A life of chasing ships
By cdparazo
@cdparazo (5765)
Philippines
May 15, 2007 1:46am CST
I had been traveling to a number of cities for the past weeks. For a change, I decided to travel via boat. It was during this travel that I have seen again the Bajao. The Bajao is an indigenous & once proud tribe in my country. They are known as seagoing nomads who spend their entire life living on large outrigger canoes. They get all their needs from the seas and goes from island to island. But due to the exploitation of our natural resources, the sea could no longer sustain their lifestyle and sad to say some of them have gone to live in the land and became beggars. However, from where I come from, they have learned to live along the coastline or near the pier, wherein they get to satisfy their nomadic tendencies by making a living chasing big ships. They now use motorized ‘bangka’ or small boats to chase big ships that ply the channel everyday. They appeal to the charitable spirits of the ship’s passengers and ask the passengers to throw money at their boat. In the attached picture you could see the father manning the boat while the mother holds a rectangular sack with bamboo sticks at the sides to catch the money. In the pier also, there are Bajao children who would ask for money and will ask you to throw some coins into the water. Once you throw the coins into the waters, they will wait for few seconds then they will dive under the water to catch the coins. The Bajaos are magnificent swimmers and one could see children as young as 3-5 years old diving at the pier. They exhibit their prowess in diving and swimming in ex-change of some coins. Seeing the Badjao makes me really sad of what was once a proud and colorful tribe has been reduced to. They are the casualties of population growth and usurpation of our natural resources. I know that our City is having programs and housing to help them and I just hope, it’s the same in the other areas where the Bajao came to settle.
5 people like this
8 responses
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
15 May 07
The bajau(we spell it as bajau) here have improved tremendiously through the years and are well respected community. Some are holding important posts in the Government and are successful politicians. I don't know whether your bajao is the same as our bajau here in Sabah. Though many are still fishermen living along the coast but the modern bajaus mostly dwell in magnificient bungalows here. Their standard of living are morally high.
4 people like this
@cdparazo (5765)
• Philippines
15 May 07
They are the same. They are also called Badjau, Badjao, Bayaw, Bajao, Sea Gypsies & Sama Dilaut. They are indigenous people found in the seas of Southeast Asia such as in Malaysia, Indonesia & Philippines. Here in my country they can be found primarily in the waters of Sulu. But for many years now, due to difficulties in life and poverty they have started to live in land. Thanks for responding!
http://www.peoplesoftheworld.org/text?people=Bajau
3 people like this
@Tenerifelynn (575)
•
15 May 07
I know I am not of your culture! But indeed I found your article very interesting to read. It isa always nice to learn of the many different cultures of the world. Facinating read.
Lynn-Marie
@GardenGerty (160697)
• United States
17 May 07
We talk about endangered species, and forget, it can be us, it can be humans, and distinctive life styles that can be endangered. Thanks for sharing with us.
2 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
15 May 07
Too many olden and rich cultures pass by the wayside due to
economic growth etc. It's a shame that more can't be done to
preserve these peoples lifestyles etc for the world to see,
learn, and to know more fully.
HAPPY POSTIMNGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
16 May 07
On the drive home tonight I told my wife about these people etc. I showed her the topic and then the link. She as well as I was amazed. They're sort of like homeless people on boats. Pirates yet not theives. Sad but very interesting and intriguing. Thanks again.
HAPPY POSTIMNGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
@cdparazo (5765)
• Philippines
16 May 07
It is indeed as shame and a sign of times Grandpa Bob. Good to know that there are actually organizations who are doing their best to preserve and protect the culture of the Bajao. I know one in Indonesia and also in my country. Thanks for responding!
2 people like this
@cdparazo (5765)
• Philippines
17 May 07
It is indeed sad to see their plight. Bajao is a very proud tribe and it breaks my heart to see them begging for money. They were self-sufficient people with very rich culture. Here in my City, our officials had allocated a piece of land for their relocation wherein they could start building their houses on land but they may have to totally abandon their lifestyle. We have programs also that would help them develop skills that would be useful in making a new life in land.
1 person likes this
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
16 May 07
This is indeed a sad demise for such a colorful and wonderful piece of your countries past. Instead of letting that piece of culture die out, why not help them be who they are? It is sad that the lack of natural resources prevent them from living their lives to the fullest of their history and culture. I am sorry to hear of their troubles. It is very sad. Thank you for sharing this bit of your culture with us. I have learned something new yet again on mylot. I too hope that the Bajao will be able to find a life that they will be able to live proudly on land or sea.
2 people like this
@cdparazo (5765)
• Philippines
17 May 07
Actually there are organizations already that are preserving their culture here and even in Indonesia. However, not all of them can stay and be sea gypies forever. Our government are doing what they can do is skills training for livelihood and land allocation. Some of them find it really difficult to live on land since the sea is really in their blood. Thanks for responding too and for appreciating my post.
1 person likes this
@rojane (500)
• Philippines
17 May 07
hi there, im also from the philippines. i encountered children like that at the pier when we went to boracay. we stopped over at caticlan pier and im not sure but i think that's where i had seen them. they asked us to throw some coins and as you had said, they went diving for it. goodness, they were actually able to get the coins! i was so amazed at the little kids. the kids there range from ages 5-onwards and they were so good at swimming. it's like they have learned to swim first before they even learned how to walk.
i didn't know that they were badjaos. actually, i just learned and heard the word "badjao" first time here in your post! guess i am just not really aware of the environment i live in. poor me...
i'm so glad for this info. keep posting informative entries like this! see yah 'round!
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
17 May 07
I read your fascinating information, via a friend on My LOt who recommended your discussion.
I have visited the Philiipines, but don't believe I saw these people.
I agree that western society destroying a native peoples way of life is devastating.
Are there not any areas left of the ocean near your country where the Badjoe could still fish & live?
@cdparazo (5765)
• Philippines
17 May 07
It's not really the fault of the western society but more on us, as a people and of the times. Maybe there are just lifestyles that no longer go with the modern times and as a result of exploitation of our natural resources. We have 7100 islands and a lot of them are protected areas that no one is allowed to live nor fish. If there are areas left for them, they don't have much to offer also to support their lifestyle so a lot of them now are scattered all over the islands and some have learned to live on land. Thanks for responding!
@someonesmom (5761)
• Canada
17 May 07
Thanks for this very interesting discussion. I took Grandpa Bob up on his suggestion that some of his 'friends' have a look at it. I've never heard of these people, so find it fascinating to learn something about them. myLot is indeed a place to acquire new knowledge.
1 person likes this
