www.facebook.com/PTCHoldings

2/2019 Volume 15 Issue 2

PTC Imagineers the Future as it Marks 40th Anniversary Honoring a legacy in maritime, PTC marked its 40th founding anniversary with an ever greater commitment to contribute to nation building and to empower the communities it serves. Converging last February 19 at the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart in San Antonio Village, Makati, the PTC Group commemorated the occasion with a holy mass celebrated by Fr. Tito Caluag.

“Finding opportunities where people see problems, fostering dreams where people feel despair…that is part of the DNA of PTC. That is the spirit that you have grown over the last 40 years. Now, as we face the coming decades, you are most needed again to fulfill a mission for our country,” said Fr. Caluag to the employees during his homily. “With the future of work changing at a very rapid pace as a result of the 4th industrial revolution, it is predicted that by 2020, a third of the present skill sets of jobs will need to be replaced entirely,” he continued. “By the time that they graduate, two-thirds of present Kindergarten students will be taking on jobs that do not yet exist today. With a very young population, the actually has a bright future ahead provided that we have a workforce that is well educated and properly trained to take on the jobs of tomorrow. This can only happen if industries will help bring about the kind of skill sets that our country will need. I believe that PTC is very conscious of this and has thus confronted the challenge of preparing today’s learners for the demands of the future as seen in our partnership for the maritime senior high school.”

Addressing his beloved PTC Family, Ambassador Carlos C. Salinas expressed his awe and gratitude seeing PTC’s modest beginnings in crew management expand into an impressive platform of maritime and other industry services. “I humbly thank each and every member of our PTC family, our principals, and our partners. It is your dedication and loyalty that has honored this company’s history and ensure its future. You have every reason to be proud and congratulate yourselves,” the Ambassador said. “But let us not be complacent. As we near our half-century mark, let us keep looking critically at what we do and even revisit our tried and tested winning strategies. To take the PTC group further and faster, not just for ourselves but for the industries we serve and the communities we care for, let us continue to be passionate in our pursuit of national economic growth. Let the thought that we are contributing to the lives of so many be our ikigai: our reason for getting up every morning and coming to work every single day. May our ikigai continue to reflect our core values and our quality service to all our stakeholders.”

Following the mass, the Philippine Madrigal Singers gave a mini-concert for all the PTC Group employees in attendance. The anniversary celebration geared into full swing at the Kamagong Open Square in First Maritime Place where employees enjoyed hefty servings of their favorite street food and beverages while being serenaded by a string quartet. A raffle draw was conducted for participants of the “Most Special Moments” contest which featured photos depicting the fondest moments of employees throughout their years at PTC.

Unveiled during the affair was the PTC Group’s 40th anniversary logo which carried the theme “Imagineering the Future.”

“Through strengthened synergy across the group and committed collaboration with partners across the globe, the PTC Group is set to engineer its future towards moving the world in more ways than one, further and faster, towards a brighter future,” said PTC CEO Gerardo Borromeo as he explained the theme.

Mr. Borromeo also lead the group in honoring PTC Founder Ambassador Salinas and Mrs. Isabelita Salinas by presenting a commemorative gift called “The Traveller.” Made from a paua shell, the sculpture depicts a sailboat finally reaching calm waters after a long and challenging voyage, symbolizing PTC’s momentous and historic journey over the last four decades.

ANGKLA Kicks Off 2019 Election Campaign

ANGKLA, the country’s maritime party, launched its nationwide campaign for the 2019 midterm elections through simultaneous events held in Metro , Laguna, , Iloilo, Bohol and Cebu last February 12. Fully supportive of ANGKLA’s efforts, PTC hosted its own kick-off activity at First Maritime Place to help update PTC employees and Global Maritime Professionals on ANGKLA’s service to the industry. ANGKLA, represented by Congressman Jesulito Manalo, is currently seeking its third term after serving in the 16th and 17th Congress. As the sole maritime party in the House of Representatives, ANGKLA has spearheaded the passing of four laws, namely:

• RA No. 10668 (Revisions Liberalizing the Cabotage Act) which aims to lower shipping costs, moderates coast wide trade and improve the country’s logistics performance; • RA No. 10706 (Seafarers Protection Act or the Anti Ambulance-Chaser Bill) to protect seafarers from abusive lawyers and exorbitant legal fees; • RA No. 10698 (Naval Architecture Law) which aims to produce world-class naval architects who will design, build and repair Philippine ships; • RA No. 10635 (The MARINA Bill) designating the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) as the single maritime administration responsible for overseeing the country’s compliance with the STCW Convention.

