Fishing Culture in Bantayan Island, Cebu, Philippines: Basis for the Bobo Model of Constructivist Teaching

Abstract

The culture of fishing is one of the many facets that provide sustainable foods on the table— unveiling it on the island of Bantayan and describing it in terms of the fishermen’s narratives on their beliefs, rituals, and practices, challenges, success stories, and fishing experiences. These descriptions serve as the basis for the creation of a culture-based constructivist model of teaching. This study utilized a single-case study design on the fishing culture of the island. Unstructured interview questions were used among the selected key informants. Their verbatim accounts were treated using thematic analysis. The use of modern fishing equipment challenged the traditional fishing beliefs and rituals of the fishermen in Bantayan. Still, the use of bobo traps remained essential in the fishermen’s life on the island. Overcoming challenges and the use of interventions were barometers to success in fishing. Fishing does not only benefit the fishermen’s daily needs, but it provides a significant benefit to the education of their children. The century’s practice of “Bobo” in fishing encapsulates a fertile ground for innovation to create a culture-based constructivist teaching model. This model increases the cultural awareness of educators to use culture as a tool in contextualizing the teaching and learning process. The need for further orientation and study on the efficacy of this model is recommended.