Fishing and Future: Jimo’s Dream and his Parents’ Aspirations

Like many sons of fisherpeople, Jimo Solano Guanzon, a young resident of the island village of Polopiña, dreams of pursuing a career beyond traditional fishing. And like many parents around the world, Apollo and Juliet Guanzon, support their son’s aspirations, while they reflect on their own experiences in the fishing industry.

Polopiña was known for its convenience and peacefulness, as its proximity to the sea provided easy access to food. However, the abundance of fish catches had declined over time due to increasing numbers of fishermen. Jimo’s father, Apollo, would wake up early every morning to prepare for his fishing trips. He uses various techniques to catch breams, threadfishes, and perches. Jimo started accompanying his father on these fishing trips during his fourth-grade years. It was a natural choice, but it wasn’t easy. He initially experienced seasickness. “What son of a fisher feels sick on a boat?” he thought. But, as time passed, he grew accustomed to the sea, its unpredictable movements and the pace of its waves, and he began enjoying the journeys.

Education is a challenge for Jimo and his peers. Many fishing families face financial constraints and have limited study opportunities compared to children on the mainland. These “kids” would forgo their education to contribute to their families’ income. When there’s hunger, there’s no choice. Despite the difficulties, though, Jimo has always been determined to continue his studies and he eventually succeeded in enrolling in Concepcion College of Fisheries. A fisher’s kid in the Philippines archipelago must be exceptionally motivated to take Jimo’s patch. Also a thing like commuting – a relatively easy task for people in the mainland – in an archipelago becomes a tough challenge. In order to attend classes, Jimo had often paddled for hours, both ways. He persevered, balancing his studies with the fishing activity, so as to earn income for his family and reimburse them for his absence.

While initially interested in pursuing the career of Policeman, Jimo’s financial situation led him to enter the Fisheries program instead. What at first seemed like a stopgap, turned out to be a vocation. With the support of his older brother, who had also pursued the same program, Jimo discovered the potential job opportunities available in the fisheries industry and started to see how what he learned could make tangible improvements in his community.

As often happens to young people of any country, dreams and passions change quickly, as fast as the winds that sweep the island of Polopiña. Jimo still intends to go to the police academy,  but his brother is encouraging him to complete the fishery program before trying that path again – if he still felt like it.

Jimo recognizes the importance of conserving the marine resources upon which his community depended. He understood that as a fisheries graduate, he could contribute to the common efforts to restore depleted resources and manage fishing practices sustainably. Inspired by his father and his mother’s sacrifices, he hoped to protect marine protected areas and find solutions to prevent further depletion. Apollo and Juliet are thrilled by the idea that their children could finish their studies and use their knowledge to benefit their community. It’s tough on them, yes – having 2, 4 arms less to contribute to their livelihood. But the perspective of building a better future for their kids, and their future offspring, is something on which all parents worldwide agree

Through the Guanzon family’s journey, this story highlights the importance of empowering youth in island communities and providing them with real, tangible opportunities to pursue their dreams and education. By instilling a sense of responsibility for their community’s sustainable development, they can make a significant impact on the future of their villages. Jimo’s determination and support from his parents exemplified the potential for positive change and growth within Polopiña and beyond.

Hi everyone! I’m Benedict, from the Philippines.

I believe there are five key lessons we can learn from the story of Jimo and his father, Apollo:

Firstly, the youth in the island village face significant constraints when it comes to access and income. They lack access to educational resources like technology and qualified teachers, while their income opportunities are limited due to the marginalized nature of fishing households, which constitute the majority.

Secondly, these constraints have a direct impact on the ability of the youth to pursue their desired future aspirations. Recognizing the challenges of earning a sufficient income through fishing, almost all of them aspire to pursue careers outside the fishing industry.

Thirdly, for those young individuals who are unable to pursue their dream careers and remain on the island, their primary option becomes assisting their parents in fishing. They essentially become the next generation of fishers.

Fourthly, those fortunate enough to pursue their desired careers face the challenge of sustaining the support they receive. They often find themselves needing to supplement their incomes by assisting their fisher parents financially. Moreover, due to the limited access they had to resources compared to their mainland counterparts, they may feel less competitive. Jimo, for instance, perseveres through these challenges by drawing strength from his parents’ encouragement and by recalling the difficulties of life on the island, particularly within a fishing household.

Lastly, this awareness of the hardships faced on the island prompts some youths, like Jimo, to remain grounded in their origins and motivates them to utilize their acquired knowledge and skills to benefit their island community.