Business owners, employees and workers affected by the six-month Boracay shutdown voiced their concerns in a short video created by critically acclaimed videographer Jason Magbanua.
President Rodrigo Duterte announced today that the closure will begin on April 26. According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, a state of calamity will be declared on the island.
The various interviews in Magbanua’s video gave faces to those with supposed “selfish” business interests: people who rely on the island’s tourism to sustain their daily lives. Many expressed their insecurities and posed questions about their future on the international beach destination.
Jabby, a vendor who sells colored towels along the white sand beach, expressed what has become truth for livelihood in Boracay: “Kung walang turista, walang pera (No tourists, no money).” Like many small-time vendors, he worried about how he would support not only himself but also his child.
The interviewees contested the common belief that business owners were only looking out for their interests.
Jhen, a laundry shop owner said she also wanted Boracay to be rehabilitated, but the timeframe was unrealistic. “Gusto ko rin naman ng ganun eh. Kaya lang sa six months, paano? Anong gagawin namin sa six months? Saan kami kukunan ng kakainan?”
(I also want [a rehabilitation]. But in six months, how? What will we do in six months? Where will we get the money to afford food?)
They also noted that other places will be affected.
“We order vegetables from Baguio. We order things from Cebu. We order everywhere. It’s not only us that benefits [from] the tourism in Boracay,” noted Normeth, a kiteboarding school owner.
What also frustrated residents was that they had clamored for change in the island, only to be driven away from it.
“We fought like years and years and nobody was listening to us. No one. And finally, they came. We finally got their attention but attention that is too much. They want to wipe us all out,” said Normeth.
Raffy, a small business owner said they had been asking the national government for help but to no avail.
“The stakeholders of Boracay have been asking for government support for a decade now, name the agency and they’ve approached it, DENR, DOT, TIEZA, etc. Little attention and help was given, until now,” wrote Magbanua in the video’s caption.
Many simply wished that they were involved in the process.
“Bring the problem to us, include us in the dialogue, in the discussion, because we can help. We’re here eh. Di naman lahat kami violators eh (Not all of us are violators),” said Del, the owner of Nigi-nigi resort.
“We need time to fix everything, time to readjust, time to do other things also. Parang wala kasing (It’s like there was no) consultation with the people who actually are going to be affected,” chimed in Dr. Girlie who works at the Metropolitan Doctors Medical Clinic.
Some suggested that the entire island did not need to be closed down and that it could be rehabilitated incrementally and starting with small areas.
Residents were aligned with the goal of protecting the environment and improving the island, but the shutdown left them feeling insecure about their position in Boracay.
“I-rehabilitate nila ng unti-unti. ‘Wag naman biglaan (Rehabilitate it little by little, not abruptly),” suggested Jhen.
“Di ko alam kung what if pagbalik, pwede pa ba kami? O baka mga malalaking negosyante na lang pala ang pwede sa Boracay?” Jhen wondered.
(I don’t know if we can still come back, or will only big businesses be allowed by then in Boracay?)
READ: Boracay to have not one but two casino resorts
Locals were aware that damage had been done, with one citing the government’s lapse in projects.
“Ang nangyari kasi putul-putol ang project… it will take years and years bago matapos,” said Dionisio, the owner of Jony’s Beach Resort.
“But then kung talagang ma-focus natin, kung naging maganda ang projects sana from the start, ‘di ganito ang nagkaroon ng problema.”
(What happened was the projects were done in fragments. It will take years before it’s finished. But if we could really focus, if the projects were good from the start, we wouldn’t have this problem.)
READ: Boracay woes show failure of local gov’t
John Michael, a chef, called for compassion. “Isipin nila yung kami, tayo, yung sa baba, kung ano ang mararamdaman nila kung ganun ang mangyari… ‘Di nila alam kung ilang libong pamilya ang magugutom.”
(They should think of us, those on the ground, what they would feel if this happened to them… They don’t know how many thousands of families will starve.)
Aside from the interviewees, the video featured shots of tourists milling through the beach, projects under construction funded by private companies and government projects that have yet to be finished from years ago.
“There is an increasing clamor to close the entire island of Boracay for rehabilitation. Those who clamor for it may forget that the island is also its people,” the video begins.
It concludes with words that echo the appeal of Boracay’s small business folk and locals: “Save Boracay. Don’t close it.” JB
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