In their honor, we present “Lines We Cast,” an advocacy folk ballad that tells the story of the economic realities of small-scale fisheries in the Philippines. More than a song about fishing, it is a song about dignity, livelihood, empowerment, and hope. It captures the journey of fisherfolk from hardship and survival toward organization, leadership, and a stronger voice in shaping their own future.

 

This creative work was presented under Theme 3: Economies of Small-Scale Fisheries during the Second Philippine Small-Scale Fisheries National Symposium (PSSFNS2) held on October 20–24, 2025, at Mindanao State University in Marawi City, Philippines. Through music, it transforms research, lived experiences, and the voices of fishing communities into a story that ordinary Filipinos can hear, feel, and understand.

 

As the song unfolds, may we remember that small-scale fisherfolk are not merely providers of food. They are entrepreneurs, community builders, environmental stewards, and guardians of coastal heritage. Their stories deserve not only recognition but also support, respect, and justice.

For every fisher who casts a line. For every family waiting ashore. For every dream carried by the bangka. These are the lines we cast—and we are not turning back.

 

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𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒 𝐖𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓 | Lyrics: Dr. Herman M. Lagon | Composition: Mr. Joao Amadeus M. Solas | Interpretation: Prof. Jezreel Cabansagan-Donguila | Instrumentals: Psalmista Band | Video Editing: Mr. Patrick Lance Nacion | Photography/Videography: Dr. Rolindo Demo-os | ISUFST

A Folk Ballad on the Economies of Small-Scale Fisheries

Before the music begins, it is worth remembering that every fish sold in a market, every meal shared around a family table, and every community sustained by the sea often starts with hands that few people notice. Behind every catch are small-scale fishers who rise long before sunrise, brave uncertain waters, carry the burden of debt, rising fuel costs, and unstable markets, yet continue to provide food for millions of Filipinos. Their work feeds the nation, but their stories are too often left untold. “Lines We Cast” was written to help tell those stories.

 

Inspired by the lived realities of small-scale fisherfolk across the Philippines, this advocacy folk ballad explores not only the hardships of fishing communities but also their resilience, ingenuity, and growing economic empowerment. The song follows a journey from struggle to hope—from aging boats and mounting debts to cooperative action, fairer markets, stronger networks, and a renewed sense of dignity. It reminds us that small-scale fishers are not passive beneficiaries of development. They are entrepreneurs, food producers, environmental stewards, and vital contributors to local and national economies.

 

This musical collaboration brings together the talents of Dr. Herman M. Lagon of Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) as lyricist, Mr. Joao Amadeus M. Solas of the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music as composer, and Prof. Jezreel Cabansagan-Donguila as interpreter, with instrumental accompaniment by the Psalmista Band. Together, they transformed research, lived experiences, and the voices of fisherfolk into a song that is both tribute and advocacy.

More than a song about fishing, “Lines We Cast” is a song about economics from the perspective of ordinary people. It speaks of rising fuel prices, trader domination, unfair market conditions, and the challenges faced by those who harvest food from the sea. Yet it also celebrates the power of organization, cooperatives, branding, knowledge-sharing, and data-driven recognition that help fishing communities move from mere survival toward leadership and self-determination.

 

The title itself carries a deeper meaning. The “lines” are not only fishing lines cast into the water. They are also lines of solidarity, lines of resistance against exploitation, lines that connect families and communities, and lines that define a future shaped by dignity rather than dependency. As the song reminds us, fisherfolk are not merely mending nets—they are helping repair systems that have long left them unseen and unheard.

Presented under Theme 3: Economies of Small-Scale Fisheries of the 2nd Philippine Small-Scale Fisheries National Symposium (PSSFNS2), this work honors the countless fisherfolk who continue to cast their lines despite uncertainty, believing that a better future remains possible. It is a tribute to every hand that grips a paddle, every family that depends on the sea, and every community striving to transform hardship into opportunity.

As you watch and listen, may you hear not only the melody but also the voices behind it—the voices of people whose labor sustains communities, whose resilience inspires hope, and whose dreams continue to rise with every tide.

 

Lyrics: Dr. Herman M. Lagon

Composition: Mr. Joao Amadeus M. Solas

Interpretation: Dr. Jezreel Cabansagan-Donguila

Instrumentals: Psalmista Band

Video editing: Mr. Patrick Lance Nacion

Photos and Videos: Dr. Rolindo Demo-os

Genre: Advocacy Folk Ballad

Theme: Economies of Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF)

Key: G Major

Tempo: Slow and Reflective (~70–75 BPM)

For every fisher who casts a line. For every family that waits ashore. For every dream carried by the bangka. These are the lines we cast—and we are not turning back.

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb379uxFyV8

Official ISUFST Statement on the Supreme Court Ruling Allowing Commercial Fishers to Operate on the Municipal Waters, entitled SAFEGUARDING OUR SEAS: https://web.facebook.com/share/p/18UtjUbyQe/

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