“She sells seashells by the seashore”, except she does it with a community behind her.

The linemay be just a wordplay for others, but for some, it’s a lived reality. It reflects the work many women do along the coasts, often overlooked. In Balayadaan, Alaminos City, Pangasinan, Rimelda Rastrollo is changing the narrative.

Rastrollo is an oyster farmer and the secretary of the Samahan ng mga Magsasaka at Mangingisda ng Balayadaan (SMMB), a local association of farmers and fisherfolk in Pangasinan. Long before she became the secretary of the SMMB, she served as a barangay kagawad for five years. She supported projects not even under her committee, especially those she believed had long-term value for the community. Though she no longer holds an elected post, she poured the same energy into her work with the association.

Oyster farming in Pangasinan, historically done through wooden stakes (tulos) and discarded rubber tires, has long raised environmental concerns. With this, the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI), with support from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), introduced the bamboo raft technology in 2022 through the Aquabiz Schools-Technology Business Incubation (ABS-TBI) program to partner fisherfolk associations in Anda, Bani, Bolinao, Alaminos City, and Sual (ABBAS), the five oyster-producing municipalities in Pangasinan.

Rastrollo, who was on duty when the project was initially laid out to primary beneficiaries in Alaminos City, immediately saw the potential of this sustainable method of oyster culture.

“Nakita ko po na malaki ang maitutulong nito sa mga beneficiaries na magkaroon ng pangkabuhayan at dagdag kita,” she said.

From the first five rafts that they received, the success of the technology led to the provision of 16 more rafts. Now they have 21. Unlike the old methods of using tulos and rubber tires, the bamboo raft technology is more efficient and less harmful to the environment. Plastic strips hang from the rafts, holding oysters in a setup that is easier to harvest and more sustainable. On March 13, 2025, the SMMB had harvested 166 sacks of oysters, making up the majority of the oysters used in the “Talaba Ihaw-Ihaw” (oyster grilling activity) during the Hundred Islands Festival.

Beyond financial gains, Rastrollo highlighted the ecological advantages of using bamboo raft technology. “Nakikita ko rin na maganda ‘yung epekto nito lalo na po dito sa dagat namin dahil [environment] friendly ‘yung pagkakagawa ng raft, hindi rin siya nakasasagabal sa mga mangingisda dahil nakaayos kung saan namin inilagay.”

Moreover, she helped ensure that all the members of their association actually understood how important the bamboo raft technology is. She joined training sessions, attended meetings, and shared what she learned with other members.

“Through BFAR at NFRDI, nagkakaroon po kami ng mga trainings, at nashe-share namin ‘yung mga natutunan namin sa iba pang beneficiaries kapag nagkakaroon kami ng meeting bago ang harvest,” she said.

Rastrollo’s approach to leadership is grounded. She views her responsibilities not as obligations tied to her title but as an extension of her commitment to service. “Para po sa akin, in terms of leadership bilang dating kagawad at ngayon ay secretary ng SMMB, wala pong nabago. Posisyon lang po ang nabago, pero ang dedikasyon ay naroon pa rin.” From preparing for harvests, guiding visitors from public and private institutions, and making sure the funds are properly managed, she has been involved. She’s also one who joins guests through the site when researchers, students, or local officials visit.

“Lahat po ng ginagawa ko ay para maipromote ang oyster farming sa aming komunidad,” she added. With media coverage from television programs like Mag Agri Tayo and CNN Philippines, Balayadaan is now being recognized for its efforts in adopting science-based initiatives and technologies.

Her presence has made space for women to get involved, not just in selling but also in sorting, harvesting, and managing financials, as well as in making decisions. In a sector where women’s work is often invisible, Rastrollo’s involvement and leadership is a quiet shift on how things should be done. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), women contribute nearly half of the global fishery labor force, yet their roles are often undervalued.

However, Rastrollo’s story disrupts that trend, not with noise but with consistency. Her kind of leadership is not loud. It is steady, participatory, and rooted in purpose.

Yes, she sells seashells by the seashore, but not for profit alone. She sells with the weight of knowledge and collaboration with her SMMB co-members and hopes that what grows in the ocean can lift an entire community. ### (Ann Dominique del Valle)