FisherFolks Day
June 27, 2022
Celebrating the Uncelebrated. Uniting as One.
A platform where all parties connected to our sea can come together to share knowledge, concerns and explore ways to work towards a sustainably-bountiful future.
This was the first FisherFolks Day for the municipality of Bantayan, Cebu! A heavy focus was laid on sharing new ways of working with the sea by combining traditional seafaring skills with modern technology and solutions in order to healthily revive our seafaring culture in a way that rehabilitates the oceans ecosystem for the generations to com. This is a day where Bantayanons come together and celebrate their deep-rooted heritage with the sea and uplift our often overlooked Fisherfolk.
We highlight the Fisherfolk’s important role for Bantayan Island in as much as food security, culture, history, marine conservation and protection. This is a platform for everyone involved with our sea to get together and share their projects, pains, reflections and visions for the future.
This has proven to successfully function as a means for the Local Government Units (LGUs), NGO’s and the small Fisherfolk to work with one another for these crucial purposes: the preservation, the protection and the eventual augmentation of our marine-given food sources, working with the existing local/national fishery policies. In addition, this day serves as a means to educate fisherfolk on their rights based on fishery ordinances and laws, ensuring a harmonious relationship between fishing communities, non government agencies and their local government units.
Adlaw Sa Mananagat, June 27 2022
Here's What Happened:
The day consisted of a parade on the ocean, educational presentations and an open forum. The parade on the ocean served to share and reignite interest in the Bantayanon’s cultural heritage and traditions stemming from the sea. After, an on-foot caravan from the Wharf to the Municipality Hall of Bantayan Proper took place to share the celebration with everyone living inland too.
All registered fisherfolk People’s Organisations joined with their decorated boats using recycled and organic materials to add colour to our parade. The Parade on Water started at the tip of the Wharf until the Marine Sanctuary of Guiwanon – and back!
1st prize for the best decorated boat won Php 5,000, 2nd Prize Php 2,500 and 3rd prize being Php 1,500. The remaining participants received consolation prizes of Php 500 to supplement the cost of the gasoline used during the parade.
