(By Jerry May Baluntong)
SAG (nest in English) is an islet-barangay occupied by numerous residents in Talibon, Bohol. Talibon, a coastal municipality, comprises twenty-five barangays, each consisting of puroks and some with sitios. Seventeen barangays are located on the mainland while eight are island-barangays including Sag.
We began our journey from the capital city of Tagbilaran, traveling more than two hours to the town of Talibon. Our route took us through Cortes, Balilihan, Catigbian, Tubigon, Clarin, Inabanga, Jetafe, and then Talibon. If you are a visitor, upon reaching Talibon, you will find a designated area near the market where motorized boats await residents or visitors of the various islets. If you don’t know anyone in Sag, you can ask any individual in the market which boat to take. The boat fare is P200.00, and the ride takes about twenty minutes.
Approaching the destination, you will notice houses and mangroves covering almost half the island — a remarkable sight! My friend Jhonny Arcayos mentioned that it was densely covered with trees before Typhoon Odette hit the island. You can walk around the entire islet in just 10-20 minutes.
The residents are primarily fisherfolk catching huge crabs and other marine life which are abundant in the area. Mind you, the prices of fish and crab are very cheap on the island and even in Talibon compared to the capital city. One can only sigh!
A poor island inhabited by kind people, some must leave their families, even their small children, to find productive engagement outside Sag. Leaving the island though is risky, especially when they have no relatives or friends elsewhere. They find themselves alone and isolated when they begin work outside Sag. Jhonny lost his elder brother while working in Manila. But as the island folks say, “Dili ta mo asenso diri sa Sag,” (We won’t prosper here in Sag) and many have lost hope of improving their lives on the island.
Despite the harsh reality, the residents of Sag are friendly and accommodating, especially during fiestas. Sadly, some households lack toilets, and we observed children defecating on the beach and by the mangrove trees, making the beach water unsafe for swimming, particularly for sensitive individuals. And yet, barangay folks still swim for bathing purposes.
The absence of water supply is also stark. Residents use rainwater for cleaning and drinking, albeit some use mineral water and water filtration systems provided last year after Typhoon Odette whacked Sag.
Mini-stores or sari-sari stores are available during the day where a visitor like me can buy mineral water, soda, and even beer! If you plan to visit without acquaintances, you can camp near a house with permission for safety. There is a strong bond of fraternity — solidarity — that exists on the island and on our latest camping trip, even if we nearly encountered a skirmish on the day of our arrival, the next morning, all was forgotten, and we saw the group participating in a coastal cleanup.
If you’re planning to visit, bring a flashlight and a power bank since the island lacks electricity though some use generators and solar power. Interestingly, they have Piso Wi-Fi! The wonders of the internet huh!
We opportune our visit during the barangay fiesta on June 29-30, 2024 which was given vibrancy and life by a barangay disco on the evening of June 30th. It’s a bustling time with visitors from neighboring islands and municipalities, including families returning from other provinces or abroad for the festivities. Don’t forget to bring a mini fan as it can get very hot. When exhausted from the heat, you can picnic under the Balete tree.
My short visit to Sag opened my eyes to the hard realities felt on the island: Residents face considerable challenges such as limited access to basic amenities like toilets; the absence of electricity — in this day and age when every barangay, including island barangays, should have been energized since this is embraced by the Missionary Electrification program of the National Power Corporation-Small Power Utilities Group or NPC-SPUG; the lack of reliable water supply; and the risks associated with leaving the island for work. Through these all, the inhabitants of Sag demonstrate resilience, community spirit, and hospitality, especially during festive occasions.
Because of the lack and scarcity, residents use innovative solutions like rainwater collection, solar power, and community initiatives including coastal cleanups to address their needs and improve their living conditions. However, the government should piggyback on these innovations to speed up the development of Sag.
Overall, this trip has highlighted to me the resilience of the human spirit, the soul of community support, the need for inclusive growth, and the authentic promotion of environmental awareness in remote island communities.
I’m glad to have seen the reality of life in island living.
***
The writer hosts Woman Talk with Belinda Sales every Saturday, 10 a.m. at 91.1 Balita FM Tagbilaran City. Email at belindabelsales@gmail.com. X @ShilohRuthie./PN
