2 TINIG NG MARINO SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2009 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 TINIG NG MARINO 3 INDOMITABLE SPIRIT 2009 Tinig ng Marino Awardees Refl ect World-Class Professionalism of Filipino Seafarers, Says DOLE Offi cial n recognition of the integrity, credibility and federation in the country. The awarding rite the distinct reputation of Tinig ng Marino is UFS’ distinct and unique way of honoring IAwards in the local maritime industry, the maritime industry’s best for 2009. Department of Labor and Employment “I know that you share with us (government) (DOLE) Undersecretary Romeo C. Lagman the importance of putting a premium on openly commended the 2009 honorees for the human resource development of our refl ecting the world-class professionalism seafarers. Continuing seafarers’ training and and exemplifying the indomitable spirit of the education is the only way to prepare them for Filipino seafarers. bigger and greater responsibilities onboard,” During his inspirational message at the Usec. Lagman pointed out. 7th Tinig ng Marino Awards held at the “In terms of skills availability, we are Philippine Coast Guard headquarters on indeed a major player. But we want to further November 6, 2009, Usec. Lagman pointed solidify our competitive edge in providing out: “All of you have done much and served offi cers for the world’s maritime fl eet. We the profession and the industry well. I trust recognize that if we are to fully maximize the that you will continue to serve as a compass, economic benefi ts of the world’s maritime guiding us all to navigate even the most profession, we need to deploy more globally- unfriendly waters and survive even the most competitive seafarers, in particular, offi cers, dangerous weather conditions.” Engr. Nelson Ramirez and Labor Undersecretary Romeo C. Lagman (5th from right) are shown and make them our vital link to the global Usec. Lagman delivered the speech being fl anked by the 7th Tinig ng Marino awardees following the well-attended awarding rites. maritime industry,” he further explained. during the 7th Tinig ng Marino Awards on “Congratulations to all of the Tinig ng behalf of Labor Secretary Marianito V. Roque, had to rush to Athens, Greece to attend an actually highlighted the 15th Anniversary Marino awardees! You have made our who was the guest of honor and speaker for international forum on migration. celebration of the United Filipino Seafarers country proud,” Usec Lagman commended. the event but was not able to make it as he The 7th Tinig ng Marino Awards (UFS), the most infl uential maritime labor TURN TO PAGE 28 4 TINIG NG MARINO SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2009

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee probe on the series of maritime disasters in the country. MARINA Needs to Rid Perfect Formula for Maritime Disasters- UFS he United Filipino Seafarers (UFS) vessels, which are designed to navigate has called on the Maritime Industry in inland waters, the Certifi cates of Public TAuthority (MARINA) to take immediate Convenience (CPC) or franchises to operate actions pertaining to the enforcement of and carry passengers in the open sea. At maritime safety rules and regulations to one time, even President GMA ordered an fi nally rid the domestic shipping industry of interim measure to disallow wooden ships what it refers to as the ‘perfect formula for from sailing at night, so MARINA must be maritime disasters.’ taking that order lightly,” laments the UFS Engr. Nelson Ramirez, president of the president. UFS, cited that the ineptness of MARINA In the two Christmastime maritime in the enforcement of maritime safety rules mishaps, all vessels involved were and regulations and is actually causing the being helmed by mariners carrying only series of maritime mishaps that seem to be major patron licenses. While MARINA hounding the country’s maritime waters as Administrator Ma. Elena H. Bautista of late, punctuated by the capsizing of MV maintained that major patrons are allowed Princess of the Stars in June 2008. to take command of ships that are 190 gross During the Senate investigation following tons or below based on existing policies, two Christmastime maritime mishaps, the UFS believes that major patrons Senator Richard J. Gordon practically should not be allowed to command a ship shared the position of the UFS and many in that is carrying 100 passengers or more, the domestic shipping front when he stated regardless of its weight. that the series of accidents in the country’s “Most of these major patrons have no waters has revealed that the problem boils knowledge about the basic ‘rules of the down to enforcement of maritime safety road’ and collision regulation. This was rules and regulations. very obvious in the collision between FB The Senate investigation came at the Anatalia and MB Catalyn B. Why and how heels of back-to-back Christmas time these mariners were able to obtain their mishaps – the fi rst involving the collision licenses are two other interesting questions. between the fi shing boat FB Anatalia, MARINA should re-examine these mariners and motorized banca MB Catalyn B, on to test their knowledge on rules of the road December 24, 2009 off Occidental Mindoro and collision regulation,” explains Ramirez. where three people perished; and the “MARINA has also developed this second, being the sinking of the roro vessel penchant for allowing alteration of vessels MB Baleno 9 some two days later near imported into the Philippines. We have Batangas where six people died. reliable information that most roro vessels The UFS is criticizing MARINA for plying the lucrative Batangas-Mindoro extending the phase out of wooden-hulled route are mostly altered, which passed vessels, which goes against the mandate the approval of MARINA as well. Once of RA 9295 or the Domestic Shipping a vessel has been modifi ed or altered, it Development Act of 2004 which gave actually affects its metacentric or its center operators of wooden-hulled ships up to the of gravity. This was very obvious in the case end of 2009 to either upgrade to steel hulls of the MV Princess of the Stars which was or have their old ships scrapped altogether. a mere 19,000-GRT vessel when it was fi rst “Most, if not all, of the wooden-hulled brought to the Philippines sometime in 2003 vessels plying domestic routes do not have but which became a 23,800-GRT passenger the proper navigation and marine engine ship when it began plying domestic routes equipment to ensure passenger safety. until it overturned and sank last year,” What makes the situation even worse elaborates the UFS president. is the fact that MARINA is giving these TURN TO PAGE 47 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2009 TINIG NG MARINO 5 6 TINIG NG MARINO JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010

Tinig ng Marino (Voice of the Seafarer) is published by the United Filipino Seafarers, a duly registered Philippine maritime union. Editorial offi ce: 4th/F Room 402, Gedisco Terraces Bldg., 1148 Roxas Blvd., Ermita, Manila, Philippines; Tele- phone nos.: (632) 524-4888; 525-5806; Fax (632) 524-2336; E-mail: ufs_07@ yahoo.com; Website: http://www.ufs.ph. Materials published in this paper may be reprinted provided proper acknowledgment to Tinig ng Marino and the author, if indicated, is made. Nelson P. Ramirez Executive Editor Rey Gambe Arianne Rodriguez Managing Editor Sonia Inserto Creative Consultant Assistant Editors Erik España Minabelle Siason Roland Cabrera Belgium Bureau Artists Capt. Arturo Cañoza Fr. James Kolin Japan Bureau New York Bureau Sapalo Velez Bundang Engr. Samson Tormis & Bulilan Law Offi ces Greece Bureau Legal Consultants Corry Llamas-Konings Benzene L. Latorza Philip Ramirez Julius D. Bacang Bob Ramirez Edilberto B. Filipino Jr. Rotterdam Bureau Production Staff SOUNDING LEAD EEDITORIALDITORIAL CAPT. REYNOLD M. SABAY Enough with Maritime Watch Lists for 2010 be seen as a future solution now to Philippine Manning Convention “poaching” of Marine Offi cers (since (Philmancon), whatever happened Disasters 2008). to the Philippine Maritime Education ollowing two Christmastime maritime mishaps that practically Originally, this was a cadetship and Training Regime? This stays ounding Lead posted its stole the thunder from the usual jolly holiday celebrations, the program. However, this column is on our list. initial Watch Lists in 2007 Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) appeared to have been revising it to “internal promotion”, 8. Manning may evolve into Ship F and continued as the years may as well be required onboard Management (since 2007). caught fl at-footed with the back-to-back incidents and awkwardly got S go by. Towards the end of this year, ships registered under POEA for With all of its challenges and dragged into the limelight of shame and blame. Watch Lists continues for 2010. manning by Filipino seafarers. confusion, the manning agency In the Philippines, once a maritime tragedy strikes, one of the 1. EO 566, its wisdom, if any, There’s only one way to fi nd out business is at the lower hierarchy of common aftermaths, aside of course from the normal search, rescue may be understood (since 2007). if this is doable; just do it. Some business in shipping; the experience and retrieval operations, are accusing fi ngers that literally fl y all over The EO 566 was signed to put dynamic ship owners and managers of the Philippines is more than the place to pinpoint and put the blame on the perceived culprits. a stop to all the shame, indignities, started to do this already. However, enough to evolve its manning However, in the cases of the collision of fi shing boat FB Anatalia irregularities and anomalies in the this will remain on our list. business into ship management and motorized banca MB Catalyn B on December 24, 2009 off licensure examinations. CHED 5. Disability benefi ts may not where the return is more than 10 Occidental Mindoro and the sinking of the roro vessel MV Baleno keeps on issuing documents, end up as retirement benefi ts times as in manning. This stays on 9 near Batangas two days later, accusing fi ngers seemed to have however, short of implementation (since 2007). our list. taken backseats. In their stead, all eyes were conveniently directed as of this date; (nothing happened Disability benefi ts had been 9. Philippine registry, having one toward MARINA. so far except for the release of the wisely abused by sea dogs. There of the biggest tonnage in the world While human errors once again reared their ugly heads in both IRR). The Supreme Court issued were so many seafarers, even (since 2007). maritime mishaps, it was not too diffi cult to comprehend why MARINA a TRO on the implementation of Masters and Chief Engineers, The Philippine registry with its was pulled into the mess almost naturally. Malacanang’s EO 566 and CHED’s claiming for disability then ended cartelized nature at the moment, Consider the following factors: MB Catalyn B is a wooden- CMO 21. This stays on our list. up onboard again after receiving this watch list for our wish list is a hulled vessels. MV Baleno 9 had a low freeboard and the vessel 2. Walk-In Exams, that they the disability benefi ts. This will stay long shot, at this time, there is no was basically designed for inland waters before Besta Shipping may become convenient to walk-in on our list. light at the end of the tunnel for the Lines imported it into the Philippines from Japan so the vessel was (since 2007). 6. Objective evidence made year 2007. The Sounding Lead is possibly altered. Immediately after both accidents, it was discovered The Walk-In Exams is full blast, available even in knowledge and getting a reading that there seems in the subsequent investigations that all the three vessels were being however in many different ways skills (since 2007). to be a bright light at the end of the helmed by skippers who were holding major patron licenses. than the original intentions. For Anybody and everybody can tunnel for 2008. Nothing happened It was MARINA, through Administrator Ma. Elena Bautista, who candidates to secure convenient claim they know all and they can do so this stays on our list. extended the phase-out of wooden-hulled vessels contrary to what schedules is almost impossible. In all, for a few we can take their words 10. Less maritime disasters in was provided in RA 9295 or the Domestic Shipping Development a sense, it is far from walk-in. This for it but for the majority, there is a Philippine waters (since 2007). Act of 2004, giving wooden-hulled ships fi ve years within which to is a new wish for 2010. need for objective evidence. This Maritime disasters in Philippine upgrade to steel hulls or go directly to shipbreakers to be scrapped 3. Cadetship, a springboard for will stay on our list. waters keep on menacing us for good. providing future Marine Offi cers, 7. The Philippines as Maritime again and again and again; what Most, if not all wooden-hulled vessels do not have the appropriate that every vessel enroled in POEA Training and Assessment Capital of with the recent MV “Blue Water navigational , marine engine equipment and crew to ensure the safety for manning may be mandated the world (since 2007). Magic”. This was reinforced and of their passengers. Some of them do not have enough emergency to provide berth for cadets (since The Philippines is now enjoying reconfi rmed by MV Princess of life aids for all their passengers, or worse, none at all. As a matter 2007). its status as the Manning Capital of the Stars, MV Superferry 9, MB of fact, no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directed Cadets of today, if well-selected, the World; the challenge of going Catalyn B, FB Anatalia, and M/V MARINA several years ago to impose an interim measure disallowing may be trained and provided with beyond and becoming the Maritime Baleno 9. Our soundings indicate the sailing of wooden-hulled vessels at night. The collision between experience to serve as the source of Training and Assessment Capital that there will be more to come so FB Anatalia and MB Catalyn B happened in the wee hours of future Management Level Offi cers. of the World is on. Something has this stays on our list. December 24, 2009, which means both vessels sailed at night. Nothing concrete happened so this been done on the contrary, the 11. Filipino Seafarers as the Practically all vessel alterations, particularly those imported ones, will stay on our list. local version of the Lloyds Manning world’s best (since 2008). TURN TO PAGE 44 4. Internal promotion may as well and Training Conference is called TURN TO PAGE 23 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2009 TINIG NG MARINO 7 8 TINIG NG MARINO JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010

Engr. Ramirez of the UFS attended the two-day Asia-Pacifi c Manning and Training Conference held at the Hotel Sofi tel on November 4-5, 2009. He is shown with Ericson Marquez, who is now the president of the Filipino Association of Mariners’ Employment (FAME) and Rear Admiral Adonis B. Donato, Director of FAME.

Riz Figueroa of GMA- 7’s Case Unclosed, hosted by Arnold Clavio, is shown interviewing Engr. Ramirez at the UFS offi ce as the show dwells on the 22nd anniversary of the of MV Doña Paz and MT Vector collision that resulted to the The UFS President was among the participants during the National Tripartite death of more than Conference on Principles of Freedom of Association held at the Hotel Sofi tel 4,000 people in from December 2 to 4, 2009. He joined government offi cials headed by Executive December 1987. Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Labor Secretary Marianito V. Roque, business sector representatives, and labor leaders during the three-day summit.

This time, the Engr. Ramirez raising UFS President a point during the is the resource investigation of the person being Senate Blue Ribbon interviewed by Committee on January Krizzle of UNTV 7, 2010 on the recent for Daniel Razon’s maritime disasters. He TV program is shown with Capt. Spotlight: Reynaldo Casareo, Kakaibang President of Cargo Talento. Safeway, Inc., who also came to the probe as a resource panelist. The UFS staff and volunteer cadets The UFS president trooped to ABS- with his wife Marilyn CBN Studios on Ruth M. Ramirez went November 13, to Malaysia to be with 2009 and took their son Jeremiah part as studio Nelson M. Ramirez audience of the during the latter’s TV talent show graduation at ALAM Showtime. They University (Malaysia are shown having Maritime Academy) last a grand time at October 24, 2009. They the TV studio. are shown with their best smiles after the graduation rites.

The UFS President belting a classic song with Capt. Bernie Arcamo during the To relive his glory days inauguration and blessing as a marksman, Engr. of the new building of SSM Ramirez took part in Maritime Services and the Fifth Invitational Protect Marine Deck and Shootfest of MIG 17 held Engine Offi cers, Inc. at on December 5, 2009 at Malate, Manila on December Camp Karingal. 1, 2009. SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2009 TINIG NG MARINO 9 10 TINIG NG MARINO JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 SEPTEMBERJANUARY-FEBRUARY - OCTOBER 2010 2009 TINIG NG MARINO 11

new company name for its local manning agent, a bigger offi ce in a prime business A location at the heart of Manila with a comfortable working ambience, and the priceless Thenamaris Marks 30 Years opportunity of catching the world-famous Manila Bay sunset almost every day, Thenamaris Ship Management, Inc. surely marked its 30 years in the local manning industry in great style. in the Philippines in Great Style It was also fi tting in a way that it was on the occasion of the Greek ship management company’s three decades in the Philippines that Thenamaris Philippines, Inc. offi cially came out of the shell, metamorphosing into the company’s worthy track record in the local seafaring industry. But if the message and commitment of Mr. Emmanuel A. Vordonis, Executive Director of Thenamaris Shipsmanagement, Inc., of Athens, Greece delivered during the milestone celebration marking the company’s 30th year in the Philippines at the Palacio de Manila in Malate, Manila last November 6, 2009, are to be the basis of its future in the country, Thenamaris is already looking forward to marking its next 30 years in the Philippines. “We owe our 30 years of outstanding presence in the Philippines to the hard work of our Filipino seafarers onboard our fl eet of managed vessels over the years. We owe it to the clear-cut vision Thenamaris Shipsmanagement Inc. offi cials and Thenamaris Philippines, Inc. offi cers and staff Mr. Vordonis sharing Thenamaris’ rich history and mission of the leadership of our company. show their best smiles following the inauguration of the company’s new and bigger offi ces at the with the Philippines and the Filipino seafarers We owe it to the dedication of the men and 3rd Floor of Marbella II Building. during his inspirational message. women behind this global organization,” stated Mr. Vordonis matter-of-factly. if not for the dedication and loyalty of the men builders of their new offi ces, and most especially cultural environments, having been colonized at Unlike other foreign-based ship management and women who served this company well and their Filipino seafarers, who have contributed one point in time by Spaniards, Americans, as fi rms who literally blitz their manning presence our Filipino seafarers onboard. That is why, we immensely to the continued growth of the well as Japanese. Filipinos know how to adjust. in the Philippines and disappeared just as fast, are profusely grateful to our Filipino seafarers, company for all of its 30 years in the Philippines. And it was all continued journey from there as Thenamaris had a calculated approach. Its whom we can only be proud of and admire for He also expressed his gratitude to Mr. Vordonis far as the relationship of Thenamaris and the growth was gradual but nonetheless consistent maintaining their global competitiveness,” Atty. and the entire Thenamaris organization for their Filipino seafarers are concerned,” he added. in all its 30 years in the country up to this day. Ortega recounted. confi dence and trust in him. He likewise paid “That relationship has since been nurtured The company was, after all, looking to “Now that the company has already logged tribute to Atty. Ortega, whom he regarded in jest over the years and has grown by leaps and maintain its presence in the Philippines for the in 30 years of consistent crewing operations and as his boss, mentor and tormentor bounds. Many people have grown. Many people long haul as it was in fact the fi rst few foreign a seaborne workforce of about 3,000 competent now have better lives. But our work and dream companies to have recognized and began and quality Filipino seafarers rotating onboard Thenamaris Through the Years for people who work onboard our ships shall While he fi rst set continue. That is why we decided to put up an foot in the Philippines offi ce in a place facing the waterfront with an back in 1974, it was added bonus of the Manila Bay sunset. This will only fi ve years later be a home to our seafarers who have certainly that Mr. Vordonis and made us better and better over time,” remarked Thenamaris had their Mr. Vordonis. initial relationship with “I am certainly most thankful to the Filipino the Philippines and the people and the Philippines because I have Filipino seafarers. been here for 35 years, savoring both good “We looked times and bad. The growth of Thenamaris in in China, India, the Philippines also speaks of the friendship Bangladesh, Burma between Greeks and Filipinos as well as the and we felt that in the friendship between our countries. It is a symbol Mr. Vordonis and Carlos Salinas, President of Filipino Shipowners Association, are joined by Atty. Gregorio Ortega (left), Philippines we have a of our long-standing friendship,” states Mr. Engr. Jose Abugan, and Capt. Nikolaos Martinos (right) in cutting the ribbon to offi cially inaugurate Thenamaris Philippines’ group of people with Vordonis, who soon requested every Greek and new offi ces. A local priest is shown at right blessing the offi ces and its people for guidance and prosperity. common values. We Filipino in the crowd to join as they sang the appreciating the skills, know-how and virtues of a substantial number of Thenamaris-managed noted the Catholic community that brings about TURN TO PAGE 16 Filipino seafarers as mariners, long before they fl eet of vessels, we felt that our local crewing arm an affi nity in faith and religion the same way as became the global maritime industry’s hottest should bear the same name as our company, Greeks do. The second factor was the ability of commodities in the latter years. thus giving birth to Thenamaris Philippines,” Mr. Filipino seafarers to communicate in English. Not When Thenamaris fi rst ventured in the Vordonis explained. that good during the early years but it’s getting Philippines, it formed a local company, Capt. Nicanor B. Altares, General Manager better now,” explains Mr. Vordonis. in partnership with local stakeholders to of Thenamaris Philippines, Inc., who had been “The third factor for the selection of Filipinos recruit Filipino seafarers exclusively for the serving the company for a long time, welcomed then was the history of the Philippines which vessels being managed by the Greece-based with open arms the new company name as well showed that Filipinos can effectively work in cross- shipmanagement company. as its bigger offi ce in time for the celebration Atty. Gregorio F. Ortega, President of Thenamaris’ 30 years in the country. of Thenamaris Philippines, Inc., in his “These major developments provide inspirational message during the inauguration a glimpse of the bigger things that of the company’s new offi ces at the 3rd Floor Thenamaris has in store for the Philippines of Marbella II Building along Roxas Boulevard, and the Filipino seafarers in the future. We vividly recalled that the company started at the will be looking forward to building on the ground fl oor of Doña Remedios Building at the Thenamaris brand of excellent crewing corner of Remedios Street and Taft Avenue. service and provide continued employment “That was the place of the offi ce for so many opportunities to Filipino seafarers, anchored years.” on strong family ties and friendship,” Capt. “After 30 years, we all come to this new offi ce Altares cited in his welcome remarks during Mr. Nikolaos Martinos, Thenamaris Athens that has state-of-the-art facilities and surely, the inauguration of the company’s new representative congratulates Atty. Ortega everyone is excited. But we will not be able to offi ces. Capt. Nic Altares delivering the welcome remarks during for a job well done as far as the growth of achieve this milestone here in the Philippines Capt. Altares also acknowledged the the inauguration program. Thenamaris in the Philippines. 12 TINIG NG MARINO SEPTEMBERJANUARY-FEBRUARYMARCH - OCTOBER - APRIL 20102009 SEPTEMBERJANUARY-FEBRUARY - OCTOBER 2010 2009 TINIG NG MARINO 13 MEAN INDICATED ENGR. NELSON P. RAMIREZ PRESSURE Most Outstanding Marine Engineer Officer, PRC, 1996 Most Outstanding Student, ZNSAT, 1970 Outstanding Achiever of the Year, Province of Zamboanga del Norte, 2006 Perfect Formula for Maritime Disasters ive an idiot, who does not know the That law put to rest the bickerings Administrator Bautista went on to say in mandate and got entangled in something basic rules of the road and collision between the Philippine Coast Guard one TV interview that she could not impose that they do not know how to handle. They Gregulation, a license to command a (PCG) and the Maritime Industry Authority the law because the livelihood program of do not have the capability and they do not vessel and put him in a wooden passenger (MARINA) as to what government agency the law-breakers would be affected. Holy have enough suitable personnel to do it. vessel or a vessel designed to navigate only must enforce maritime safety rules and cow! But what livelihood are we talking And because they know that they will not in inland waters but nonetheless allowed regulations. It is very clear in Section 9 about if hundreds are already buried in the be able to enforce maritime safety, they to sail in the open sea. Permit that vessel of that law, under ‘Safety Standards,’ that sea? ask the PCG to sign a memorandum of to load 10-wheeler trucks without proper all vessels operated by domestic ship The good administrator insists that agreement with them to do their job. If I lashings and voila! You have yourself a operators shall at all times be in seaworthy a new law is needed to stop maritime am the Coast Guard I will not allow myself perfect formula for a maritime disaster. condition, properly equipped with adequate disasters. Meaning, more power must be to be dragged into the courts because the Do we need a new law to stop these life-saving communication, safety and given to MARINA. Isn’t it that MARINA has Coast Guard is not mandated to enforce unnecessary deaths? Defi nitely not. We other equipment, operated and maintained swallowed more than it could chew? I kept maritime safety. Nobody wants to lose his have enough laws to prevent them. In fact, in accordance with the standards set by on saying for years that the fi rst mandate job and go to jail for no reason at all. The fi ve years ago, some smart-alecks drafted MARINA, and manned by duly-licensed of MARINA was to promote the economic Philippine Coast Guard is only limited to a bill which was hurriedly passed into law and competent vessel crews. The MARINA viability of the maritime industry which is rescue operations, marine environmental without public consultation to ultimately shall have the power to inspect the shipbuilding, shipbreaking, drydocking, protection, and the setting up of aids to put an end to maritime disasters, so vessels and all equipment onboard these ship repair and transshipment of cargoes. navigation. they say. That law is Republic Act 9295 vessels to ensure compliance with safety I’m certain that they will be able to perform ******* otherwise known as An Act Promoting standards. The problem though, as what these functions because they have lots The role of MARINA is to provide the the Development of Philippine Domestic a good administrator of the MARINA said, of people who are commerce graduates, maritime industry in general and seafarers Shipping, Shipbuilding, Ship Repair and “We pampered our shipowners too much.” major in business administration. in particular and other maritime authorities Shipbreaking, Ordaining Reforms in ******* But dipping their fi ngers into maritime with rules, regulations, policies, systems Government Policies Towards Shipping Who pampers the shipowners? I cannot safety would be like courting disaster and and procedures in accordance with in the Philippines and for other Purposes understand why we have to pamper this is exactly what is happening now. international conventions. Then why should or for the short title, The Domestic Shipping shipowners. Aren’t they supposed to follow MARINA is now majoring in minor and Development Act of 2004. the law that MARINA must implement? minoring in major. They forgot their fi rst TURN TO PAGE 45 14 TINIG NG MARINO JANUARY-FEBRUARYJULY - AUGUST 20102009 Gordon Takes a Stand (Again) for the Maritime Industry enator Richard J. Gordon, Chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee the initiative to help the country of the Sand a presidential aspirant for the Gordon: Governance is Key lawless individuals. I am in favor of such May 2010 national elections took a gallant a move but I would have to refer this to stand again for the embattled local maritime the FAME membership for their opinions industry when he practically pulled all to Solving Somali Piracy or decision. But I am thinking that it would stops to derail the impending revisions to not be easy getting a favorable response Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant Workers n what could be the beginning of a No less than Prof. Abdulrahman Adam from this extremely good proposal.” Act of 1995. Ibreakthrough initiative to address the Ibrahim ‘Ibbi, First Deputy Prime Minister Consul-General Lising of UPL also Gordon personally made the assurance problem of Somali piracy right from the and Minister of Fisheries and Marine agreed with the proposal citing that in when he phoned Engr. Nelson Ramirez, roots, Senator Richard J. Gordon, as Resources of the Somali Republic led the addition to the Filipino seafarers, other president of the United Filipino Seafarers chairman of the Philippine National Red Somali delegation during the meeting at major industry stakeholders, associations (UFS) on December 20, 2009, and informed Cross (PNRC) has recently brokered Senator Gordon’s offi ce. Prof. Ibbi was and other groups can also chipped in the latter that the proposed amendments a meeting between offi cials of Somalia joined by Ambassador Mohamud Olow to make their contribution for the sake to RA 8042 have been ‘de-prioritized’ and Republic and several leaders of the local Barow, Ambassador of the Republic of of bringing back governance into the would not be calendared for discussion maritime industry. Somalia in Indonesia; Admiral Farah Republic of Somalia. by the bicameral conference committee On December 23, 2009, Senator Ahmed Omar, Deputy and General Chief of Engr. Ramirez of the UFS, who was the in its remaining sessions in 2009 or in the Gordon hosted the breakthrough meeting Staff and Navy Chief of Staff of the Somali one who called Mr. Marquez and Capt. next few months of 2010 or until the 13th of several top offi cials of the Republic of Armi Force; and Mohamed Ibrahim, a Casareo to the breakthrough meeting Congress offi cially draws to a close in June Somalia and several stakeholders of the Somali Research Fellow from the National at Senator Gordon’s offi ce, concurred 2010. local maritime industry at with the recommendation The proposed amendments to RA his offi ce in the Senate and that he will work 8042 were about to be discussed by the in an attempt to develop for ensuring that each bicameral conference committee on its a working solution to the seafarer-member of the second meeting late in December 2009 problem of piracy in the UFS and the organization and there was a good chance that if that Gulf of Aden, which has itself would be able to meeting pushed through, the revisions been affecting a number come up with something would eventually be approved by the of Filipino seafarers, and for the noble cause. legislators and it would be endorsed to the continues to be a threat “This is not a President for enactment into law. to many others up to this government-to- During the meeting of Senator Gordon day. government initiative,” with several leaders of the Republic of Having realized that clarifi es Senator Gordon. Somalia and some stakeholders of the local the problem of piracy in “I am just acting here on maritime industry at his offi ce in the Senate Somalia is an offshoot of a private capacity and not on December 23, 2009, he personally non-governance, as an as Senator of the Republic stated that the proposed amendments to aftermath of the recent of the Philippines.” RA 8042 are now off the boards. civil war that literally threw The proposed “Senator Enrile was telling me why are the country into chaos and donation of the Filipino Senator Gordon brokering the breakthrough meeting at his offi ce in the Senate its people in a continued seafarers and the local you opposing this? This is a good law. between several offi cials of the Republic of Somalia and key stakeholders of the No, Mr. Chairman, let me point out to you struggle against poverty, local maritime industry to thresh out possible solutions to the Somali piracy. maritime industry shall a couple of things. The Senate President Senator Gordon gallantly be channeled to the was convinced that the points I raised were proposed to put some semblance of Centre of Excellence for Islamic Studies in Philippine National Red Cross, chaired valid so any revisions to RA 8042 would governance in the country to restore order the University of Melbourne in Australia. by Senator Gordon, and the PNRC will not be happening soon,” narrates Senator among its people. The stakeholders from the local transmit it to the International Red Cross. Gordon. The good Senator believes that once maritime industry included Mr. Fernando The IRC will eventually give it to the The Senator’s efforts send elation to the the Republic of Somalia achieves some V. Lising, Chairman of UPL, and Consul- Republic of Somalia. local maritime industry stakeholders, who form of governance, law and order will General of the Philippines in the Republic Capt. Casareo actually backed the have been practically moving heaven and be restored in the country and its people of Poland; Ericson Marquez, President claim of Somali offi cials that piracy earth to halt the rampaging bull. will avoid going into criminal and lawless of the Filipino Association for Mariners’ in the Gulf of Aden is being funded The local maritime industry has been up activities, including piracy. Employment (FAME); Capt. Reynaldo by other foreign mafi as. He narrated in arms against at least four critical revisions Piracy has literally become a brisk Casareo, Director of FAME; and Engr. a story sometime last year where he to RA 8042 since it would ultimately have business off Somalian waters because Nelson Ramirez, President of United accompanied a representative of a an impact in the deployment of Filipino of the lucrative ransom packages that the Filipino Seafarers (UFS). Japanese shipowner, whose two ships seafarers onboard international ocean- pirates are getting for hostaging merchant As the local maritime industry has been were held hostage in Somalia months going vessels. ships traversing the Gulf of Aden. But bearing the brunt of the Somali piracy in before, in withdrawing some US$3 million Major stakeholders in the local of late, it has come to the realization of light of the hundreds of Filipino seafarers from Citibank Makati. Capt. Casareo seafaring industry averred that they were several shipping industry analysts, that being held hostage in practically every continued that from Makati, he and never consulted at all when the proposed it is not actually the Somalis who are ship being hijacked by pirates in the Gulf the Japanese proceeded to meet two revisions to RA 8042 were put to the table funding the illicit activities of the pirates of Aden since the middle of 2005. Caucasian males near the Ninoy Aquino for discussion either in the Senate or in the but actually some mafi as from other Senator Gordon proposed that maritime International Airport to whom the money House of Representatives. They claimed countries, with the Russian and other industry stakeholders, including Filipino was turned over. Several weeks later, that the revisions are tailor-fi t for the land- foreign mafi as being looked into as prime seafarers, contribute to a sort of seed fund the two Japanese ships were released based manpower deployment sector but suspects. that will enable the Republic of Somalia by Somali pirates one after the other. certainly not palatable to the sea-based It has become obvious to the shipping and its leaders to stand on its feet to be Prof. Ibbi and the other Somali sector. industry that the level of sophistication able to govern again. offi cials were more than happy to hear Early in December 2009, the UFS and of Somali pirates’ weaponry and fast “A dollar for every active Filipino seafarer the pledges and commitment of support Engr. Ramirez made their formal opposition crafts or boats that they have been using would not be too much to ask,” suggested from the stakeholders of the local against three proposed revisions to RA to go after commercial ships has gone Senator Gordon, “but then that is not for maritime industry. They vowed to work 8042 citing that it may lead to the ‘untimely up several notches higher. Their brand me to say. It is just a proposal.” within their powers for the immediate demise’ of the local seafaring industry. new rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) FAME President Ericson Marquez called and safe release of all the remaining In particular, UFS is questioning the launchers, AK-47 assault rifl es, among the proposal brilliant aside from dramatic. Filipino seafarers that are still in the proposals to have all seafarers undergo other things, are good indications that “It would be very good because it would hands of Somali pirates at the time of the they are a well-funded lot on a mission. appear that it is the victim which is taking meeting. TURN TO PAGE 24 SEPTEMBERJULYJANUARY-FEBRUARY - AUGUST - OCTOBER 2009 2010 2009 TINIG NG MARINO 15

right Maritime Corporation (BMC) recently marked its 15 solid and Bproductive years in the local maritime industry by doing what it has ‘BMC Got Talent’ Highlights Manning been doing best - patting the backs of its Filipino seafarers for a job well done and motivating them further to do even better in the years ahead. The company even Firm’s 15th Anniversary Celebration added an extra by giving them and their families a memorable entertainment on the occasion of the company’s 15th year. In an auspicious and signifi cant 15th anniversary celebration held at the Richmond Hotel in Ortigas Center last December 11, 2009, BMC fi ttingly honored a total of 54 Filipino seafarers, composed of 19 offi cers and 36 ratings, and bequeathed each of them 15-year service awards. Some 62 others, made up of 30 offi cers and 32 ratings, received their service awards for having been employed through BMC for 10 years. So as not to bore the Filipino seafarers and their families with lengthy speeches and pep talks regarding the company or its sterling accomplishments in the past BMC’s Tanker, FLD and Legal Departments were the big winners during the talent showdown with their Egyptian dance presentation which are practically familiar to its Filipino seafarers and the local maritime industry itself, BMC instead focused on entertaining everyone and thus turned the event into a talent showdown. In her brief welcome remarks during the program, Ms. Desiree P. Sillar, President of BMC, commended the company’s Filipino seafarers for their dedication to the company and for continuously striving to improve their shipboard skills at every opportunity they can get. She likewise praised the BMC offi cers and staff for effectively backstopping the deployment of Filipino seafarers and ensuring that all matters related to their employment is fully taken care of the The Pussy Cat Dolls of Bulk Department I. The combined Filipino and Greek dances by the Accounting Department. minute they join the company. Ms. Sillar also lauded the continued Operations Manager; Clarissa C. Mendoza, Both the guests and the Filipino seafarers the stage along with some of their family support, trust and confi dence of the Greek Finance Offi cer; and Nerissa Gasmen, and their families were clapping their hearts members, were given citations by BMC for principals of BMC, thus ensuring that the Chief Documentation Offi cer. out after each presentation because of their bravery and for not giving up on their company will reach its 15th year milestone But as expected, it was the BMC talent familiar faces from BMC, who for the fi rst seafaring careers despite going through a in the business, bigger, stronger and better showdown that stole the thunder of the time, have let their hair down just to entertain tough and traumatic ordeal. than before. anniversary celebration as each department and give them memorable performances. The proverbial icing on the cake of The BMC president also led four BMC of the company, featuring their respective The presentation of each department the celebration was none other than the offi cers and staff who have been handed offi cers, staff and cadet utilities, performed was spiced in between by the handing out awarding of the talent showdownm which that night with their 15-year service extravagant production song and dance of service awards to the Filipino seafarers, as expected, became the most anticipated awards. She was joined in the loyalty numbers that really wowed the crowd with as well as offi cers and staff of BMC. moment of practically everyone who was elite roster by Webena Dabuco, Bulk glee and delight. Several special awards were also present during the night. handed out by BMC that night including When the votes of the judges were cast three ‘Athletes of the Year’ awardees and counted, the best of the BMC talented in the person of Arthuro Argaon, who performers were honored. copped First Prize in the Bracket D of the First Prize went to the Tanker, FLD, and recently-concluded badminton tournament Legal Department for their Egyptian dance of the Filipino Association for Mariners’ presentation. The second team from the Employment (FAME); Mark Jaum, who Bulk Department copped second prize fi nished as 7th placer in the FAME Fun Run honors with their Jai Ho dance number ala- for the three-kilometer category; and John Pussy Cat Dolls. Catalino Tenorio, who was named Most The fi rst team of the Bulk Department Valuable Player of the Year during the 1st came in as a close Third Prize winner LUSWELF Basketball Tournament, where for their jazz dance presentation. The the BMC squad also fi nished as runner-up. Accounting Department completed the BMC also had a special portion during winners’ circle by bagging the Fourth Prize the program for the program for a number of with their presentation of a combination of Filipino seafarers who previously fell to the Philippine and Greek dances. hands of Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden Bright Maritime Corporation certainly as hostages, when the vessels that they knows how to give due recognition to their were manning were captured by the lawless Filipino seafarers not only by honoring them elements now plaguing the so-called Horn with much-deserved accolades but also by Ms. Desiree P. Sillar (right), President of BMC, with some of the 15-year service awardees of Africa. entertaining them in a night that would surely Filipino seafarers of the company. Most of the honorees are serving actively onboard. The Filipino seafarers, who came to be hard to forget for a long, long while. 16 TINIG NG MARINO JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 Thenamaris Marks 30 Years in the Philippines in Great Style FROM PAGE 11 competitive industry is a tough act to follow. But national anthems of Greece and the Philippines Thenamaris, through Thenamaris Philippines, one after the other. is now gearing up to take on more and bigger In his inspirational message, which he challenges that lie ahead and can hardly wait stated as one that comes from his heart, Mr. to mark another important milestone in its rich Vordonis also proudly recalled the company’s history soon enough. big celebration when it turned 20 years back in 1999. Annual Seminar “When we started here in the Philippines, Thenamaris also held its annual conference we were employing 100 seafarers; then it for its Filipino offi cers and ratings early in became 300, then 500, then 700. By the time November 2009. The topics discussed during we turned 20 years, we were already employing the conference included: human error - types and 1,200 Filipino seafarers. We had such a big management, leadership, energy management, celebration then at the Westin Philippine Plaza, maintenance, purchasing, voyage planning and attended by over 4,000 people composed of operational incident analysis, time charters, Filipino seafarers and their families.” steel cargo handling, claims prevention, speed He even recalled then that a number of claims, inclident investigation, purchasing and children of their Filipino seafarers were even IT matters (MGA account). named after vessels being managed by Capt. Timothy Crowch, a noted airline Thenamaris, which was a clear manifestation pilot, facilitated the topics on human error of the Filipino crew’s dedication and loyalty to management and leadership. their company. Several offi cials from Thenamaris Athens Enjoying the company of Filipino seafarers also fl ew all the way from Greece and contributed and their families is what Mr. Vordonis considers to the success of the annual crew conference. a high point in his professional career. “It is They include: Capt . Nikolaos Kirkilis, Manager, the result of a lifetime of work, friendship and Marine Personnel; Mr. Yannos Koudounnas, rapport. And I am very happy that we are very Training Coordinator; Mr. V. Lampropoulos, close to our people,” he says. Technical Department Manager; Mr. I. Mr. Vordonis assured that Thenamaris Kollaros of the Puchasing Department; Capt will continue to nurture its long-standing P. Theodoridis of the Operations Department; relationship with its Filipino seafarers and their Mr. George Deligiorgis, DMR, Thenamaris families because the company’s values are and Safety and Quality Department; and Mr. also intertwined with family values. Tassos Skaltsas of Information Technology Indeed, 30 consistent years of growth in a Department. JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 TINIG NG MARINO 17 VAST HORIZON C/ENGR. RODOLFO B. VIRTUDAZO Outstanding Seafarer of the Year, NSD, 1998 Most Outstanding Marine Engineer Officer, PRC, 1999 Training Manager and Technical Superintendent, Southfield Agencies, Inc. Happy New Year, Happy New Building

(Manila Zoo). Make a right turn to Madre commitment to quality whose essence is ship building. Each fl oor has a pantry, Ignacia where an imposing red arch catches to meet and exceed our clients’ needs and separate rest rooms for the ladies and es, Southfi eld Agencies Inc. has the eye; reduce speed now and before you expectations through excellence in service, gentlemen (excluding the third fl oor that a new home! Our new corporate know it, you have reached your port of call thus the ambitious project of having a fi ve- has a rest room only for my kindred since it Yaddress is at 2115 Madre Ignacia (left side) where two courteous guards and storey offi ce building. Truly, it holds true to caters mainly to seafarers). Street, Malate, Manila. We moved in last helpful cadets await to attend to you at the our core values one of which is cultivating Its overall design stands in stark contrast November 16, 2009, giving us ample time spacious, clean and welcoming lobby. a culture of continuous development and to Southfi eld’s decades-old former home to settle from the topsy-turvy of things On the other hand, one can take a improvement. though I will surely miss the majestic sunset before the New Year ushered in. jeepney and get off on A. Mabini Street The Southfi eld Agency building features on the vast horizon of Manila Bay which Wow! Am I amazed and could not corner Qurino Avenue, and make a short sleekly-appointed department offi ces I got to enjoy looking from our window help but feel the pride and excitement of walk towards Madre Ignacia. for each fl oor: payroll offi ce, a receiving glass. The view never failed to bring back having our very own company building. I was aboard Hyundai 202 where I area for seafarers and allottees on the memories of my sea-going service and The scaffolding is down and the façade is joined as an emergency relieving chief ground fl oor; fl eet operations’ offi ces on sometimes drew as an inspiration or two all cleaned up. Passers-by can now have a engineer when Southfi eld transferred to the second fl oor; the training offi ce, the on what to write for Tinig ng Marino. glimpse of the new and fresh structure. the new building. I missed the chaos, if simulator rooms and other training rooms We may not still be accustomed to our Getting to the new offi ce site is easy. there was any, and the frantic and frenzy on the third fl oor; the managing director’s new place because of how it looks and Madre Ignacia Street is sandwiched by A. of it all transferring one thing after another. offi ce, the accounting offi ce, the executive feels. In our old site, we knew the route Mabini and M. Adriatico Streets traversing When I arrived, everything was already offi ce and a conference room on the fourth even when we were sleeping, and we have San Andres or Pres. Quirino Avenue. spic and span on the third fl oor that houses fl oor; and the Penthouse on the fi fth fl oor fi gured out the shortcuts to avoid traffi c. The Just a stone’s throw away are Aristocrat Southfi eld Maritime Training Foundation for various functions. good news is that it is only 5-10 minutes Restaurant, Raha Sulayman Park, Max’s Inc. where I hold offi ce. Embellished with Christmas décors, the away (light traffi c) from our previous offi ce Restaurant and Cowboy Grill to name a Easily, one notices that the whole building staircase leads to a door for each fl oor that building and so there is not so much few establishments. is a tangible refl ection of our company’s is akin to that of a ship’s portholes. Indeed, difference in time element and in our sense If you take Quirino Avenue from Quezon mission as the Ship Owner’s chosen the building exudes an offi ce atmosphere of navigation as we take almost the same City, see to it that you do not cross over Human Resource Manager of Philippine that is well-lighted, well-ventilated and everyday route. The big difference may be Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden seafarers. For me, it mirrors the company’s spacious as if it is an urban “land-based” TURN TO PAGE 23 18 TINIG NG MARINO JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 SAILOR’S CORNER ATTY. AUGUSTO R. BUNDANG Head, Litigation and Seafarers Department Sapalo Velez Bundang & Bulilan Law Offices Three-Day Reporting Requirement

in the event the seafarer is “physically November 19, 1999, vividly shows the one hospital to the next, until he died just incapacitated” to submit himself to the application of the exception to the three- three months after his arrival. The manning s there an exception to the requirement medical examination, then the three- day reporting requirement. agency denied the death benefi t claims of under the Philippine Overseas day reporting requirement will have no In this case, the seafarer boarded the the deceased seafarer’s spouse. IEmployment Administration - Standard application. In other words, the seafarer vessel as a utility man under a ten (10)- The labor arbiter, the NLRC, and the Employment Contract (POEA-SEC) that a must fi rst have a valid excuse in order to month employment contract. Supreme Court all held that the death seafarer should submit himself to a post- disregard such a requirement. Barely two months before the expiration of the seafarer was compensable, employment medical examination by the The decision of the Supreme Court in of his contract, he was discharged from notwithstanding the seafarer’s failure to company-designated physician within three Wallem Maritime Services, Inc. and the vessel and arrived very ill in the comply with the mandatory three-day (3) working days upon his repatriation? The Wallem Ship Management, Ltd. vs. Philippines. reporting requirement. answer is a resounding yes. NLRC and Elizabeth Inductivo (G.R. Two days after his return, he was The Supreme Court observed that Under Section 20 (B) of the POEA-SEC, No. 130772) which was promulgated on hospitalized and was transferred from the three-day reporting requirement is not absolute and admits of an exception, i.e., when the seaman is physically incapacitated from complying with the requirement. The Court noted that one cannot expect a terminally ill individual in need of urgent medical attention, to avail of the required post-employment medical examination by the company-designated physician. Signifi cantly, the seafarer’s wife could not be expected to travel all the way to Manila from Nueva Ecija to notify the manning agency of her husband’s condition since her primary concern was to take care of her dying husband. In the recent case however of Dionisio Musnit v. Sea Star Shipping Corporation and Sea Star Shipping Corporation Ltd. (G.R. No. 182623, December 4, 2009), the Supreme Court refused to apply the ruling in Wallem and denied the claim of the seafarer for payment of disability benefi ts. The High Court explained that failure to comply with the three-day mandatory reportorial requirement under paragraph 3, Section 20 (B) of the POEA Standard Employment Contract, which is a sine qua non, or an indispensable condition, bars the fi ling of claim for disability benefi ts. Here, the seafarer failed to prove by evidence that he indeed reported to his manning agency and informed it of his condition within the three-day period from the time he was repatriated to the Philippines. He was unable to submit himself to a company-designated physician for medical examination within the period required or even name the offi cers of his agency to whom he supposedly reported his illness.

[Atty. Augusto ‘Tito’ Bundang is a regular columnist of BusinessWorld and a partner of Sapalo Velez Bundang & Bulilan Law Offi ces (formerly Sapalo & Velez Law Offi ces). He is also a board member of the Maritime Law Association of the Philippines (MARLAW). A graduate of Ateneo de Manila University, he heads its Litigation and Seafarers Department. Sapalo Velez Bundang & Bulilan Law Offi ces is located at the 11th Floor, Security Bank Centre, 6776 Ayala Avenue, Makati City with Tel Nos. 891- 13-16.] SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2009 TINIG NG MARINO 19 20 TINIG NG MARINO JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 UFS Seeks Lifting of Age-Old MTC Moratorium n response to the complaints of many Filipino seafarers who are now fi nding it Idiffi cult to take up Basic Safety Course because only a limited number of local maritime training centers accredited by the Maritime Training Council (MTC) are now offering such in Metro Manila and nearby provincial outskirts and most are already overcrowding with enrolees, the United Filipino Seafarers (UFS) has petitioned the MTC to lift a 14-year-old resolution which it traced as the likely root cause of the problem. The petition came in the form of a formal letter sent by UFS president Engr. Nelson Ramirez to Noriel Devanadera, A rescue demonstration involving a portable life raft (left) and rescue boat (right) that is part of the Basic Safety Course of a local maritime training Acting Executive Director of MTC, dated center. November 26, 2009, copy furnished to all 10 members of the MTC governing board. Metro Manila, to spread the resources and Eventually, it rose to more than 50. We in the issuance of permits to operate or “The UFS has been receiving numerous facilities of training providers outside of believe that the fi gure is now around 91. establish maritime training centers and complaints not only from its seafarer- Metro Manila to accommodate and serve All those initiatives and efforts are well- accreditation of additional courses for members but other Filipino seafarers as the training needs of Filipino seafarers documented in the pages of Tinig ng existing maritime training centers. well regarding insuffi ciency of training based in remote provinces especially Marino,” Ramirez elaborated. Surprisingly, the moratorium on safety providers for the Basic Safety Course Visayas and Mindanao,” the UFS president “MTC got thrown into the fray at that course offerings has been lifted with the in Metro Manila and nearby provincial explained. time when we expanded our campaign exception of the Basic Safety Course. outskirts,” posed Engr. Ramirez in his “Like the Seafarer Identifi cation and to include maritime training centers. We “We still can’t fully comprehend the letter. Record Book (SIRB) or the seaman’s wanted to make sure that substandard reason why. Fourteen years since the “We have looked into the legitimacy of book processing in MARINA that has maritime training centers cannot just moratorium was issued, the UFS fi rmly their concerns and we found out that there hit a stonewall as of late, this problem in come into the industry without ensuring believes that MTC Resolution 08, Series are only three MTC-accredited providers training provision may eventually have a that they have what it takes to offer quality of 1995, has well served its purpose in the of Basic Safety Course in Metro Manila telling impact on the deployment of Filipino training and additional education for maritime training sector. It is time for its and nearby outskirts and these are PNTI, seafarers to international ocean-going Filipino seafarers. Then MTC Executive lifting in order to unclog what appears to be Simms, and MTCP; four if we are to vessels. The industry certainly does not Director Lorna Fajardo saw the merit of our a bottleneck in the continued professional consider the facility of MPCF at Lido Beach want that to happen in the near future or argument and brought the matter to the and skills development of Filipino seafarers, in Cavite. The three training centers have ever,” Ramirez stressed. MTC Board. It was eventually made into particularly in the crucial issue of safety,” been down to two as the facilities of MTCP The UFS was actually among the Resolution No. 08, Series of 1995, and the Ramirez cited. in Calamba, Laguna has gone underwater stakeholders in the local maritime industry rest was history,” he went on. “Furthermore, a moratorium that has in the aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy in who lobbied in 1995 for the imposition of The MTC has also seen that Resolution been in effect for 14 years is technically the last week of September 2009,” he the MTC moratorium. 08, Series of 1995 has outlived its and legally unsound and might as well explained. “You see, we had this campaign then usefulness. It issued Resolution 06, Series be considered a permanent injunction,” “Two training providers for a course that against the proliferation of substandard of 2006, lifting the suspension/deferment observed the outspoken UFS president. is practically required in all of the 300,000 maritime schools Filipino seafarers, including those who had because the country been idle as active seafarers for fi ve years was already churning and need to take a refresher, is certainly out some less than not enough. Note that the provision of qualifi ed Filipino Basic Safety Course shall only be good seafarers, skills- for 24 trainees at a time based on the IMO wise. The UFS held STCW ’95 Convention to ensure effective several protests with knowledge assimilation,” Ramirez pointed the Commission on out. Higher Education and “Looking deeper into the issue, we have even lambasted the discovered that the reason behind the infl ux of substandard insuffi ciency of training providers for the maritime schools, Basic Safety Course is MTC Resolution which are not qualifi ed 08, Series of 1995 issued on October 4, to offer maritime 1995, which is a moratorium on training education and training center establishment and course offerings at all and what they on new entrants to maritime training in are focused on is generating profi ts at the expense of the hapless Filipino seafarers. In fact, the efforts somehow paid off because from 131 maritime schools then, the number of CHED- recognized maritime schools A lifeboat drill at a local maritime training center is also shrunk to a an important component of the Basic Safety Course. little over 20. JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 TINIG NG MARINO 21 C’EST LA VIE ARIANNE BLANCHE R. RODRIGUEZ Of Magic and Clowns Le Cirque du COMELEC

