Diver finds her passion to help others amid the pandemic
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What started as a passion for diving turned into a passion for helping the community that accepted her. Gela Petines has always loved the water. As a young girl, her mother taught her to dive. “I remember going to the beach when I was younger. My mom taught us to dive. She influenced me in a way that we’re not merely diving, we were entering a different world,” she narrates. Thus the start of a lifelong passion.
Of all the areas Petines dived, Verde Island Passage holds a special place in her heart. “Isla Verde is the center of biodiversity sa area na yun. Kaya talaga mai-in love ka sa lugar…sa maraming beses na pumupunta ako doon, hindi lang yung life underwater ang na-appreciate ko. Napalapit na din ang mga tao sa isla, parang second family na sila sa akin,” she shares.
Verde Island Passage (VIP) is a strait that separates the islands of Luzon and Mindoro. It is rich in marine biodiversity — the richest area in the entire Coral Triangle. Because of this and its pristine clear waters, it is considered as one of the best diving places in the country. As a diving destination, the local community depend on the businesses brought by divers and tourist. But with the quarantine regulations imposed by the government at the height of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, tourism activities have had to stop, affecting the livelihoods of the locals.
“Kaya nung mga panahon na nakita ko na hirap sila dahil sa pandemic at nawalan sila ng kita, nalungkot ako. Naisip ko hindi pwedeng hayaan lang na tuluyan silang mawalan ng kabuhayan,” says Petines. “Kinausap ko yung mga taga isla (kung) ano ang pwedeng gawin, paano kami pwede makatulong…at doon nabuo na maibalik ang weaving at paggawa nila ng handicrafts.”
With the women of the island knowledgeable in weaving, they became the workforce behind Reef Picks. Reef Picks is the brainchild of Petines, an online store selling handmade products created by the community of Verde Island and the proceeds from the store go to them.
“If we put our hearts and hands together, we can achieve greater things. Masaya sa pakiramdam kasi maraming sumuporta sa project, yung mga nanay at mga pamilya nila felt empowered. Bumabalik na rin ang kabuhayan ng mga mangingisda, nakabangon sila sa tulong ng isa’t-isa. Through Reef Picks, nasubaybayan ang kwento ng mga taga isla at yung pagbangon nila,” Petines shares.
The support that the community of VIP get through Reef Picks showed that there are those who still choose to help their fellow men. In addition, it also proved to Petines that with every challenge, there is always a way to overcome it.
“Naniniwala ako na laging may paraan para malampasan ang kahit na anong pagsubok o problema na darating sa buhay natin. At ganun din, laging may paraan para makatulong sa iba,” she says.
In partnership with The Philippine STAR, Globe and its Facebook community Hope Bank brings you #KwentoNgTagumpay - inspiring stories from people who chose to hope and believe. Watch Gela Petines and her #KwentoNgTagumpay on Facebook.com/PhilippineSTAR. What are your inspiring stories? It’s time to share them by visiting Philstarlife.com/globehopebank.
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