Sailing hope

Some of you may have already seen the small fishing boats that ply the northern seas of Cebu.  They  come in colorful designs and are proudly navigated by happy fishermen.

Not so long ago, they did not have any boat.  Not after Yolanda.  They did not have any livelihood.  And hope seemed to sink to the bottom of the sea.

Noting this, silent philanthropist Clayton Tugonon, (he hates me calling him such), and his wife Georgina Dy-Tugonon, craved to help. 

“We started with just three bancas. “Clayton shared.  “We thought, we had to at least help someone rebuild his life.  Relief operations were okay and we made it with the help of many of our friends.  But we thought we had to help some of the victims get back to their feet.  So we thought of the boats.  Then our neighbors noticed  the three bancas we made and  asked us to make some for them as well. On our first release to the fishermen, we were already able to reach thirteen families.”

Helping others help themselves, is an old adage.  And only those who truly have it in their hearts to help, put these ideal to action.  Clayton and Jojie have partnered not just as husband and wife, but as  socially responsible entrepreneurs. 

Their business, CLASSICAL GEOMETRY, is a reflection of the kind of spirit these two people have.  “We started our business in the mid-1990’s.  I chose the name classical geometry to mean a mixture of hard and soft materials, a mix of classic, contemporary and modern art.” Clayton shared.

In his showroom, you can see how he has integrated indeed non-traditional materials,  Like anthills, and leaves, and dried coconut flowers in the furniture he has created.  Who would ever think of finding art in an anthill?  Only Clayton!

Jojie on the other hand manages the family’s farm and this keeps her in touch with people.  Her love for the environment and a simple and clean healthy lifestyle has made her pursue advocacies that promote organic farming.

It is Jojie who scouts around for people who will be recipients of the bancas that have been made by volunteers.With a very strict checklist of who the recipient would be, Jojie, criss-crosses Northern Cebu to locate the really poor and helpless fisherfolk. “We make sure they would not sell the boats that we give them.  We also make sure that they are really in need and have no other source of livelihood.” Jojie said. “Before we turn-over the boats to them we make sure they have been devastated by Yolanda, and we ask for their old dilapidated boats so that they will not sell the new ones.  The new bancas are then given to them on a stewardship contract with the donor.  It is not us who donate the boats.  We have friends who have shared a bit of their savings for each boat.” she narrated.

When asked why they have been into this giving program, Clayton answered: “For me, every Filipino should have a social responsibility.    If you can help, help.  You need not have so much money to lend a hand.  Some of our workers donate their time,  Give their talent, and dedication in making the banca sturdy and beautiful because they know who it is for.  Our artists are volunteers from different schools and children of some of our friends, who have put their talent to good use.  When they come with us in the releasing of the boats, the compensation they get is beyond material returns.  The smiles, and tears of gratitude from the fishermen and their families is enough to get us all by.  Knowing they have helped in improving someone’s life in whatever way, is gratifying enough for them.”

Clayton and Jojie have also helped the Bohol earthquake victims.  They were among the first to take on relief goods albeit damaged roads and rough seas and the risk of not having a place to sleep.

“You know, if you were there you would find helping them worth the trip.  The Bol-anons are beautiful people.  They were not totally dependent.  They did what they could with what they had and even offered us food and shelter.  But they were very grateful with the help we brought.  Water, canned goods (as they had no current to preserve their  butchered livestock), and  building materials.  I have learned a lot  from their courage to survive.” Clayton related.

As children, both Clayton and Jojie were brought up by parents who would always remind them to be generous when they could be. “’We give, not because we have plenty, but because we know how it is to have nothing,’ our mother would always tell us that,” Clayton said “Giving is a privilege.  As long as we give,and we do so with the intention of giving people an opportunity to be independent, then giving in that way is good.”

So far the couple has been active in many giving programs.  The Christmas Village that is often set-up at SM for raising funds for children with cancer, is one involvement they have kept for years.  As of date, they have released already 74 boats which can be translated into helping 74 families.

“All our efforts of course cannot reach this point if we were not supported by our friends.  And we would if you will allow, list them all down for you.”  Clayton declared.

Of course, the space in my column will possibly come lacking.  Clayton’s team works on the boats at cost.  When I asked him why he does not make even just a small mark-up as the production takes up space and time, he only laughed and said “it is beyond my conscience to make profit out of another’s misery.  If we help, we help because that is what is right.  Besides, the money that is entrusted to us is from hard-earned money saved by friends and intended to keep hope afloat.  So that is precisely what we will do.”