A family returns home from a local fiesta in El Nido. Palawan, 2016
A family returns home from a local fiesta, May 28, 2016, near Daracoton Island. A family returns home from a local fiesta in El Nido. Palawan, 2016
A fishing net maker sits outside his home. San Fernando, Palawan, 2014
A fishing net maker sits outside his home. San Fernando, Palawan, 2014
A young boy bathes in the sea in the early morning. Pangaraykayan, Palawan, 2017
A young boy bathes in the sea in the early morning. Pangaraykayan, Palawan, 2017
Children play a traditional jumping game called luksong tinik or "jumping over thorns". Daracoton village, Palawan, 2014.
Children play a traditional jumping game called luksong tinik or "jumping over thorns". Daracoton village, Palawan, 2014.
Kian, a 5-year-old Cuyonon boy, looks into the eyes of a juvenile squid he has caught in a plastic bottle. Pangaraykayan village, 2015
Kian, a 5-year-old Cuyonon boy, looks into the eyes of a juvenile squid he has caught in a plastic bottle. Pangaraykayan village, 2015
Fishermen in Puerto Princesa City take part in boat races during a local fiesta. 2016
Fishermen in Puerto Princesa City take part in boat races during a local fiesta. 2016

SAFE HAVEN

It was not until the 1950s that industrial fishing boats discovered the rich waters of Palawan. But by the 1970s, two thirds of the country’s fish originated here. Migrant fisherfolk flooded into Palawan, including whole communities fleeing poverty, political violence, and collapsing fisheries in other provinces.

The population of Palawan has risen steeply – from 56,000 in 1950 to over one million inhabitants today.

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The fishing village of Liberty Puloy in Puerto Princesa. A close-knit communtiy of migrant families, mostly from Bohol and Mindanao. Palawan 2016
The fishing village of Liberty Puloy in Puerto Princesa. A close-knit communtiy of migrant families, mostly from Bohol and Mindanao. Palawan 2016
A typhoon approaches Liberty seashore, Puerto Princesa City.
A typhoon approaches Liberty seashore, Puerto Princesa City.
Breakfast time in a family home. Darocotan village, 2017
Breakfast time in a family home. Darocotan village, 2017
Tay Susing, a grandfather and community leader, sits at the kitchen table at the center of his family home. Daracoton Village, Palawan, 2016
Tay Susing, a grandfather and community leader, sits at the kitchen table at the center of his family home. Daracoton Village, Palawan, 2016
Leizel getting ready to go out. Daracoton village. 2017
Leizel getting ready to go out. Daracoton village. 2017
Three girls visit their neighbors in Liberty fishing village. 2016
Three girls visit their neighbors in Liberty fishing village. 2016
A baby sleeps in a seashore home. Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, 2016
A baby sleeps in a seashore home. Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, 2016
Captive doves in Liberty seashore community, Puerto Princesa City.
Captive doves in Liberty seashore community, Puerto Princesa City.
A young girl named Princess takes a nap inside a mosquito net in her family home. Daracoton village. 2017
A young girl named Princess takes a nap inside a mosquito net in her family home. Daracoton village. 2017
Bagyo, whose name means "storm", making a fishing net with her five-year-old daughter, Honey. “They call me Bagyo as my home was once destroyed by a typhoon," she says. Bagyo was born on the shores of Puerto Princesa, close to where she now lives in a sti
Bagyo, whose name means "storm", making a fishing net with her five-year-old daughter, Honey. “They call me Bagyo as my home was once destroyed by a typhoon," she says. Bagyo was born on the shores of Puerto Princesa, close to where she now lives in a stilt house with her husband and eight children. She goes fishing each day and sells her catch in the neighborhood. "My net is broken so I can't fish today. As soon as I've finished working on this, I'll go." Canigaran, Puerto Princesa City. 2016
Bagyo, a fisherwoman, with her five-year-old daughter, Honey. Canigaran, Puerto Princesa City. 2017
Bagyo, a fisherwoman, with her five-year-old daughter, Honey. Canigaran, Puerto Princesa City. 2017
A family returns home from a local fiesta in El Nido. Palawan, 2016
A family returns home from a local fiesta, May 28, 2016, near Daracoton Island. A family returns home from a local fiesta in El Nido. Palawan, 2016
A fishing net maker sits outside his home. San Fernando, Palawan, 2014
A fishing net maker sits outside his home. San Fernando, Palawan, 2014
A young boy bathes in the sea in the early morning. Pangaraykayan, Palawan, 2017
A young boy bathes in the sea in the early morning. Pangaraykayan, Palawan, 2017
Children play a traditional jumping game called luksong tinik or "jumping over thorns". Daracoton village, Palawan, 2014.
Children play a traditional jumping game called luksong tinik or "jumping over thorns". Daracoton village, Palawan, 2014.
Kian, a 5-year-old Cuyonon boy, looks into the eyes of a juvenile squid he has caught in a plastic bottle. Pangaraykayan village, 2015
Kian, a 5-year-old Cuyonon boy, looks into the eyes of a juvenile squid he has caught in a plastic bottle. Pangaraykayan village, 2015
Fishermen in Puerto Princesa City take part in boat races during a local fiesta. 2016
Fishermen in Puerto Princesa City take part in boat races during a local fiesta. 2016

