Like many other communities in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines, the fishing community of Barangay Salvacion in the municipality of Basey in Western Samar suffered immense devastation in last year’s Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda).
About 90 percent of the local population earn their livelihoods through fishing, and while all are accustomed to the frequent tropical storms that strike the region each year, no one was prepared for the massive scale of the typhoon that hit them on November 8. It would prove to be the deadliest typhoon to ever make land in the Philippines, and one of the most powerful ever recorded globally. When the wind and water eventually subsided, many of the residents of Barangay Salvacion found themselves without boats and fishing equipment, and were faced with a long and difficult struggle ahead to rebuild their lives and livelihoods.
In order to help the community get back on its feet, CFSI’s Psychosocial Care Project-Eastern Visayas, in conjunction with Omega Disaster Response and barangay officials, organized an event entitled “Achieving Wellness: Fisherfolk Mini-Triathlon” on Philippine Independence Day on June 12. More than 500 people gathered to watch the triathlon, which local barangay officials said had helped to unite the community in the aftermath of the typhoon. Each competing team was comprised of a single family unit – a mother, a father and a child.
Mothers were required to run 100m, where they handed a flag to their child who had to go to the beach and swim 10m. Fathers waited for their children at the end of their swim, and when handed the flag had to paddle in boats to the finish line. Following the triathlon, exercises and a lecture on health were held.
“We had a great activity today because a lot of people came to watch and have fun,” said triathlon winner Ariel Centinaje . “I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to CFSI for giving us the opportunity to be happy despite the difficulties were are experiencing here in Salvacion. The prize that we received will be a great help for our fishing livelihoods and for my family. I will never forget this day.”