Narrative Story: Life’s Achievements of Fisherman Brought by Fishing

One of the most cherished traditions in the world is fishing. It’s an art form
that feels timeless and simple, but in reality, it takes so many hours and dedication to
catch just one fish. A fisherman’s life has very little recognition, but it’s filled with
happiness and tranquility. Whatever comes by way of the net or beholds me in the
water will be something fresh, new, and exciting for me and everyone else.
Struggles
Being a fisherman has never been easy. Fishing is a dangerous and financially
risky way to make a living. The labor is hard, conditions out at sea can turn rough,
and the bounty depends on the whims of Mother Nature. Although it can provide some
income to fishermen like me, it wouldn’t be enough to sustain daily expenses. I was 9
years old when I learned how to catch fishes and today, fishing is my primary source
of income. We used to own our own “daklis” in Pasuquin, where we could earn up to
₱20,000-₱30,000 per day depending on how many fishes we were able to catch.
However, it was insufficient to cover our daily needs because we don’t always make
that much money each day and not all the time we do catch a lot of fish.
In the middle of the sea facing between Currimao or neither Paoay, we
frequently catch a large number of fish. We have our own “payaw”, and if I say
“payaw”, it depends on how far away it is in order for us to get ready. It can be
between 30-40 miles, if 30 miles, then we start preparing at 2:00 AM. Now that we are
fishing a little farther than before, we get ready at 3:00 AM and be home until 11:00
AM. We don’t adhere to any set schedule and our only reliance is the weather. Even at
night, we go fishing leaving at midnight and returning before sunrise. Our fish catches
are seasonal.
Courage
One of the dangers associated with fishing is to be overtaken by unexpected
events such as sudden strong blows of the waves. We have internet devices to
determine whether going fishing is permitted or not, thanks to technology. We needed
money to survive, so it is significant. However, prioritizing our safety is much more
crucial because it won’t matter how much money you make if your life would be at
stake. There will always be a level of fear and worry during disasters, especially that
we are close to the coast. However, the authorities here claim that the water did not
rise as much as it did because there is no such thing as a tidal wave that happen in
here yet. As our universal savior, I believe that praying to God is one of the most
essential part of acquiring safety. Based on my experiences, if the weather is good, we
go fishing separately because we have some “payaw” and can sometimes drop 4-5 of it
but if the weather is not good, we go fishing all together so that we can ensure the
safety of each other.
The materials we used in fishing are artificial bait such as artificial squid and
we also used “rapala”. We do not use nets with tiny holes because in my opinion, the
government should be aware of this issue and pay attention to it, as there is no reason
to implement and permit “daklis” if it contributes to the destruction of fish spawning
grounds. The vast differences in beliefs between then and now and the fact that we
now live in a modern world, I no longer believe and base my decision to go fishing with
the moon. We are using motor-operated boat that allows us to travel at least 50-60
miles, but I have also experienced manual rowing, which is exhausting.
Accomplishments
The so-called “daklis” and fishing significantly altered my life. Many people
benefit greatly from it, not only the person who went fishing but also the individuals
who assisted them in gathering “mammngat”. They can sell it and use the profit to
support themselves in attending school. For me, fishing was the only way to make
money at that time. Life was so difficult and we needed money to buy daily necessities
for my family. It wasn’t the career I want to pursue but I was forced to pursue it
because I want to help my family and financial needs is a big issue. If I am not a
fisherman right now, I want to become a soldier because it was my dream career.
My family is my inspiration and motivation to keep going despite the challenges
and struggles of life. We are in charge of our own fate, if we wait around for luck, we
won’t have anything. So we must act, be persistent, and work hard. Some of my
children didn’t finished school and people has many says about it and trying to bring
us down but we used that as motivation to work even harder to succeed in life. I am
not bragging but my children now can earn much more than those salary of people
who graduated with a degree. Thanks to the aid of “daklis” and fishing, I would define
the word “success” as witnessing my children enjoy the comforts of life that I want for
them to experience.
The job of being a fisherman is very enduring and dangerous. Some are even
risking their lives each day for the sake of livelihood. Having a strong faith and
courage to face challenges and struggles in life that we face everytime we have voyage
are the qualities of being a fisherman that youth can look up to and mold them to be a
better version of themselves so that they can achieve their goals and dreams in life.