Strength in Struggles

With its stunning landscapes, pristine islands, and rich cultural heritage, Batanes truly lives up to its name as the Paradise of the North. The serene environment is one of the many reasons why, despite the expensive flights, tourists are still eager to experience the unparalleled beauty of Batanes.

The natives from Batanes, also known as the Ivatans, have long relied on farming—growing vegetables and root crops for their family’s consumption and selling excess to the local community.

Steep terrain naturally limits the agricultural activity in the province, yet despite this, some people have been dedicated to farming—among them are the couple Catalina and Ariston Laurel, who are both proud Ivatans and have been into farming for more than two decades. The couple has been residing in government-built housing in Diura, Batanes.

In addition to farming, her husband, Ariston, is also a fisherman, a job he learned from his father. Large bodies of water surround Batanes, making fishing one of the most common livelihoods there.

Ariston used to have a rowboat, but three years ago he was able to upgrade to a motorboat, which made fishing a lot faster.

One of the most sought-after fish in Batanes is the dorado, also known as the Ivatan Gold. It earned its name due to its high value, mainly because the drying process takes time, and catching the dorado fish is a lengthy task.

They initially need to catch a shrimp to catch a flying fish. Once they have the flying fish, it serves as bait to catch dorado fish. Once properly dried, the dorado fish can be sold at a premium price of PHP 1,500.00 or more.

With the uncertainty of the weather, they constantly strive to maintain a steady income. Frequent storms often destroy their crops, forcing them to replant immediately. Aware that they cannot solely depend on agriculture, Ariston occasionally works as a construction worker.

To support their finances, in 2018, the couple became a CARD, Inc. (A Microfinance NGO) client. Shortly after they joined, her husband unfortunately met with an accident, but thankfully was not seriously injured. They received financial assistance from CARD, Inc., which deepens their support for the institution, knowing they can rely on it in times of need.

Catalina used her current loan of PHP 20,000.00 to purchase seeds for farming and to pay for their children’s school expenses. Meanwhile, Ariston used his loan of PHP 10,000.00 to buy parts for his motorboat.

“Looking ahead, we aim to continue growing and expanding our crops and hopefully, in the years to come, we will be able to build a home that we can truly call our own,” Catalina concluded.