A new visual series by Seafarer Asia, Kumusta, Kabaro? Kumusta, Kaibigan? gives viewers gritty glimpses into the lives of Filipino seafarers and their kin. True tales of love, pride, sacrifice, failure and success weave a living tapestry and an oral history of life at sea. The subjects are given free rein on what to share and how they wish to be photographed. The series is inspired by the popular photoblog, Humans of New York.
Dexter Nueva, 45
Lahat na yata pinagdaanan ko sa 20 years kong pagbabarko. Mula sunog hanggang sa muntikang pagkalunod, hanggang sa pag-atake ng mga pirata sa Gulf of Aden.
Master mariner na ako ngayon at alam mo kung anong sikreto ko? Ito.
Maraming seaman ang tadtad ng tattoo at nung una ayoko pang maki-uso, pero malalim talaga ang symbolism ng karagatan para sakin.
This lighthouse gives me light lalo na kung napakadilim na ng buhay. Itong ankla at lubid naman ay para maging matatag, especially during the roughest conditions.
Ang map and charts naman para sa direksyon at para hindi ako maligaw ng landas. Ang steering wheel ay palatandaan na dapat lagi kang patungo sa mga pangarap mo sa buhay.
Tulad ng maraming seaman, habang buhay ko nang dadalhin ang karagatan, both through ink at sa aking kalooban.
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Gregg Yan
Gregg Yan is an award-winning writer and photographer who covers marginalized groups and environmental conservation issues. His work has been featured by National Geographic, Discovery Channel, CNN plus over a dozen books – including Into the Wild, his first coffee table book. He also has a monthly magazine column on wildlife.