Micaela Papa's 'Singhap ng Pangarap' airs this Saturday on 'I-Witness'

"SINGHAP NG PANGARAP"
Dokumentaryo ni Micaela Papa
May 30, 2015

Many people believe that water is life. Maybe this is most true for the Badjao—a sea-dwelling tribe. Their lives revolve around the sea—this is where they live and work. This is why the local government of Cebu thought of a program that aims to take advantage of the Badjao’s affinity to water.

In Cebu City Sports Complex, 36 kids are training in a swimming pool.  Though they know how to swim in the ocean, under the guidance of Coach Lando, the kids are struggling to learn the different strokes for competitive swimming. One of these kids is Jobert.  He is determined to be good at swimming in the hopes of landing a scholarship so he can finish his studies. His cousin Dodong also did well in the training. In fact, he ranked number one in his batch in the swimming program.  But life is difficult for Dodong.  When he is not at the pool, he is out in the streets begging.

One hour outside the city, there is also a group of kids training to swim. But instead of a pool, the kids train in the sea. Kids who used to hang around at the shore are the students of Coach Alfie.  He believes that just like him, the kids can have a chance at a brighter future through swimming.  Ivan is already 9 years old, but his tiny body belies his age.  His frail arms struggle to beat the waves as he forges on with his training.  Food is scarce in his household so even though swim practice is difficult, he always comes because food is assured every time.

This Saturday, catch Micaela Papa on her first I-Witness documentary, “Singhap ng Pangarap”, as she tells the stories of kids who struggle to stay afloat through swimming, one stroke at a time. I-Witness airs on GMA 7, after Celebrity Bluff.



Filipino version:

Marami ang naniniwala ang tubig ay buhay. Marahil pinakatotoo ito sa mga Badjao - isang tribo na namumuhay sa dagat.  Kadikit na ng kanilang pagkatao ang tubig.  Dito sila naninirahan at nagtatrabaho. Kaya naman ang lokal na pamahalaan ng Cebu nakaisip ng isang programang layong pakinabangan ang pagiging malapit ng mga batang Badjao sa tubig.

Sa Cebu City Sports Complex, may tatlumpu’t anim na batang nag-eensayong lumangoy sa swimming pool. Kahit marunong na silang lumangoy sa dagat, sa pangangalaga ng mga volunteer coach tulad ni Coach Lando, pinaghihirapan pa rin nilang matutunan ang iba’t ibang istilo ng paglangoy para sa competitive swimming. Isa sa mga batang ito si Jobert na pursigidong pagbutihin ang paglangoy para makakuha ng scholarship at makapagtapos ng pag-aaral. Ang pinsan naman niyang si Dodong ang pinakamagaling sa kanilang batch sa swimming program pero kung wala sa swimming pool, abala itong namamalimos para sa pamilya.

Isang oras sa labas ng Cebu City, may isang grupo rin ng mga  batang nag-eensayong lumangoy. Pero sa halip na swimming pool, sa dagat naman sila nagsasanay. Mga batang tambay sa tabing-dagat ang tinuturuan ni Coach Alfie. Naniniwala kasi siya na tulad niya, may kinabukasan ang batang marunong mag-swimming kahit pa kapos sa buhay.  Si Ivan, siyam na taong gulang, pero maliit ang pangangatawan, pilit na nakikipagbuno sa mga alon para matututong lumangoy.  Kapos sa pagkain, kaya kahit hindi madali ang training, parati itong sumisipot. May libreng pagkain kasi si Coach Alfie.

Ngayong Sabado, sa unang pagkakataon, mapapanood si Micaela Papa sa I-Witness at kikilalanin niya ang mga batang sumusugal sa paglangoy para magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan. Abangan ang  “Singhap ng Pangarap” sa GMA 7, pagkatapos ng Celebrity Bluff.