Care Of). People are asking what sector they are representing. Is it the optometrists ne day the circus came to town. and opthalmologists or is it the blind? No And it never left. It is called the one knows. One group called themselves OCOMELEC and indeed, ever since, “Yes We Can”. We can what? We can the Commission on Elections has been eat, we can drink or we can dance? The entertaining us for the longest time. partylist group called “Ang Tao Muna at Most Filipinos see COMELEC as Bayan (A TAMBAY),” certainly refers to providing some kind of comic relief to an those who are jobless, vagabonds and otherwise, tense and tenuous political merely “standing by.” Again, what sector is setup. This government agency, tasked this? “Atong Paglaum” (Our Hope) which with putting people in offi ce via what seems behooves the question, “Who doesn’t hope, to be a democratic, if often bloody, election or want to hope?” “Batang Iwas sa Droga process, has gained notoriety it can only Foundation” and “Ako Ayoko sa sa Bawal blame on itself. na Droga” clearly repeat what every citizen Mention the word ‘COMELEC,’ and wishes for: drugs are totally out. And both inevitably the word ‘Garci’ also crops up like are obviously representing one sector. magic. Magic is a staple in circuses and it is There’s also “Adhikain ng mga Dakilang with much amusement that the people have Anak ng Maharlika.” Does this group really equated magic with the COMELEC. exist and who is it representing? The nobles Add and subtract are basic arithmetical The COMELEC circus and clowns are here to entertain us. and royal bloods of yore? Surely, they are functions as they are as basic with the not marginalized. COMELEC. Dagdag-bawas is a literal assuming that they indeed can sit on those questions. The group “ORAGON” somehow translation of these two arithmetical chairs? Considering the endless motions of There’s one called “Ang Mata’y connotes something carnal in a particular functions and indeed, like magic, votes have reconsideration and TROs, will anyone be Alagaan” (The Eyes Should be Taken TURN TO PAGE 53 been known to be drawn by what seems to even close to being delighted? And after be an invisible magnet toward candidates spending several millions, will they ever get that didn’t deserve these votes. “They could some kind of satisfaction, or even closure? be holding the magnet.” Kibitzers routinely Again, COMELEC’s magic potions are shrug their shoulders, as they go about their working without fail. business thoroughly entertained. And to tickle your memory a bit, the late The elections are upon us and in a Fernando Poe, Jr., famous actor and well- couple of months we will have a change of loved by Muslims, got zero votes in many performers sitting on chili-sprayed chairs. Muslim precincts. How did that happen? The palace is the prime target and the tri- Only in the Philippines indeed! media is busy parlaying the attributes of When the May 2010 elections were so many hopefuls who are salivating at the announced, the COMELEC instantly thought of licking up all that chili. transformed the Palacio del Gobernador The media have likewise been into a huge circus tent, true to its calling. airing ads that extol the virtues of Various rulings and pronouncements candidates brandishing well-worn lists of came from the circus’ several clowns that accomplishments on top of promises to contradicted their earlier statements and so make rich people out of the poor, transform on. the great unwashed into well-educated and Then, candidates for various positions well-fed, fi rst-class citizens. All these being came in droves to the circus, many of whom delivered to the tired and weary viewer were certifi ed clowns, aiming for those hot like some magic wand that could instantly chairs. change the landscape. Again, that word People were wondering if they too were ‘magic.’ applying to be circus performers. The COMELEC seems to be armed with Comelec did itself proud when the party enough magic potions while concocting list conundrum made people sit up and even more. One potion seemed to work take notice. The agency, in all seriousness, very well as the agency ironed out kinks in ruled that “Ladlad,” an applicant for a number of election protest cases. Some partylist accreditation that claimed to of these involved those of Loren Legarda, promote the welfare of gays and lesbians, Obet Pagdangan and Grace Padaca. was “immoral.” Much shrieking was heard Loren Legarda shelled out the initial from many sectors who asked with raised amount of something like two million pesos eyebrows, “Since when did COMELEC to have ballot boxes opened for a recount. become a vanguard of morals? Since when She has since given up realizing that many did being gay become immoral?” And so elections could happen before the case on. The Supreme Court has since ruled in could be resolved, if at all. Ladlad’s favor, putting it on the ballot. Even funnier are the cases of There are about 144 accredited partylist Pagdanganan and Padaca whose ruling groups. Some are outright jokes and some came in six months before the elections. are simply funny. Others are intriguing and What are people to do in six months many partylist names invite even more 22 TINIG NG MARINO JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 WES Now Drawing Flak from Some Seafarers he Walk-in Examination System be disapproved by the PRC assessors. (WES), which is widely regarded as Several Filipino seafarers are also Tone of the most bankable solutions that wondering why applications of retakers of the local maritime industry has come up with WES are also being disapproved sometimes to address the offi cer shortage problem, the when in fact, they used the same requirements, other being the two-level written examination which were approved in securing a slot the system, appears to have hit a stonewall in fi rst time that they took the WES. terms of praises, and is now generating fl ak There was this eyebrow-raising case of a from many disgruntled Filipino seafarers. certain Filipino seafarer where he applied for Apparently, online application for WES has WES on October 21 and 22. His application now become a pain-in-the-neck especially was disapproved because apparently he put with the one-track-mindedness of people the wrong information on his sea service. So in the Professional Regulation Commission he had no choice but to re-apply for November (PRC) who process and assess the seafarer 5 and 6 WES dates, this time with the applications. corrected information on sea service. Again, Tinig ng Marino received several it was disapproved by the PRC assessors complaints from a number of Filipino because this time, the seafarer was said to seafarers whose applications to take the have put a wrong date of graduation. The WES were either denied for lack of supporting second error could have been pointed out in documents or worse, for not being allowed the fi rst application of the seafarer but then to edit the details that they had put on their the PRC assessors waited for the second applications online. time to point out the second mistake to reject One deck rating was saying that unlike it again. before when the PRC website allowed Apparently, assessment or checking of WES processing without the complete online applications for WES is now being support documents, nowadays, one missing done 10 days before the scheduled date document (like the transcript of records for of exams. Reuploading is not allowed but instance), and the application is automatically reapplication or cancellation of application is disapproved. permitted. Some of the PRC assessors have The online application was also designed also been quoted as telling seafarer WES in such a way that editing is not possible at applicants that they should not be asking all. So if an applicant entered a wrong entry assistance from anybody in uploading their and saved the application, it is almost sure to TURN TO PAGE 40 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 TINIG NG MARINO 23

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SOUNDING LEAD VAST HORIZON Watch Lists for 2010 Happy New Year, Happy New Building FROM PAGE 6 Convention, as Amended, and becomes Filipino seafarers are the number one in mandatory for member-nations of the IMO. FROM PAGE 17 dating back to the Spanish regime just like the world in terms of supply, however, nobody 15. From “Blame Culture to Safety Culture” our former neighbor, Ermita Church whose is claiming yet that the Filipino seafarers are (since 2009). the accessibility of transportation for the patron saint is Nuestra Señora de Guia. the world’s best. How can it happen? We are That the Philippines’ maritime culture may employees who commute every day. Meanwhile, our company and our still taking soundings. This stays on the list. evolve from blame culture to safety culture. Interestingly, as if predestined, one principals as well have held their fi rst 12. Disclosure of the EMSA Report (since This will mean that all concerned, particularly of our nearby neighbors is a church Christmas parties in our new home. With 2008). the authorities, will focus on solutions to – giving us the comforting awareness joy, led by our managing director, Mr. The EMSA report was extremely revealing prevent maritime incidents/accidents from that God is with us wherever we go. It is Reuben Romero, Southfi eld Agencies particularly on the issue of the Philippine happening again via new policies, standards, Malate Church, a Baroque-style church Inc. celebrates His goodness this blessed Maritime Education and Training Regime. and realistic rules and regulations. whose patron saint is Nuestra Señora de season and welcomes the New Year with a The report indicated how defi cient our BSMT “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be Remedios. It has a historical signifi cance new building! and BSMarE courses are in terms of full those who compliance with the mandatory requirements cannot of the STCW 95; this report will educate a lot read and of those who are willing to be educated. This write, but stays on our list. those who 13. The computerization of the TESDA cannot Assessment and Certifi cation for Seafarer learn, Ratings (since 2008). unlearn An effi cient, seamless and clean service and for seafarer ratings so that the processes for relearn.” assessment and certifi cation are secured — Alvin with integrity. Toffler, 14. The Board of Marine Inquiry to adopt the futurist. IMO’s Code of Practice for the Investigation A of Maritime Casualties (since 2009). peaceful The IMO’s Code of Practice for the & happy Investigation of Maritime Casualties, come 01 2010 January, 2010 becomes part of the Standards ahead of of Training, Certifi cation and Watchkeeping us. 24 TINIG NG MARINO JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010

would be served to the victims of the conducting a series of hearings not only Gordon Takes a Stand (Again) maritime tragedies and that government to investigate the reasons behind the offi cials responsible for enforcing maritime series of maritime disasters that seem to safety rules and regulations were made be hounding the domestic shipping front for the Maritime Industry aware of their shortcomings. but more importantly to come up with FROM PAGE 14 the help of Senator Gordon in taking up Since December 29, 2009, the Senate legislations to rid the industry of the perfect pre-employment medical examinations in the cudgels for the beleaguered Filipino Blue Ribbon Committee has been formula for maritime disasters. a specifi cally-designated medical clinic, seafarers on the have them train in specifi cally designated controversial issue maritime training center, and require all of the Management shipowners and manning agencies to Level Course protect all their seafarers with appropriate (MLC). Gordon then insurance coverage. These three issues delivered a privileged are actually part of the four major bones speech on the issue of contention of the Joint Manning Group in October 2007. The (JMG) against the revisions to RA 8042, series of hearings on with the fourth issue being the restriction on the Senate fl oor in a foreign nationals in holding chairmanship Gordon co-chaired positions in manning agencies. committee early in The UFS called on the local maritime 2008 eventually led industry to formally take a stand on the to the compromised issue, even to the point of spearheading implementation of a protest rally in the Senate if need be MLC, which formally just to ensure that the members of the ended all brickbats bicameral conference committee, who of local maritime shall be discussing the proposed revisions industry stakeholders to RA 8042, would be enlightened on the for or against the ‘injustice’ that they could be doing for the implementation of the local seafaring sector should they approve course. the revision to the existing law. In the aftermath Subsequently, Engr. Ramirez personally of two Christmastime conveyed the sentiments of the local maritime mishaps in maritime industry to Senator Gordon who the country’s coastal promised him that he would try to remedy waters last year, the situation the best way he can. Senator Gordon was It would be remembered that back in there again to make September 2007, Ramirez also sought sure that justice JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 TINIG NG MARINO 25 PISOBILITIES FRANCISCO J. COLAYCO Chairman, Colayco Foundation for Education Entrepreneur, Venture Developer and Financial Advisor Ano Nga Ba Talaga ang Kayamanan?

pera at mga ari-arian na kayang sumuporta tustusan ang iyong pamumuhay sa Sa madaling salita, kailangan munang sa klase ng iyong pamumuhay sa loob ng nalalabi mo pang panahon sa mundong mamuhunan ng pagod, tiyaga, talino at Kadalasan, iniisip natin na ang ibig sabihin mga sampung taon, mayaman ka na ba? ito, mayaman ka na rin. Ang mahalagang abilidad para magkaroon ng sapat na ng kayamanan ay ang pagkakaroon ng Depende pa rin ’yan sa haba ng ’yong maintindihan ay ang kaibahan ng tinatawag perang makapagbibigay sa atin at sa maraming-maraming pera. Pero ang totoo, natitirang buhay. Kung nakapagretiro ka na na “Asset Wealth” o kayamanang batay ating mga mahal sa buhay ng masaya at hindi dahil marami kang pera ay puwede at humigit-kumulang sampung taon na lang lamang sa ari-arian laban sa “Income masaganang pamumuhay. ka nang tawaging tunay na mayaman, ang nalalabi sa ’yo, at meron ka pang sapat Wealth” o kayamanang batay sa kinikita Ngunit nakalulungkot isiping kahit na nga at puwede ka nang tumigil magtrabaho. na perang pangsuporta sa klase ng iyong galing sa pagne-negosyo at sa pag-lagak ng hirap na hirap kumita, karamihan sa ating Walang halaga ang pera mo kung di pamumuhay sa loob ng sampung taon, salapi sa mga iba’t ibang “investments”. mga Pinoy ay hindi binibigyan ng sapat na naman nito kayang tustusan lahat ng mga masasabing mayaman ka nga. Pero kung Kaya mong makamit ang kasaganaang halaga ang ating mga trabaho at kinikita. gastusin mo sa mahaba-habang panahon. pang-limang taon lang ang iyong pera, pinansyal kung mapapalago mo ang mga Kaya lang natin gustong magkapera ay Mayaman ka na bang matatawag kung hindi ka talaga ganun kayaman. Kapag naiimpok mo mula sa iyong kita o personal para makabili ng kung anuman na kailangan meron kang isang milyon sa bulsa? E kung ganito, dapat ay palaguin mo pa ang iyong income. Kailangan lang ay magkaroon o gusto natin ngayon. Ang ibig sabihin, meron kang dalawang milyon? Sampung pera o baguhin mo ang iyong pamumuhay ka ng wastong kaalaman tungkol sa iba’t karamihan sa atin ay kumikita lamang ng milyon kaya o kahit sandaang milyon? para makaya mo itong suportahan. ibang uri ng kita. pera para gastusin. Kung mag-iipon man, Depende ’yan sa dami ng gastusin mo. Ang tamang batayan sa pagsukat ng ito’y para lang mabili ang isang bagay na Kung magastos ang klase ng pamumuhay kasaganaang pinansiyal Ang ipon mo ang una mong puhunan ‘di kayang mabayaran agad-agad, gaya ng na napili mo, o di kaya’y marami kang Ito ang tinatawag na netong halaga ng Kung nais mamuhunan pero wala kang usong modelo ng cellphone, mga alahas o utang, kahit pa may milyon-milyon ka, bawa’t isa sa atin. Ito ay ang kalabisan kapital, mag-ipon ka. Kung nagsisimula mamahaling damit. kulang pa rin. Kung gayon, di ka talaga (o kakulangan) ng iyong mga ari-arian ka pa lang, wala nang pinakamainam na Ang ganitong klaseng pag-uugali ay mayaman. (kasama na ang cash, bahay, lupa, atbp.) mapagkukunan ng puhunan kundi ang malalim ang ugat sa ating kultura, na mas Ang tamang tanong ay: Kung titigil kang sa lahat na iyong mga pagkakautang. sariling ipon. pinahahalagahan ang kasalukuyan kaysa magtrabaho ngayon, gaano ka katagal Hindi mo kailangan ng napakadaming Kailangang kumayod para magkapera sa hinaharap, na ang gusto lamang ay kayang bubuhayin ng iyong naipon, pera upang maging tunay na mayaman. at mabuhay nang maayos. Ngunit bago makuha ang gusto natin ngayon — bahala napamuhunan at mga ari-arian? Kahit konti lang ang iyong naipon o natin magawa ito, kailangan munang mag- na kung ano ang mangyayari bukas. Ngayon, kung meron ka ngang sapat na napamuhunan, kung kaya naman nitong aral nang mahaba-habang panahon. TURN TO PAGE 56 26 TINIG NG MARINO JULY - AUGUST 2009 JANUARY-FEBRUARYJULY - AUGUST 2009 2010 TINIG NG MARINO 27 eagle star Seeks to Become Second to None f the commitment of the leaders and its Filipino seafarers are to be the basis in Icharting the future of Eagle Star Crew Management Corp. in the local manning industry, the company is gearing itself to become second to none in the not-so- distant future. This became apparent during the unveiling of the ‘commitment wall’ that highlighted the celebration of the fi rst anniversary of the company at Sofi tel Philippine Plaza on December 17, 2009 that also coincided with its Christmas party for its Filipino seafarers and their families. Led by Eagle Star Chairman Capt. Subramaniam Rajalingam and Director Capt. Rajalingam (second from left) acknowledging the lean and mean team Simon Heo, company offi cers, staff and behind the success of Eagle Star Crew Management, headed by Simon Heo Simon Heo and Capt. Rajalingam were the fi rst to write on the Filipino seafarers wrote their respective (left) right on its fi rst year. commitment wall. pledges in order to make Eagle Star soar ‘Beyond Expectations,’ which happened to taking its newbuildings on schedule. We be the theme of the two-tiered event. are defi nitely a long-term player and we are In both his impromptu message during happy with the fact that we have a good the program and the vow he subsequently partner in the Philippines in Parola and a wrote on the commitment wall, Capt. good joint venture in Eagle Star,” noted the Rajalingam stated: “I will guide Eagle Star Eagle Star Chairman. to be second to none! Only the best!” “I would like to commend Simon Heo and Simon Heo on the other hand promised his lean and mean team for doing a splendid to ‘bring Eagle Star to the next level,’ clearly job in making sure that Eagle Star surpass indicating that the company has already the expectations laid before it,” praises Capt. exceeded the expectations of the three Rajalingam, as he eventually called on every corporations which have all teamed up late offi cer and staff of Eagle Star to join him and in 2008 to pave the way for its birth. Simon Heo on stage and asked for a warm Eagle Star is an offspring of the joint round of applause for the team. venture of Parola Maritime Agency “These are the same guys who have gone Simon Heo delivering Corporation, MISC Berhad and AET to great lengths in putting this event together. the program’s welcome in an effort to streamline the crewing They made sure that every bit of detail is remarks. It’s the Filipino seafarers’ turn to write on the commitment wall. operations of both MISC Berhad and taken care of so that we can have a gala of AET as both companies gear to become a time tonight,” remarks Capt. Rajalingam, seafarers who have contributed signifi cantly hosts. global champions in the specialized fi eld of asking for yet another round of applause for to the success of the company, following the One extraordinary feature of the Eagle petroleum and chemical transport. the Eagle Star team. blazing trail relinquished to it by Parola. Star event, which can hardly be seen in a In his short inspirational message Capt. Rajalingam even narrated that Later on in the program, Capt. Heo, gala Christmas party, was the 50-foot wall- during the program, Capt. Rajalingam when he arrived at the Manila airport from Chairman of Parola, also decided to climbing board where everyone, including even specifi ed that the joint venture began Malaysia at 1:30 that afternoon, he saw inconspicuously write his piece on the seafarer children, were free to try complete with the signing of the memorandum of Simon very worried, given the magnitude of commitment wall. Basically, it was meant with mountain-climbing harnesses. The agreement between the three companies the event. So he told him: “Que sera, sera. more for the Filipino seafarers of Eagle Star wall had the logos of MISC and AET on sometime in August 2008. Whatever will be, will be. It turned out well as he wrote: “Love (your) vessel. Love (your) top and Eagle Star slightly located below “MISC and AET currently have a combined as we all can see. So my hats off to you company.” but right in the middle, connoting in a way 140 vessels and 135 newbuildings on order. guys. This is the fi rst Christmas party in my the commitment of the crewing company Putting this in the global economic scenario, life where I am not wearing something very An Evening of Fun and Excitement to go beyond expectations to serve its two both companies are still looking forward to special and it’s good to be part of history. So Eagle Star Filipino seafarers and their principals. just sit back and relax, have a good time and families, as well as company offi cers and Every fun and excitement loving Filipino great fun the rest of the evening,” concluded staff indeed had a gala of a time during the seafarers and their children had their turns Capt. Rajalingam. event as it was not only literally oozing with at the wall climb. Not to be outdone, offi cers At the beginning of his speech, Capt. sumptuous food and drinks but also loads of Eagle Star also had their piece of the Rajalingam acknowledged the presence of live entertainment and other program climbing action including Capt. Rajalingam. during the event of several offi cials from the repertoire made even livelier by peppery Following the sumptuous buffet dinner, Malaysian embassy as well as special the program resumed with the handing guests from the local maritime industry out of plaques of recognition to several including Mr. Noriel Devanadera, Filipino senior offi cers of Eagle Star who Acting Executive Director of the had served onboard the vessels of MISC or Maritime Training Council, Capt. Bum AET for eight years or more, still counting of Chil Heo, Chairman of Parola, and course their stint when they were employed Mr. Jose Ramon Garcia, President of through Parola. Ventis Maritime Corporation. Subsequently, parlor games were held for For his part, Simon Heo delivered Filipino seafarers and their families as they the program’s welcome remarks where were grouped in accordance with the color he thanked the three companies in the of the bands on their arm, which were tied joint venture for their uncompromising by Eagle Star staff right at the registration support thrown the way of Eagle table before the event. Raffl e prizes were Star that ensured its smooth sailing also given away during the night that added One of the event’s major attractions was the during its maiden year. He likewise to the excitement of everyone and extreme acknowledged the support of Eagle Mrs. Gelladuga receives a loyalty plaque on behalf of delight to the lucky winners. wall-climbing board where seafarers and their her husband from Capt. Rajalingam as Capt. Heo and kids had their fair share of adrenaline rush. Star’s qualifi ed and dedicated Filipino Simon Heo look on. TURN TO PAGE 45 28 TINIG NG MARINO JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 INDOMITABLE SPIRIT FROM PAGE 3 maritime industry but actually as ‘captains of the world’ because they can surely hold He likewise cited the UFS for its three- their own against the world’s best in their pronged celebration that night, with the third respective fi elds. being the 60th birthday celebration of UFS Tinig ng Marino Awards has also President Engr. Nelson Ramirez. become an equalizer of sorts. As much as “The UFS has a colorful history as one of the union can dish out criticisms and stage the country’s leading maritime unions whose lightning protest actions in a snap of a fi nger steadfast commitment to the advancement against individuals or organizations that of the maritime industry and the seafaring make life miserable for Filipino seafarers profession is beyond question. The DOLE or the maritime industry, it also gives family shares with you the signifi cance of commendations and take its hat off to those these events and wishes you the best in the who deserve the accolades or citations for years to come,” praised Usec. Lagman. making a signifi cant difference in the lives of “As an archipelagic nation, maritime others, particularly Filipino seafarers. and seafaring are strategic features of the The 7th Tinig ng Marino Awards was country’s development agenda. Filipino headlined by eight outstanding awardees seafarers play a vital role in the social from the local maritime industry who have progress and economic development of distinguished themselves in their respective our country. It is to the best interest of our fi elds. The eight awardees were evenly country to optimize our inherent strengths in divided into four individuals and four this area,” he posed. institutions, one of which was awarded “I am therefore pleased to note that during as a collegial body of committed men and the past 15 years, the UFS has consistently women. demonstrated world-class professionalism as The individual awardees of the 7th Tinig one of the enduring pillars of the profession ng Marino Awards, who each bested and the industry. It is our expectation that formidable nominees in their respective together, we will continue to harness the categories, included Capt. Jaime D. skills, talents, and positive work ethics of our Quiñones, Professor of the PMMA Graduate seafarers as our most competitive advantage School, as Outstanding Master Mariner; in the world’s maritime and seafaring sector,” Chief Engineer Miguel O. Marasigan, Usec. Lagman noted. Vice Chairman of the PRC Board of Marine He likewise cited the active participation Engineer Offi cer and Owner’s Representative of the UFS in the development and of General Maritime Crewing Pte. Ltd. as transformation of the local maritime industry. Outstanding Marine Engineer; Lt. Eliezer O. “You have played an important role in many Dalnay of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), multi-stakeholder initiatives to ensure that Commander of Coast Guard Station Subic, we produce highly-skilled and globally- as Outstanding Maritime Law Enforcer; and competitive seafarers.” RMI Leonardo T. Valdez of the Philippine “The Philippines, as the crewing capital of Coast Guard, Acting Commander of the world, will continue to pursue initiatives MEPGRU NCR-CL, as Outstanding Marine to sustain its distinct position amid the Environment Protector. increasing challenges posed by emerging The men and women of the Philippine regional industry players. The country is still Coast Guard led the institutional awardees in a better position, due in large measure as Outstanding Maritime Public Servants to the help of our partners in the private for their selfl ess display of courage and their sector, including the UFS and its partner humanitarian side in carrying out rescue organizations, to facilitate the skills transition and relief operations for stricken Filipino of our ratings to assume bigger and higher families and individuals who felt the wrath responsibilities onboard,” the labor offi cial of typhoon Ondoy in Metro Manila and the stated matter-of-factly. nearby provinces of Rizal, Laguna and He concluded his speech by saying: Bulacan in the last weekend of September “Let us further enhance our partnership 2009. and together, sustain our reputation as the INC Navigation Company Philippines, primary supplier of ‘seafarers of choice’ to Inc, which marked its three decades of the world’s maritime fl eet. successful and sustained crew management operations in the country on September The Awards and the Awardees 2009, was adjudged as Outstanding Tinig ng Marino Awards has been Maritime Manning Agency. John B. Lacson institutionalized by the UFS almost a Foundation Inc. Maritime Training Center decade ago to pay tribute and give honor meanwhile, bested several contenders and to outstanding individuals and organizations was named Outstanding Maritime Training who have become the bastions of excellence, Center while the Pangasinan Merchant credibility and integrity in their respective Marine Academy (PAMMA) was adjudged fi elds of specialization in the maritime as Outstanding Maritime School. industry. Two Filipino seafarers of Marlow Over the years, it has also become Navigation Company Philippines, Inc. were one of the most reputable and prestigious also given citations for their bravery during award-giving bodies in the local maritime the rescue of an ill-fated ship somewhere industry. In fact, during the 2008 edition in Africa. Mr. Antonio Galvez, CEO for of Tinig ng Marino Awards, no less than Administration, and Capt. Leo Tenorio, CEO Senator Richard J. Gordon dubbed the for Operations, accepted the plaques on winners not just as prime movers of the local their seafarers’ behalf. JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 TINIG NG MARINO 29 IINCNC Caps Banner Year with Outstanding Manning Agency Award

Capt. Jerome Delos Angeles (2nd from right), CEO of INC Manila, is shown accepting the Outstanding Maritime Manning Agency award from Labor Undersecretary Romeo Lagman. With them on stage are (from left), Capt. Nesias Rondina, INC Manila Crewing Manager; Engr. Nelson Ramirez, President of UFS; Mr. Reynaldo Ramirez, President of INC Manila; Ms. Rose Mesina, Financial Director of INC Manila; and Capt. Ramon Garcia, who represented DOTC Undersecretary for Maritime Transport Thompson Lantion to the affair.

n what could be the perfect crescendo to a institutional and four individual honorees. modernization of its offi ce facilities at the 17th veteran master mariner as branch manager. banner year that was 2009, INC Navigation The top offi cials of the company were in Floor of the Raffl es Corporate Center in Pasig The Cebu branch offi ce has since been ICompany Philippines, Inc. was adjudged full force to receive the award headed by City. augmenting the recruitment activities of the as Outstanding Maritime Manning Agency for Capt. Jerome Delos Angeles, CEO, who were In order to optimize personnel performance Manila offi ce. Given that there is plenty of 2009 during the 7th Tinig ng Marino Awards obviously very elated and honored to have in providing quality service to both its Filipino Filipino seafarers based in Cebu and other held on November 6, 2009 at the Philippine received such a recognition, which is most seafarers and its principal, training programs nearby provinces, INC has been conveniently Coast Guard headquarters in Port Area, likely the fi rst in a series of possible accolades were also institutionalized for offi ce staff. meeting the challenge of manning the IMS Manila. for the company in the near future. Thus, when INC Navigation Company fl eet of tankers and bulk carriers, including A brainchild of the United Filipino Seafarers INC Navigation Company Philippines, Philippines marked its 29th year in the presence newbuildings, with competent seafarers. (UFS), the country’s most infl uential maritime Inc. offi cially marked its 30th year in the local of Mr. Themis Papadopoulos, the CEO of Also in June 2009, the second batch of union, Tinig ng Marino Awards has maritime industry in September 2009. Interorient headquartered in Cyprus, and his 50 INC/UC cadets scholars was taken into developed its reputation through the years as Over the past 30 years of providing wife Nayla in September 2008, the local fi rm the cadet sponsorship program. With the one of the most prestigious accolade-giving seafarers to its principal, the company has had more reasons to celebrate. opening of the Cebu offi ce, INC has provided bodies in the Philippine maritime industry. transformed itself into a dynamic entity with Apart from the inauguration of its newly direct support to cadets. When the company It is the UFS’ way of paying tribute to an average annual deployment of about 1,600 refurbished offi ces and its 29th year in the marked its 30th year in September 2009, it outstanding individuals and organizations Filipino seafarers per year. The deployment business, the cadet sponsorship program fi ttingly coincided with the celebration of the that have remarkably shone brightest during fi gure is expected to increase in the coming also began to take the strength the way it has National Seafarers’ Day. the past year with their almost unparalleled years as the principal has on order several envisioned. Although just a simple celebration at commitment to excellence, credibility and newbuildings for delivery starting in late 2009 In April 2009, INC Navigation Company its offi ces, it was quite a meaningful event integrity redounding to the benefi t of Filipino up to 2011. Philippines formally launched its fi rst three nonetheless as it basically paid tribute to the seafarers in particular and the maritime In April 2008, INC Navigation Company full-crew vessels, which is only a testament to priceless contributions of its Filipino seafarers industry in general. Philippines, with the full support of Interorient IMS’ growing confi dence on the crewing fi rm’s to the continued growth of the company over In bagging the highly-coveted award, Marine Services (IMS), initiated an agreement ability to provide competent and qualifi ed the last three decades. INC Navigation Company Philippines bested with the University of Cebu to provide qualifi ed seafarers to man its managed fl eet of tankers From a humble beginning in 1979 with formidable competitors, which are all reputable Filipino high school students interested in and bulk carriers. It was also in April 2009 only four personnel, INC Navigation Company manning agencies in the country. entering the maritime profession with holistic when the company launched a comprehensive Philippines now consists of 34 employees that The company’s impressive scholarship grants. The fi rst batch of 50 INC/ insurance scheme for its Filipino senior offi cers have resulted in signifi cant improvements in accomplishments over the last two years in UC cadet scholars was formally taken into as a form of incentive to ensure their continued productivity when considering the number of terms of providing rewarding opportunities to the program at the start of school year 2008- commitment and dedication to the company Filipino seafarers being employed through the its Filipino seafarers and seafarer-cadets and 2009. and its principal. company then and now despite the increased other initiatives for the local seafaring industry The transformation of INC Navigation As a way of reaching out to its Filipino administrative burdens that also increased have made it a shoo-in for the award. Company Philippines was further hastened with seafarers who live in the southern provinces over time. INC Navigation Company Philippines the arrival in August 2008 of new CEO Capt. of the country, INC Navigation Company An outstanding performance over the last was one of the eight outstanding awardees Jerome Delos Angeles, which was followed by Philippines formally inaugurated its Cebu two years certainly deserves an outstanding during the awarding rites composed of four the restructuring of the organization and the branch offi ce on June 12, 2009, helmed by a recognition no less. 30 TINIG NG MARINO JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 INC’s Transformation Continues as its N he year 2009 saw the continued Certainly, it was. Apart from transformation of INC Navigation the priceless contributions of TCompany Philippines, Inc. from its dedicated and competent being once a low-profi le and low-key yet Filipino seafarers, INC productive manning fi rm of Interorient Still Together Navigation Company Philippines’ monumental surge in 2009 can headquartered in Cyprus to one that INC N at 30 also be attributed to the holistic can be at par with some, if not all of spread it and wholehearted support thrown the country’s most reputable crewing opening September 21, 2009 its way by its parent company in agencies. the 14th F Cyprus and IMS. And the company has all the reasons Cebu Bu INC Navigation Company What’s remarkable about the to stand proud and be in the class of the Saballa a Philippines toasted its 30 years surge of INC Navigation Company elite in the Philippine seafaring sector. Richa After all, it has in its arsenal 30 years of of proud commitment to the Philippines is that it happened solid experience in the crewing business, Philippines and the Filipino when the global shipping industry posting constant and consistent growth seafarers as it held another event was actually experiencing its year in and year out since it broke ground at its offi ces in Ortigas Centre, worst downturn in over half a in the Philippines in September 1979. aptly themed: “Still Together at century. More than its three decades of 30.” So while practically every experience, it was actually the heightened Highlighting the event was shipping company in the world was quest of INC Navigation Company the handing out of Long Service feeling the pinch of the economic Philippines, Inc. for crewing excellence Awards to several INC Filipino downturn that was tipped off by the that began almost two years ago, that seafarers as well as paying US fi nancial crisis that began late ushered its transformation into an above- tribute to the contribution of each in 2008, INC was still going on with par manning company. and every staff of the organization its plans in the country in 2009. Today, it has adhered itself to a number as mentioned and recognized Unlike other ship owning or ship of Filipino seafarers, both offi cers and by Capt. Peter Bond and Mr. management companies that had ratings, who consider being employed Shane Rozario, Training Director to cancel their newbuilding orders through INC Navigation Company of Interorient headquartered in because of the bleak charter Philippines, the best career decision they Cyprus. scenario, all the newbuilding have ever made in their entire lives, which orders of INC, mostly tankers and bulk have not only ensured their professional carriers, are being delivered as scheduled development but more importantly gave from 2009 up to 2011. their respective families a rosy and bright More and more Filipino seafarers have or seeking that lucrative employment INC has obviously planned ahead for future. already realized the employment premium opportunity with the company. the rainy days and it has reaped the dividends At present, INC Navigation Company being offered by INC Navigation Company The consistent growth and no-nonsense of its forward planning maneuvers. It also Philippines is deploying 1,600 Filipino Philippines, Inc. that is why its spacious commitment to crewing excellence of INC became obvious when INC Navigation Company seafarers onboard the vessels of its seafarers lounge, which occupies a Navigation Company Philippines drew Philippines continuously held sway in 2009 with principal, which also owns the fl eet. good portion of its cozy offi ces at the recognition not only from its principal and various groundbreaking initiatives, programs, Those vessels are being managed by 17th Floor of Raffl es Corporate Centre in Filipino seafarers; it also did not escape and activities in the local seafaring industry that Interorient Marine Services (IMS), which Ortigas Center, is almost always fi lled with the attention of major stakeholders in are practically unmatched during the entire year. is the parent company’s ship management Filipino seafarers any day of the week the industry, including the United Filipino The activities of the company are also buoyed company. either waiting for their formal deployment Seafarers, the most infl uential maritime in part by the good rapport and camaraderie labor federation in the between the offi cers and staff of INC Navigation country, and Tinig ng Marino, the Philippines’ only globally-circulated maritime newspaper. On the occasion of the maritime union’s 3 and Counting .... 15th Anniversary on November 6, 2009, April 24, 2009 the UFS and its offi cial publication fi ttingly INC Navigation Company Philippines honored INC Navigation had another event at its offi ces in Ortigas Company Philippines as Center entitled “3 and Counting…” which the Most Outstanding was actually a celebration meant to Seafarers’ Valentine Party Maritime Manning recognize its fi rst three full Filipino crew Agency for 2009 vessels, with several more to be added February 11, 2009 themselves to become senior offi cers in the not-so- during the holding of to the list. Obviously, it only was a good distant future. th its 7 Tinig ng Marino reason to celebrate because it showed Capt. Peter Bond, General Manager and Awards. the continuously growing trust and Director of Interorient headquartered in Cyprus February 13, 2009 The award touched confi dence of the principal to the crew fl ew to Cebu to meet and literally bond with the off what can be offi cially management capabilities of INC Manila. fi rst batch of 50 INC sponsored cadets at the The company held a Seafarers’ Valentine Party chalked up in the annals In order to boost its crewing activities, University of Cebu – Maritime Education and at its offi ces in Ortigas Center that was highlighted of the manning fi rm’s the company also introduced new Training Center (UC-METC). by the handing out of Long Service Awards to 11 of rich history in the country additions to its personnel roster including Aside from giving the cadets a pep talk to strive its Filipino seafarers. as an extremely good the appointment of the Cebu branch hard and to capitalize on the priceless educational It was also during this occasion that INC run for INC Navigation manager, and the tapping of a new and career opportunity that is being given to them, announced that it has subscribed a family medical Company Philippines crewing offi cer. Capt. Bond motivated each one of them not to be insurance cover from Marine Benefi ts Assistance in 2009 that began content with merely being given the opportunity Services for all Filipino offi cers and their families on during the second half to board ocean-going vessels but to also envision its full-managed vessels. of 2008. JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 TINIG NG MARINO 31 Neverending Quest for Excellence Surges Inauguration of Cebu Branch Offi ce

June 12, 2009 Interorient Marine Services, was the guest of honor during the inauguration as he was actually one of Navigation Company Philippines offi cially those offi cials in the INC head offi ce in Cyprus who ts wings south of the Philippines with the pushed for a concrete presence of the company of its branch offi ce in Cebu located at in Cebu not only to reach out to southern-based Floor of the Keppel Center in the bustling Filipino seafarers but also to be able to monitor its usiness Park under the helm of Capt. Gil holistic cadet sponsorship program at UC-METC. as branch manager. Around this time, the cadet sponsorship program rd Schultze, Fleet Personnel Manager of has taken on its second batch of 50 INC cadets. INC - UC Cadets and Families Christmas Party December 12, 2009

Just like in 2008, INC Navigation Company Philippines held a Christmas Party for its 100 sponsored cadets at the University of Cebu - Maritime Education Training Center (UC-METC) and their families. Several Filipino seafarers of INC and their families who were based in Cebu also took part in the event that was Company Philippines led by its CEO Capt. of our Filipino seafarers,” Capt. Delos highlighted by various entertainment Jerome Delos Angeles, with practically all of its Angeles pointed out. presentations from the INC cadets. Filipino seafarers. Thus it was fi tting in a way because Capt. Jerome Delos Angeles “We treat each one of our Filipino seafarers when INC Navigation Company Philippines represented INC Manila and personally not as mere seaborne employees but as integral celebrated its 30th year in the local seafaring took part in the gathering with Atty. parts of our family – the INC family - where every industry on the 21st of September 2009, Augusto W. Go, President of UC. member is given premium importance,” states the entire nation was actually toasting the Capt. Delos Angeles. new breed of modern-day heroes of the “In fact, during the celebration of our 30th sea – the Filipino seafarers. Anniversary on September 21, 2009, Capt. “The family concept in the INC Peter Bond, General Manager and Director of organization emanates from the values Interorient of Cyprus, made mention that our that were inculcated in the entire global company would not be where it is now if not for organization by Mr. Adonis Papadopoulos, the loyalty and dedication of a great number Chairman of INC Navigation Company Ltd. of Cyprus, which we value to this day,” says the INC Manila CEO. Practically every major initiative or activity undertaken or held by INC Navigation Company Philippines only had its Filipino seafarers in mind. “In 2008, during the celebration of our 29th Anniversary, no less than the INC Cyprus CEO Mr. Themis Papadopoulos expressed our company’s commitment to the Philippines and the Filipino seafarers. We are keeping that commitment intact and all our programs of actions and activities over the past couple of years, especially in 2009, were mostly meant to express our appreciation to the great contributions of our Filipino seafarers to our company as well as motivate them further to continue their good work not only for our company Seafarers’ Christmas Celebration but most especially for their families and the Philippine maritime industry in general,” December 18, 2009 explains Capt. Delos Angeles. today – truly an outstanding maritime Looking back in 2009, INC Navigation The company had its Seafarers’ manning agency. Company Philippines had such a prolifi c Christmas Celebration one week before Typical with INC celebrations for year in terms of activities for Filipino Christmas and it was again highlighted seafarers, the event was oozing with seafarers, keeping that bright spark by the great appreciation of the company sumptuous food and drinks and loads of shining despite the various challenges and offi cers and staff to the efforts and entertainment and excitement brought no hurdles being faced by the local maritime contributions of its Filipino seafarers in less by the fun-loving Filipino seafarers industry. the organization to become what it is and their families. 32 TINIG NG MARINO JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 TINIG NG MARINO 33 Solon Calls on ‘Elena Biyahera’ to Resign from Public Offi ce ep. Rodolfo ‘Ompong’ Plaza of by MARINA. She maritime offi ces budget, I dare Administrator Bautista to name the lone district of Agusan Del Sur also either said or and agencies in even one member of this chamber who has Rblatantly referred to the Administrator implied that we, the country like sought her accommodation. Not only is her of the Maritime Industry Authority as ‘Elena politicians and the Philippine claim irresponsible and useless because she Biyahera’ and that she is better off resigning lawmakers, have Ports Authority, cannot name names. Her statement is also from public offi ce. been pressuring the Philippine proof that she will do and say anything just to In a privilege speech delivered on January her policy Coast Guard, drive the issue away from her offi ce and pass 18, 2010 at the House of Representatives, decisions in order and the the blame,” challenges Rep. Plaza. Rep. Plaza lambasted Administrator Bautista for our requests to Maritime “Before I end my speech, I would like to for her agency’s failure to arrest the series of be accommodated Security Affairs, inform the members of this chamber that maritime disasters that seem to have been by the MARINA,” under one Administrator Bautista is still in London today, hounding the domestic shipping industry explains Rep. body called overstaying the period stated in her Travel because she was an ‘absentee’ Administrator Plaza. the National Authority for her attendance from January fi rst and foremost. “Those pending Administrator Bautista still exudes that glamor under pressure Maritime 11 to 15 of the 41st Session of the IMO,” he Rep. Plaza disclosed that he has been bills are not the despite being in the ‘hot seat’ these days. Authority. This noted. furnished offi cial documents by the Bureau of issue here because this bill deserves to new authority will subsume all the powers and “Elena Bautista is without compassion Immigration that confi rmed that Administrator remain pending and should be archived and the functions of these three bodies, with the for our people and genuine concern for our Bautista has made 77 foreign trips in the 18 never re-fi led. MARINA does not need a head of this new body—presumably Elena maritime industry. If we want our maritime months that she has served MARINA, or an new law in order to Bautista – given industry to prosper, and for the love of the average of 4.8 days of foreign trips per month perform its basic job. a fi xed term of six Filipino people, especially the sea travelers or about once a week. “President Gloria We have enough years,” the Agusan who cannot afford plane tickets and the Macapagal-Arroyo has only made 80 offi cial laws to ensure del Norte solon children who are orphaned and traumatized, trips thus far during her almost nine-year maritime safety. The pointed out. let us please join hands to send Elena Bautista tenure in offi ce yet Administrator Bautista has proposed bill is administrative in nature and it “On her claim of being pressured by off to the last leg of her odyssey and make traveled so much, she can even beat a retiring is only aimed at restructuring supervision of members of the House and Senate and the her time zones away permanently from public AFP pilot for making 2,500 fl ying miles,” bares our maritime system by putting all the existing threat of Congressmen to defer the MARINA service in this country,” Plaza concluded. Rep. Plaza. “It should also be made public that since there was MV Superferry 9 in September Usec. Bautista assumed the post of MARINA Costly MARINA Safety Campaign 2009. And it was capped off by the back- Administrator, there have been a total of to-back maritime incidents on December 17 maritime disasters in the country, most 24, 2009 with the collision of MB Catalyn of which occurred when she was out of the Failed to Produce Results B and FB Anatalia, and the sinking of MV country,” he pointed out. The recent spate of maritime tragedies during Shipping Association, an association of Baleno 9 on December 26, 2009. There Tinig ng Marino has also been furnished the Holiday Season only showed that the domestic shipowners, to bankroll its full-page were several incidents in between but those a dossier of special orders from Administrator high-profi le and expensive Maritime Industry newspaper advertisements that appeared were minor ones. Bautista, a total of 19, dating from October Authority (MARINA)10-point program called on the March 19, 2009 issues of Philippine “Obviously, the MARINA 10-point 14, 2008 up to August 28, 2009 where she “MARINA Making Waves” supposedly Daily Inquirer (one spread) and Abante (full program went for naught. It would be easier designated various offi cers-in-charge at geared towards maritime safety and service page) amounting to PhP 772,051.40. to accept if the agency hardly spent anything MARINA in light of her absence, whether effi ciency, failed to produce the results that The domestic shipowners’ group can only just to ensure that the problem of maritime offi cial or unoffi cial. Administrator Ma. Elena H. Bautista was comply with the ‘small favor’ requested from safety enforcement was addressed, “In a press forum last September, Bautista proudly crowing about when it was launched them by the MARINA Administrator. but spending a substantial amount and was quoted to have said that she would in March 2009. One offi cial correspondence dated March producing nothing is like throwing people’s resign if other vessels would sink during her Photocopies of offi cial documents from 27, 2009 from Administrator Bautista sent to taxes down the drain,” quips Engr. Nelson tenure as MARINA Administrator. Maritime MARINA furnished to Tinig ng Marino the Chairperson and Members of the MARINA Ramirez, President of the United Filipino industry representatives were there, even by reliable sources showed that MARINA Board even had this paragraph that reads: Seafarers (UFS). MARINA personnel were present. Since she actually spent a total of PhP 5,186,657.71 “In the aftermath of maritime accidents last “There are more than enough rules and said that, the twin December sea tragedies for the launching of its 10-point program on year, and in line with the thrust of the DOTC regulations regarding maritime safety in happened. Hindi ba dapat ay por delicadeza maritime safety and service effi ciency on Secretary to focus on maritime safety and our country. MARINA need not go bananas at kung mayroon siyang palabra de honor ay March 16, 2009 including the expenses for security, MARINA came up with the 10-point with a high-profi le publicity program when dapat na nga siyang magbitiw bilang MARINA the production of its TV commercial. program on safety and service effi ciency. all it has to do is to direct its people from Administrator?” Rep. Plaza posed. The total cost was broken down into These programs are included in the FY 2009 the head offi ce down to its regional offi ces “I am willing to understand if Ms. Bautista several items including the production of the regular budget of the agency.” to strictly enforce maritime safety,” Ramirez might have conducted those trips abroad safety campaign/commercial which ate much Administrator Bautista was obviously said. because she loves Europe, or loves someone of the budget at a little over PhP 3.5 million, referring in her letter to the high-profi le “Aside from maritime safety, maritime from Europe, but for the love of the Filipinos, talent fees, production of AVP and launch maritime tragedies of 2008 including the security was also one of the other areas the must she always be several time zones away event costing almost PhP 1 million, and capsizing of MV Princess of the Stars DOTC Secretary wants MARINA to focus while people die and children are orphaned the series of full-page, full-color newspaper and the accident involving MV Don Dexter on. So it is really surprising why MARINA and traumatized? How can she fl y abroad advertisements. Katlyn, among several others. allowed MV Princess of the South of almost needlessly when people going to The funding was sourced from the But just a couple of months after MARINA Sulpicio Lines to sail again in November the provinces keep on dying?” the solon MARINA Trust Fund, which is being derived launched its “MARINA Making Waves” 10- 2009 despite not having a security certifi cate, stressed. from the collection of tonnage fees. point program, another maritime tragedy which was supposed to be issued by the “It angers me and it should anger all of us that In addition, MARINA even sought the struck with the sinking of MB Commando 6 Offi ce of the Transport Security, under the Usec. Bautista is blaming ship operators and sponsorship of the Philippine Inter-Island off Puerto Galera during the summer. Then DOTC,” Ramirez added. our archipelagic environment when she should look at the mirror and accept her ineptitude or ineffi ciency at her job. It should also anger Phase-Out of Wooden-Hulled Vessels in 6 Months Doubted members of the House of Representatives The United Filipino Seafarers (UFS) highly doubts and the Senate that during that same forum at that do not require steel-hulled vessels. “If within if they do not do their job, the class societies if the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) can the period of six months, wooden vessels were will have their way and who knows, classed the Senate, in her interviews in various media, live up to its commitment to phase out wooden- not classed by the classifi cation society, their but unsafe wooden-hulled vessels may still and in her many conversations with many hulled vessels which are not classed within six CPC (certifi cate of public convenience) would fi nd themselves sailing in the open seas soon government offi cials and representatives in months. not be renewed,” Gordon said. enough,” Engr. Nelson Ramirez, president of the the private sector, Usec. Bautista either said MARINA Administrator Ma. Elena Bautista The class societies supervise the construction UFS observed. or implied that legislators are partly to blame made the commitment to Senator Richard J. of ships according to the standards and carries Senator Gordon has recommended that because we, Senators and Congressmen, Gordon during the Senate hearing on maritime out regular surveys of ships in service to ensure wooden-hulled vessels be used only as fi shing have been sitting on Senate Bill 3545 or The disasters to phase out wooden-hulled vessels. the compliance with these standards. boats and not to ferry passengers. He added Philippine Merchant Marine Act of 2009 and However, Marina offi cials said that wooden- “The problem boils down again to enforcement that if these vessels would be used for tourism House Bill 6927 or the Philippine Maritime Act hulled vessels could not all be phased out, given of maritime safety rules and regulations. MARINA purposes, they must be allowed to sail only of 2009, two versions of the bill being pushed the fact that there are islands in the Philippines oversees the work of these class societies so within three miles from the coastline. 34 TINIG NG MARINO JANUARY-FEBRUARYJULY - AUGUST 20102009

shipowner who puts value on tradition and family ties, Athens- A based Empire Navigation, Inc. has further endeared itself to the families of its Filipino seafarers by celebrating its fi rst Seafarer Christmas Party even before it turns one year of operations in the Philippines. Held at the cozy and spacious Rizal Ballroom of The Peninsula Hotel in Makati on December 9, 2009 through its local crewing agent, Global Gateway Crewing Services, Inc., Empire Navigation once again stamped its genuine concern for the general well-being and bright future of its Filipino seafarers and their families. Empire Navigation’s trust and Children of a local orphanage perform a Christmas carol song-and-dance confi dence on Filipino seafarers is very Empire Navigation, Michaelmar Greece, and Global Gateway offi cials repertoire to open up the program. Impressed by their performance, much refl ected on the fact that all its initial pose with a seafarer-family during the gift-giving portion of the Seafarers’ Empire Navigation and Michaelmar Greece donated US$1,000 to the fl eet of four chemical tankers is actually Christmas Party. orphanage. manned by full Filipino crew. “We can assure our Filipino seafarers and their families a bright future with the company. Aside from enjoying competitive Filipino Seafarers, Families salaries, Empire Navigation also provides them with other benefi ts that would ensure their professional development as well as their own well-being and that Get a Good Feel of of their families too,” says Capt. George Tsoukatos, Designated Person Ashore of Empire Navigation, Inc. who fl ew all the way from Greece to join the momentous Empire Navigation’s Big Heart celebration. While the overall shipping industry is still working its way to full recovery in Making Empire Navigation’s Seafarer was pinch-hitting in the absence of their the aftermath of the global economic Christmas Party both historic and unique respective family’s patriarch. meltdown starting late in 2008, Empire was the fact that none of its almost 100 Harry Papadimitriou, Crewing Manager Navigation has already laid out plans Filipino seafarers manning its initial four of Michaemar Shipping Services, also fl ew for a massive fi ve-fold expansion in its full-crewed tankers were around as they all the way from Greece to participate in operations within two years. were all actively serving onboard for their the important gathering, as he delivered “From an initial of four vessels, we fi rst shipboard contracts with the company. the program’s opening remarks. expect to bring our total number of ships Only their respective families made it to the “Thank you all for coming. We called to 11 before the end of 2010 through affair, in full force. on all the masters of the four vessels of acquisitions, and eventually to 20 by Engr. Ricardo N. Galvez, Jr., CEO of Empire Navigation and we told them that 2011. So we are actually opening more Global Gateway Crewing Services, clearly their families are all here and are having a employment opportunities for competent pointed that out in his brief welcome good time. One or two masters told us that and qualifi ed Filipino seafarers to join address to open up the program. they wished that they were. Some of them our growing company,” projects Capt. “We at Global Gateway and Michaelmar will defi nitely be around here next year as Tsoukatos, who delivered the Christmas Shipping Services, Inc of Greece, on behalf Capt. George Tsoukatos of Empire Navigation some other captains would be relieving party’s closing remarks. of Emprie Navigation, are bonding together gives a rosy picture of a bright future for Filipino them subsequently and taking their posts Empire Navigation gave its Filipino as one to bring you this historic Christmas seafarers and their families who chose to join but more important than that is that their the dynamic shipowning fi rm. seafarers and their families a glimpse party,” Engr. Galvez remarked. families would surely be celebrating more of its big heart following the devastation Michaelmar Shipping Services, Inc is be overshadowed by the real reason for Christmas parties with Empire Navigation in brought about by Typhoon Ondoy late in the ship management company tapped this gathering. To the wives and children the future,” expressed Mr. Papadimitrou. September 2009. The company selfl essly by Empire Navigation to manage its fl eet of our Filipino seamen, we owe all our “It is important for our principal to secure extended fi nancial assistance of US$1,000 and Global Gateway Crewing Services presence tonight to your husbands and the families of our Filipino seaman who are each to several families of its Filipino is Michaelmar’s branch offi ce in the fathers who are out there at sea, halfway onboard, to make them happy and to help seafarers, who were most affected by the Philippines focusing on crew management across the globe and struggling against their families, particularly their children. massive fl ooding brought by the typhoon, operations. your longing in this joyous season of the Empire Navigation makes sure that most in order to help them pick up the pieces “We are here because we are year,” remarked Engr. Galvez, almost of their needs toward such respect are and focus on rebuilding. celebrating Christmas. Let us however not indirectly stating that Empire Navigation attended to,” he further explained.

Filipino seafarer-families of Empire Navigation, staff of Global Gateway and guests from the local maritime industry fi ll up the Staff of Global Gateway showcase their terpsichorean talents in Seafarer-families and Global Gateway offi cers and staff battle it spacious venue for the Seafarers’ Christmas Party. a group dance number. out in a popular parlor game. JANUARY-FEBRUARYJULY - AUGUST 2009 2010 TINIG NG MARINO 35 Filipino Seafarers, Families Get a Good Feel of Empire Navigation’s Big Heart

“I wish all of us to have a Merry Christmas and to our people across the oceans to always have safe seas, and for all of us to always have good health,” Mr. Papadimitriou said in concluding his remarks.

Well-Attended Gathering

Aside from seafarer-families, Empire Navigation’s Seafarer Christmas Party Capt. Tsoukatos, Engr. Galvez, Ms. Xenia Stefanidou, Ambassador of Greece to the Philippines, and Capt. Daughters of seafarer-families compete A seafarer-wife receiving from Capt. Simeon was also graced by guests from the Lafkas of EF Shipping (also a principal of Global Gateway) in an impromptu dance contest during Flores one of the many raffl e prizes given away local maritime industry, both from the are joined by the kids of the orphanage to express their during the fun-fi lled Christmas party. government and the private sector, and appreciation for the monetary donation. the program. Ms. Xenia Stefanidou, Ambassador of Greece to the Philippines. Gateway Crewing Services also “We will be able to man those The seafarer-families were actually showcased their terpsichorean talents by additional vessels to be given grouped into tables according to the ships performing a modern dance number that to us by Empire Navigation by being served by their seafarer-patriarchs drew appreciation from the crowd. competent and qualifi ed Filipino – namely: MT Faithful, MT Vanguard, seafarers for sure. It is just a MT Doubtless and MT Spotless – thus Brighter Things Ahead matter of time when they start ensuring that the bonding and camaraderie fi nding out how good Empire of Filipino crew onboard those four While the Seafarer Christmas Party Navigation is as an employer and vessels extend all the way ashore with was Empire Navigation’s very fi rst in the pretty soon, Filipino seafarers will their respective families as well. Philippines, the bonding of the Filipino be joining our bandwagon,” Capt. Typical of a Christmas party, food, seafarer-families among themselves and Flores confi dently stated. entertainment, Christmas raffl e, parlor also with the staff of Global Gateway during Incidentally, Global Gateway games, and give-aways literally fl owed the event appeared as if they have been has also passed the certifi cation during the night. in acquaintance for a long time, which was audit for ISO 9001:2008 Ushering the night’s intermission the very essence of the gathering in the conducted by Bureau Veritas number however was the rendition of fi rst place. Quality International (BVQI) Christmas carols by several kids of a The offi cials of Empire Navigation and at the end of November 2009, local orphanage, giving everyone a vivid Michaemar Greece, who were at the party, refl ecting the crewing agency’s reminder that Christmas is about children also went out of their way to practically rub no-nonsense commitment on fi rst and foremost. Impressed by their elbows with seafarer-families during the quality management system. performance and also aware of their socializing portion of the program, further For this achievement, state, Empire Navigation and Michaelmar intensifying the ‘family concept’ within the Engr. Galvez, the company Greece instantly committed a donation of Empire Navigation organization. CEO, personally extended his US$1,000 to the orphanage taking care of The offi cers and staff of Global Gateway appreciation to the managers and those kids. led by Engr. Galvez and Capt. Simeon staff members of the offi ce for their Following a solo song number from Flores, President, were more than delighted support and active manifestation Anne Marie J. Alcalen, a live performance to likewise exchange banter with seafarer- in the effective implementation of the company’s quality system. by Ms. Mary Ann Alcalen and her band families as well as new seafarer-recruits, Several more seafarer-families pose with offi cials of Empire provided the lively sound backdrop as who were also invited to participate in the Engr. Galvez is likewise thankful Navigation, Michaelmar Greece and Global Gateway guests and seafarer-families enjoyed the party. for the support being extended following receipt of their respective Christmas gifts. sumptuous dinner buffet. Capt. Flores says that it is a indeed a to Global Gateway by its parent Several folk dance numbers including big challenge on Global Gateway to be company Michaelmar Greece, and the trust Indeed, brighter things are in store the Maglalatik and the Cariñosa were also given the task of manning the additional and confi dence afforded to it by a major for Filipino seafarers working for Empire showcased during the program, much to vessels to be entrusted to them by Empire principal like Empire Navigation. “These Navigation as well as their families as the fascination and delight of the Greek Navigation, considering its number and the things have collectively paved the way for they are employed by a company that has guests. prevailing offi cer shortage problem in the Global Gateway to be able to offer Filipino a big heart and who surely recognizes the Not to be outdone in the entertainment seafaring industry, but he is optimistic that seafarers under its employ productive importance of its manpower resource in category, cadets and staff of Global they will pull through. career journeys,” he keenly noted. its expanding shipping operations.

Global Gateway cadets rendering a modern dance number clad in their ‘Hawaiian’ outfi ts. Back-to-back folk dance numbers were also performed during the program - Cariñosa (left) and the Maglalatik (right) 36 TINIG NG MARINO JANUARY-FEBRUARYJULY - AUGUST 20102009

Illegal Recruiters on the Loose ROGUES’ GALLERY The Jallorinas of the notorious Cross- Ocean Marine Services, Inc., which duped some 207 aspiring mariners back in 2005, are Scalawags to Watch Out for In on Filipino seafarers by ripping off US visas still conducting their dastardly acts of illegal on their passports, recruitment but and selling these to they have taken it (and Out) of the Industry others , is now off the to the provinces. ome 12 individuals including a lady ‘wanted list’ as he They are now offi cial of a local manning agency and has already joined recruiting Saspiring mariners recently trooped the Creator. Ronald unwitting young to the offi ce of the United Filipino Seafarers Imperial, who in 2005 men, who don’t to complain that they have been duped by was personally caught even have an a certain Ramon Camu, who introduced red-handed by Engr. Ronald Imperial educational The Jallorinas when they himself as a Chief Mate and a Pre-Departure background as Nelson Ramirez, is now dead. Back then he got caught back in 2005. Orientation Seminar (PDOS) provider of a was introducing himself to seafarers either mariners, to work reputable manning fi rm. as Capt. Demosthenes Vergara, Chief Mate onboard Taiwanese fi shing vessels poaching This Chief Mate Camu apparently Ronnie Vergara or Chief Engr. Vergara to off African waters, and most of them are being promised them that he would be able to have lure seafarers into letting him borrow their abused by the Taiwanese ship offi cers. them employed on an international passenger passports and conduct his wicked ways. Rommel Jallorina and his sister have cruise ship in exchange for soliciting an been apprehended back in 2005 by elements amount from each of them ranging from Airport Customs Syndicate Still Operates of then Presidential Anti-Illegal Recruitment PhP30,000 to PhP40,000, which he claimed Task Force through the efforts of UFS and he would use for the processing of their The swindling ways of an airport customs Engr. Ramirez but the crooks eventually documents. syndicate that operates found themselves out of the coop even before A check on the PRC website showed that via the telephone PAIRTF offi cially folded up. his professional license is a ripoff. Camu to dupe people, There have been a number of seafarer apparently used the number of another Chief The latest victims (upper photo) of Ramon Camu particularly top offi cials accounts where they are said to be abused by Mate and simply pasted his face and name (shown below) with his before-and-after mug shots. of organizations, or Taiwanese onboard illegal fi shing vessels and on it, and voila, he had himself a PRC license, offi ces, and OFW these are mostly because of the handiwork of which he had been using to dupe people. Dugo-Dugo Gang Leader Now Out families, in giving up the Jallorinas. So beware. Camu used to be a friend of the lady offi cial Every OFW and money in exchange for Rufi no Bernardo of a local manning fi rm and he was able to their families should imported items is still Salisi Gang Operator Now Out prey on her just as well by borrowing money also be wary that out so every one is advised to be wary. In An operator of the dreaded Salisi Gang from her on two occasions – one where he Gilbert Tuliba, the January 2, 2007, Engr. Ramirez put a decoy is now out on bail. On June 1, 2009, he was got PhP 41,000 and the second where he gay mastermind of in an entrapment operation of the NAIA police caught red-handed by alert security staff of netted US$500. He promised her that he the dreaded Dugo- and they were able to bag Rufi no Bernardo, a the TSM Training Center about to steal a would make sure that her four nephews would Dugo Gang is now member of the syndicate. The guy is now out powerpoint projector. He was brought to the be employed on an international cruise ship, out of the coop of on bail from the Parañaue Police station. Makati Police station where he was made to manned in the Philippines by Magsaysay Tuliba the NBI on bail. It Just last year, Engr. Ramirez got a call undergo inquest procedures. Maritime Corporation. was not clear how he again from another person who employed the He is now on the Since then, Camu was nowhere to be managed to extricate himself from the mess same modus operandi – selling hot imported loose so manning found. And so was the money that he took considering the tons of cases hurled against items confi scated by the Bureau of Customs agencies are advise to from the hapless aspiring mariners, who him by his countless victims, but he’s out. So at a lower price including expensive mobile be very careful of this were mostly graduates of HRM courses and every one is advised to be very careful not to phones, electronic gadgets and other techno- man, who disguises who completed the one-year Seafarer Rating fall prey to this gifted and sweet-talking con savvy stuff. The UFS president was about himself as a seafarer Course. Worse, Camu also took with him all artist. to put him to the wringer but apparently the either out to apply for a their documents including seaman’s books, criminal sensed that something was amiss job or undergo training. Once he gets into the passports, among other things. Visa Moocher Offi cially Gone with his swindling technique and he backed offi ces, that’s when he starts pocketing offi ce The UFS recommended to the victims One lawless individual, who used to prey off at the last minute. items, especially when no one is looking. that they fi le their formal complaints with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) so that if apprehended, they can immediately fi le Skippers United Pacifi c Starts Putting its House in Order multiple charges against Camu and ensure that he will stay long in jail. Following a report that came out in the November which fi zzled out even before it began. seafarers who personally brought their complaint Camu’s exploits have already been – December 2009 issue of Tinig ng Marino that The article that came out in Tinig ng Marino to the UFS, is apparently contented that Skippers however had Skippers United in the ropes in no published in the November-December 2004 the foreign principal of Skippers United Pacifi c United is doing something to settle his leave pay time at all and it was then that Capt. Tragakis and issue of Tinig ng Marino. Back then he was Inc. is skipping payment on the back wages and and back pay. His wife attested to it over the the local lady consultant of Skippers United decided introducing himself as a Chief Cook. The guy leave pay of a number of its Filipino seafarers, the mobile phone. local manning agent has taken drastic measures to seek a formal audience with Engr. Ramirez. is now at large and every one is advised to be It was further revealed to Tinig ng Marino by in the last couple of months and started putting They assured the UFS President that they will wary of him. other Filipino seafarers that the other problematic its house in order. settle their outstanding fi nancial obligations to the vessels of Skippers United, whose crew Aside from a house cleaning that started with company’s Filipino seafarers. management is being handled in the Philippines A Taiwainese Misfi t the giving of the boot to Mr. Triffi les Yanis, and True enough, within two to three weeks time, by Skippers United, include MV Volissos Spirit, Tinig ng Marino two other Filipino offi cials of Skippers United, Filipino seafarers are already being paid their back as attested to by 3/E Darwin Dela Cruz and also got word from a the company has brought in Capt. Grigorious pay and leave pay. Oiler Dexter Requintina had Bosun Vicente Falalaria; MV Symphony I, MV Filipino chief engineer Tragakis as Owner’s Consultant, and a local a collectible US$ 872 representing his leave pay Vinashin Atlantic as reported by Capt. Antea who works for a local lady consultant to ensure that all arrears of the after serving for eight months onboard the reefer and Electrician Sotto, MV Vinashin Phoenix as training center that company to its Filipino seafarers will be taken vessel MV Taisetsu. confi rmed by C/E Aguanta, MT Lovell Sky as a certain Taiwanese care of and settled soon. Skippers United paid the amount in two told by Pumpman Escaño, MV Doña Libra and is also on the loose Since the number of claiming Filipino tranches but it was paid in full. His latest shipboard MT Atropos. these days looking seafarers are signifi cant and the total amount contract ended on August 2, 2008 and the In the fi rst week of January 2010, UFS got for unwitting victims, of claims substantial, Skippers United vowed to company promised him to be onboard again on a surprised when seven of the 10 Filipino seafarers particularly in the pay the backpay and leave pay of their seafarers tanker vessel by January 2010. who have earlier complained to the union about manning business. in trickles so that the fi nancial windfall would not Electrician Sotto is also collecting from Skippers their unpaid leave pays and back wages from This felon is using have a telling impact on their operations. his unpaid leave and balance of wages amounting Skippers United, returned to seek again the UFS the ‘have mercy’ effect to be able to solicit In October 2009, 10 Filipino seafarers trooped to US$13,000. The company has already paid him intercession on their case. UFS tried to mediate certain amounts from people, usually top to the offi ce of United Filipino Seafarers (UFS) to almost US$10,000 on a staggered-payment basis. things between the seven Filipino seafarers and offi cials of manning fi rms, promising them air their respective grievances against Skippers As of this writing, he only has US$3,000 collectible Skippers United. practically the moon and the stars because United. UFS President Engr. Nelson Ramirez from the company. Sotto’s last vessel with the But UFS learned later that the seven Filipino he claims that he has a lot of money and is was already preparing to make a protest rally in company was MV Vinashin Atlantic under its seafarers have already fi led a complaint with the well-connected in Taiwan. front of Skippers United offi ces the following day, principal Archipelago. NLRC against Skippers United. At this juncture, But once he gets the bounty, he disappears on behalf of the complaining seafarers, but no Chief Cook Lolito Sumargo, who served Engr. Ramirez gave up the fi ght for the seven into thin air. So again, be wary of this felon. one showed up on the day of the protest action onboard MV Bianca and who was one of the 10 Filipino seafarers. JANUARY-FEBRUARYJULY - AUGUST 2009 2010 TINIG NG MARINO 37

Seafarers’ Favorable Views Even before the two-day crew conference POSH Brings Itself and Excellence of POSH drew to a close, Filipino seafarer participants were practically in unison in stating that they had found their in a good Closer to its Filipino Seafarers and stable company. Capt. Rex Demetrin, who has been OSH Fleet Services Pte. Ltd., a employed by the company Singapore-based ship owning fi rm, for the last 29 years, Pwhose crew management operations says: “It is true that I have in the Philippines are being handled by received countless offers SSM Maritime Services, Inc. has brought in the past to work with itself closer to Filipino seafarers during the other companies but I feel holding of its fi rst crew conference for its comfortable with POSH offshore operations held on December 2-4, and its management. The 2009 at Traders Hotel. communication is very On the eve of December 2, 2009, SSM open. They take care of Maritime Services, Inc. and Protect Marine us well. So I intend to Deck and Engine Offi cers, both headed by retire here. That cannot Chief Engr. Antonino R. Gascon Jr. formally be bought by money inaugurated its new building along Leon alone.” Guinto Street in Malate, Manila where POSH The 53-year-old top offi cials joined various guests from the Filipino seafarers of POSH further bonded themselves with the management of the Singapore-based shipowning fi rm, whose offi cials skipper says that he has local maritime industry in celebrating and came in full force during the 1st Seastaff Seminar led by Director Lim Tau Kok, shown in the inset sparring with a participant. learned a lot from the toasting their local crewing fi rm’s important conference and more and certainly very concrete milestone. it from there. We want our people to walk the in the Filipino seafarers. “Filipinos can speak importantly strengthen the bond between POSH has held a crew conference in same direction with us,” he added. English; they are very easy to communicate the sea staff and the management offi cials the Philippines for its AHTS/DP operations POSH intends to increase the number of with. And I think that’s the reason why many of POSH. “Because that’s the only way almost two years ago but it was only the fi rst Filipino seafarers in its employ in the near employers in the world are hiring Filipino teamwork can continuously improve,” he time that it held a similar forum for its offi cers future. “By conducting regular seminars and seafarers,” he noted. said. and ratings on the offshore operations unit trainings like this, we also build the name and He also believes that the local seafaring Capt. Roger Sario, who has been industry is very competitive employed by the company since its name at the moment. was Selco back then, says that POSH is a “That’s why we want to very good and dynamic company. “I started be vibrant and active here. working here as a 2nd mate and it was also We want to be closer to in this company where I was able to gain my the competition to be able master mariner’s license. They treat people to enter the free market. well and this is probably the company where The ship agent can only I will retire from,” he said. do so much in developing “The training was very good particularly the quality of the crew. The when they showed the level of determination shipowners should do their of Pacquiao to become champion. It certainly part well, the way POSH is drew everyone’s attention and interest. We doing now,” Mr. Lim cited. want to become part of the growth of the “I don’t think any ship company because once the company gets owning company provides bigger, we will surely be part of it,” Capt. Participants and resource persons in their ‘training’ session After the training comes the sparring session, to see if the training to their crew where Sario pointed out. complete with all the needed exercise equipment. participant will be using what they learned in their training. it is the CEO or the Director Chief Engr. Lorenz Lemery is also a loyal of the company. profi le of our company here in the Philippines who is talking or directly participating and sea staff of POSH. At 56 years old, he has The 1st Seastaff Seminar of POSH had so that the local maritime industry, particularly getting involved in the activities. We want to been employed by the company for over the theme, “An Enterprise of Excellence.” Filipino seafarers, would know what we are put a face to POSH among Filipino seafarers 30 years. He started in 1979 as a fi tter and But unlike the typical crew conferences capable of offering, not just rewarding job that’s why I brought all my managers and all worked his way to the top. “The company that most ship owning or ship manning fi rms opportunities but a well-rounded career and my offi cers here. We are not here just to give provides us premium benefi ts and the conduct for their crew, the one of POSH was professional development leading to a better training. We are here because we want to working atmosphere is convenient for all of very unique because instead of the typical future for their families,” Mr. Lim posed. connect with our people and bond with our us so I preferred to stick with the company platform and podium for resource speakers “We are not just training our people on Filipino sea staff,” Mr. Lim stated. for good. The conference was very good to discuss and talk about various topics, how to navigate, how to look at ship engines, The result of the conference was very because it gave us excellent pointers on what they had was a boxing gymnasium we are focusing more on leadership training, productive and successful that the offi cials of how to strive for excellence and contribute to complete with a boxing ring in the middle of mindset training, consulate, mentoring, and POSH will be coming again to the Philippines the continued growth of the company,” C/E the conference room and several topics that the likes or basically on how to really become in the fi rst week of March 2010 to set another Lemery remarked. were made analogous to the rise of Filipino good professionals and future leaders,” he similar seastaff seminar for another batch Young deck cadet Jay-R also has positive boxing icon Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao. emphasized. of Filipino seafarers in their employ through vibes with the company. “I have learned a Even the participants were dressed in shorts Despite the economic slowdown brought SSM Maritime Services, Inc. lot from this company even though I’ve only and gym outfi ts. about by the US fi nancial crisis that has had a short stint thus far. Mr. Lim Tau Kok, Director of POSH literally swept major economies in the world My fellow seafarers are all Fleet Services Pte. Ltd., says that it is the off their feet last year, POSH is still doing very supportive and very management collective idea to have a better than average and it will most likely kind. It is easy to understand conference that is more than the usual or improve in the next few months considering why many Filipino senior more adventurous. that recovery has already started. offi cers have stayed long “We choose boxing because we know that “As far as our offshore unit is concerned, with this company and if almost all Filipino seafarers love boxing and business is still vibrant. It’s cold a little bit given the proper break and they all can relate to it. In boxing, you also but it’s still vibrant. Shipping has somehow opportunity, I might do the need to do something you have not done stopped but it is still moving on. Many same too,” he said. before to be able to be good and become a companies believe that cutting cost is the “The management of champion. So we came up with this idea to way to go during crisis. But in our opinion, this POSH Fleet Services treats demonstrate and talk about how our Filipino momentary downtime is the best time to train their crew on equal footing seafarers should acquire new skills and also our staff. So when the industry is back on its regardless of rank or status. challenge them from within so that they grow feet, we have ourselves a good quality crew And that’s something we further,” Mr. Lim explained. ready to take on the challenges that lie in the are really proud of being “Part of the vision and mission of our future,” Mr. Lim cited. Director Lim and POSH offi cials show teamwork at its best during employed by POSH,” Jay-R company is to reach excellence and maintain Mr. Lim believes and exudes confi dence the outdoor tug-of-war activity. added. 38 TINIG NG MARINO JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 TINIG NG MARINO 39 DJ Joph Marino Making Waves as a Gifted Rapper at a Young Age

young and gifted child-rapper is making waves in the entertainment A scene these days and he appears to be representing the Filipino seafarer lot because of the name he is carrying and certainly because he is the son of a master mariner. DJ Joph Marino, Joph Jesuie Mari I. Ucang in real life, is slowly but surely gaining headway in popularity because he has a unique way with words, like most rappers do. But DJ Joph’s gift came at a rather young DJ Joph performing live at the Luneta Seafarer’s age, giving him the unique advantage. Center during the National Maritime Week. Now 11 years old and about to graduate from elementary at a prestigious school in entitled “OFW – DJ Joph Marino,” is currently Quezon City, DJ Joph was born in Manila to being distributed by Eon Records. DJ Joph’s ‘OFW’ album is now drawing waves among the OFW crowd, including seafarers. parents who are both from Bohol. He is the DJ Joph is now going through mall shows, youngest of fi ve children of Capt. Marino TV and radio tours and school tours to Ucang and Mrs. Maria Helen Ingles. promote his album. He has also taken part In fact, he and his sister gave the United in several international shows to be able to Filipino Seafarers (UFS) offi cers, staff and entertain and lessen the ‘homesickness’ of cadet volunteers and their guests from OFWs. the local maritime industry a taste of their Come the summer break, he intends to singing and rapping abilities during the go on his fi rst international promotions tour union’s Christmas party held at its offi ces for his album, which hopefully can lead to a on December 22, 2009, which wowed the big break for him, the way it did for the now crowd and generated much-deserved rounds world-famous Charice Pempengco, who also of applause. started with ABS-CBN’s Star Circle Quest. DJ Joph is the youngest DJ Joph started singing when he was DJ Joph Marino’s name is starting to gain of the fi ve children of only two years old. He has since started popularity in the OFW sector as well as in Capt. Marino Ucang and Mrs. Maria Helen showing his talent to the public. He usually the local seafaring industry because he is Ingles. sings in school activities and family aff airs. obviously an off spring of a sea-based OFW. Subsequently he joined ABS-CBN’s Star Circle Like most local rappers, DJ Joph has the late impart. Despite what appears to be a hectic Quest when he was fi ve years old. Francis Magalona as his idol. It was his dream His dad feels the same way every time he schedule for the young DJ Joph, it still does He was talented alright but he was too to be able to sing with Francis M for his fi rst hears the songs of his son, particularly ‘Dear not deprive him from enjoying his regular young then so his focus was not really on album but it did not materialize because of the Dad,’ that he vowed to support his son’s dream childhood routine like bonding with friends, becoming a singer but more on showcasing master rapper’s untimely demise. Still, Francis all the way, for as long as he can. playing PSPs, network gaming, and the the talents he has, like most children do. M will forever be his idol and inspiration to Capt. Ucang and Mrs. Ingles say that the like. So his dream of becoming a full-blown and be good at his craft. songs from DJ Joph’s album were composed Asked what the plans of his manager are to well-rounded celebrity singer was put on DJ Joph says that his album is dedicated in such a way that they would be intended continue building on his growing popularity, hold then. especially to OFWs in practically every corner for the OFWs. “Most albums these days by DJ Joph quipped that they are now working Four years later, a little more mature but of the world. “This is our way of paying local singers are mostly love songs, which are on coming out with his second album to be still very young his talent has improved special tribute for all their hard work and either remakes or are rehashed, so we thought followed by massive promotional tours. signifi cantly, he started performing at various eff orts just to ensure that their families here of off ering something new and unique,” they As a testament to his popularity, DJ Joph concerts and entertainment joints including in the Philippines gain a better life and a good said. now has a Boholano-based fans club, whose Pope Pius in UN Avenue, Big Bowl in Tomas future. I am a son of an OFW so I can relate Still, education is a priority for DJ Joph. His members normally join him in his local mall Morato Avenue in Quezon City, The Hobbit to their sentiments. My elder brother is also parents always make sure of that. “My grades shows and tours. House in Ermita, The Metrobar in Quezon a seafarer. I even have a song in my album in school are all okay. I can only perform DJ Joph is also encouraging young rappers Avenue, as well as in diff erent malls and personally dedicated to may father – Dear on shows after class or during weekends or to come out in the open and be like him. provincial capitals. Dad,” says DJ Joph. when there are no “Just make sure to tell and show your talents It was about the same time in 2009 when DJ Joph actually sang classes,” states DJ to your parents so that you will be able to he underwent a talent workshop where he ‘Dear Dad’ song during Joph. get their support. That’s the route I took was named as Best Singer, Best Dancer and the National Maritime His mother and my parents have been very supportive Best in Acting, attesting to the talent variety Week celebration at the insists that he of me in my endeavors as an entertainer,” he that this young boy has developed over Luneta Seafarers’ Center focuses on his remarked. time. last September 2009 studies so that DJ Joph is ever thankful to his parents But it was during one of his performances and it brought tears to in the event that for their uncompromising support and for at The Hobbit House together with his siblings the eyes of a number of he does not gain his growing legion of fans not only among where he was discovered by a local talent Filipino seafarers who headway in his seafarers and OFWs but also those who manager who eventually helped him cut his were present that day, entertainment appreciate modern rap that has sense and own album, which DJ Joph to promote these as they can obviously career, he will valuable messages to impart. His is obviously days. He is the youngest rapper ever to cut relate to the message always have a a gift that truly deserves to be unwrapped DJ Joph and Jop Ramnel in Graffi ti an album at the tender age of 10. His album, that the song wants to fallback, and shared with everyone. 40 TINIG NG MARINO JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 Seafarer Group Distributes Relief Goods to Typhoon Victims AMBAT, which is short for Lupon Angat LAMBAT is an organization whose goal is blessings being enjoyed by its members. experiences of its members and volunteers LMarino Buhayin at Tangkilikin, a small to extend help to people who are in need of The group also shares knowledge and about the seafaring profession. volunteer group of seamen, their wives, their support, whether and other concerned individuals, recently fi nancially or in kind. distributed relief goods to victims of Typhoon Part of the goal of the Ondoy. group is to share the

