Braving the sea with her boat and paddle as armor is like a run-of-the-mill for the 49-year-old member of the Dapdap Mandaragat Association Lormae R. Martinez.
She often navigates with her boat to gather shells, locally known as “pangilapot,” a skill that has not only sustained her livelihood but also earned her recognition within her community.
Martinez was dubbed “Bugsay Queen,” having been able to successfully bag the victory in the female category of the 400-meter “de bugsay Baroto Race,” against seven opponents recently. Such a win marks her sixth consecutive crown in the competition, solidifying her status as a local champion.
The ‘de bugsay Baroto Race’ has been a cherished tradition in Tangalan town in Aklan for over 20 years.
The said activity formed part of Tangalan’s 76th Municipal Independence and 126th Heroes of Vivo celebration.
“I am happy to have won, as this will help with our livelihood,” she shared in Akeanon, highlighting the importance of such events in supporting local families.
In fact, as she received a cash prize of P3,700 from the competition, she used some of this to purchase a school uniform for her grandson and buy their basic needs such as rice.
As among the 21 members of Dapdap Mandaragat Association, a key partner-beneficiary of the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) program of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 6, Martinez was further empowered with the various interventions given by the SAAD team to their group.
For two years of being a member of the association, Martinez was not just able to earn a living through the program but has been empowered to enhance her skills in boatmaking.
BFAR’s SAAD team conducted a comprehensive beneficiary needs assessment in 2023, and after which, they provided the association with essential tools and equipment including gill nets, hook and line gear, fish vending carts, fish drying materials, and post-harvest kits.
The group was also able to undergo training in fiberglass boat making or the “Bangka Ko, Gawa Ko” program under SAAD.
“I am truly thankful to SAAD for giving us the opportunity to learn new skills while at the same time, we enhance our livelihood,” she further noted in Akeanon.
According to Martinez, she earns at least P300 to P400 daily through her grind at the sea, with the help of the tools given to their association.
The support of SAAD to Dapdap Mandaragat Association doesn’t conclude with providing fishing materials and a series of training.
For this year, according to BFAR, the association is set to receive another support including one unit of milkfish cage culture, 11 units of fiberglass boats, and a chest-type freezer. These resources are viewed by the Bureau to significantly enhance their members’ capacity to sustain their livelihoods and improve their economic standing.
The success of Martinez and the abounding support from SAAD to Dapdap Mandaragat Association were testaments to the government’s relentless efforts towards community empowerment.
Further, Martinez having earned the monicker “Bugsay Queen” also serves as an epitome of the growing role of women in the fisheries sector, where they are not only participants but are also capable of becoming leaders.
As programs like BFAR’s SAAD continue to touch the lives of people, particularly in the fishing communities, they become more empowered to set their sail towards a much brighter economic future by sustaining their livelihood and setting a good example for the generations to come. (AAL/AGP/PIA 6)
