By: Nycel Jane Dela
Ivana Alawi recently visited Capiz. And from that, I got interested in watching her vlogs on YouTube. I didn’t expect to feel so emotional over a simple vlog, Ivana Alawi’s recent upload hit differently. It started so casually, just her and her team looking for someone by the sea, to have coffee with. But what happened next stuck with me more than I expected.
They met Tatay Elmer, a humble fisherman who didn’t even hesitate to welcome them into his home. And when I say “home,” I mean a small space, barely enough, but full of warmth. While sipping coffee, he shared a bit about his life. He earns around 100 pesos a day from fishing, and when the sea fails him, he picks up scrap to sell. Ti, ano pa gid? That’s his daily grind. Quiet, difficult, but dignified.
You know what struck me? His kindness. Wala siya nagduha-duha. Even with so little, he shared what he had. It reminded me how those with the least often give the most. And they don’t do it for attention or praise, it’s just who they are.
Later, they all went fishing together, and the part that really stings as they didn’t catch anything. After hours under the sun, after giving everything they had, they came back empty-handed. Daw ginpukaw ako sina. Because that’s the reality for so many people like Tatay Elmer. Not every effort ends in reward. And yet, they keep going. Because they have to.
Tatay Elmer reminded me of many unsung heroes. Our farmers, laborers, ordinary workers who do the hard work most of us forget about. People who give everything to provide, even when they barely have anything for themselves. Indi bala ka sakit paminsaron? We rely on them, but we barely see them.
And honestly, it makes me question, why is it like this? Why do the people who feed us, the ones who keep our communities alive, always end up with the short end of the stick? They deserve better. Not just a “Thank you!” not just a viral vlog. They need systems that work for them. Protection. Fair wages. Real opportunities.
I hope one day, stories like Tatay Elmer’s won’t end in empty nets. I hope they end in full tables, steady income, and the dignity they truly deserve. For now, all we can do is listen, care, and act. Because kindness alone, though beautiful, is not enough.
