General Santos tuna festival obscures struggles of fishing industry workers

GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines – As General Santos celebrates its annual Tuna Festival with fireworks and celebrities, the irony is that the city’s euphoria masks the suffering of many of its fisherfolk and their families. The grim realities and unfulfilled promises stand in contrast to the festive illusion of a thriving industry.

The week-long celebration of the annual Tuna Festival in General Santos, a city which was built by the fishing industry, began on Sunday, September 1. But for some residents...