Dreams from the river

By Glaiza Bernadeth Pinto

Young boys and girls playing at moored bancas at the side of Pantal River in Dagupan are a common sight.

But for some, not equally young, the river and bancas mean more than games – it’s a means to survive.

One of those is Marvin Mendoza, now 16, who started working as a fisherman three years ago.

“Maaga na akong nagigising para makarami. Noong una, hirap talaga ako, pero kinaya ko na rin para sa pamilya ko,” said Marvin who makes a living from the waters but admits he does not know how to swim.

Marvin usually sets off at four in the morning with his friend Renan Claudio who is two years his junior. They join other fishermen, both adults and young teenagers like them.

“Aalis kami ng four am then magstastart na ng 6 am. Tulong-tulong kami ng mga kasamahan ko na maghuhulog ng lambat, pagkalipas ng dalawa hanggang tatlong oras saka nanaman kami maghahanap ng ibang puwesto na mahuhulugan namin ng lambat. Kapag naka-abot na ng dalawa hanggang tatlong round saka kami titigil,” narrates Marvin whose father died when he was thirteen and has since become the breadwinner of the family.

He is the second in the brood but their eldest, also male, married early and now has his own family to look after.

Their usual catch consists of bangus, Dagupan’s most popular product, pusit , and tuna, which they usually sell at the fish market in the city or sometimes go house-to-house.

FLOATING PLAYGROUND–Young children turn these motorized
bancas docked at the Pantal River in Dagupan into their playground.
(Punchphoto by Cesar S. Ramirez)

Like a child reminiscing a memorable adventure, he excitedly tells of the time when they spotted a balyena (whale) and pating (shark), which they were able to catch, he says, but let the creatures go in the end.

On average, he is able to bring home P400 a day (which is higher than the minimum wage) and he says this sees his family through the day for their basic needs.

But he says he is also trying to save up for his education which he wants to eventually continue.

“Sa susunod na taon third year pa lamang ako sa high school, tatlong beses na rin kasi akong nahinto. Pero, mag-aaral uli ako, mag-iipon mula sa pangingisda. Gusto ko rin makapagtapos at mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang aking kapatid na babae at ang aking nanay,” Marvin says with hope and determination.

Though he does not dare tempt fate. When the weather is not too good – when there is a storm or the waves are too high for example – he says he and most other fishermen do not go fishing. Anyway, the catch won’t be good and there is the danger of drowning, he says.

On slow days, he does odd jobs for some shops and helps fold newspapers that have just come off the press.

Coming from a family of fishermen, he first learned some fishing skills from his grandfather who used to take him along and paid him like other hired hands. He admits that he is not a real expert fisherman yet, but he proudly says that he has already learned some tricks of the trade and can tell which parts of the water would most likely yield a good catch.

He sees fishing as a very valuable skill because he says there is water everywhere on earth and so he knows that he and his family will never starve.

He also does not consider fishing as a mere means of livelihood but a way of life for him, the river a place for meeting and making friends.

And so while his education dreams are on hold for the meantime, he enjoys his time as a fisherman in Pantal, much like a playground for this young man who is still very much a child within.

(Readers may reach columnist at marifijara@gmail.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/roots/
For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments