2010-Jan-Feb

2 TINIG NG MARINO
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2009
TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
3
INDOMITABLE
SPIRIT
2009 Tinig ng Marino Awardees Reflect World-Class
Professionalism of Filipino Seafarers, Says DOLE Official
I
n recognition of the integrity, credibility and
the distinct reputation of Tinig ng Marino
Awards in the local maritime industry,
Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE) Undersecretary Romeo C. Lagman
openly commended the 2009 honorees for
reflecting the world-class professionalism
and exemplifying the indomitable spirit of the
Filipino seafarers.
During his inspirational message at the
7th Tinig ng Marino Awards held at the
Philippine Coast Guard headquarters on
November 6, 2009, Usec. Lagman pointed
out: “All of you have done much and served
the profession and the industry well. I trust
that you will continue to serve as a compass,
guiding us all to navigate even the most
unfriendly waters and survive even the most
dangerous weather conditions.”
Usec. Lagman delivered the speech
during the 7th Tinig ng Marino Awards on
behalf of Labor Secretary Marianito V. Roque,
who was the guest of honor and speaker for
the event but was not able to make it as he
Engr. Nelson Ramirez and Labor Undersecretary Romeo C. Lagman (5th from right) are shown
being flanked by the 7th Tinig ng Marino awardees following the well-attended awarding rites.
had to rush to Athens, Greece to attend an
international forum on migration.
The 7th Tinig ng Marino Awards
actually highlighted the 15th Anniversary
celebration of the United Filipino Seafarers
(UFS), the most influential maritime labor
federation in the country. The awarding rite
is UFS’ distinct and unique way of honoring
the maritime industry’s best for 2009.
“I know that you share with us (government)
the importance of putting a premium on
the human resource development of our
seafarers. Continuing seafarers’ training and
education is the only way to prepare them for
bigger and greater responsibilities onboard,”
Usec. Lagman pointed out.
“In terms of skills availability, we are
indeed a major player. But we want to further
solidify our competitive edge in providing
officers for the world’s maritime fleet. We
recognize that if we are to fully maximize the
economic benefits of the world’s maritime
profession, we need to deploy more globallycompetitive seafarers, in particular, officers,
and make them our vital link to the global
maritime industry,” he further explained.
“Congratulations to all of the Tinig ng
Marino awardees! You have made our
country proud,” Usec Lagman commended.
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
T
he United Filipino Seafarers (UFS)
has called on the Maritime Industry
Authority (MARINA) to take immediate
actions pertaining to the enforcement of
maritime safety rules and regulations to
finally rid the domestic shipping industry of
what it refers to as the ‘perfect formula for
maritime disasters.’
Engr. Nelson Ramirez, president of the
UFS, cited that the ineptness of MARINA
in the enforcement of maritime safety rules
and regulations and is actually causing the
series of maritime mishaps that seem to be
hounding the country’s maritime waters as
of late, punctuated by the capsizing of MV
Princess of the Stars in June 2008.
During the Senate investigation following
two Christmastime maritime mishaps,
Senator Richard J. Gordon practically
shared the position of the UFS and many in
the domestic shipping front when he stated
that the series of accidents in the country’s
waters has revealed that the problem boils
down to enforcement of maritime safety
rules and regulations.
The Senate investigation came at the
heels of back-to-back Christmas time
mishaps – the first involving the collision
between the fishing boat FB Anatalia,
and motorized banca MB Catalyn B, on
December 24, 2009 off Occidental Mindoro
where three people perished; and the
second, being the sinking of the roro vessel
MB Baleno 9 some two days later near
Batangas where six people died.
The UFS is criticizing MARINA for
extending the phase out of wooden-hulled
vessels, which goes against the mandate
of RA 9295 or the Domestic Shipping
Development Act of 2004 which gave
operators of wooden-hulled ships up to the
end of 2009 to either upgrade to steel hulls
or have their old ships scrapped altogether.
“Most, if not all, of the wooden-hulled
vessels plying domestic routes do not have
the proper navigation and marine engine
equipment to ensure passenger safety.
What makes the situation even worse
is the fact that MARINA is giving these
vessels, which are designed to navigate
in inland waters, the Certificates of Public
Convenience (CPC) or franchises to operate
and carry passengers in the open sea. At
one time, even President GMA ordered an
interim measure to disallow wooden ships
from sailing at night, so MARINA must be
taking that order lightly,” laments the UFS
president.
In the two Christmastime maritime
mishaps, all vessels involved were
being helmed by mariners carrying only
major patron licenses. While MARINA
Administrator Ma. Elena H. Bautista
maintained that major patrons are allowed
to take command of ships that are 190 gross
tons or below based on existing policies,
the UFS believes that major patrons
should not be allowed to command a ship
that is carrying 100 passengers or more,
regardless of its weight.
“Most of these major patrons have no
knowledge about the basic ‘rules of the
road’ and collision regulation. This was
very obvious in the collision between FB
Anatalia and MB Catalyn B. Why and how
these mariners were able to obtain their
licenses are two other interesting questions.
