Hanap Buhay

Shot taken morning, Jan 8, 2011 @ C6, Bicutan

C6 is a new road that begins in Bicutan and leads passers by to the province of Rizal. Here in Bicutan, the road provides a fresh morning glimpse of a glorious sunrise over the multitude of fish ponds along Laguna de Bay. ( Laguna Lake or Laguna de bay is a major source of fresh water fish for Metro Manila.)

The fish pens are a welcome contrast to the the city's chaotic icons of modernization, i.e traffic, pollution etc. They are the remaining reminders of the Metropolis' bucolic past. These private structures, however, are often blamed for the overflow of the lake and the consequent flooding in pinpointed areas in the city. The wooden fixtures impede the natural and smooth flow of lake water. They redirect water flow to particular locations and submerge these areas under water during the heavy rains.

I had the opportunity to see off these fishermen as they set to "try their luck" in the lake. Before they left, I had a chance to briefly chat with them. They said that during the heavy rains, water rises very high and erodes the foundation at the side of this new road. In fact, the roadside allegedly has already been raised by an additional meter to anticipate potential flooding.