Salmon in Cebu

June 30, 2014

Cebu, Philippines

My life seems to revolve around fish. Today I am in the Philippines, because of salmon. Let me explain. Last summer’s pink salmon season in Alaska was record-breaking. Commercial fishermen went into the fall with smiles on our faces and cash in our pockets. As we were enjoying the fruits of our salty, sweaty, sleep-deprived labor, in November 2013 a typhoon halfway across the world tore through the Philippines, leaving unimaginable devastation in its wake. The death toll is estimated by locals to be in the tens of thousands. Typhoon Yolanda was the deadliest in Philippine history. Its repercussions are deeply and widely felt here, and will be for many years.

With the surplus of canned pink salmon available after our record year, the state of Alaska in connection with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI), was able to donate four shipping containers of salmon to the typhoon victims. The salmon is being distributed by Salesian Missions and their partner organization, Don Bosco, a catholic NGO here in Cebu, Philippines, where I am writing today.

I am with Nina Schlossman, president of Global Food and Nutrition who is ASMI's Food Aid and Nutrition Consultant. We are visiting the people who received the salmon, and witnessing the donation first-hand. Today we drove to the northern end of the island of Cebu, and talked with some communities hit by Yolanda who have received the fish. Families in these communities are large, many with over six children. Work has also been scarce since Yolanda, increasing already-present poverty. If feeding their kids was tough pre-typhoon, it is even harder now.

People seem genuinely grateful for the canned salmon, especially since many NGOs have withdrawn their emergency aid to focus on reconstruction - of shelters, hospitals, schools, and infrastructure. Yolanda was 8 months ago, but times are still rough and any contribution is appreciated. I am utterly impressed at how, despite everything, Filipinos are smiling, laughing, and carrying forward.

People in Medellin line up to receive their salmon. 

Full hands at a Medellin distribution. 

People with their goods leaving the church in Medellin. 

Many men here are tapaseros- sugar-cane cutters. They make about $1.50 per day. 

This woman is participating in a food-for-work program through the Department of Social Work and Development, receiving salmon in return for her labor. Municipality of Bogo, northern Cebu.  

A woman in Medellin receives her food.