Wives of LAMBAT members in action, including the wives of C/E Arnold Atienza, C/E Clarence Dacanay, Capt. Manolo B. Ebora, and Capt. Nestor Perrero. WES Now Drawing Flak from Some Seafarers FROM PAGE 22 online application and that they should learn to upload on their own. So if the seafarer asks his son or daughter to upload his online application, would they ever know that he was not the one who did it? There are times when the PRC website publishes two exam dates of WES like November 5 and 6 for instance, and they put the corresponding number of examinees slots availability. However, they disapproved the applicants for November 6 because apparently they wanted to fi ll up the slots for November 5 fi rst. Although reports are still unconfi rmed, Tinig ng Marino got word from the industry grapevine that PRC assessors are making life diffi cult for WES applicants because apparently WES slots are being ‘sold for a fee.’ The United Filipino Seafarers is now seriously looking into this allegation by some Filipino seafarers and may work in the next couple of months to unveil the real score behind the issue. JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 TINIG NG MARINO 41 Finally, ‘Marino’ is Showing on February 17, 2010 fter the highly successful advance screening at SM APampanga, “Marino (Call of the Sea)” sails and makes port calls so to speak, in various maritime schools all over the Philippines via special screenings for students and seafarer organizations. These screenings coincided with the celebration of the National Maritime Month last September 2009: for Asian Top: Marino Allen Dizon with Institute of Maritime Studies (AIMS) his wife in the movie Ara Mina. students and families at SM Manila Left: Marino Allen Dizon last September 10, and SM Bacoor last with his other woman in the September 11, 2009. The entire cast of ‘Marino.’ movie, the controversial Krista Screenings in PAMMA (Pangasinan Ranillo. Merchant Marine Academy) maritime school were screening are to follow. held last October 19, 20 and 21. The movie tells about the lives and sacrifi ces of Mrs. Carina D. Pagcu’s CDP Events and A series of special screenings for the thousands seafarers and their families, and pertinent issues Entertainment Production produce in cooperation of seafarers organization members are also set, like sea pirates, sunken ships, sexually-transmitted with ATD Entertainment Productions. through the efforts of United Filipino Seafarers diseases, and foreign employment. The movie was shot in various Philippine president, Engr. Nelson Ramirez, who is also the “Marino” is topbilled by Allen Dizon and Ara Mina, locations including Malolos and Paombong, publisher of “Tinig Marino” maritime newspaper and with Emilio Garcia, Marco Alcaraz, Bangs Garcia, Bulacan, and some parts of Asia (particularly “Tinig ng Marino” radio program over DWIZ. Victor Basa, Mike Tan, Rico Barrera, Jan Nieto and Bangkok, Thailand). Finally, regular showing of the fi lm in selected controversial “woman of the hour” Krista Ranillo. During the planned screenings for maritime theaters include some SM cinemas this coming Giving support are Lui Manansala, Benjie Felipe, schools and seafarer organizations, there will also February 17, 2010. Raymond Cabral and Nella Marie Dizon. be career orientation seminars to give the laymen Another special screening and gala premiere will Cinemalaya alumnus and Ateneo graduate Paul Sta. insights into the lives of seafarers. The cast will be be held on February 16 at SM Manila. Details of the Ana directs from his own script. present at those screenings. 42 TINIG NG MARINO JANUARYJULY - FEBRUARY - AUGUST 20092010 eagle star’s Capt. Gelladuga and Family Sharing their Blessings with Others in a Unique Way eafaring is a lucrative profession saying: “If I decide indeed but only if the person strives to work for another Shard to reach the peak of his career company, I will start early and hold sway from there. That is again from scratch. precisely the career route taken by Capt. I have no plan of Nathaniel T. Gelladuga, who has been a doing that because I seafarer for all of 42 years, 26 of which as a already feel at home Master Mariner. with MISC Berhad After graduating in 1968 from Iloilo and AET. I am Maritime Academy (IMA), the predecessor already familiar with of John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime their system and the University, Capt. Gelladuga gradually people, whom I have worked his way up the shipboard career good rapport.” ladder until he reached the pinnacle as During the captain in 1984. He has since been serving Eagle Star event as skipper of various vessels but eventually of December 17, focused on helming tankers. 2009 to mark the He has been employed through company’s fi rst various local manning agencies before but anniversary at the eventually found his home in 2001 as he got same time serve as employed through Parola Maritime Agency, Christmas party for Inc and started serving onboard the tankers its Filipino seafarers of MISC Berhad of Malaysia. and their families, Prior to his current stint onboard MT Capt. Gelladuga Bunga Kasturi, he has helmed the same was among the VLCC (very large crude carrier) in three short list of Filipino different occasions with the Middle East senior offi cers who Capt. Nathaniel Gelladuga (in red) and wife Mila are – West Africa – China as its regular route. were recognized shown with several offi cers and staff of Eagle Star who Although a very large ship, Capt. Gelladuga and given plaques paid a visit to their house while exuding its Halloween says that MT Bunga Kasturi has a crew of recognition for displays. complement of only 22 seafarers. serving the company As everyone in the seafaring industry is for eight years or more. As he already have the convenience that now aware of, Parola Maritime Agency has boarded on November 25, 2009, his wife, most others don’t have so teamed up with MISC Berhad and AET late Mrs. Milagros ‘Mila’ P. Gelladuga proudly we’d rather stay this way in 2008 to give birth to Eagle Star Crew accepted the loyalty award on her husband’s and live a simple life,” says The facade of the Gelladuga residence during the Halloween (top) Management Corp. to serve the crewing behalf. Capt. Gelladuga. and the Christmas (bottom) seasons. needs of both MISC Berhad and AET. Eagle Capt. Nathaniel and Mrs. Mila both had Indeed for a small Star offi cially marked its fi rst year in the local their roots in Iloilo but it was in Manila where family like the Gelladugas, a house that has truly stands out from most of the rest, is manning industry on December 17, 2009 at they met, fell in love and got married. Their three bedrooms, two attic rooms, one guest their generosity and passion for sharing and Sofi tel Philippine Plaza. union has been blessed with two children. room, two servant’s quarters, eight toilets and making everyone happy especially during Capt. Gelladuga is proud to have The elder son, Gibson, is now married and baths, and a small swimming pool, is surely the Halloween and Christmas seasons. become part of the Parola and subsequently has settled in the US working as a therapist, more than enough. For the last 10 years, the Gelladugas the Eagle Star family because he says the and already has two children. They have contented themselves as well have been dressing up their residence, both company knows how to take care of its Their younger daughter, Genevieve, with an old Mitsubishi Pajero. Asked if he inside and its façade with Christmas decors people. “They attend to all the needs of is now pursuing accreditation as a pre- plans to buy a new car or SUV perhaps in and robotics similar to the famed moving their people onboard. They also provide school Montessori teacher for a possible the near future, Capt. Gelladuga says that the mannequin presentation and show of COD reasonable compensation packages to their employment stint in the US. She has a son present vehicle is more than enough for their Cubao of yore and is now being shown every senior offi cers.” who also stays with the Gelladuga residence needs, further refl ecting the family’s innate Holiday Season at Greenhills Shopping Mall Given the prevailing offi cer shortage located at Diamond Street in Pilar Village in humility. in San Juan. in the manning industry these days, it is Las Piñas City. The Christmas designs and robotics are tempting really for some senior offi cers to Although fi nancially-capable of residing in The Uniqueness truly feasts to the eyes especially at night look for the proverbial greener pastures a bigger house with lots of cars, that is typical of the Gelladuga Family when the lights are more pronounced. In what with the abundance of opportunities to most seafarer-families especially senior But what makes the Gelladugas a unique TURN TO NEXT PAGE being offered by other manning companies offi cers, Capt. Gelladuga and wife Mila has Filipino or ship owning fi rms. maintained an average lifestyle, preferring seafarer- But Capt. Gelladuga has decided to to stay put in their 240-square meter three- family, or drop his anchor for good with Eagle Star, storey residence in Pilar Village. “We already one that

Crowds gather at the facade of the Gelladuga house to The same facade now exudes a jovial atmosphere feast on the Halloween sights. during the Holiday season. The mains stairs during Halloween. The mains stairs during Christmas. JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 TINIG NG MARINO 43

FROM PREVIOUS PAGE fact, practically all passersby along Diamond Sharing their Blessings with Others in a Unique Way Street, whether onboard their cars or just strolling by, couldn’t help but pause to stop sale of the Christmas decors and ornaments and take a good look at the sight. will be use to buy basic grocery items like Inside the house, detailed Christmas a kilo of rice, sugar, noodles, milk, among designs and tidings bedecked the entire others and they will repack it up to 200 place including moving Santa Clauses bags. of various sizes and shapes, reindeers, Come December 31st, some 200 of the garlands, ornaments, buntings, mistle toes, poorest families from various depressed miniature Christmas villages, and an array of areas selected by the relatives of Mrs. Christmas lights. Even the dining room had a Mila, will queue at their house to get their sitting Santa Claus on it. The swimming pool respective grocery pack, which they can use had Christmas decors on its banks as well. for their respective celebration of the Media But the Christmas dress up of the Noche. Gelladuga residence is just the second for Mrs. Mila says: “Unlike others who prefer The Eagle Star staff pose with the ‘tikbalang.’ The fully-bedecked fi replace. the year because the fi rst is the Halloween to share their blessings on Christmas day, dress up, which the family also added just Kings on the fi rst Sunday of January of the City but in fact the local media as well. They we prefer to give ours on December 31st several years back coming at the heels of following year. have been featured in several TV programs because we want poor people to have at their successful Holiday décor repertoire. Because of the intricacies of both the including Mel and Joey, 24 Oras, and least something to start the New Year, be it The ghostly images during the Halloween Halloween and Christmas dress ups, it is Unang Hirit on GMA-7, and just recently a fi lled stomach or food stock for the fi rst few dress up can scare the wits of some people not surprising to know that the set-up in in Ang Kakaibang Pasko: Jescom Xmas days of the New Year.” who have vivid and wild imaginations, both occasions usually take 10 days at the Special over ABS-CBN-2. They have also Last December 31, 2009, their average especially those children who are out for very least to complete. But Mrs. Mila has been featured in the past in Manila Standard gift packs have already ballooned to more trick or treat during Halloween. been accustomed to it, with the help of Today, Taliba, and Abante Tonite. than 250 but Mrs. Mila is not bothered at Consider these for starters: at the her husband when he is around and their “We feel honored and happy every time all. “For as long as every poor family who façade of the house shows a half-bodied daughter Ghennie. people appreciate our designs because we were listed to come here get something, we manananggal, and an aswang feasting on They have also tapped the services of a know that we are contributing in making them also feel happy and satisfi ed. We want to human fl esh. There is also a kapre smoking technical person working with Star Cinema to happy in our own little and humble way,” says promote the culture of giving among those tobacco up in a tree. Inside the house is a design and do the robotics for them. It has Mrs. Mila. who have something to share in their lives. tikbalang conveniently seated near the stairs been a productive partnership ever since The dress up of the Gelladuga’s house is The Lord has been good to us for the last 11 and a silhouette of a white lady hanging by and the praises as well as the oohs and actually just the tip of their family generosity months of the year so we thought of giving the curtain plus several more scary stuff. ahhs of people who catch glimpses of both especially during Christmas season. When back to the needy part of our blessings on The Halloween display is put up at the the Halloween and Christmas dress ups are they start showcasing the Christmas dress the 12th month. Aside from feeling satisfi ed Gelladuga residence starting in the last more than enough compensation for the up in the neighborhood, they also start selling knowing that we have shared our blessings week of September up to November 2 while Gelladugas. Christmas decors and other Christmas- to others, the happiness that we manage to the Christmas dress up runs from the last The dress up of the Gelladuga residence related ornaments. give to them even for just one day is truly week of November up to the Feast of Three have not only become a byword in Las Piñas All the money that they will derive from the priceless to savor.” 44 TINIG NG MARINO SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2009 EEDITORIALDITORIAL Enough with Maritime Disasters

FROM PAGE 6 MARINA can easily supersede the existing policy with the issuance of a Memorandum have passed the approval of MARINA. Circular and it would not even cost the Whether those approvals came with vessel agency anything, if only to ensure the inclining experiments to test if the alterations safety of seaborne passengers. have not affected the metacentric or center Doesn’t MARINA see the logic in the of gravity of each vessel remains to be idea that major patrons should leave the proven by MARINA no less. helming of vessels to real skippers when For sure, MARINA is aware of the fact it is carrying 100 passengers or more, that a number of imported vessels brought regardless of the weight of the ship? to the Philippines were designed only to Perhaps several blinders are keeping sail in inland waters. MARINA and its leadership from taking into As to why the agency is giving perspective the importance of dynamism Certifi cates of Public Convenience (CPCs) in overseeing an extremely dynamic or franchises to these vessels to operate industry. and sail even in the open seas is another Indeed, it is very easy to see and intriguing question. understand, even by the ordinary layman, As to how and why major patrons are why MARINA is savoring the blame-spree being allowed to take command of ships these days in both maritime accidents, as when most, if not all of these mariners, well as in several others before including hardly have an inkling of the basic ‘rules the infamous MV Princess of the Stars of the road’ and collision regulation, are maritime disaster on June 21, 2008. It is two other bewildering questions that only now obvious that in addition to human MARINA can provide the appropriate errors, MARINA is actually remiss in its answers, assuming it has. crucial obligation of enforcing maritime MARINA, through Administrator Elena safety rules and regulations. Bautista, can only offer the existing policy of Enough is enough with maritime the agency that major patrons are allowed tragedies in Philippine waters. MARINA to helm a vessel 190 gross tons or below and its leadership only have two choices as a convenient excuse. Since when did – shape up in the enforcement of maritime dynamism get in the way of compromising safety rules and regulations or ship out for the safety of the boat-riding public? good. JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 TINIG NG MARINO 45

MEAN INDICATED PRESSURE There were reports in November 2009 that the MV Princess of the South was eagle star not even issued a security certifi cate by the Perfect Formula Offi ce of the Transport Security yet it was Seeks to Become allowed by MARINA to sail. ******* Second to None for Maritime Disasters It is common practice all over the world, FROM PAGE 27 some of whom are now in jail, awaiting trial. and in fact, even the previous administrator Consistent with the program’s invitation FROM PAGE 13 On the other hand, Administrator Bautista of MARINA, Mr. Vicente Suazo insisted, that stated: “From Me to We,” Eagle we not just adopt what is in international said in a Senate hearing that more than that all Philippinne registered vessels, Star succeeded in not only drawing the conventions such as the International 6,000 innocent lives were lost when they especially passenger vessels, must be continued support of its Filipino seafarers Safety Management (ISM) Code, Safety sailed aboard Sulpicio Lines’ vessels. Yet it insured under a Protection and Indemnity and their families, but more importantly and Environmental Policy, Company Safety is disheartening to note that Administrator Club insurance which is an All Risk No their commitment to help and contribute Responsibility which include the Master’s Bautista hurriedly lifted the suspension of Fault policy so that all victims will receive their respective share in ensuring the Oath of Safe Departure, Resources and the MV Princess of the South and the MV their benefi ts even before the culpability continued growth of the company in the Personnel Development, Shipboard Princess of the Earth even if the case for the accident is established. At present, years to come. and Safety Operations, Emergency against Sulpicio Lines is still under litigation Sulpicio Lines’ vessels are only covered by Overall, it was a fun, an exciting, Preparedness like conducting Emergency and despite reports that both ships have a local insurance company. Shall we allow memorable and historic event for everyone. Readiness Evaluation and Machinery yet to fully comply with safety requirements thousands more of innocent passengers More signifi cantly however, it signaled a Readiness Evaluation (ERE-MARE), imposed on all Sulpicio Lines passenger to die onboard Sulpicio Lines’ vessels? new beginning for Eagle Star as it prepares Development of Shipboard Operations, vessels which have all been grounded Administrator Bautista can no longer wash to take on the challenges for its second Designated Persons like port captains in the aftermath of the sinking of the MV her hands should another maritime tragedy year and open new horizons to soar into as and port superintendents, Maintenance Princess of the Stars in June 2008. happen. it works on becoming second to none. of Ship Equipment, Reporting of Non- Conformities, Incidents/Accidents and Hazardous Occurrences, Documentation that covers Procedures, Instructions and Check Lists, Company Verifi cation Review and Certifi cation Processes. Don’t we have these already? Administrator Bautista must know that we already have these in place. The problem is enforcement. But how will you enforce the law if you do not know all of these and you rely only on your regional directors? ******* Administrator Bautista is aware that the enforcement of maritime safety rules and regulations is not being given serious attention in several MARINA regional offi ces because the directors and staff have been in their respective posts for more than a decade. Most of these regional directors, if not all, have become beholden to the shipowners, whom they surely cannot antagonize. The Administrator on the other hand is a lame duck as she is simply at the mercy and dictates of shipowners and she cannot even attempt to re-assign these people elsewhere. Is this what MARINA Making Waves and MARINA’s 10-Point Agenda is all about? Is this the result of the high-profi le advertisement of MARINA on television for which the agency spent millions of pesos telling viewers to report any maritime violations with MARINA rewarding them with 50 pesos’ worth of cell phone load? I reported in 2005 several violations of MV Manila Bay to MARINA and the Philippine Coast Guard, supported by pictures that I personally took onboard the vessel but the MARINA regional offi ce in Cebu cleared MV Manila Bay to sail to Manila. What we need is strict enforcement of maritime safety rules and regulations. The problem is, it only happens on radio and television talk shows as an aftermath of a serious maritime disaster. ******* The news reverberated all over the world as 57 people were massacred in Maguindanao and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo immediately declared Martial Law in the province, subsequently ordering the arrest of the perpetrators 46 TINIG NG MARINO JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 TINIG NG MARINO 47 MARINA Needs to Rid Perfect Formula for Maritime Disasters - UFS FROM PAGE 4 The UFS also cited that MARINA seems to have neglected its role in imposing cargo securing standards on all vessels plying the domestic shipping routes. “The case of the sinking of MB Baleno 9 and several other high-profi le sinkings like the MV Princess of the Orient in 1998, the MV Blue Water Magic, and the MV Princess of the Stars in 2008, show that rules on cargo lashings have been neglected. Unfortunately, it is just being taken for granted by the agency. Ensuring the lashings of ship’s cargo is very important because when the cargo shifts to one side there is no chance for the ship to upright by itself. In my experience as a seafarer for 20 Senator Gordon commisserating with the survivors as well as the years, I have encountered severe weather bereaved of the two recent maritime disasters during the Senate probe Engr. Ramirez and MARINA Administrator Bautista ‘face off’ during the conditions wherein the ship is rolling 30 last January 7, 2010. initial Senate probe on the maritime disasters last December 29, 2009. degrees but because the ship is stable and well as proper insurance. shipping,” discloses Ramirez. UFS president. the cargos are properly lashed and secured, “These two passenger vessels are only “Most in the domestic shipping industry The UFS has also sent a formal letter on the vessel uprighted by itself. No ship is not insured by a local insurance which is a are also aware that the enforcement of the issue to President Gloria Macapagal- designed to sink,” explains Ramirez. liability insurance unlike the Protection and maritime safety rules and regulations Arroyo on January 4, 2010, which was copy Instead of focusing on the enforcement of Indemnity Club Insurance which is an all risk are not being given serious attention in furnished to all members of the Senate and maritime safety regulations, MARINA is more no fault insurance. A liability insurance has several MARINA regional offi ces because the Lower House of Congress. In addition interested in giving permission to vessels to a provision that states that families of the the directors and staff have been in their to the marathon probe of the Senate Blue sail even if those have yet to comply with victims of the maritime disaster has to prove respective posts for over 10 years. Most, Ribbon Committee on the issue starting safety and security requirements. This was the culpability of the ship owner before they if not all, have become beholden to the on December 27, 2009, Rep. Rodolfo quite apparent when the agency recently can get their benefi ts. This was the case ship owners, whom they surely cannot ‘Ompong’ Plaza also threw his hat on the gave a green light to Sulpicio Lines’ MV of MV Doña Paz, also owned by Sulpicio antagonize. The Administrator, on the other issue when he delivered a privilege speech Princess of the South and MV Princess of Lines, wherein the families of the more hand, is a lame duck as she is simply at the in Congress on January 18, 2010 entitled: the Earth to sail again despite reports that than 4,000 victims are still waiting for their mercy and the dictates of ship owners and “Elena Biyahera” alluding to the more than those two vessels have yet to fully comply benefi ts up to this day some 22 years after she cannot even attempt to re-assigning 77 foreign trips of Administrator Bautista in with the safety and security requirements as the worst maritime disaster in the history of these people elsewhere,” further bares the a span of just one and a half years. 48 TINIG NG MARINO JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Risk Zone Bonus in Gulf of Aden Dear Engr. Ramirez: Humingi kayo sa POEA ng kopya Clarifi cation from MTC Sir, I am furnishing you a copy of the ng nasabing resolusyon bago kayo POEA Governing Board Resolution sumampa. Minsan kasi kahit ayaw on NAC No. 06 with regards to the Gulf of Aden mong bumiyahe o tumawid sa Gulf of risk zone bonus, double pay, basic, OT, Aden pero kapag nasa barko ka na, Herewith is a reaction of MTC to a letter from a Filipino senior offi cer published and leave pay. hindi ka na makaiwas. in the November - December 2009 issue of Tinig ng Marino proposing the Marami kasi ang nga nagbibiyahe Sa aming kompanya na BSM abolition or dissolution of NAC. We are publishing it in full - Editor na barko sa area lalo na ang yung Crew Service Centre Phils., Inc., mga may mixed crew na hindi Pilipino binibigay ang aming benepisyo batay Dear Mr. Ramirez ang kapitan na hindi raw sila umano sa nasabing resolusyon dahil liner ang We refer to the letter of C/E Arnold Masaoay of MT Liquid Crystal binabayaran ng tama ng kanilang aming barko sa Yemen. Ipinadala kasi published in the November-December 2009 issue of Tinig ng Marino shipowners, lalong-lalo na ang mga namin sa aming principal ang kopya “ONLINE” which recommends the abolition of the National Assessment liners ng bansang Yemen. ng resolution kaya nagbabayad sila ng Center (NAC). Sa mga kabaro kong mga marinong sapat. We would like to inform him that as a party to the 1978 STCW Convention, Pilipino na karaniwan ang mga barko Isa rin po pala sa aking naobserbahan as amended, the Philippines has international obligations and responsibility ay tumatawid sa Gulf of Aden, huwag habang tuwina’y bumabaybay ang to undertake which is to give full and complete effect to the said Convention. po kayong papayag dahil nasa batas aming barko sa Gulf of Aden ay ang The establishment of the NAC is one of the important measures to ensure na ito batay na rin sa POEA Governing sobrang alingawngaw sa Channel 16 ng the competence and fi tness of Filipino seafarers onboard and to guarantee Board Resolution No. 06. Karapatan ilang mga Filipino deck offi cers sa ilang to the international maritime communities that the holders of such are Copy of POEA Board Resolution No. ninyo ang benepisyong nakasaad mga barko. Bukod sa magulo madalas 06, Series of 2009 appropriately assessed and certifi cate as required by Article VI of the STCW doon dahil talaga namang napaka-risky ay meron pang nagbabastusan, Convention. kada dumadaan ka sa lugar. Personal nagmumurahan at nanggugulo. kada tumatawid sa Gulf of Aden risk As to his claim that the NAC certifi cate could also be obtained from the kong naranasan ang panganib dahil Minsan may nag-uusap, papasok dun zone ay kinakabahan pero ang iba ay Luneta area, we would like to inform him further that the Maritime Training ang huling barko na nasakyan ko ay at guguluhin. Minsan may tatahol at nagagawa pang magbiro o manloko Council (MTC) has already addressed the problem that erodes the integrity tumatawid tuwina sa risk zone. Pero magme-meow na parang pusa. Minsan sa Channel 16. Huwag po sana nating of our issued certifi cates under the STCW Convention. The portfolio may mga escort naman kaming kasama palalakasin pa ang music. Papapano tularan ang ibang mga marino mula assessment of applicant has put a stop to this unscrupulous practice. mula sa Yemeni navy. naming hindi malalaman na Pilipino e sa ibang bansa sa kanilang mga pag- Also, the MTC has implemented the decentralization of assessment by ang sounds na ginagamit nila aaway at pagmumurahan sa ere. At kung recognizing the assessment system of accredited maritime training centers. e Dayang Dayang o kaya ay maaari ay maging disente sa Channel The certifi ed assessment results become the basis in the issuance of Wonderful Tonight? 16 hindi lang habang nasa Gulf of Aden Certifi cate of Profi ciency. Huwag naman po sana risk zone ngunit sa pangkalahatang The writer has fi nally commented on the manner of assessment at the nilang gawin ito. Biro niyo, nasa biyahe nang sa ganoon ay lalo pang NAC which we would like to emphasize that such is being undertaken strictly Gulf of Aden kayo, ganyan ang gumanda ang imahe ng mga marinong in accordance with the STCW standards. ginagawa ninyo sa Channel 16 Pilipino sa daigdig. Notwithstanding the above, we appreciate and thank the comment of the samantalang napakahalaga Ito po ay paalaala at paglilingkod na writer as his feedback will give the opportunity for MTC to revisit its policy to ng kasangkapan na iyan para rin sa ating mga kapatid sa hanapbuhay continuously improve its manpower services. makaiwas at makatulong sa lalo na yung mga nasa barko na ibang mga barko na makaiwas tuwina’y tumatawid sa Gulf of Aden. Very truly yours, sa banta mula sa mga Somali Happy New Year! pirates. Naturingan pa namang (Sgd) NORIEL P. DEVANADERA, Acting Executive Director, MTC The engine crew of MT Liquid Crystal with their mga deck offi cers kayo. Lubos na gumagalang Yemeni escorts at the Gulf of Aden. Kahit sino sigurong marino (SGD) C/E Arnold Masaoay JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 TINIG NG MARINO 49

ENTERTAINMENT By ARIANNE BLANCHE R. RODRIGUEZ hey say money can never buy class. TIt is inborn. Say Alonzo must’ve been at the right Say Alonzo place when God showered the world Classy Has What with class. Clad in jeans and shirt, she exuded elegance and grace despite the it Takes to Be Durable in Showbiz heat and dirt during the relief goods operations in La Salle Greenhills after the catastrophic Typhoon Ondoy practically submerged many parts of Metro Manila in fl ood waters. Sherylle Ann Alonzo Yutadco fi rst came out in Pinoy Big Brother as one of the fi rst housemates in Bahay ni Kuya. She then came out in different television shows and movies, including the comic-based-movie “Zsa Zsa Zathurna” where she not only showed her comic side but also her singing and dancing talents. Say also came out in indie movies and even took on non-glamorous roles showing her versatility. With her talents, good looks and a bright future in a new network, Say is well on her way to being one of those stars who are remembered until their hairs turn gray.

TNM: What made you decide to join “Pinoy Big Brother?” Say: I wanted to sing on TV and I saw an advertisement for PBB. At that time, the advertisement did not mention Big Brother or anything about it. The advertisement just said “Gusto mo bang sumikat in 100 days? Call 929- KUYA.” So I called and the call center agent asked me questions about life and then she said she would get back to me in three weeks if the “boss” likes my answers.” After three weeks, they called, and scheduled several VTRs and interviews and the rest is history.

TNM: What was it like living in the PBB house? Say: At fi rst it was weird because of all the cameras. But after a while, we got used to it and it was just normal to us.

TNM: How different has your life been since joining PBB? to GMA 7. I love GMA 7 and my new Say: My dream role would be a Say: I’ve been doing what I love to do manager, Rommel Gacho is great. kontrabida in a soap. the most - hosting and acting. So life He is very maalaga and I can talk to has been fun and exciting for me ever him anytime. Just fi nished Stairway to TNM: How do you see yourself since my stint with PBB. Heaven (With Dingdong Dantes and years from now? make up and clothes from Zara. Rhian Ramos). It’s my third soap in Say: Hopefully hosting a morning show TNM: How and with whom would you TNM: From being a private citizen, you GMA 7. My fi rst soap was La Lola (JC or an everyday noontime show. spend your Christmas with? were suddenly a celebrity. How did it De Vera and Rhian Ramos) followed Say: My family. We are going to Hong affect you? by an afternoon soap Dapat Ka Bang TNM: What’s something about you that Kong. Say: It affected me in a positive way. Mahalin (Aljur Abrenica, Kris Bernal people would be surprised to fi nd out? I get to meet people, travel, sing, act and Ara Mina). Say: I love to eat streetfood like isaw, TNM: What’s your fondest Christmas and host for work. So it’s not really work; fi shball, mangga’t bagoong, kwekwek. memory? it’s so much fun. TNM: How do you motivate yourself I love freebies, like free samples Say: Every Christmas is always special. when acting? you see at the mall, perfume, food, My cousins, aunts and uncles join us TNM: From ABS-CBN, you transferred to shampoo. Hahaha! I love to sing in my every Christmas eve and we open our GMA. What made you decide on that? Say: I make sure I read and understand car. I practice my songs for mall shows gifts all together after having noche How do you fi nd your new network? the script before going to the set and if or out of town shows in the car. buena. Say: I decided not to renew my contract I have any questions, I ask the director with Star Magic which is the talent arm or my co-actors. TNM: What are the top three gifts you’d TNM: What is your New Year’s of ABS-CBN because I felt I needed a love to receive this Christmas? resolutions? change and I wanted work so I moved TNM: What’s your dream role? Say: An LV Bag, a Shu Uemura or MAC TURN TO PAGE 56 50 TINIG NG MARINO JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010

NI-RAPE Sis: Hay naku Ate, palpak! Ginanahan pa lalo, eh, Bicolano pala! Maid: Ma’m, ni-rape ako ng magnanakaw kagabi. KATAPUSAN NA Madam: Bakit di ka sumigaw? Maid: Eh, akala ko po si Sir, pero nung Lumindol nang malakas noon.... makadalawa, nagduda na ako! Nagkagulo ang lahat at nag panic! Sumigaw ang isang lalaki...’Katapusan na! Katapusan na!’ Sumagot ang isa pang lalaki .... ‘Tanga! A-kinse pa lang!’

HANGGANG 3 LANG IT’S UP TO YOU MAYAMANG NAGHIRAP

Nanay: Bobo ka talaga! 1 to 10 lang di Mom: “Yaya, magluto ka na pag-alis mo kayang bilangin? ko ha!” Juan: Pare, noong mayaman pa kami, Anak: Mas bobo si tatay nay, kasi Yaya: “Ano po lulutuin ko?” nagkakamay kaming kumain. Ngayong narinig ko minsan sabi, ‘tama na Mom: “It’s up to you.” mahirap na kami, nakakutsara na. inday, hanggang tatlo lang kaya ko.’ (During dinner) Pedro: Baligtad yata? Mom: “Yaya, bakit ketsup at tuyo ang Juan: Mahirap kamayin ang lugaw, ulam?” pare! Yaya: Di ba nung tinanong ko kayo kung anong lulutuin ko, sabi niyo, ‘kitsup tuyo’!” (it’s up to you) LOW-BUDGET AIRLINE I HOROSCOPE Sa isang mumurahing airline ... Sweethearts watching the sky... Stewardess: Sir, would you like some Guy: Ano ang horoscope mo? dinner? Girl: Ano’ng huruskup? Passenger: Ano ba ang mga choices? Guy: Yun bang kapalaran mo, katulad Stewardess: ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ lang po.

PANGARAP ANO ANG PAGKAIN? Toto: Pangarap ko, kumita ng P250,000 Mister: Ano ang pagkain natin? monthly gaya ni Daddy! Misis: Nasa mesa, bahala ka na Juvy: Wow! Ganyan kalaki ang kinikita pumili! ng Daddy mo? Mister: Isang pirasong tuyo? Ano ang Toto: Hindi! Yan din ang pangarap pagpipilian ko? Misis: Pumili ka kung niya! kakain ka o hindi! WALANG SYOTA

Pare1: Pare, bakit naman hanggang ngayon wala ka pang syota? Wala ka pa bang napupusuan? Pare2: Meron. Manhid ka lang!

BOATS

ko, CANCER. DALAWANG MAYABANG Kid: “Yaya look, boats!” Girl: Ah, sa akin ALMORANAS! Yaya: “Dows are not boats, dey’re Usapan ng dalawang mayabang.... . yachts.” BREASTFED Tomas: Ang galing ng aso ko! Tuwing Kid: “Yaya, spell yachts?” umaga, dala niya ang dyaryo sa akin. Yaya: “Yor rayt, dey are boats.” Woman carrying sick baby enters Diego: Alam ko. doctor’s offi ce. Tomas: Ha? Paano mo nalaman? IT’S UP TO YOU Doc: “Bottlefed?” Diego: Ikinukuwento sa akin ng aso NITRATES Woman: “Breastfed po.” ko. (Doctors squeezes woman’s breasts IDD call from US: A Chemistry teacher asked a sexy repeatedly) SILING LABUYO Husband: Hon, musta ang tindahan? student, ‘What are Nitrates? Doc: “Ayan ang problema, wala kang Wife: Department store na! The student replied shyly, ‘Ma’am, gatas, eh.” Ate: Musta date mo sis? Epektib ba Husband: Ang tuba-an? sa motel po. Nitrates are higher than Woman: “Yaya lang po ako doc! payo ko, siling labuyo sa nipples mo Wife: KTV bar na! day rates!’ Yaya!” para di ka galawin ng BF mo? Husband: Ang mga tri-sikad? JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 TINIG NG MARINO 51

Wife: Taxi na! Sir: Good! Anong pinang-tanggal mo?” mine? Stress is when your wife is pregnant. Husband: Ang dalawa kong anak? Yaya: “Gunting, kuya! Gunting! 8. Ice ka ba? Crush kita, okay lang? Tension is when your girlfriend is Wife: Lima na! 9. Suswertihin ka sa pag-ibig ngayong pregnant. taon, pag naging akin ka. And panic is when both are pregnant. 10. Meralco ka ba? Pag ngumiti ka kasi may spark. JOB APPLICANT 11. Bangin ka ba? Nahulog kasi ako sa’yo. Prospective Employer to Applicant: So 12. May butas ba yang puso mo? why did you leave your previous job?” Natrap kasi ako, can’t fi nd my way Applicant: “The company relocated out. and they did not tell me where!” 13. Pustiso ka ba? Kasi I can’t smile without you. BASTOS! 14. Nabibingi ka na ba? Coz my heart has been screaming out your name for quite some time now. Sa isang ospital... 15. Tapos na ba yung exam mo? Para Lola (may cancer): Doc, anong ako naman sagutin mo. gagawin niyo sa akin? MGA PAMATAY NA 16. Ok lang na ako ang magbayad ng Doc : Che-chemo, lola. SOLAR SYSTEM tuition fee mo? Basta pag-aralan mo Lola : T**i mo rin! Bastos ka! Walang PICK-UP LINES lang akong mahalin. modo! We paid for the tuition fee of our yaya’s 17. Alam mo ba na scientist ako? At son. So one day I was reviewing him: 1. Kumain ka ba ng asukal? Ang tamis ikaw yung LAB ko. kasi ng ngiti mo. 18. May lisensya ka ba? Coz you’re “The Earth is the 3rd planet from the 2. I’m a bee, can you be my honey? driving me crazy. sun. Ano ang katabi ng Mercury?” 3. May lahi ka bang keyboard? Type 19. May kilala ka bang gumagawa ng His mom, our yaya, answered: kasi kita. relo? May sira ata relo ko. Pag ikaw “Parang Watson’s yata.” 4. Papupulis kita! Ninakaw mo kasi kasi kasama ko, humihinto ang oras puso ko. ko. GUNTING 5. Are you a dictionary? Coz you add meaning to my life. THREE FEELINGS Sir: “Yaya, natanggal mo yung mantsa 6. I lost my number. Can I have sa barong ko?” yours? What’s the difference between stress, Yaya: “Opo! Tanggal na tanggal! 7. I forgot your name. Can I call you tension and panic? 52 TINIG NG MARINO JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 TINIG NG MARINO 53 C’EST LA VIE Le Cirque du COMELEC FROM PAGE 21 United Filipino Seafarers has a website, a radio program and a newsletter that dialect. Maybe, some say, they are aiming is circulated worldwide. It has also been for brand recall but some are so funny, that a recipient of countless awards and one can even die from laughing their hearts recognized by no less than President Gloria out. Macapagal-Arroyo herself, for promoting Add to this circus is the insistence of and protecting the welfare of the country’s many groups to represent the Warays, “new heroes.” And yet the COMELEC the Bicolanos, the Ilocanos, the Ilonggos insists that it does not exist. and the many other aggrupations in the With 38,000 members whose family country. Don’t these regions have enough members count in the thousands, some representation already? What is the logic clowns in the COMELEC should try their here? “Superfl uous” is a tame word and hand at real arithmetic. Throw in relatives truly defi es credulity. and friends and they can see that this However, there is one group that applied sector indeed needs the representation it for partylist accreditation. It was denied deserves. courtesy of the COMELEC’s clowns who However, the COMELEC’s magic dismissed it with a tart and terse answer: “It potions seem to be working fi ne. Even does not exist!” certifi ed witches who got a chance to take The group is “United Filipino Seafarers,” a whiff of the potions swear on bat wings with 38,000 card-carrying members. The and lizard tails mixed with mandrake root eponymous name has been in existence for that the potions have a complex formula more than 15 years and the group has been that includes 99% money. Hahaha!!!! The quietly carrying the torch for its federation witches turned away shrieking. members. Many more examples have added even Filipino seafarers, some of the best in the more color to the COMELEC’s circus tent. world, have remitted over four billion dollars However, all signs point to the possibility to the country. And it’s been said by the that Le Cirque du COMELEC is here to COMELEC not to exist. Its members can stay. And stay. And as a real, honest-to- only laugh at this latest comic gaffe by the goodness circus, it vows to entertain us for agency. a long time to come. 54 TINIG NG MARINO JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 ON THE BRIDGE OF M/S MMAP RADM. ADONIS B. DONATO, PCGA M.M. Reelected President, Masters and Mates Association of the Philippines (MMAP) Reelected President, Philippine Federation of Professional Associations (PFPA) Outstanding Seafarer of the Year, NSD, 2003 Topnotcher, PMMA Class 67 What the Filipino Seafarers, Our Modern-Day Heroes, Deserve: A Permanent Employment Status ince time immemorial, when the Moreover, after some months working explained above, our OFWs (and I’d like wages, they were also offered standby pay Filipino seafarer began to join the at sea, braving the storms and the intense to specify here) the seafarers have been while on waiting status, return bonuses, Soverseas seafaring profession cold and heat weather conditions, when his regarded and treated as contract workers signing contract bonuses and more – so or vocation he has been regarded as a contract is over, he takes his much needed - and so they are. much so that the employers were plunged CONTRACTUAL EMPLOYEE. This has vacation to enjoy the company of his family In short, there is no legal protection on into a trap (which they themselves made) meant that his wages and benefi ts are only depending on how long can he get another the part of the seafarers when it comes in a game called “ Survival of the Most due and counting for the duration of the employment – and while ashore all this to the matter of continued employment or Generous.” length of his contract. time has no income, while meantime the job security and health and life insurance Meanwhile, the small players in the This also means that the responsibility house bills are piling up for payment. This while on leave or vacation. Of course, manning industry who cannot cope up with of his employer, the ship owner or ship is a very sad and pitiful situation, isn’t it? it is understandable why the overseas this terrible wage and benefi t war lose out manager, toward the seafarer for his It is a well-known and accepted fact that seafarer have remained contractual by in the game and most of them just have to protection and welfare ends when the the OFWs (land-based and sea-based) nature in their employment – it is because close shop. contractual period ends, which normally is have been a vital the employers (Ship Yet in all these unbelievable boosts when the seaman signs-off the vessel or source of the country’s ‘It is a well-known and owners / Managers / for our seafarers, their future still remains as far as he has arrived Manila airport. economic survival for accepted fact that the OFWs Principals) themselves unsecure – because there is no binding Tragically, when he leaves the airport many decades now (land-based and sea-based) who did not want to or legal guarantee for continued lasting and got run over or met road accident on – the billions of dollar employ them on a employment and welfare once they sign- his way home – then technically or legally annual remittances have been a vital source permanent basis for off and be on vacation leave – as their speaking – his erstwhile employer, the ship from our OFWs have of the country’s obvious reasons we employment remains contractual only. owner or crew manager, is no longer liable carried our government economic survival already know. Again, once their contract expires and to cover this case except maybe give some through in times of for many decades now.’ And that is, they leave the vessel to return home, wages, voluntary fi nancial assistance. Likewise, global economic would like only to be life and health insurance are terminated. if he gets sick while on vacation awaiting meltdown as in our present time. responsible and liable for their wages and Subsequently also, the guarantee for the for his next employment, he will not be Needless to say, the accolades given benefi ts while they are working onboard, next employment, even if promised or covered by medical insurance by the them by calling our OFWs “ang mga and not after their disembarkation and planned by the employer, is not legally previous employer as his contract is already bagong bayani” is just but fi tting and repatriation home. existing – until he signs another contract expired (unless of course, if he signed off appropriate according them due respect is But that may be a thing of the past for another specifi ed period. or repatriated under medical condition then only but fair. now. Time has changed since the past But going back to the what the employers he is covered through so-called P & I cover Unfortunately, however, the reality of two decades when worldwide shipping / ship owners are giving our seafarers which is a mutual indemnity club where the the situation seems not to favor our OFWs began to boom in unprecedented heights. now, particularly the offi cers, aside from said ship owner is a member paying his in terms of their welfare and job security. The sudden surge of new ship buildings high wages, like leave pay, standby pay, dues for the said protection). For since the beginning, as I have already coupled with the natural attrition for retiring return bonus, signing bonus, pension plan, European senior ship medicare plan, and others – are these offi cers brought about all in essence not having the effect of a a global shortage of permanent employment? marine offi cers. Just like in our case – my company, And by God’s grace, OSM Maritime Services, Inc. – we have the Filipino seafarers for the past two years started to give the especially offi cers following benefi ts to our seafarers: pension suddenly became or retirement plan, where we build pension a prized commodity or retirement funds for our seafarers and the Philippines (coming from our own company funds and became the manning no contribution from seafarers) and they capital of the world are paid correspondingly to their length of until now. Needless service with our fl eet. to say, the shortage of We also came up with the OSM Extended offi cers brought about Health Insurance for our seafarers – where what you may call we cover our seafarers with life, accident “fi erce competition” and health insurance while on vacation among the manning or leave ashore, on training or company companies – ship assignment onboard or offi ce abroad. This owners and principals also extends to the seafarers immediate unwillingly engaged family, i.e., wife and children which would themselves into cover them for heath treatment even of a wage war, with very serious illness like cancer up to US$ soaring high wages 1 million. for offi cers which Aside from these, we have the other even a shipmaster benefi ts like standby pay and return like me way back bonuses. In essence, therefore, all these in our sailing years benefi ts and insurances that we in OSM would have imagined are according our seafarers are tantamount could be in the market to giving them a permanent employment today. status – because we cover them both while In addition to the TURN TO PAGE 52 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 TINIG NG MARINO 55

he word ‘leader’ comes from Lord which meant, in Old Norse, the path of a ship PUNTO DE VISTA Tat sea. The leader was the captain who, in Viking days, was usually the steersman and By PAUL ESBER navigator as well. Auditor, United Filipino Seafarers A President governing a country is like [email protected] a captain steering a ship which requires competency and mastery to the precise meaning of a seaworthy ship. The Nautical Institute of London, England Choosing Our Leaders defi nes a seaworthy ship must be fi t in relation to its hull and machinery, its holds and equipment, not even include expenses of legislators as under the Department of Transportation and The Vessel Traffi c System is based upon AIS and its manning and shipboard procedure. The committee members and offi cers which is over Communication as an attached agency. It is using global positioning system and very high vessel must be in good condition and must 92 million pesos. responsible for the fi nancing, management, frequency radio. An AIS transponder can both have every need in order to perform its task We the politically-aware citizens are not and operation of public ports throughout the complement shore-based radar and operate properly. surprised why so many groups are pretending Philippines. independently. It will operate simultaneously in I believe that if the paying passengers to be marginalized sectors. Some partylist At last, after 10 years the PPA and the two modes, ship-to-shore and shore- to-ship. deserve a seaworthy ship, we Filipino taxpayers groups have become a ‘prostitutionalized.’ Philippine Coast Guard signed the Memorandum It can transmit position reports, names of ship deserve also a worthy government that will Some traditional politicians are behind in of Agreement on the joint manning of the and call signs, ship headings, course, speed, serve and protect its people and its natural bastardizing the partylist to be able to land a Vessel Traffi c Management System (VTMS) hazardous cargo type, and other statistics and resources. Its structure must be based on seat in Congress at the Port of District of Manila and Batangas. dynamics. the people’s will and aspirations. It should be The Commission on Elections decision The MoA provides specifi c guidelines on the The International Association of Lighthouse a government of the people led by honorable to exclude UFS as legitimate party list responsibilities of the PPA and PCG in terms of Authorities (IALA) and IMO defi ne VTS as a men who could be heroes in their actions organization is an insult to the Maritime sector. management, supervision and operation. service implemented by a competent authority, and have the political will to eradicate graft For COMELEC to say that UFS never existed The collision incident between the steel- designed to improve safety and effi ciency of and corruption, political dynasty, wardlordism, is a plain stupidity of the Commissioner. It only hulled fi shing vessel FB Anatalia and the vessel traffi c and to protect the environment. private armies, bureaucrat capitalism, poverty, shows that they did not carefully scrutinized wooden-hulled ferry boat MV Catalyn B on The service should have the capability to and injustice. As Thomas Macaulay (1880- the track record, mission and vision and the December 24, 2009 and the sinking of the roro interact with the traffi c and respond to the 1864) said: “That is the best government which nationwide visibility of the UFS. vessel MV Baleno 9 on December 26, 2009 situation developing in the VTS area. desires to make people happy and knows how UFS is an independent maritime labor are concrete proofs that the kind of VTMS The VTS concept has been expanded into to make them happy.” federation established on December 12, 1994 installed in Manila port could not help much in a Vessel Traffi c Management Service which has ******* and registered with the Department of Labor distress situation. the intention to minimize risk for safety and the The May 10, 2010 national election is crucial and Employment. Under the leadership of Engr. The VTMS equipment purchased by our environment. To my simple mind the success and the last alternative for a peaceful change. Nelson Ramirez, UFS has been consistent government has limited capabilities. The power- of this system using modern technology for the The Philippine government is likened to a with its broad and unwavering advocacy for driven vessels tracked by radar of VTMS were safety of navigation and the modernization of passenger ship that is taking water faster. The seafarers’ right and welfare. It has a globally- in a crossing situation with the risk of collision our ports and harbors will still depend on the ship of state is sinking while the ship captain circulated Filipino maritime newspaper known but the VTMS operator failed to use the VHF leadership of the PPA. continues to give assurance from the helm even as Tinig ng Marino. How come the COMELEC to warn the vessels that they were about to The PPA priority objective of completing the if it is heading to the path of a super typhoon. says that UFS never existed? collide. modernization of lat east 10 ports by 2010 must The candidate that we should choose must How could we expect a credible election In almost all maritime countries in the be accomplished regardless of who will be next be prepared to correct the course and keep the when we have myopic and corrupt offi cials in world, their VTMS capabilities can prevent PPA general manager. ship from sinking. The survival of the Republic the COMELEC? Anyway, the track record of ship collision, assist in search and rescue, We can say that choosing who will the next is at stake therefore we should all be politically this commission has been proven for rigging and protect the environment. What about President of the Philippines be will affect the correct voters to be able to choose the best the result of the 2004 national elections in in our country? Is it true that sophisticated kind of leaders that will be appointed as the leaders that will be serve as mayors, district Maguindanao with the help of the Ampatuans. and modern equipment like GMDSS, VTMS, next PPA general manager considering that representatives, partylist representatives, The people of Mindanao could not accept that Doppler radar and others could be acquired? this position is co-terminous with he term of the Senators, Vice President, and President. their idol Fernando Poe Jr. got zero votes in Only if there is overpricing and the primary President. Let us make the change we have As we belong to the seafaring sector, it Maguindanao. purpose of maintaining safety of life is only always wanted to happen by correctly choosing easy for us to use the analogy of mismanaged Majority of the people at present are expecting secondary? our leaders. government to an unseaworthy ship thus the possibility of failure choosing the right partylist that will represent of elections and people us in Congress to legislate laws for the benefi t power. If this will be of stakeholders in the maritime industry is our the scenario the only primary responsibility. agency to be blamed Let us remember that the partylist was the is none other than the product of our participation during the 1986 COMELEC. Edsa Revolution. It is the political gain of our ******* sector not only for the credit of cause-oriented What will happen and civil society groups. The partylist system is if a ship carrying included in the framing of the 1987 Constitution. toxic chemicals Article VI states that: Marginalized sector of and ammunition the Philippine society should be represented is approaching a in Congress. It listed 12 sectors like the urban Philippine port? poor, fi shermen, labor, farmers, elderly, youth, The vessel traffi c women, indigenous people, overseas workers operator notices a new and other sectors not represented in Congress. target on his radar The Partylist shall constitute 20% of the total screen but there is no number of representatives. It should obtain 2% call from that ship. He total votes of the Partylist system with three- tries to call the ship but year term and allowing a maximum of three there is no response. seats. This is a situation that Each Partylist candidate is entitled to 70 prompted shipping million pesos yearly pork barrel (20 million for regulatory bodies to priority development assistance and 50 million acquire the Automatic for public works projects). The monthly salary Identifi cation System of the representatives is negligible however (AIS) which started according to the Commission on Audit (COA), in European and six million pesos is allocated for foreign travel, American ports in district staff allocation, contractual consultancy, 1999. research, local travel, communication , The Philippine Ports supplies, public affairs fund, central offi ce staff, Authority (PPA) is a equipment/furniture and fi xtures. government-owned and The COA list is not comprehensive and does controlled corporation 56 TINIG NG MARINO JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010

