Coastal Village part 1: Barangay Loyola, Surigao, Mindanao

I have choosed Barangay Loyola as my first site of research. The composition of the livelihoods here are interesting, many people engage in seaweed farming, nipa thatching, sea shell gathering, copra workers, and at the same time work as a fisherfolk also. This barangay, the kindness of the people, the dynamics of husband-wifes role has taught me in some many ways.

First, I would like to talk about the different of livelihood that they have. You might be aware that a coastal community will rely much on their diverse resources as their sources of livelihood. This apply strongly to men and women who in Barangay Loyola. Most of the families here worked as a fisherfolk, and when I say family it includes men and women, sometimes along with their children also they go fishing and put the net for crabs. 

shells collecting

Shell gathering mostly done by women. They usually go in groups and sometimes accompanied by their children. They will bring their net bag or a sack to get the sea shell and some of they collect seaweed also that swipe away by the mild waves. I joined them for collecting sea shell in a sunny day. Trust me, they have eyes sharpen than eagles! I mean how come you can see that piece tiny winy blackish shell in a rock? They were all like, 'Oh, that's one shell, can you see that Kuntum?' and there was I, standing, trying so hard to look at the rock, feeling stupid and then gently shaking my head. Not even with my glasses i can see this small shell. This shell collecting usually done in mid day, when the sun shinning so brightly, without mercy. A hat will definitely help. Oh, and I forgot to mentioned that even women who is five months pregnant still doing this practice. She said to me that staying in the house won't give her anything and she will feel very weak if she only relaxing. She actually considered this as her exercise and the salt water is good for her feet, she acclaimed. This sea shell collection finish when the high tide comes and the water start to cover all the rocks there. One of the women told me that before, they can find more of shell, their favorite is oyster.They don't really sell this unless someone will buy it. their priority comes to their family. At home, they will cook this sea shell and serve it as viand. Talking about food security here.

nipa shingles

Wome here can find a lot of sea shell near mangroves area.This abundance of mangroves in Loyola is a treasure for them. Another type of mangroves which abundantly exist is Nipa. Thatching nipa is another occupation that is predominantly done by women. I don't want to called this as an additional livelihood since I think this actually the most sustainable means of livelihood. I met Nanay Donesia, whose has been making Nipa shingles since 60 years ago. Nipa forest can be harvested through out years. This give the family a reliable income however, the price of nipa shingles are extremely low that leads most women and families here lives below poverty line. 

catching crabs

One cannot talk about coastal community without mentioning fisherfolk. Most of the families here have boat and the type is diverse between the paddle boat, barroto, or pump boat. I was thinking the other day, with this abundance of resources located in their backyard-literally- they should not live in poverty. they can get their meal of they go fishing and living here is so peaceful (considering most the houses don't own a tv set). A friend then struck me with a question, if the family that i lived in with have an economic means by that he means boat to look for a fish, a proper net, or gasoline to go further to the sea where fish is more abundant. I got hit by the reality, once again. Saving is not a practice here, a family that i stayed with only have 40php (less that $1) that day when I asked them in term of cash that they have. 

CERD, a local NGO here, introduce the practice of seaweed farming in 2000. The seaweed (guso) has become another light of the community life. Many of the fisherfolk changes their livelihood to seaweed farmers. Some because they need the capital to start farming so they sell their boat, others stop because they suffer from illness and thinking that with seaweed they don't have to go to the sea everyday. They can harvest guso after 45 days or a month however in unlucky days, they need to harvest it faster before the guso ruin by the disease called 'eyes-eyes'. A kilo of guso can be sold round 30-35 php. 

seaweed harvest

I reveal a lot of ironic facts during my stay there. I have been aware during my working time with coastal community in Indonesia that coastal community mostly only live day by day. It means that what they gain that day, they will spend it in a day also. Here, I understand, experience, ad feel at risk about it. For example, I bought many vegetables and viand for the family thinking that we could save it for at least 3 days but instead they cooked them all for our dinner that night. As a result, the next day we almost have nothing to eat. The father came back from fishing with no catch, the mother did not work, and nanny money's is almost running out. This is the reality and somehow there should be better solution for this.