SAFE HAVEN

It was not until the 1950s that industrial fishing boats discovered the rich waters of Palawan. But by the 1970s, two thirds of the country’s fish originated here. Migrant fisherfolk flooded into Palawan, including whole communities fleeing poverty, political violence, and collapsing fisheries in other provinces.

The population of Palawan has risen steeply – from 56,000 in 1950 to over one million inhabitants today.

View fishing

The fishing village of Liberty Puloy in Puerto Princesa. A close-knit communtiy of migrant families, mostly from Bohol and Mindanao. Palawan 2016
The fishing village of Liberty Puloy in Puerto Princesa. A close-knit communtiy of migrant families, mostly from Bohol and Mindanao. Palawan 2016
A typhoon approaches Liberty seashore, Puerto Princesa City.
A typhoon approaches Liberty seashore, Puerto Princesa City.
Breakfast time in a family home. Darocotan village, 2017
Breakfast time in a family home. Darocotan village, 2017
Tay Susing, a grandfather and community leader, sits at the kitchen table at the center of his family home. Daracoton Village, Palawan, 2016
Tay Susing, a grandfather and community leader, sits at the kitchen table at the center of his family home. Daracoton Village, Palawan, 2016
Leizel getting ready to go out. Daracoton village. 2017
Leizel getting ready to go out. Daracoton village. 2017
Three girls visit their neighbors in Liberty fishing village. 2016
Three girls visit their neighbors in Liberty fishing village. 2016
A baby sleeps in a seashore home. Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, 2016
A baby sleeps in a seashore home. Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, 2016
Captive doves in Liberty seashore community, Puerto Princesa City.
Captive doves in Liberty seashore community, Puerto Princesa City.
A young girl named Princess takes a nap inside a mosquito net in her family home. Daracoton village. 2017
A young girl named Princess takes a nap inside a mosquito net in her family home. Daracoton village. 2017
Bagyo, whose name means "storm", making a fishing net with her five-year-old daughter, Honey. “They call me Bagyo as my home was once destroyed by a typhoon," she says. Bagyo was born on the shores of Puerto Princesa, close to where she now lives in a sti
Bagyo, whose name means "storm", making a fishing net with her five-year-old daughter, Honey. “They call me Bagyo as my home was once destroyed by a typhoon," she says. Bagyo was born on the shores of Puerto Princesa, close to where she now lives in a stilt house with her husband and eight children. She goes fishing each day and sells her catch in the neighborhood. "My net is broken so I can't fish today. As soon as I've finished working on this, I'll go." Canigaran, Puerto Princesa City. 2016
Bagyo, a fisherwoman, with her five-year-old daughter, Honey. Canigaran, Puerto Princesa City. 2017
Bagyo, a fisherwoman, with her five-year-old daughter, Honey. Canigaran, Puerto Princesa City. 2017
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