not much infra, not much people and with simple life style (sad to say… I am assuming) but of course, I am too eager and hopeful… my expectations is lesser than the reality.
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First Day (May 23): Early morning flight to Kalibo International Airport. Then off the road on a land trip to Caticlan, Aklan.
(Candice Hotel, Caticlan Aklan)
Oh yes, we never waste time. The meeting started just an hour upon our hotel check-in. We have not taken our lunch yet and everyone gathers on the table to talk about the itinerary of our travel.
Lunch and Snacks (in one) served at 3pm. I love the food… (PASTA!!! But no pics)… and the carrot cake (of course set aside the whip)
(Owner and Chef – husband and wife tandem)
Nevertheless, I enjoyed the after meeting event… that is, when I am alone just watching the busy people in the pier, the kids playing on the ground, the couples passing the time while holding each other’s hand, and the sky, I got to see the dusk (view along the bay) while breathing the “rural” air…
(view from Caticlan Port)
Second Day (May 24): Quite dizzy from the few bottles of beer and from my travel yesterday, but I have to get up and force myself to prepare for our next travel… Everybody seem prepared! When I get out of my room few minutes here comes the rest of the team with their backpack and gadgets … ready to take long hours of travel via sea to CALUYA ISLAND… Our first island stop (from Caticlan, Aklan).
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| photo courtesy of the working team |
Land… Land… Land… I see land.
Watta rough waters along the way… windy and drizzling… after 3hrs of agony in the sea, I saw a lot of people are waiting for us, expecting our arrival. Thanks God we finally we landed.
The local residents are all happy to see us, foods are also waiting for us the table (it is a late lunch for us, it was around 1:30pm when we reached the island) The food is great. The food is fresh. …But sadly, I got migraine attack ... I was too wobbly and lightheaded! I CAN’T EAT! I have to take the meds… I am too dizzy...
COURTESY CALL: Few minutes after lunch, we run going to the Municipal Hall, to meet the Mayor of the island. We call it courtesy call… Yes we have to work… meeting again!
The hall is already set, I thought it was just few minutes of meeting – it turned out to be a dialogue! My head still hurts, but I have to take down notes… oh good grief! Thanks to my boss Attorney, he handed me his recorder. I did not bring mine thought it was just a “Hi” and “Hello” thing, it was not written in our itinerary that there will be a dialogue. Well my fault, expect the unexpected!
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| photo courtesy of the working team |
(Mayor Genevieve, the two (2) Lady Commissioners and the lawyers around)
photo courtesy of the working team
(National Government Agency Representatives and local Residents)
FARM VISIT: Boat ride again??? I am still dizzy! My head is still wavy… NO! I have to go with the group. I have to join the team. It’s my job to document things… take down notes as much as I could… observe… observe… observe…
THE SCENERY IS FANTASTIC! Calm sea. Clear water. White sand. Peaceful community. Happy people. Simple Living. What a beautiful island… hiding somewhere… just a small DOT in the Google map! Definitely a paradise… no wonder it is a seen to be one of the future ECO TOURISM in the country… but it needs a little more development, good management, and better people to handle.
From the farm production (seaweed production) in this place is really a substantive number of our Nation’s GDP! Millions in a year.
DIALOGUE WITH THE RESIDENTS: What??? Dialogue again??? Yes of course! That is the reason why we are there… to talk with the residents. To feel what they feel. To know what they want to say.
But first, we were served with snacks after the seaweed farm sight-seeing… one of my favorite parts of the trip… FOOD Trip!
PUTO (Rice cake with Seaweeds), Seaweed Crackers and BUKO (Coconut Juice)
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| 3in1 coffee |
Kidding aside, I prefer something hot, ‘coz my stomach still hurts, it is really bad… so I took the coffee offered to me, and it’s just a 3 in 1 coffee – no brewed coffee! Don’t be choosy!!! He he! I am not! I know the island is far from the coffee growers. No mountains. No spring. No water source. The bottled water is imported from the nearby islands, and the nearest island is Mindoro. Although, I saw one (1) water-purifying station in the area; and I think that station includes de-salination of water.
