'Ang Dagat at si Lolo Pedro,' dokumentaryo ni Kara David, ngayong Sabado sa 'I-Witness'

I-WITNESS KARA DAVID TEAM
“ANG DAGAT AT SI LOLO PEDRO”
AIRING DATE: MARCH 7, 2020

Payak ang pamumuhay ng mga residente ng Isla Verde sa probinsya ng Batangas. Ang yaman nilang maituturing – ang biyaya ng dagat kung saan sila kumukuha ng ikinabubuhay.

Marami sa mga taga-Barangay San Andres, ornamental fishing ang pinagkakakitaan o yung panghuhuli ng makukulay na isdang inilalagay sa mga aquarium. Tatlong henerasyon sa pamilya Ebora – ito ang kabuhayang pinagpasa-pasahan. Mula sa pitumpu't limang taong gulang na si lolo Pedro, anak niyang si Boyten at katorse anyos na apong si Jimuel. Pero nang dahil sa paulit-ulit na paggamit ng compressor, paralisado na ngayon si lolo Pedro at halos hindi na makalakad. Sa kabila ng panganib, ito ang yapak na sinusundan ng ilang kabataan ng Barangay San Andres gaya nina BJ at Jiro na pawang trese anyos pa lang.

Mula Isla Verde, ibabiyahe ang saku-sakong mga isdang naka-plastic papunta sa Cuta Duluhan, Batangas. Isasakay sa nirentahang pampasaherong jeep at iluluwas ng Maynila para ibenta. Pero marami sa mga isda, hindi kinakaya ang mahabang biyahe at iilan lang ang nabubuhay. Ito ang paglalakbay na tila sumasalamin sa kapalaran ng mga mangingisda ng Barangay San Andres.

Panoorin ang dokumentaryo ni Kara David na “Ang Dagat at si Lolo Pedro” ngayong Sabado, March 7 sa GMA 7.

Life is simple for the residents of Isla Verde in Batangas. For them, abundance comes from the depths of the ocean which is their main source of livelihood.

In Barangay San Andres, most residents rely on ornamental fishing. Everyday, they go out to sea to catch fish, not the ones for consumption but those that are kept in aquariums. This is the livelihood which has been passed on to three generations of the Ebora family. From seventy five year old lolo Pedro to his son Boyten and then later on to his grandson, fourteen year old Jimuel. But because of the hazards of compressor diving, lolo Pedro is now paralyzed and can barely even walk. Yet despite the dangers, kids from Barangay San Andres seem to follow his footsteps - such as thirteen year olds BJ and Hiro.

From Isla Verde, the sacks of fish kept in separate plastics will then be transported to Cuta Duluhan in Batangas. They will be loaded onto a rented passenger jeepney, and will be brought to Manila where they will be passed on to resellers. But most of the fish won't live through the journey and only some will survive. This somehow mirrors the fate of the fishermen of Barangay San Andres.

Watch Kara David's documentary “Ang Dagat at si Lolo Pedro” this Saturday, March 7, on GMA 7.