Meet Merrily of Suyac Island just off Sagay City, Negros Occidental. Merrily became a fisherwoman after she lost her husband to the sea some years ago. Merrily is one of the earliest beneficiaries of The Peter Project, having received one of the two boats pictured behind her.
During the rainy season when fishing isn’t as lucrative, Merrily adds to her income by serving as an eco-guide in the Suyac Island Mangrove Eco-Park. It was the mangroves of Suyac, which residents have fought to preserve for many generations, that kept all the residents of the island safe from Typhoon Yolanda–even as its fury destroyed much of their homes and boats, including Merrily’s.
Merrily’s boat is named “Ria Forever with Us” after a girl who was lost to the sea in a scuba diving accident. Ria’s friends made this donation to keep Ria’s memory alive, and also gave a replica of the fishing boat to Ludy, Ria’s mother.
Ludy knew that she needed to meet the recipient of the boat named after her daughter. After making arrangements with NVC, Ludy met Merrily on January 15, 2014. They instantly formed a bond when they realized they had both lost loved ones to the sea.
Ludy asked Merrily to remember her daughter each time she goes out in the water. Merrily promised to allow Ria to forever be alive in the boat she received, her boat of hope.
We believe that as the two women hugged, in tears, something beautiful happened on the shores of Sagay, Negros Occidental.
