The Flying Dog interview (part two.)

What can you tell me about Turtles and dolphins?

Cummins; Well there's lots of Turtles here but you don't see many Dolphins because they're too clever.
What do you mean?
Cummins; The Dolphins assemble over near San Vicente Islands in the late afternoon and go through the Straits directly from there, they don't pass here anymore.
Do you think thats because of the dynamite?
Cummins; Yes.
And the Turtles?
Cummins; There's lots of Turtles, all the time, every day and in both directions.
I'm told they swim exactly in the middle of the channel is that right?
Cummins; Yes, its a bit strange, even in bad weather or strong currents they're always on the same line.
They tell me too that the Turtles swim near or along the surface is that true?
Cummins; Yes, perhaps to be able to see and avoid the fishermen, thats why we see so many.
Do the fishermen catch them?
Cummins; I don't think they catch them on purpose if thats what you mean, but if one is caught they don't throw it back.
What do they do with them?
Gremio; Eat them or sell the meat, it's very red, looks like steak.
Cummins; Rene Collamar, he's the vice Mayor, writes his name and address on the shell and puts them back in the sea, I encouraged him to do that, I told him that one day someone will find a turtle and write him a letter maybe even from America, anyway it seems to have worked.
I understand that the present Congressman is one of your partners here in the resort, is that true?
Gremio; No, one of his Sisters is a partner not him.
Does she live on the Island, in Burabod?
Gremio; No she lives in Virginia USA.
Don't you think that with all this dynamite, and I know thats its made just down the road in Burabod, you are going to have a big problem to get tourists to come here?
Gremio; We have a contract to stay here for 35 years and we're sure that sooner or later something will happen to stop the dynamite fishing, so we will just have to be patient and wait. This is one of the last frontiers of tourism and one day will be discovered not for the dynamite but for the beauty of the place, we've got Eagles and birds and all sorts of wildlife, mountains, rivers and all kinds of natural things, we are nice people here in Samar, we are not like the papers up there in Manila say, we are OK. Just because a few bad people throw dynamite doesn't mean that we are all bad.
Cummins; One day the tourists will come, we are situated in a perfect place, halfway down the Philippines on a crossroads of both sea and land near to the North-South highway an ideal stopping place, when enough tourists come here and discover the place the dynamite will stop by itself!  There will be other work for the people.
Gremio; Thats true, the tourists will be the ones to stop the dynamite. The government should encourage the tourist industry here instead of spending money to stop the dynamite the way they do, they should spend money on tourism. We've given then plan after plan but because of Miss Morante they won't listen to us.
So you wouldn't agree to a tourism boycott?.
Gremio; Not really, that would not be good for the real people here in Samar, why should they have to suffer just because of a few bad people? The problem is NOT the People!

It was easy to understand that these two people were in a unique and extremely delicate situation and obviously know much more than I was allowed to question.
Some of my further questions were answered only with a  promise that they would not be published and many of my questions got no further than a "No Comment"  But I do know that the incident involving the Italian Diver has many unanswered questions that seem to point to some strange "Plot".  Studying  the very experienced local fishermen, I too found it difficult to believe that such an "accident" could occur in so clear and shallow waters.

I found Cummins and Gremio to be very  dedicated people, commited in their own way to something they know, for the moment, to be an impossible ideal, bringing  tourists to Samar.  But after 10 years of living next door to dynamite they seem to be very apt in walking the tight rope of those who know perhaps a little too much than they should. It was difficult to find out what protection they must have, but I'm sure that whoever is their Gaurdian Angel is doing a very good job.  I Wish them well and hope to see them again.

The Flying Dog has a web page with photos of Dalupiri Island and Samar.   link.

Another side to the story.  Interview with the fishermen!