Four women and the role of "Kulapu"in their lives -- Part 4 / Maria Salvacion R. Ferrer

Mrs. Carmelita Cagute, 59 years old, married with seven (7) children, resides in Barangay Aguadahan, San Jose. She is representing the marginalized fisherfolk. Her main source of living is fishing. She joins her husband to help him in fishing even in casting the nets. They had been fishing together for more than 30 years. This is an example of partnership for life. Their children were the ones selling their catch in the neighborhood. When asked if she was gathering “kulapu,” she admits that their family was engaged in “kulapu” gathering. It was a common sight in San Jose before that the parents usually bring their children in the collection of “kulapu.” As far as Ma’am Carmelita remembered, they started gathering and selling this brown seaweed in 2013. However, it did not last for even a year because the LGUs stopped them from gathering. They gathered “kulapu” for only eight months, and the peak months were observed fromOctober to December. She said that they gathered “kulapu” after they catch fish and if there was still space in the motorboat. During bad weather, either they gather and sell “kulapu” or rely on gleaning during low tide. She cannot estimate the volume of “kulapu” they had gathered, but one banca filled is around 20-25 kg fresh weight. They dry the “kulapu” either by hanging in the house fence or dry it along the road. It usually takes 2-3 days to sundry “kulapu”. They have to spread it one by one and distribute evenly.

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