By Marjorie Gorospe
INQUIRER.net

WHAT is it like being a bangkero or a boatman dealing with local and foreign tourist everyday?

Alter Larawan has been a local bangkero for six years. Everyday, he wakes up early to prepare his boat. Like fisherman who gets up early to catch more fish, Larawan is driven by the need to “catch” tourists wanting to do some island hopping in Bohol.

Larawan does not earn much from this job. So he admitted that he would rather go back to construction work and earn more.

“Ang problema lang, hindi sa akin yung Bangka [The problem is I don’t own the boat],” laments Larawan, as he explains why he is not fully enjoying his job if he thinks about what he gets in return.

Larawan works with Armando de Aser, his assistant who joins him in the daily tourist cruise. If Larawan was the captain, De Aser is the navigator who makes sure they’re safe.

Unlike Larawan, De Aser is new to this job. He was born in Mindanao but has been staying in Bohol for a year.

De Aser longs for his family but is still uncertain when he can go back home. “Either way, I want to take them here,” says De Aser while looking at the serene view of the Panglao.

Meanwhile, Larawan longs for that day when he can finally own his boat. But he will need around P95,000 to get one.

As I talked to these two gentlemen, I was told that honesty is a very important trait to keep customers coming back.

Apart from taking people to different islands, Larawan and De Aser also look after their costumers’ personal things when they’re off island hopping.

“We always ask them to double check their things before they leave, and if something falls into the sea, we dive for it,” Larawan says.

No wonder, honest people like Larawan and De Aser are attracting tourist to visit Bohol. Not only that places like Bohol offer magnificent sites, but also people with big hearts like Larawan and De Aser.