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Photo Journalism > Journal Excerpts > Coron Expedition

journal excerpts |

Coron Expedition - 12 Days Expedition from May 19 to 30, 2000

Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

DAY 2: MAY 20, 2000 Saturday

NAME: John Davenport

John Davenport Coron Town is a kind of wild west town crossed with a fishing village. A series of dusty streets stretch in from out of town, lined with open-fronted businesses covering all the trades. The shop fronts seem to blend seamlessly with the street itself and sidewalks, such as they are, buzz with what to western eyes is a kind of chaos that somehow works. Tricycles groan and whine under the weight of seething piles of locals but, as a last minute concession to the encroaching western ways, proudly display colorful marketing slogans for local businesses. On the waters edge haphazard bamboo piers interweave humble dwellings assembled from a patchwork quilt of driftwood and corrugated iron whilst below, assaulting sheltered western senses, garbage ridden tidal slime goes unheeded by locals. It is particularly noticeable how these same locals portray the natural happiness and spontaneity of the Filipino spirit despite the abject material poverty of many.


		First impressions of Coron Island: Sue Barling: "The hills shrouded in dense green foliage like a camouflage blanket draped gently over them. The houses creeping out over the water on stilts, ramshackle, wonky -- amazing they still stand -- do they abandon them when they collapse or demolish and rebuild? The small size of the jetty for such a big ship -- lack of western looking organization but they have their own style of organization which works. Coron town looks very different as opposed to viewing (it) from the boat. The functions of the town are there ... the feeling of a hamlet...serious baseball!!"

Families, a much stronger unit than in the west, chatter happily and prepare dinner on the rotting planks that form their verandas. Kids, many minding younger siblings of impressive cuteness, entertain themselves with the simplest things, always giggling and smiling in contrast to the disobedience, tantrums and material demands of their western contemporaries. Satin white sheets and clothing dry on washing lines just yards from the surrounding filth, staying clean, as do their owners, in an environment that most westerners would seriously struggle with and making optimum use of everything that they can get their hands on.

As we stroll around led by Greg (displaying colonial style dress and confidence) and Patrick (made seemingly unembarrassable by his profession and making use of his self professed chameleon abilities amongst the ethnic melting pot of Filipino society) piles of living coral can be seen, presumably gathered for jewellery. This it would appear is a by-product of the attractive Filipino living for the moment attitude which bades ill for the environment and with it any real hope of a sustainable livelihood or escape from perpetual poverty.

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