It's just gone 11:00 AM and the sun is impressive in it's regal nature. With a cap on my head, I stroll along the beach chit-chatting and laughing with familiar souvenir and refreshments vendors on Panagsama Beach in Moalboal, Cebu Philippines. (Central Visayas)
As usual, I'm carrying my tripod and camera gear and I intend to test my new 50mm camera lens, as it's a bit different from my zoom lens.
Approaching some shady trees along the sea, I stop to set my gear up and as I'm getting a feel of the lens, someone taps me on my shoulder.
"I can take the picture for you, he says".
I smiled, said thank you, and told him I was fine, as I have a remote timer handy.
Very keen he seems, as he enquires what I was doing the photos for, and he begins to express his interest in art and photography too.
Ladies and gentlemen #Hivers, I introduce you to Carl Rama!
A Beautiful Soul
Market Friday it is indeed, and captivated by the magnet of his warm soul, my life is instantly enriched as I'm heartened by his warmth.
Just a few steps away, Carl leads me to his stall of handmade jewellery designed and crafted by him.
Without hesitation, Carl proceeds to tell me about the different materials he uses to make his jewellery such as coconut bark, wood, some metal and leather strings.
"I'm an animal lover, so even though some materials are snake and monitor lizards, I never kill animals. If I find them dead, I collect them and preserve them to make jewellery." says Carl
Whilst talking to Carl, he's beaming with zest and pride. In the back of my mind I'm thinking how did I get so lucky because his spirit and energy is completely positively charged, and I just can't help but devote my entire time to just get to know him.
Personally I believe it's true that people who have overcome adversity of some sort are nicer and more open hearted, which was the strong vibe I was getting from Carl.
A Story Behind The Soft Eyes & Warm Smile
Carl's pro techniques and the efficient way in which he makes his jewellery, and his ability to quickly pick his themes, gave me the feeling that he had been doing this craft for a long time.
My belief was confirmed, as Carl started to tell me that he had been making and selling jewellery from a very young age as a child on the streets in Cebu City.
"I was only 13 years old when I started to sell anything I could find on the streets in the city. I'm from a poor family of 5, and I'm the only boy. I felt it was my responsibility to help my parents to look after me and my younger siblings." says Carl.
"You see, I get along well with people everywhere I go"
A True Inspiration
Carl uses his downtime to demonstrate to customers how to make jewellery.
So fascinated and completely enthralled by Carl, I'm feeling inspired.
Yet at the same time, I'm marvelled by his positive energy.
As they say, "it is not what happens to you, it is how you respond to it."
Carl is now 22 years old, and he smiles with pride and tells me that he has financed his college education in the city, however, he likes the lifestyle of traveling around the country in that he gets to meet and make friends with people of different nationalities from all over the world.
"I realised that I had a natural knack for making jewellery so I became passionate about it. I experiment and teach myself different techniques."
Carl says that his school teachers and classmates always admire his strong sense of self-belief and positive outlook in life. Some of his friends who excelled highly in school have not yet had success with securing jobs, so he's an inspiration to them.
"My friends are always saying: We admire the way you go after what you want and take risks." says Carl
Life Is A Journey Filled With Adventure
Carl's easy-going and charismatic personality makes it easy for him to make friends wherever he goes.
He travels across different islands in the Central Visayas, and being a lover of nature, he enjoys setting up a hammock and sometimes a tent (depending on the weather) and he enjoys sleeping under the stars.
"When I come to Moalboal, or when I go to Bohol, or Siquijor, or anywhere across the Central Visayas, I just set-up a hammock and I sleep there. If it's rainy season, I'll use a tent. I get along with everybody and they always allow me to use the shower and bathroom facilities."
"HOME IS ANY PLACE THAT MAKES YOU FORGET THE WORLD IS ON FIRE, AT LEAST FOR A MOMENT."
-RUDY FRANCISCO
"SMELL THE SEA AND FEEL THE SKY. LET YOUR SOUL AND SPIRIT FLY."
- VAN MORRISON
"Sometimes when I'm in my hammock resting, customers see me, and I can hear them whispering...(that's the jewellery vendor guy). Sometimes they come back and tell me that they really like me and that they feel they have to support my talent." says Carl
"The struggle is real but yuh haffie believe inna yuhself" - Carl Rama
Positive Outcome
Carl says he is proud of himself and what he's achieved by his determination and and self-belief in his abilities, but his proudest yet:
"My parents were always against my decisions, but I just believe in myself. Now they agree with my decision because I'm the main breadwinner and provide for my parents and family. My parents are surprised by how much I earn, but it's because of how I interact and build good rapport with customers."
Carl has not only won the support of his parents, but he also continues to be an inspiration to his former classmates and other kids he grew up with in the streets, as well as his siblings.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read about my #MarketFriday experience with this remarkable young man. I was touched by him and he made me think of a quote:
"Let the rising sun warm your soul so it shines right through your face and into the eyes of everyone you meet." - Cup of Inspiration, Waves of Gratitude.
So long till my next blog!