'Kalboro'
OFF THE BEATEN PATH
The Philippines. Over 7,000 islands full of wonder and beauty, just waiting to be discovered and re-discovered. I’ve been fortunate to have been able to visit almost all the provinces in the Philippines – enjoying the breathtaking scenery, sumptuous delicacies and most importantly, forging friendships with people from all walks of life. Through my travels, I’ve been using the hashtag #SuroyPilipinas. The goal is about discovering the beauty of the Philippines by going around the country. But instead of just flying to different places, I’ve preferred to drive to the different islands.
Driving provides a better appreciation of the municipalities and cities you pass through as you go from one province to another – places you’ll never see from 34,000 feet above ground. And I can’t seem to get enough of this voyage of discovery.
Earlier this month, I embarked on another journey – this time, one that not many have been given the opportunity to go on. However, instead of the usual driving, this was a trip that would have me staying on a boat for several days. I and my photographer friend, Joel Angeles, joined fishermen from Masinloc, Zambales, and headed to Bajo de Masinloc. Yes, Scarborough Shoal, or Kalboro, as it is called by the locals.
For those not too familiar, Masinloc is a town in the Province of Zambales, and is a six-hour drive from Metro Manila with a population of over 54,000. It’s where Bajo de Masinloc, or Scarborough Shoal, is most closely associated with. There are two routes to take if you decide to get to the municipality. The first route would have you pass through Pangasinan, while the alternate route would be through Subic. For this drive, I opted to go through Subic, a drive which is shorter by about an hour.
The reason for this journey, was for me to join the fishermen to experience their life while at sea. For years I’d heard a lot of stories about the challenges they faced, and how they’d been able to overcome the adversities that come their way. Many of the fishermen who were with me during this trip, have been fishing in the shoal for decades. Many of them hailed from the Visayas and Mindanao originally, but through the years, have come to call Masinloc their home.
For many, when you talk about Scarborough Shoal, the conversation usually turns political rather quickly. Not much – not enough – has been discussed about the lives of the people who not only live in Masinloc, but whose livelihood is dependent on fishing in the waters of the shoal. For years, I wanted to know more about them. Knowing the fishermen and what life is for them, while fishing in Bajo de Masinloc.
This #SuroyPilipinas trip of discovery, which consisted of seven days travel time total, and would have us all living in the boat at sea for three days and four nights. In the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing my experience in this once-in-a-lifetime trip. How we prepared, what equipment we brought to record our journey. And in particular, the daily life of fishermen while at the shoal, and how life has changed through the years for the fishermen of Bajo de Masinloc.
A journey we take, together. A voyage to discover our home, the Philippines.