MARINA should re-examine these mariners
to test their knowledge on rules of the road
and collision regulation,” explains Ramirez.
“MARINA has also developed this
penchant for allowing alteration of vessels
imported into the Philippines. We have
reliable information that most roro vessels
plying the lucrative Batangas-Mindoro
route are mostly altered, which passed
the approval of MARINA as well. Once
a vessel has been modified or altered, it
actually affects its metacentric or its center
of gravity. This was very obvious in the case
of the MV Princess of the Stars which was
a mere 19,000-GRT vessel when it was first
brought to the Philippines sometime in 2003
but which became a 23,800-GRT passenger
ship when it began plying domestic routes
until it overturned and sank last year,”
elaborates the UFS president.
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
office: 4th/F Room 402, Gedisco
Terraces Bldg., 1148 Roxas Blvd.,
Ermita, Manila, Philippines; Telephone 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
Managing Editor
Creative Consultant
Arianne Rodriguez
Sonia Inserto
Assistant Editors
Erik España
Roland Cabrera
Minabelle Siason
Artists
Capt. Arturo Cañoza
Belgium Bureau
Fr. James Kolin
Japan Bureau
New York Bureau
Sapalo Velez Bundang
& Bulilan Law Offices
Engr. Samson Tormis
Greece Bureau
Legal Consultants
Corry Llamas-Konings
Philip Ramirez
Bob Ramirez
Benzene L. Latorza
Julius D. Bacang
Edilberto B. Filipino Jr.
Rotterdam Bureau
Production Staff
SOUNDING LEAD
EDITORIAL
CAPT. REYNOLD M. SABAY
Enough with Maritime
Disasters
F
ollowing two Christmastime maritime mishaps that practically
stole the thunder from the usual jolly holiday celebrations, the
Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) appeared to have been
caught flat-footed with the back-to-back incidents and awkwardly got
dragged into the limelight of shame and blame.
In the Philippines, once a maritime tragedy strikes, one of the
common aftermaths, aside of course from the normal search, rescue
and retrieval operations, are accusing fingers that literally fly all over
the place to pinpoint and put the blame on the perceived culprits.
However, in the cases of the collision of fishing boat FB Anatalia
and motorized banca MB Catalyn B on December 24, 2009 off
Occidental Mindoro and the sinking of the roro vessel MV Baleno
9 near Batangas two days later, accusing fingers seemed to have
taken backseats. In their stead, all eyes were conveniently directed
toward MARINA.
While human errors once again reared their ugly heads in both
maritime mishaps, it was not too difficult to comprehend why MARINA
was pulled into the mess almost naturally.
Consider the following factors: MB Catalyn B is a woodenhulled vessels. MV Baleno 9 had a low freeboard and the vessel
was basically designed for inland waters before Besta Shipping
Lines imported it into the Philippines from Japan so the vessel was
possibly altered. Immediately after both accidents, it was discovered
in the subsequent investigations that all the three vessels were being
helmed by skippers who were holding major patron licenses.
It was MARINA, through Administrator Ma. Elena Bautista, who
extended the phase-out of wooden-hulled vessels contrary to what
was provided in RA 9295 or the Domestic Shipping Development
Act of 2004, giving wooden-hulled ships five years within which to
upgrade to steel hulls or go directly to shipbreakers to be scrapped
for good.
Most, if not all wooden-hulled vessels do not have the appropriate
navigational , marine engine equipment and crew to ensure the safety
of their passengers. Some of them do not have enough emergency
life aids for all their passengers, or worse, none at all. As a matter
of fact, no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directed
MARINA several years ago to impose an interim measure disallowing
the sailing of wooden-hulled vessels at night. The collision between
FB Anatalia and MB Catalyn B happened in the wee hours of
December 24, 2009, which means both vessels sailed at night.
Practically all vessel alterations, particularly those imported ones,
TURN TO PAGE 44
Watch Lists for 2010
S
ounding Lead posted its
initial Watch Lists in 2007
and continued as the years
go by. Towards the end of this year,
Watch Lists continues for 2010.
1. EO 566, its wisdom, if any,
may be understood (since 2007).
The EO 566 was signed to put
a stop to all the shame, indignities,
irregularities and anomalies in the
licensure examinations. CHED
keeps on issuing documents,
however, short of implementation
as of this date; (nothing happened
so far except for the release of the
IRR). The Supreme Court issued
a TRO on the implementation of
Malacanang’s EO 566 and CHED’s
CMO 21. This stays on our list.
2. Walk-In Exams, that they
may become convenient to walk-in
(since 2007).
The Walk-In Exams is full blast,
however in many different ways
than the original intentions. For
candidates to secure convenient
schedules is almost impossible. In
a sense, it is far from walk-in. This
is a new wish for 2010.
3. Cadetship, a springboard for
providing future Marine Officers,
that every vessel enroled in POEA
for manning may be mandated
to provide berth for cadets (since
2007).
Cadets of today, if well-selected,
may be trained and provided with
experience to serve as the source of
future Management Level Officers.
