Reflections on the Abacan River in Angeles.

There's a river in Angeles. It's the Abacan River, which flows through the city. On both sides of the river, you'll find newly built roads and communities of people living in poverty. As with civilization, commercial areas tend to spring up along rivers. Angeles is no exception. The Korean town also ends at the Abacan River.

Every time I visit, I realize it's not the kind of river we're familiar with. It's a dead river, like those you see in documentaries. It's the epitome of environmental pollution. Crossing the river on foot releases a foul odor, and even visually, it's closer to black than dark. It's certain that domestic wastewater and sewage are being discharged without treatment.

Yet, life continues along such a river.

I had the opportunity to drive along the floodways and interior streets that have sprung up on both sides of the river with a friend, giving me a chance to observe it closely. The roads are quite long, and driving slowly allowed us to examine them for a considerable time. Children were swimming and playing in the polluted river, a sight that made me think no one would care and that there would be no solution unless the government intervened. Just as the thought of heavy metals and skin diseases crossed my mind, I saw a few anglers leisurely fishing. It was an unbelievable sight. Perhaps this is something you can only see in the Philippines.

Wait... are there fish in a place like this, and can they be caught?

There can't be fish in such a dirty river. They're not fishing for fish, but for time. They're waiting for enlightenment, not fish, in their arduous lives. While I was thinking this, my friend continued driving, and the car moved forward calmly, making my thoughts seem irrelevant.

Then, I saw a group of people casting a net. A net, you say... This significantly increases the possibility that fish are living there. However, the scene I witnessed quickly became the past, and the car had already driven much further. This time, I vowed to stop and ask them if I spotted them casting a net from afar. I fixed my gaze on them from a distance. Indeed, after driving a little further, I saw two people casting a net in the distance, so I stopped the car and approached them.

My friend, perhaps not wanting to get involved, stayed in the car to rest after parking nearby, while I approached them alone and asked. As I reached the river, the foul odor and the sight of the river, which was just black and where a net cast seemed impossible, made me even more skeptical.

Pointing to a box that appeared to be used for storing caught fish, I asked if they were fish, and they confirmed. I asked if I could see them, as I couldn't believe it until I saw it with my own eyes. They readily showed me the box. There were about a dozen fish, palm-sized, and another creature that surprised me even more: a turtle.

I asked if they were tilapia, and they said yes. I asked if they caught them here, and they said yes. I asked how long it took them to catch them, and they replied about 40 minutes. Ten tilapia and one turtle in 40 minutes... I thought it wasn't bad.

It was a sudden encounter and a series of questions, and since I don't speak English, I couldn't continue the conversation. I desperately needed my friend's translation, but it was a pity that I had already walked too far. Reluctantly, I just stared into the box and asked if I could take a video. They readily agreed, and I took a video of the box for about twenty seconds, but unfortunately, either I operated the camera incorrectly, or only my feet were filmed. After saying goodbye, I got back into my friend's car and showed him the photos and videos I took, and he was also amazed.

What do they do with the fish they catch? Do they eat them? My friend asked me, and I realized! I forgot to ask them that. Are they really catching them to eat, or to sell? If they are sold, it would be big news in Korea, considering the fish have consumed 100% concentrated pollutants and heavy metals. I became very curious too. I'll be sure to ask them next time I meet them.

As we drove, my thoughts became numerous. Fish live even in such dirty rivers. People live even in such environments. Regardless, if they are alive, they have no choice but to live their lives to the fullest. There will never be a good day to die until the day they die. We were born in different countries, and simply because of that, we stand on different starting lines compared to them, watching their difficult lives from the comfort of our car, and a sense of guilt washed over me.