In nava, mambaling, the once basic lifestyle of theBadjaos has now seemed to have improved a great deal. Some of them are no longer diving for coins in sea ports nor begging in the streets to earn a living. Their ways of living now appear to have almost no difference at all to that of a typical urban family.
There are, in fact, some who are already working as a teachers, and health workers. The others are making their way out by becoming vendors either in markets or along hte streets. Many of them are also engaged in some vocational activities like sewing and making handicrafts.
Linda (real name withheld), who is recently working as a dressmaker in a tailoring shop in Mambaling, shared her working experience as a Badjao.
"Usahay kay makalitan nalang ako'ng mga katrabaho kay badjao lagi ko unya kama-o ko ug ingon ani nga trabaho,"
According to her, many would still underestimate their capabilities because of their appearance and reputation as beggars.
"kahibalo man sad mi'ng mga Badjao manrabaho parehas sa uban nga mga tawo. Usahay lang kay lain kaayo ila'ng pagtan-aw namo, nga mura mi ug mga hugaw nga trapo. Pero maningkamot lang gihapon mi,"
Life indeed for these people is not just about plaing with the waves and diving for coins, nor is it about becoming a subject for ridicule for having lived a life so different from that of the others. Through the years, these Badjaos have than remarkable just to prove their worth.
And that even as we see that same old scenario over and over again, when well dressed passengers of that ship begin throwing coins out unto the sea, know that the people drifting out and about to catch those little fortunes are capable of doing more than just that.
"Usahay luwaan mi.
dili gani labayan mi nila
ug basura.Unya musyagit
dayon ang uban ug
'Badjao!'."
No comments:
Post a Comment