BRIEF HISTORY (Commonwealth Era): The Group of Islands is part of the 1940’s mineral reserve, namely Caluya, Sibay and Semirara Islands. But through evolution of time, population grows, there were families occupying the islands.
There were seaweed growers. Not much into land farming because there was no water source. The land farmers are just waiting for the rainy season to plant. There are few trees like coconut and other fruit-bearing trees, just enough to live in the backyard; other trees are just forest-grown trees. There are few vegetables but not enough as staple food in the island. It is also transported coming from the nearby islands. The community is happy, friendly… and looks peaceful.
Yes, I am so grateful with the residents, even though they can’t understand what migraine is, they are too accommodating serving me anything… giving me even the Guyabano Leaves… just for me to sniff and place it on my head… says it will alleviate the headache… just imagine how the Quack Doctor does, but I don’t belittle them, some of are what we call now the HERBALIST!
Well no, I still have to double-double the dose of my medicine… I cannot afford to look grouchy… cranky… grumpy… whatever!!! over a hundred of people gathered around the hall.
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| (Barangay Imba, Caluya Island) |
This shell necklace is their symbol of HOPE (according to Atty. Jess). A ray of HOPE. Through the years of exploitation, grieving, fears, crying… finally there is high-profile Officials from the National Government visited the place just to see the community condition.
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| Welcome gift of the residents, a Shell necklace. |
On the side (Interview from Brgy. Imba residents):
· The seaweed chip production – according to Ms. Marilou A. Agustin, IFSA Treasurer and Ms. Maricris C. Lorenzo, IFSA BOD – a lot of residents are into the production of seaweed chips and seaweed rice cakes (Puto).
SELF-SUFFICIENCY. Ingenuity and creativity. The community is supporting themselves to earn for a living in spite of living in a remote island, where civilization is slow-moving.
· The Imba Association is asking for the local government’s support for their livelihood project but allegedly the Office of the Mayor is denying support by not attending to group’s requests.
BRIDGING THE GAPS. Lately the team bridges the communication between the two faction groups. Dialogues with the residents are already in place – This is just one among few immediate outcomes. The RESULT: the hope is starting to shine.
My observations regarding Health: The community needs more education regarding the proper hygiene and sanitation. Seen from the port of Brgy. Imba, the seashore is heavily dumped with trashes, the smell is horrible and there are houses nearby. The local government is probably not aware of the environmental risk factors. Seem like there is not much attention given on the sanitation and hygiene. EDUCATION – is a must.
Too many residents becoming too emotional while relating sad stories… sad experiences… feeling neglected… feeling oppressed by powerful people… and many more sentiments.
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| Photo courtesy of the working group |
Hold on! The electricity will be off soon! Wrap up! Wrap up! Faster! The meeting should end before 11pm… and the electricity will be back the next day at 5am. Dinner at 10:15pm and we are all rushing to go to our sleeping quarters before 11pm.
Third Day (May 25): Early morning I have to get up! I don’t know where the sun is… despite the fact that there are not much trees on the ground, I cannot see the sun. Must have been hiding in the clouds. Not yet rainy days but cloudy.
I tried taking notes along the way, written in my heart and mind, some in my small notebook. Time to say goodbye to Caluya Residents. We have to go to another island. See much of the things that are not seen by many. FIRST HAND INFORMATION. PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
Another 4-hr boat ride just to go around the island. We saw off-shore sight-seeing of the mining activity in the whole island. Amazing how people are dumping soil in the vast ocean. That is what we call environmental degradation in pursuit of industrialization. All we need is balance. Nevertheless, there is no such thing. One must sacrifice… REHABILITATION is just the next big step (only if there will be left for rehab).