Classy Say Alonzo PISOBILITIES Has What It Takes to Be Durable Ano Nga Ba Talaga ang Kayamanan in Showbiz at Paano Mo Malalaman na Mayaman Ka? FROM PAGE 45 FROM PAGE 25 munang makakasabay ang paglago nito sa NATION o OWN, LIBRE lamang ito! Say: I always Kailangan nating matutunang paghandaan bilis ng infl ation. Halimbawa, kung ilalagay Makakatanggap ka ng impormasyon at make some ang ating kinabukasan, pero hindi ito mo lang ang ipon mo sa ordinaryong pamamaran upang maging mas madali New Year’s madaling gawin. Kailangan ng disiplina at savings account sa bangko na di hamak na ang pamumuhunan ng kahit maliliit na resolutions but determinasyon; kailanga’y buo ang loob mas mababa ang interes sa infl ation rate, halaga, saan ka man sa mundo! Puntahan I end up not natin. hindi ’yan lalago at ika’y malulugi pa nga; ang www.onewealthynation.com o i- following them para kang nag-ipon nang paurong. text ang: OWNREGPangalan/ so I might as Maging fi nancially-independent Paano nga ba malalaman kung mas Apelyido/Kasarian/Kaarawan(mmddyyyy)/ well not make Ang magandang balita kahit na gaano mataas sa infl ation rate ang interes ng KumpletongTirahan/pumili ng iyong one. pa kaliit ang iyong kinikita, kaya mong investment mo? sariling 4 digit na password. Ipadala sa masuportahan ang iyong pamumuhay Kung halimbawa ang implasyon ay 0917 8537333 TNM: What’s — at magsimulang paghandaan ang pitong porsyento kada taon at ang kinikita Example: your message kinabukasan mo at ng iyong pamilya. mo sa savings o time deposit ay 4 porsyento OWNREG Juan Dela Cruz/ to all your fans? Ang kailangan lang ay sapat na kaalaman lang, ang halaga ng pera mo ay bababa Male/09271987/#2 Pag-asa...City/2873 Say: Thank you so much for all the tungkol sa paghawak ng pera at sa ng 3 porsyento bawat taon. Pakaunti nang Paalala: Hindi puwede ang support. I hope to meet you all someday pagpapalago nito. pakaunti ang makakayang bilhin nito. Kaya magkakasunod (1234) o pare-parehong and I hope to visit you there wherever Kayang-kaya mong abutin ang ang dapat na maging tanging layunin mo (1111) numero para sa PIN. Huwag you are. Thank you very much and I kasaganaang pinansiyal. Ang unang sa pamumuhunan ay ang kumita nang higit gagamit ng number zero 0 para sa letter O hope you watch out for me in GMA-7 hakbang ay maghanap ng trabaho o kahit sa infl ation rate. sa OWNREG. shows. God Bless you all! anong mapagkakakitaan. Mayroon na ka Saan mo nga ba puwedeng ilagak ang na noon kaya’t laging magtatabi ng isang pera mo para kumita ng higit sa implasyon? Si Francisco J. Colayco ay isang ON THE BRIDGE parte ng iyong sahod. Ito ang sinasabi Sa panahong ito, mayroon kang puwedeng entrepreneur, venture developer at kong “Pay yourself fi rst.” pagpilian. Isa na ’yung pagpapautang fi nancial advisor. Siya ang Chairman OF M/S MMAP Ang itinatabi mo ay ang bayad mo sa sa gobyerno o pagbili ng tinatawag na ng Colayco Foundation for Education iyong sarili. Tandaan, ang ipon mo ang una Treasury Bills (T-Bills) o Treasury Bonds at may-akda ng tatlong bestsellers: mong puhunan tungo sa pangmatagalang (T-Bonds) na maituturing na promissory Wealth Within Your Reach (tinanghal What the Filipino kasaganaan. notes o IOU ng gobyerno. Mayroon ring na 2004 Book of the Year for Business Ang mas maganda pang balita, kahit na Mutual Funds at Unit Investment Trust and Economics), Making Your Money Seafarers gaano pa kaliit ang naitatabi ngayon, basta Funds (UITF). Work (nominado bilang 2005 Book of hindi pumapalya sa pag-iipon araw-araw o Maaari mo ring isama ang pera mo sa the Year for Business and Economics), Deserve buwan-buwan, okey lang. ‘Di magtatagal pera ng iba pang investors para lumaki Pera Palaguin Workbook at ngayon ay mapalalago ’yan. Magugulat ka na ang iyong kapital katulad ng sa KsKCoop. ang Money for Kids. Para sa iba pang FROM PAGE 50 lang isang araw kapag binilang mo ang Sa ganitong paraan, mas marami kang impormasyon tungkol sa kaniyang onboard and ashore on leave with wages lahat ng iyong naipon na sapat na pala puwedeng paglagakan ng iyong puhunan. mga itinuturo at adhikain, pumunta and benefi ts on a continuing basis. ito para gamiting puhunan. Ito ang paraan Maraming kaalamang pinansyal ang sa www.colaycofoundation.com o di However well-meaning is our intention para mapalago ang ipon, at magkaroon mababasa mo dito sa Tinig ng Marino kaya’y magpadala ng e-mail sa info@ to give our seafarers a sort of permanent ng panghabambuhay na kayamanan. at sumali ka rin sa ONE WEALTHY colaycofoundation.com. employment status, one important legal Kayang-kaya mo instrument is only lacking - and that is the ’to — kailangan POEA Employment Contract for Permanent lang magplano at Employment. magtiyaga, at higit This is what we are now working on with sa lahat, magsimula the POEA in order to formalize our hiring of nang mamuhunan seafarers in the permanent status nature. sa lalong madaling While there may be a ruling from pahahon. Supreme Court in one case that said Ang susunod na seafarers are contractual workers - this tanong ay, saan mo may be so, but what was the term of nga ba dapat i-invest reference used by the Supreme Court in ang naipon mo? making the judgment? Pero bago mo Is it not the POEA Standard Employment gawin ’yan, ilan Contract which specifi ed a fi xed period of munang paalala. employment, thus it became contractual? Ang halaga ng pera But as far as I can tell, I have not seen yet ay nagbabago sa a law that says that seafarers cannot be pagdaan ng panahon. employed on a more permanent status ’Yung dating mabibili – if it is so desired and agreed by both the sa piso, ngayon employer and the seafarer? puwedeng dalawang May all the stakeholders of the maritime piso na. Ang ganitong industry – both government, led by the pagtaas ng presyo DOLE, and the private sector led by ay tinatawag na manning companies and their principals infl ation o implasyon. look more into the dignity, welfare and Nangyayari ito kahit protection of our bagong bayanis, the saan sa mundo, sa seafarers, by giving them what they have iba’t-ibang uri ng been so deserving for many years now – a ekonomiya. Kaya permanent employment status! kung ii-invest mo God bless at mabuhay ang marinong ang pera mo, dapat Pinoy! siguraduhin mo JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 TINIG NG MARINO 57

mga marino para hindi sila aalis ng inyong kumpanya pagkatapos ng kanilang mga kontrata. Tayo namang mga marino kapag nakasakay na, huwag reklamador lalo na sa mga bagong salta, na bukod sa ubod ng reklamador ay kadalasan ay tamad at magugulang pa. Sana tanggalin natin ang ugaling ganito sa barko. Magtrabaho na lang nang maayos para maayos din ang inyong mga appraisal reports. Marami po talagang mga bagong salta na ganito kaya sa mga makakabasa nito na ganito ang ugali baguhin ninyo na habang maaga. Nandito tayo para magtrabaho at hindi para mag- reklamo. Tangalin natin ang MRT na pag-uugali - magulang, reklamador, at tamad. Mag-aral na lang kayo para mabilis kayong umasenso, at matuto rin kayong rumespeto sa mga offi cers ninyo lalo na iyong mga dumaan pa sa pag-u-utility. Dapat mas marunong kayo sa aspeto ng pagre-respeto kasi nag-aral at nag-traning kayo. Pero kadalasan, pagsampa ng mga ganitong uri sa barko kapag tawagin ang kanilang mga Mga Napapakong Pangako offi cers, posisyon lang ang tawag. Nahihirapang bigkasin ang salitang ‘Sir,’ na hindi naman Meron akong kuwento tungkol sa mga manning companies na kadalasan ay gumagawa nakapagpapabawas ng kanilang pagkalalaki o di kaya’y suweldo nila o maging pagkatao pa ng mga ganito upang makumbinsi nila ang mga seaman na magtrabaho sa kanila lalo na ang nila. mga senior offi cers. Naranasan ko na rin ito minsan. Kapag marunong kayong rumespeto, pupurihin pa kayo ng mga opisyales ninyo. Sa mga Aalukin ka na isasakay ang iyong ratings at mga junior offi cers na marunong rumespeto sa kanilang mga senior recomendee pero kapag nakasakay ka offi cers, saludo ako sa inyo. Ipagpatuloy ninyo ang magandang ugali. Sa mga na sa kanilang barko, kakalimutan na makabasa nito na hindi marunong rumespeto may panahon pa para magbago. nila ang kanilang pangako sa seaman. Yan lang ang mapapayo ko sa inyo mga kabaro ko. God bless and bon voyage to Magre-report ang mga recomendees sa you all. – C/E Arnold Masaoay kanilang opisina pero hind man lang nila tatawagin kaya buong maghapon itong Tumpak lahat ang iyong mga salaysay Arnold ukol sa mga pangako at nakaupo at maghihintay ng tawag. panggigipit ng ilang mga manning agencies. At tama rin ang iyong mga Minsan sasabihan na lang na patuloy pangaral at payo sa ating mga kabarong marino. Nawa’y dumami pa ang lang mag-report sa opisina pero hindi isang katulad mo na hindi lang pansarili ang iniisip kundi ang kabutihan ng iba rin naman nila isasakay. Masaklap din at ng industriya. - Editor para sa mga inirekomenda pero mas masaklap sa mga senior offi cers na nag-rekomenda dahil kahit na luma o Avid UFS supporter, C/E Arnold Masaoay (seated, third from left), Walang Humpay na bulok na barko ang mamanduhan nila, leads the Filipino crew of MT Liquid Crystal, manned by BSM Crew gagawin nila makasampa lang ang Service Centre Philippines, Inc. Seated with C/E Masaoay from left are C/M B. Bactol, 2/E R. Santiago AB Ariel ‘Fing Lakson’ Vista, AB kanilang rekomendado. Pasasalamat Tol J. Mortel, Oiler Sevillano, and Pumpman A. Ferrer. Standing at Kaya payo ko lang sa inyo mga the back from left are Fitter R. Juada, 3/M Polante, AB Fortit, M/M Good day Sir Nelson at Ma’am Marilyn, pati na sa mga staff na sina Ma’am kabaro lalo na yung mga senior offi cers, Rosales, OS Chua, Chief Cook Englisa, Oiler Baricuatro Oiler Bigboy Cherry at Ma’am Maricar. Gusto ko rin po sanang batiin ang mga kasamahan ko pag-isipan din natin bago tayo pumayag J. Lacorte, 3/E Mendoza and 4/E Macabale. na mga cadet volunteers na sa kasalukuyan ay naririyan pa. Sana lagi kayong sa mga alok ng mga manning agencies nasa wastong pangangatawan at buo ang loob sa pagtitiyaga at pagsisikap upang dahil marami kasing makakapal ang magampanan ninyo ng mabuti ang inyong mga tungkulin diyan. mukha na mangako kapag kailangan Makakaasa kayo na maaabot ninyo ang gusto ninyong makamtan sa buhay nila tayo hindi naman nila sinusunod sa tulong ng ating matatag at matibay na UFS. Sana lagi kayong mabait diyan pagkatapos. at sumusunod sa anumang utos kasi ang lahat ng pinagsisikapan ninyo diyan ay Iyong ibang mga kumpanya naman, magbubunga rin ng maganda sa kalaunan. hahawakan ang mga papeles ng mga Sir, unang-una po sa lahat ako po’y buong-pusong nagpapasalamat seaman at aabutin ng isang buwan o sa Panginoon dahil hindi po niya binigo ang mga panalangin ko na makasakay mahigit pa. Natutulog ang mga papeles sa unang pagkakataon at maging ganap na marino. Nagpapasalamat din po ako sa opisina nila. Kawawa naman ang sa inyo Sir dahil isa kayo sa naging paraan ng ating Panginoon para makamtan mga seaman na iniipit ang mga papeles. ko ang aking mithiin. Papangakuan na isasakay pero wala Sana po Sir ay marami pa kayong matulungan na mga taong naghahangad na naman. Ngayon, pag-i-wi-withdraw na ng makasakay ng barko lalong-lalo na po ‘yung mga wala pang experience katulad seaman ang kanyang mga dokumento, ko. ang dami ng dahilan. Nasasayang tuloy Habang isinusulat ko po ang liham na ito, kasalukuyang naka-angkorahe ang ang oras at panahon kaya pati pamilya aming barko dito sa Singapore, habang nag-aantay ng susunod naming proyekto. ng marino, nagugutom at nababaon din The full crew of MT Liquid Crystal, all supporters of UFS, including Ang nasakyan ko pong barko ay isang supply vessel sa kumpanya ng Maersk sa utang. (standing, from left) Pumpman. A. Ferrer, AB A. Fortid, 3/M F. Polante, Line. Sa katunayan ang pangalan ng barko namin ay Maersk Assister. May mga senior offi cers naman na CM B. Bactol, 2/E R. Santiago, Oiler A. Baricuatro, AB Ariel ‘Fing Sa palagay ko po Sir ay hindi niyo na ako natatandaan. Dati po akong steward lubog na rin ng malaki sa mga pautangan Lakson’ Vista, C/E Arnold Masaoay, Chief Cook Gani Englisa, Fitter ng UFS noong taong 2006 hanggang sa inirekomenda niyo po ako sa unang kaya no choice sila kundi maghintay na R. Juada. Squatting from left are: AB Tol Mortel. M/M J. Rosales, Oiler manning agency na Unicol Management Services. At sa kadahilanan nga ng Sevilleno, Oiler Bigboy J. Lacorte, 3/E J. Mendoza, OS Chua, and 4/E maisakay ng kumpanyang nang-iipit problema sa nasabing kumpanya, ako ay inilipat niyo sa Maersk Line. J. Macabale. ng kanilang mga dokumento kasi wala Ipinagmamalaki ko po Sir na naging kabilang ako sa hanay ng UFS. Sir, uulitin silang ibang mahahanapan ng pambayad para sa mga inutang nila. ko po sa inyo ang walang humpay na pasasalamat at sa mga bumubuo ng samahang UFS, Iyong ibang kumpanya naman, hindi ibibigay ang leave pay pag hindi ibibigay ng marino ang maraming-maraming salamat po. God bless you all. – Steward Reyjie M. Banga mga papeles niya. Segurista para hindi maghanap ng ibang manning agencies ang kanilang mga marino. Puwede ba ito? Reyjie, kahit marami Ito raw ay patakaran ng kumpanya. Pera na ng marino na pinaghirapan, pahihirapan pa nang nagdaan na cadet- siyang makuha ito? Hindi tama ang gawaing ito. volunteers dito sa UFS, May karapatan ang mga marino na pumili sa kanilang gusto. Kung ayaw na nila sa isang tinitiyak ko sa iyong kumpanya, karapatan nilang umalis lalo’t wala silang anumang obligasyon dito. E bakit natatandaan ko pa ang kailangan pa ng iba na panghawakan ang mga dokumento ng marino kapalit ang pagbibigay karamihan sa kanila, ng leave pay? hindi man sa pangalan, Ang masasabi ko lang mga kabaro puwede nating kunin ang leave pay natin na hindi nakakatiyak naman ako kailangang ibigay ang ating mga papeles. Anumang gagawin ng anumang manning agencies sa mukha. Natatandaan na pang-iipit ng dokumento ay labag sa batas at dapat isuplong sa kinauukulan. kita dahil sa mahaba- ‘Yung iba naman kasing mga kumpanya, sa barko na ibinibigay ang leave pay. Sinasabay haba mong pinagdaanan na nila sa suweldo kaya pagbaba ng marino pagkatapos ng kanyang kontrata, wala nang na proseso at kami’y kukunin pa sa opisina. Mas tama ang sistemang ganyan kasi hindi nila iniipit ang kanilang natutuwa na nagbunga na mga seaman. rin ang iyong pagtitiyaga at Ang payo ko lang sa mga crewing managers at mga gumagawa ng pang-iipit ng mga Former UFS volunteer Steward Reyjie Banga proudly showing pagsusumikap. Ipagpatuloy dokumento ng mga marino, huwag naman sana ganito kasi karamihan naman sa kanila bago a copy of Tinig ng Marino. With him at the background are the mo lang iyan at siguradong naging crewing managers ay sumakay din ng barko kaya naranasan din nila ang hirap sa four other Filipino crew of MV Maersk Assister including Chief malayo ang iyong pagbabarko, Cook Roberto Manuel, Chief Cook Froilan Sandiego, Steward mararating bilang marino. Sa mga opisyales ng mga manning agencies at crewing managers, alagaan niyo ang inyong Leandro Gumban, and Steward Jimmy Baguio. - Editor 58 TINIG NG MARINO JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010 Mga Natutunan sa ‘Bahay ni Kuya’ Good day Sir Nelson. I trust that everything is well with you and your family and also all the UFS and Tinig ng Marino staff and the UFS cadet volunteers. I hope you are all in good health and happy. Lagi ko po kayong ipinagdarasal na lagi sana kayong nasa mabuting kalagayan at bigyan pa kayo ng mahabang buhay ng Poong Maykapal at malakas na pangangatawan para marami pa po kayong matulungan at mabigyan ng magagandang aral na mga bagitong marino na talaga namang malaki ang naitutulong sa mga nag-uumpisa pa lamang katulad ko. Unang barko ko pa lang po ito Sir sa Wallem. Kasalukuyan po akong nakasakay dito sa MV Condor 1, isang containership. Nine months na po ako dito sa barko. Habang isinusulat ko ang liham kong ito, naririto po kami sa Itajai, Brazil. Ang biyahe po namin ay Luanda, Angola Proud to Drumbeat UFS’ Works – Santos, Brazil – Buenos Aries, Argentina at Itajai Brazil. How are you Sir? Hope you’re always fi ne and in good health. I know marami po kayong Okay naman po ako dito Sir. Sa una po medyo nahirapan po ako mag-adjust kasi ako po ang ginagawa sa araw-araw na pakikibaka para sa ating lokal na industriya maritima. Alam naming pinakabata dito. Lahat po sila mga pamilyadong tao na. Sa awa po ng Diyos, naging masaya lahat Sir na para po sa kabutihan ng ating mga kabaro at ng industriya ang mga ginagawa at maganda naman po ang samahan ninyo. namin dito. Gusto pa nga po ng mga Our Almighty God will always bless your day-to-day endeavors. He would also give you opisyal dito na mag-extend pa raw ako. strength, good health and happy life together with your beloved wife, Ma’am Marilyn and your Masaya po ako kasi nagugustuhan nila entire family. ‘yung trabaho at mga ginagawa ko dito. I remember before when I started as one of UFS cadet volunteers. There were so many Iyun po ang natutunan ko sa inyo Sir, things I learned from UFS and I appreciate all the support that you have extended me. That’s na kailangan mahalin mo ang iyong why I’m very proud to be a part of the United Filipino Seafarers (UFS) and I am always eager trabaho para maging magaan at madali to share my experience as a UFS cadet volunteer in every ship that I happen to work at. Most, ang lahat. if not all, of my colleagues appreciate the work that our union has been doing for their cause. Lubos po akong nagpapasalamat You know Sir, my colleagues appreciated all the copies of Tinig ng Marino I brought for sa inyo Sir dahil marami po akong them when I boarded the ship. They are all hoping that we get to receive every issue of our natutunan sa UFS na nagamit ko dito newspaper. Thus far, we are receiving copies of Tinig ng Marino every issue and we thank sa pagbabarko .Nung pumasok po ako you for making sure of that Sir. Everyone is always looking to read the Gitik-Gitik Ginagmay sa UFS, pakiramdam ko pumasok ako section because it always puts a smile on our faces. Former UFS cadet volunteer Jhob Malvar (standing, in sa Bahay ni Kuya sa Pinoy Big Brother Thank you very Sir Nelson. Sana po marami pa kayong matulungan na kagaya ko na black and proudly holding a copy of Tinig ng Marino) e. Hehehe. Nakaka-challenge. naghahangad lang dati na maging isang ganap na marino. Sa mga UFS cadet volunteers na is shown with fellow crew members of MV Condor 1. Kinakabahan ako nun lalo na nang nandidiyan pa, sipag. tiyaga at pag-aaral lang ang inyong magiging puhunan. Pagbutihin ang naging leader pa ako ng mga cadet volunteers, Hindi ko alam kung paano hawakan at bawat trabaho ninyo at sigurado akong kayo na rin and susunod na makakasampa ng barko. disiplinahin iyung mga kapwa kong volunteers, pero sa awa ng Diyos, nagampanan ko naman More power to UFS and to Tinig ng Marino! To the UFS staff and the volunteers, my best at naging masaya yung batch namin. Marami akong natutunan, hindi lang tungkol sa good regards to all and also to NFD International Manning Agency, Inc. Please extend my regards leadership kundi lalong nahubog ang aking pagkatao. as well to my beloved wife, Riza A. Sarmiento and my family, the UFS boys of 510, 309, 303, Hindi ko akalain na sa UFS ko pala lalong madedevelop yung pagkatao at pag-uugali ko, 203 of Plaza Towers and Gedisco 402. Kita-kits na lang tayo soon. – AB Roger P. Sarmiento, ang maging matured at kung paano makisama sa mga taong iba-ibang pag-uugali at iba-ibang MT Altius probinsyang pinanggalingan. Naging masaya po ako nung pumasok ako sa UFS. Thank you Roger for proudly sharing the work of the UFS for our industry with your fellow Naging magaan para sa aking ang trabaho ko dito sa barko at naging madali para sa Filipino seafarers. It is also important that they are updated on the developments in our akin makisama dahil po ‘yun sa inyo Sir at siyempre dahil din sa mga UFS staff na laging industry because it would surely help them in charting their careers as mariners. Keep up nandidiyan para sumuporta at tumulong sa aming mga kadete. Salamat din sa mga kapwa the good work onboard. – Editor kong mga volunteers. Minsan nga po Sir, may nagtanong sa aking kung ano naman daw ang nakuha at natutunan ko sa pagpasok ko sa UFS. Sabi ko sa kanila kung ano ako ngayon, ‘yun ay dahil sa UFS.Naging mabuting tao at marunong sa buhay dahil isa kaya ako sa mga Taglay ang Tatak-UFS naging anak ni Sir Nelson. Maraming-maraming salamat po Sir! Good day po Sir Nelson. Si Ryan Oafericua po ito alyas Buddha. Nandito po ako ngayon Nagpapasalamat din po ako sa Wallem Maritime Services, sa aking Crewing Manager na si sa Singapore, nakasakay sa MSC Calcutta. Pangalawang liham ko na po ito Sir at sana po ay Sir James Estrada, Ma’am Angel ng Recruitment Department at kay Sir George Asuncion pati mailabas po ito sa ating Tinig ng Marino para naman ma-inspire po ako. na rin sa lahat ng staff ng Wallem. Noon po ay pangarap kong makasakay ng barko pero nanatiling pangarap iyon dahil hindi UFS is the best and I am proud to be member and be part of Tinig boys. Thank you so much ako matanggap-tanggap ng mga manning agencies. Dahil sa patuloy kong pagdarasal at Sir Nelson sa pagtanggap ninyo sa amin. Sana po ay hindi po kayo magsawa na tumulong at tulong ninyo at ng UFS, nakasakay na ako at unti-unti ko nang nararamdaman na napapasaya magbigay ng magagandang payo sa mga seaman lalo na sa mga nagsisimula pa lamang. ko na ang aking pamilya. Ang sarap po talaga ng feeling na malamang nakakatulong ka na sa Ang maipapayo ko lang sa mga UFS cadet volunteers na naririyan pa, kaunting tiyaga, iyong pamilya. pagtitiis at pagsisikap lang, at makakamit nyo rin ang mga pangarap nyo. Huwag lang kayong Dahil sa tatak-UFS na aking taglay hawak ang puhunan kong sipag, tiyaga at determinasyon, makakalimot sa Itaas at sa pinanggalingan ninyo. Matuto kayong makinig sa mga pangaral ni na-promote ako bilang Oiler matapos lang ang pitong buwan. Muli, maraming-maraming Sir dahil lahat ng sinasabi niya ay para sa inyong kabutihan. Galingan niyo na lang at mahalin salamat sa inyo Sir at pakipahatid na lang ng aking pagbati sa lahat ng mga staff at cadet nyo kung ano ginagawa niyo dyan. Good luck and God bless us all. – Jhob Malvar Jr. volunteers ng UFS na naririyan pa. – Ryan Oafericua Maraming salamat sa iyong paghahambing Jhob sa Bahay ni Kuya sa UFS dahil halos Nailathala na sa Tinig ng Marino ang iyong unang liham Ryan at natutuwa kamng malaman ganun din naman talaga ang sitwasyon ng mga kadete na naninilbihan sa ating unyon. na unti-unti ka nang umaasenso bilang marino dahil sa taglay mong tatak-UFS. Ipagpatuloy Wala tayong ibang hangad kundi ang matuto ang lahat nang sa ganun ay magamit nila itong mo lang ang iyong mabuting gawain sa barko at sigurado kaming malayo pa ang iyong mabuti sa oras na sila ay tumuntong sa barko. Natutuwa rin kami na malaman na nagagamit mararating. - Editor mo na ang iyong natutunan sa UFS sa iyong trabaho diyan sa barko. - Editor

;PROVOCATIVE ;INFORMATIVE Now available in selected newsstands in Manila!Subscribe Published now every to two Tinig months, ng Tinig Marino! ng Marino is also distributed in more than 400 ports and hundreds of seamen’s centers and Filipino-manned vessels around the world. Single copies (Air Mail) ;RELEVANT Name:______Metro Manila-Php 35 Province-Php 45 ;CONTROVERSIAL Asia - U.S$ 4.00; Europe - U.S$6.00 Address :______Africa - U.S$6.50 ;ENTERTAINING IMPORTANT: Please make cheque bank draft payable to the United Filipino Seafarers, One year rates: (6 issues, Air Mail) Room 402, GediscoTerrace Building, 1148 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, Philippines Philippines:P300.00 Asia - US$24.00 seafarers’ newspaper 1000 Europe - US$36.00;l Africa - US$39.00 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2009 TINIG NG MARINO 59 60 TINIG NG MARINO SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2009