Paraisong Salat
Paraisong Salat
Paraisong Salat
Introduction:
At the far end of Zamboanga, lie eleven islands pirates and terrorist used to
pass through h these island. Islands which were once considered “No Man’s Land”.
Body: Clear blue waters. Flawless white sand. Hues of red and orange skies.
Blessed with these wonderful colors of nature, a group of islands simply called
"Eleven Islands" lies quietly in the south of the Zamboanga Peninsula. Its beaches
would easily be the envy of many; its isolation, the yearning of some. But behind
this perfect panorama is a pallid reality: there is no water, no electricity, not a school
for the children or health center for the infirmed. A jump-off point for many rebels
and a byway for modern-day pirates, these islands have been witnesses and
casualties to the many years of fighting in Mindanao. At 14 years old, Sarfaina Bakil
has been paddling their family’s boat every day of her life. The eldest of nine
children, she has been tasked with the most important chore in the house unmindful
of the fact that she is old for Grade 4. Education is her only avenue to her dreams.:
fetching water from the mainland. Traversing the Moro Gulf takes her almost an
hour and lining up with the rest of waterless Zamboanga residents can take almost
two hours. More tasks await her in their island of dearth, but never did Sarfaina
complain. She remains full of hope. Recently, she went back to studying, unmindful
of the fact that she is old for Grade 4. Education is her only avenue to her dreams.
Proof / Arguments: I-Witness documentarist Kara David follows Sarfaina and her
family who endure the harsh barrenness of the Eleven Islands. What does it mean to
have close to nothing? Watch “The Barren Paradise (Paraisong Salat)”