Aside from advancing its legislative agenda for the maritime sector, ANGKLA has worked tirelessly to secure seafarer rights and livelihood through initiatives and projects across the country. These include providing scholarships for maritime students, bringing home seafarers detained overseas, securing funding for the construction of the MARINA Main Building and Seafarer Centers in Cebu, Iloilo and Bacolod, working for the extension of the validity of the Seaman’s Book to 10 years, extending medical assistance to seafarers and their families, among other notable efforts. Along with Congressman Manalo, ANGKLA is also represented by its Vice-Chairman, Capt. Ronald S.J. Enrile. ANGKLA is listed as #36 in the official election ballot. www.facebook.com/PTCHoldings

Gerardo Borromeo at the US-Philippines Society Courtesy Call to Malacañang PTC CEO Gerardo Borromeo joined members of the US-Philippines Society where he currently serves as one of the directors, in a courtesy call to President last February 20 at the Malacañang Palace.

Present during the courtesy call were Executive Secretary , Defense Secretary , Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Foreign Affairs Undersecretary , and Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez.

On the US-Philippines Society side were US-Philippines Society co-chair Manuel Pangilinan, US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, US-Philippines Society President Amb. John Maisto, US-Philippines Executive Director Hank Hendrickson, and other business, professional and civic leaders from the Philippines and the .

The US-Philippines Society is an independent, non-partisan, bi-national organization that plays an important role in fostering mutual understanding between the United States and the Philippines. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the society was launched in 2012 with the mission of enhancing and strengthening the Philippine-US relationship while raising awareness of today’s Philippines through programs on business, governance, culture, shared history, education, strategic issues, and conflict resolution. Over the last seven years, the US-Philippines Society has provided assistance for disaster relief and rehabilitation. In 2018, it raised funds to provide health, education, and livelihood assistance to families displaced in Marawi City.

PTC Mil-Com Partners with STI Education

PTC Mil-Com Aviation Training Center Inc. recently welcomed officials from the STI Education Services Group to inspect Mil-Com’s training facilities and observe the STI Tourism students currently enrolled in Mil-Com’s 15-day Flight Attendant Training Program. The students come from various STI campuses all over the country.

PTC Mil-Com and STI previously signed a Memorandum of Agreement to provide Flight Attendant Training to STI Tourism students across the Philippines in exchange for On-the-Job Training (OJT) hours. The training program is conducted using an industry-grade Airbus A320 cabin mock-up and emergency slide. It also utilizes state-of-the-art training facilities at The MAST in Maragondon, Cavite for survival swimming and firefighting exercises. The visiting STI officers were comprised of Mr. Bernard Rodolfa Jr., Research Head; Ms. Bambi Geronimo, Alumni Relations, Placement & Linkages Manager; and Ms. Aisa Hipolito, AVP for Academic Research, who were welcomed by Mr. Dino Santos, PTC Mil-Com General Manager.

First Aviation Academy Opens Enrollment for Pilot Training Program Aspiring global aviation professionals are invited to take the first step towards being airline-ready by enrolling in First Aviation Academy’s (FAA) Pilot Training Program. The program will cover a 10-12 month Ab-Initio Course to be delivered by seasoned aviation professionals at FAA’s state- of-the-art facility located at the Subic Bay International Airport using brand new trainer planes: the Tecnam P2010 and the Tecnam P2006T. To be eligible for the program, applicants must have completed a 3-4 year course leading to a Bachelor’s Degree, must be in good scholastic standing and must also pass the CAAP medical exams and the Compass test to determine their aptitude for flying. To download the application form, interested parties may log on to www. firstaviationacademy.com or visit facebook.com/FirstAviationAcademy for more information.

Promoting a Culture of Safety at PTC Further strengthening the culture of safety across the PTC Group, a Safety Management Workshop was held last February 11 at the ROTC Room of First Maritime Place in Makati. The seminar was conducted by Captain Rubén Morales, General Manager for Corporate Safety of Hong Kong Airlines and international expert in Aviation Safety Management, Aircraft Network Security, Emergency Response and Aircraft Incident Investigation.

