Yellow Fin Tuna
General Santos is the southernmost city in Mindanao and the Philippines. It is the 15th most populous city in the country with an urban center complete with the country's major mall brands, hotels, and commercial centers.
Seeing the landscape from the plane's window, Gensan is a beautiful expanse with green rolling hills as far as the eyes can see. The city is the center of commerce for the SOCCSKSARGEN region comprising South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani. Sarangani is where boxer Manny Pacquiao hails.
In the 5 days I was there, I have met the most welcoming and friendliest people. From accomplished businessmen to common fisherfolk, they wear the warmest and most genuine smiles.
Gensan is a regional player in the fishing sector not only in the Philippines but in Asia. Major fishing companies produce and process hundreds of tons of tuna a month. The sector with its processing plants produce top-notch sashimi-grade tuna to canned tuna. A big portion of their output is exported from their own international seaport.
I was able to see the seaport and market in action from dawn to about 8:00 in the morning. Armed with a 50mm lens on a DSLR and wearing regulated rubber boots 3 sizes too large, I shot what I could while I observed and asked people how everything worked.
Here is some of the set I've taken that morning in late August 2015.
(Click any thumbnail image to view original size. Best seen on a desktop and an iPad.)
A series of deep holds filled with ice are used to keep fish fresh for weeks. Bigger ships have bllasf freezers.
Porters pass through rows of vessels parked at the port's edge to reach the market.
Double time: one on shoulder too.
Make-shift conveyor
Fat Test
Meat samples, weight and length are displayed to bidders.
Shark Attack
THese samll vesels are atached to bigger ones and let lose to fish individually.
Port entrace