I-Witness features Isla ng Sisi

MANILA, Philippines - Jay Taruc and his I-Witness team journey to the island of Sisi in Western Samar, where gathering rock oysters has long been a source of livelihood in Sitio Majaba in Barangay Basiao, Catbalogan City.

Men, women and residents of all ages wake up at the crack of dawn to travel by motor boat to the island of Sisi. The low tide in the island reveals thousands of rock oysters or “sisi.” One by one, residents engage in the backbreaking work of handpicking oysters to make a living.

One of them is 11-year-old Samelyn. At her young age, she is already skilled at gathering rock oysters, her family’s source of income. She gets P14 for every container of sisi which she spends for her school needs.