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| photo courtesy of the working group |
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| land infill (view from the offshore) |
The boat-ride ends, we have to land and another dialogue with the mining company. They presented a wonderful CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) to the working team. The company showed the rehabilitated area wherein they started to grow trees out of the landfill areas. Preservation of the water catchment, wherein there is water spring. Creation of Hatchery Laboratory for preservation of GIANT Clams and other marine lives. Continuous bio researches, educational scholarship, subsidize the electricity in the island, worker’s hospitalization benefit, and livelihood projects are among their CSR pride. Moreover on the infrastructure side: the CSR takes pride in showing the 2.1km airplane runway, hospital, sports complex with indoor Olympic-size swimming pool, theater, gym, etc. and school buildings. They said – “THERE IS LIFE AFTER MINING.”
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| photo courtesy of Doc Renan |
The company is giving supply to the nation’s power plant for the consumption of nation’s electricity. The government is also benefiting from the financial profitability of the company. Another GDP to think. Again I call it balancing in a very thin beam. People against People. Consumers against Consumers. Needless to say… Power against Power.
Resident Dialogue: Again??? If the other community is emotional to what they feel – there’s more to expect. It was a rainy evening. There are only few people that can accommodate the area. Some are left outside with an umbrella. The meeting ended at around 10:30pm.
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| photo courtesy of the working team |
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| Brgy. Sabang, Semirara Island |
Different issues and concerns. Mixed feeling of fears and hope. Endless explanations. Chicken and egg questions. Unresolved cases… Yes there are no immediate solutions, but as one of the Commissioners says “We cannot solve the issues overnight, the important thing here is, we do talk with each other until such time that we will understand sentiment of both sides. Just like husband and wife relationship… talk to be able understand each other.” (Comm Karen)
Talk. Listen. Understand. Support. These are the few words I gathered out of the four (4) dialogues that we had for 3-working days.
Fourth Day (May 26): Last stop BORACAY Island. Our last day finally. We have to say goodbye to the residents. Thank you for the hospitality… Thank you for the food. Thank you for the abode. Thank you for everything unmentioned.
After 3-long days of working straight. We have to spend “a night of rest” in one of the prestigious hotels in the island of Boracay. Thank you, Thank you for the generosity of one of our Commissioners (Comm Gwen).
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A lot of learning. A lot of thinking to do. A lot of things to write. A lot of work again. Life doesn’t end there… Life doesn’t end walking on a white beach bare footed, sleeping on a good bed, air conditioned room, and buffet breakfast! No way!!! Ha ha! It is just a night of rest… then next day is our flight back to MANILA (May 27).
Fifth Day (May 27): The hotel gave a ride using their jet-boat with a seating capacity of at least 10-15pax from Bora back to Caticlan then travel via road again back to Kalibo, Aklan International Airport. Back to MANILA. Back to reality. House chores. Family responsibilities. Start of my writing work.
Moreover… as I internalize and I have my other notes taken… here are the excerpts I want to share:
1. The creation: Mountains are God’s creation… so with rivers, ocean, trees and the living things on earth. The local government and the national agencies should help to preserve portion of God’s creation. Since some of the Regional Agencies have been in/out of the area, they should have at least coordinated with the local government in educating the community. Environmental education for the community is greatly needed in the area so with sanitation.
“The question is whether any civilization can wage relentless war on life without destroying itself, and without losing the right to be called civilized.”
― Rachel Carson
2. The enjoyment: Land, seas, mountains, trees is just one of the things we human beings are now enjoying. Everyone loves the natural resources, if it will soon be depleted what kind of enjoyment will then be left for us to enjoy?
“Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans.”
― Jacques-Yves Cousteau
― Jacques-Yves Cousteau
3. The GDP (Gross Domestic Product): it is undeniably that the production of the farmers added to the nation’s wealth as well. The local government should have at least tried to help these hard-working species to maintain balance of nature, habitat, wealth and progress. The team can help impose a clearer policy on the preservation of livelihood, so with the environmental preservations.
