Sailing forward

By: Josephine Ramos

Panglao Island, Bohol- Bound to the sea for most of his life, Joel Lumangcas from Panglao Island, Bohol, moves with the waves.

From a young age, he had already helped his father with fishing, a livelihood that sustained their family.

In 2008, Joel found himself working at a dive shop, where he served as a speedboat operator for divers. One day, his boss offered him the chance to become a divemaster, just like his
colleagues, which he readily accepted.

As a dive master, he ensured that tourists were fully briefed on all the underwater rules and knew what to expect during their tours. He guided them underwater, carefully overseeing their
safety at all times.

Unfortunately, around 2010, he suffered a serious accident when an old tank he was using exploded, leaving his hands and feet severely injured. He spent two and a half months in the
hospital, unable to walk. During this challenging period of his life, his wife, Cherry, stepped up as the family’s breadwinner. Cherry went to their neighborhood selling banana cue to make
ends meet, while Joel focused on his healing.

After three years of recovery, Joel began helping his mother sell fish in the market. Five years later, when his injury had fully healed, someone offered him a job at sea again. At first, he was
hesitant, still haunted by the trauma of his past accident, but his desire to provide support for his family gave him the courage to confront his fears.

When he returned to work, Joel became a snorkeling guide for a tour agency owned by his Korean employer. Meanwhile, his wife worked as a dishwasher in a restaurant owned by the
same employer.

During the low season, when there were no tourists, Joel would go fishing in the sea, selling the fish at his mother’s stall in the market.

In 2018, Joel and his wife, Cherry, learned about CARD, Inc. (A Microfinance NGO) from a friend. With the institution’s loan, Joel was able to purchase a boat. Currently, both of them have
a loan of PHP 40,000.00 each, which they use to maintain their boat, renovate their house, and support their childrens educ’ation.

“Malaki ang naitulong sa akin ng CARD, Inc., kagaya ngayon yung tourist boat na ginagamit ko sa paghahanapbuhay ay mula sa loan na kinuha ko sa kanila (CARD, Inc. has helped me a lot.

For instance, the tourist boat I now use to earn a living was made possible through the loan I received from them),” Joel stated.

Looking ahead, Joel hopes to acquire his second boat, a venture that will not only increase their family’s income but also provide for their children's education and evolving needs.