Emphasizing the importance of safety not just in aviation but across all industries, Capt. Morales walked PTC Group Business Unit Heads and Managers through the roadmap of safety excellence via discussions on safety governance, setting up a safety action group, and safety management. An analysis of the current state of safety across the PTC Group was also conducted in order to establish a stronger safety management system for the entire organization.

The Philippine Economy: Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Going

PTC Group management, directors and business unit heads were given a briefing on the Philippines’ current economic standing last February 14 at the Legaspi Room of First Maritime Place. “The Philippine Economy: Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Going,” was presented by Mr. Cielito F. Habito, one of the country’s most respected names in economics, who currently teaches at the Ateneo de Manila University and serves as Chairman for sustainable development consultancy company BrainTrust Inc. The lecture is the first in a series of talks designed to help members of the PTC Management Team keep abreast on a wide range of topics including leadership, innovation, industry trends, business processes and the like. www.facebook.com/PTCHoldings

Philcamsat-PTC Collaboration Meeting on New Courses The Philippine Center for Advanced Maritime Simulation and Training (Philcamsat) reinforced its commitment to be the country’s center of excellence in quality maritime training during the PTC- Philcamsat Collaboration Meeting held at the Legaspi room of First Maritime Place last February 14, 2019. The program highlighted the Center’s passion to provide value-driven training solutions to its internal clients through a unique approach to professional development, a fresh set of specialized courses, facilities and accreditations, as well as a brand new take on inspiring the next generation of Global Maritime Professionals.

Philcamsat Executive Director Philbright Boni Ang underlined the role of quality training in the transformation of seafarers into Global Maritime Professionals (GMPs). “Our uniqueness lies in building future leaders and in creating crew members who are promotion-ready,” said Mr. Ang in his lecture. This is done through the Cornerstone and Capstone Program which aims to increase the number of GMPs who sail with accelerated credentials, relieving principals’ from onboard succession challenges.

Clients were also briefed by Philcamsat’s Carlito Finez on industry regulatory updates to remind crewing managers on which note-worthy circulars are currently in effect. Business Operations Director Roy Akker then highlighted Philcamsat’s sustained dedication to meeting and exceeding international industry standards through new accreditations from the Belgian Maritime Institute (BMI) and OPITO, enabled by better facilities and stronger partnerships. The Meeting ended with the introduction of Philcamsat’s Client Care Team headed by Ms. Juvy Iral and a teaser of Philcamsat’s soon-to-launch web series called “Sea of Stories” featuring inspiring narratives of PTC’s Global Maritime Professionals.

Constellation Travels at PTTA’s Travel & Tour Expo Constellation Travels, Inc. (CTI) brought their comprehensive offering of customized travel services to the 26th edition of the Travel Tour Expo (TTE), the country’s biggest annual travel and tourism event, organized by the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) last February 8 to 10, 2019 at the SMX Convention Center in City. At the expo, travel enthusiasts were able to take advantage of CTI’s exclusive deals and discounts for exciting tour packages to local and international destinations including Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Oceania. As a treat to PTC Group employees, a special CTI TTE booth was set up at the Mainsail Café in First Maritime Place last February 8 to give employees a convenient way to book for their dream trips and cruise getaways.

Everything Counts at FCR’s Life Skills Seminar

PTC Global Maritime Professionals (GMP) and their families learned about proper financial management and wise business planning at “Everything Counts,” the first Life Skills Seminar for 2019 organized by PTC’s Family and Crew Relations last February 23 at the Legaspi Room of First Maritime Place. In a talk conducted by Ms. Kristine Marcelo, CEO of IEF, Inc. and proponent of the #OneForMarino financial literacy campaign, attendees were educated on how to get the best value out of the resources available to them as seafarers and were briefed on business terminologies and concepts in order to protect them from engaging in risky entrepreneurial ventures.

ACM Homes’ Give Love, Give Life Blood Drive

While others opted to celebrate Valentine’s Day with the usual flowers and chocolates, ACM employees decided to give a gift straight from their hearts and donated blood to help save the lives of their fellow .

“Give Love, Gift Life” is a bloodletting program sponsored by ACM Landholdings, Inc. in partnership with the Makati Medical Center Blood Bank and Transfusion Center. The donation, conducted last February 18, will benefit the patients of Makati Medical Center who are in urgent need of blood transfusion. For ACM, this was as a unique way to celebrate Valentine’s and promote the spirit of volunteerism and community service among the company’s employees.