“Good farmers, who take seriously their duties as stewards of Creation and of their land's inheritors, contribute to the welfare of society in more ways than society usually acknowledges, or even knows. These farmers produce valuable goods, of course; but they also conserve soil, they conserve water, they conserve wildlife, they conserve open space, they conserve scenery.”
― Wendell Berry, Bringing it to the Table: On Farming and Food
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| staple food |
4. The Young Generation: The smiles. The innocent looks. The hope of the future. One of the most vulnerable sectors of the society that we elders should at least provide protection. I believe that passing on good values on them will surely make the world a better place. Harsh words, bad environment, conflicts and hostilities are just one of the factors that will surely destroy them. I still have high regard on the policy makers who can protect them.
“We should not forget that it will be just as important to our descendants to be prosperous in their time as it is to us to be prosperous in our time.”
―Theodore Roosevelt
―Theodore Roosevelt
Article 1 Right to Equality
Article 2 Freedom from Discrimination
Article 3 Right to Life, Liberty, Personal Security
Article 4 Freedom from Slavery
Article 5 Freedom from Torture and Degrading Treatment
Article 6 Right to Recognition as a Person before the Law
Article 7 Right to Equality before the Law
Article 8 Right to Remedy by Competent Tribunal
Article 9 Freedom from Arbitrary Arrest and Exile
Article 10 Right to Fair Public Hearing
Article 11 Right to be Considered Innocent until Proven Guilty
Article 12 Freedom from Interference with Privacy, Family, Home and
Correspondence
Correspondence
Article 13 Right to Free Movement in and out of the Country
Article 14 Right to Asylum in other Countries from Persecution
Article 15 Right to a Nationality and the Freedom to Change It
Article 16 Right to Marriage and Family
Article 17 Right to Own Property
Article 18 Freedom of Belief and Religion
Article 19 Freedom of Opinion and Information
Article 20 Right of Peaceful Assembly and Association
Article 21 Right to Participate in Government and in Free Elections
Article 22 Right to Social Security
Article 23 Right to Desirable Work and to Join Trade Unions
Article 24 Right to Rest and Leisure
Article 25 Right to Adequate Living Standard
Article 26 Right to Education
Article 27 Right to Participate in the Cultural Life of Community
Article 28 Right to a Social Order that Articulates this Document
Article 29 Community Duties Essential to Free and Full Development
Article 30 Freedom from State or Personal Interference in the above Rights
1. The leaders: The community immersion should have at least provided us the holistic view on the lives of the farmers and fisherfolks, who are one of the vulnerable sectors of the society. I hope that government leaders should balance the benefits of their existence as regard of personal interest and pleasure. There are agencies responsible to help them make their lives better, hoping that they will do the right thing in policy making and its implementation.
“Pick a leader who will make their citizens proud. One who will stir the hearts of the people, so that the sons and daughters of a given nation strive to emulate their leader's greatness. Only then will a nation be truly great, when a leader inspires and produces citizens worthy of becoming future leaders, honorable decision makers and peacemakers. And in these times, a great leader must be extremely brave. Their leadership must be steered only by their conscience, not a bribe.”
― Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem
A strong leader? A leader with a heart?
An intelligent leader? A rich leader?
What kind of leader?
I went through and through, thinking what is essential in this experience. IT IS STILL IN THE HANDS OF PEOPLE. Human beings to determine what is good and bad base on their INTELLECT and HEART. Of course other factors are considered such as VALUE FORMATION, MONEY MATTERS, ATTITUDE, PRINCIPLES are just among the many aspects we are looking at.
There are invisible EYES looking from above. There are invisible HANDS giving away all these blessings to us. There is an invisible HEART bigger than this universe to carry our burden, but still…
….Seven Billion Dreams. ONE Planet. CONSUME with Care.
BALANCE. The economist, financial institutions, planners, decision makers, government officials, are hoped to settle on whatever is beneficial to many and not to some pocket-earners. Better policies to guide now and for future generations.
How can we say – Set aside the personal interest? It remains a question.
All I can say... Juan and Juana your decision is important for the future of everyone.⊡shqq2016
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