From what I have gathered, the Badjaos used to be living only in Mindanao, as a tribe in the island. They are fisher folks who, over time, with the emergence of more sophisticated and commercial fishing, were displaced, thus the migration in the different islands in the country such as Bohol, Cebu and Manila.

BY TERENCE KRISHNA LOPEZ
Contributed to Bulatlat
Photo Essay
Vol. VII, No. 41, November 18-24, 2007

Living in the island, I have grown accustomed to boats of all kinds. There are the fishing boats, the sail boats, the ships for cruising, ships for traveling, boats for diving, name it, I know it.

I have seen them in almost all shapes, colors, sizes, and textures. Indeed, I can no longer be surprised by boats.

Until last Nov. 11, when, fresh from a magical journey in Camiguin Island and Cagayan de Oro City, I arrived in the port of Tagbilaran City with my eyes awakened by the sight of boats I will never dream of riding onto.

They are the boats of sea gypsies, or what we call, the Badjaos. From where I was standing, I saw them, on their boats begging for money from passengers who were gamely throwing coins into the water and watch the Badjaos dive after.

Passengers who were not tourists. Passengers who live too in the island. Passengers who can just get down and hand the coins to them by the bay.

I always knew this existed, but it was the first time for me to witness such a scene.

And as I clicked and clicked on my shutter, it felt something more profound than painful. It felt more poignant than a melodrama.

Women under, babies on top

Most of them are women. That’s what first caught my eyes. I counted them all, nine women, three men, seven boats.

I saw them diving for every one-peso or five-peso coin thrown by cheering passengers from the second and third level of the ship.

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