I LEARNED my first lesson in fishing using hook, line, and sinker from the old departed Timesmen who fished at sea for pleasure during weekends a long time ago.
They taught me how to tie the hook with a nylon cord and, after mastering it, invited me to join the group to experience the actual fishing. That was in the early 60s.
The sinker, usually made of metal tied at the end of the line with four or five hooks attached, should touch the bottom of the sea at a deep of 50 to 100 meters while keeping the baits floating. Hold the line with your right hand, or left hand if you are left-handed, and feel the bite. This is when the excitement begins. You’ll never get bored.
If you’re lucky, you will have your first catch in a few minutes, but most often we went home without a single fish even if we asked the gods of the sea for assistance.
The secret to fishing is patience. If you don’t have this attitude, you can’t claim yourself a fisherman. And in a manner of speaking, if no catch, the group just dropped by the fish market and proudly showed to the family when they got home that they didn’t get zero!
When all of these old fishing enthusiasts – Chuck Nunez, Dodong Loyola, Joe Angliongto, Joe Libron, Pete Lavina, Mike Balbin Sr, Mon Santos, Gerry Sicam, George Abando, Cleo Satina, Ernie Corsino, Generoso, and Gabila, alternately joined our Creator, I returned to an old hobby of hunting birds and other wild animals with other group of hunters in the hinterlands of Calinan in the south and as far as the then undivided Davao provinces.
(Note: Publisher Jess Dureza, who was also in, came 10 years later and still a survivor like me. He wrote a book “Walked with the Presidents” –LDT)
But again, it was a short-lived weekend outdoor activity as martial law was declared and carrying firearms outside of residence was prohibited.
Then I tried my hands playing golf when the great head man of the city who later became occupant of Malacanang gifted me a set of golf clubs to join his sponsored golf tournament then.
Unfortunately, while preparing myself for the tournament, I suffered a back injury that forced me to take medication for almost six months. Since then I had to stop playing golf per the doctor’s advice. Otherwise, the injury might recur and paralyze half of my body.
Then I thought of returning back to my old love – fishing at sea and the latest one was when Jin Lorenz and I had an overnight stay at the Malipano Villa I, an island part of the world-class Pearl Farm Resort at IGaCoS last weekend courtesy of Mr. R.R. Floirendo.
(Thank you, Pearl Farm for the very efficient service of your courteous staff, delicious, fresh buffet food, and warm accommodation in your presidential suite, accommodation the management “offers for the king.” Feeling millionaire kami ng anak ko as we were the only occupants of that third-floor Villa I by the sea facing Davao City–LDT)
Although it was only an overnight at the resort, nonetheless, this already made our stay memorable and exciting as every hour of it was spent viewing the beautiful scenic spots of the resort which stretch out over a land area of 14 hectares spread with white sand and was once a pearl farm where thousands of white-lipped oysters transported from the Sulu Sea were cultivated for their pink, white and gold pearls.
Today, the resort beckons with the promise of a relaxing, private retreat, the Parola, the majestic Mount Apo seen from the veranda of our suite, swimming for hours at night in the pool, and hearty buffet meals (with live music provided by Grace band at night) at the Maranao Restaurant.
As I’ve always said in every outing I had before, I see to it that my fishing equipment is always with me, otherwise, the day will not be complete without it.
While the resort is a marine-life conservation area where fishing and hunting wild animals are totally banned, this did not deter us from fishing. I rented a motorized boat and fished for three hours outside of the prohibited zone early dawn of our scheduled trip back home at noontime.
Our catch of more than 2-1/2 kilos of fresh assorted fishes and seaweed (Gulaman dagat sa Tagalog) was cooked right there and then at sea and served ala boodle fight with the four crew members, namely: Paulo, Dodong, Raffy, and Joshua joining us.
“Salamat po sir, nabusog po kami lahat,” Paulo of Paulo’s Legit Tour messaged in FB.
First time since I started fishing in the early sixties that I ever experienced tasting a fish catch from a deep of 70 meters directly grilled live in a frying pan and then served on the table!
From my niece on FaceBook, Dr. Jinna Dumasal Abit:
“…At least naka relax ka sa hectic schedules mo, tito Loreto!”