Nothing concrete happened so this
will stay on our list.
4. Internal promotion may as well
be seen as a future solution now to
“poaching” of Marine Officers (since
2008).
Originally, this was a cadetship
program. However, this column is
revising it to “internal promotion”,
may as well be required onboard
ships registered under POEA for
manning by Filipino seafarers.
There’s only one way to find out
if this is doable; just do it. Some
dynamic ship owners and managers
started to do this already. However,
this will remain on our list.
5. Disability benefits may not
end up as
retirement benefits
(since 2007).
Disability benefits had been
wisely abused by sea dogs. There
were so many seafarers, even
Masters and Chief Engineers,
claiming for disability then ended
up onboard again after receiving
the disability benefits. This will stay
on our list.
6. Objective evidence made
available even in knowledge and
skills (since 2007).
Anybody and everybody can
claim they know all and they can do
all, for a few we can take their words
for it but for the majority, there is a
need for objective evidence. This
will stay on our list.
7. The Philippines as Maritime
Training and Assessment Capital of
the world (since 2007).
The Philippines is now enjoying
its status as the Manning Capital of
the World; the challenge of going
beyond and becoming the Maritime
Training and Assessment Capital
of the World is on. Something has
been done on the contrary, the
local version of the Lloyds Manning
and Training Conference is called
Philippine Manning Convention
(Philmancon), whatever happened
to the Philippine Maritime Education
and Training Regime? This stays
on our list.
8. Manning may evolve into Ship
Management (since 2007).
With all of its challenges and
confusion, the manning agency
business is at the lower hierarchy of
business in shipping; the experience
of the Philippines is more than
enough to evolve its manning
business into ship management
where the return is more than 10
times as in manning. This stays on
our list.
9. Philippine registry, having one
of the biggest tonnage in the world
(since 2007).
The Philippine registry with its
cartelized nature at the moment,
this watch list for our wish list is a
long shot, at this time, there is no
light at the end of the tunnel for the
year 2007. The Sounding Lead is
getting a reading that there seems
to be a bright light at the end of the
tunnel for 2008. Nothing happened
so this stays on our list.
10. Less maritime disasters in
Philippine waters (since 2007).
Maritime disasters in Philippine
waters keep on menacing us
again and again and again; what
with the recent MV “Blue Water
Magic”. This was reinforced and
reconfirmed by MV Princess of
the Stars, MV Superferry 9, MB
Catalyn B, FB Anatalia, and M/V
Baleno 9. Our soundings indicate
that there will be more to come so
this stays on our list.
11. Filipino Seafarers as the
world’s best (since 2008).
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-Pacific
Manning and Training
Conference held at
the Hotel Sofitel 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.
The UFS President was among the participants during the National Tripartite
Conference on Principles of Freedom of Association held at the Hotel Sofitel
from December 2 to 4, 2009. He joined government officials headed by Executive
Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Labor Secretary Marianito V. Roque, business
sector representatives, and labor leaders during the three-day summit.
Engr. Ramirez raising
a point during the
investigation of the
Senate Blue Ribbon
Committee on January
7, 2010 on the recent
maritime disasters. He
is shown with Capt.
Reynaldo
Casareo,
President
of
Cargo
Safeway, Inc., who also
came to the probe as a
resource panelist.
The
UFS
president
with his wife Marilyn
Ruth M. Ramirez went
to Malaysia to be with
their
son
Jeremiah
Nelson
M.
Ramirez
during
the
latter’s
graduation at ALAM
University
(Malaysia
Maritime Academy) last
October 24, 2009. They
are shown with their
best smiles after the
graduation rites.
To relive his glory days
as a marksman, Engr.
Ramirez took part in
the
Fifth
Invitational
Shootfest of MIG 17 held
on December 5, 2009 at
Camp Karingal.
Riz Figueroa of GMA7’s Case Unclosed,
hosted by Arnold
Clavio, is shown
interviewing Engr.
Ramirez at the UFS
office as the show
dwells on the 22nd
anniversary of the
of MV Doña Paz and
MT Vector collision
that resulted to the
death of more than
4,000 people in
December 1987.
This time, the
UFS
President
is the resource
person
being
interviewed
by
Krizzle of UNTV
for Daniel Razon’s
TV
program
Spotlight:
Kakaibang
Talento.
The UFS staff and
volunteer cadets
trooped to ABSCBN Studios on
November
13,
2009 and took
part as studio
audience of the
TV talent show
Showtime. They
are shown having
a grand time at
the TV studio.
The UFS President belting
a classic song with Capt.
Bernie Arcamo during the
inauguration and blessing
of the new building of SSM
Maritime
Services
and
Protect Marine Deck and
Engine Officers, Inc. at
Malate, Manila on December
1, 2009.
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2009
TINIG NG MARINO
9
10 TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY
20102009
SEPTEMBER
- OCTOBER
A
new company name for its local manning
agent, a bigger office in a prime business
location at the heart of Manila with a
comfortable working ambience, and the priceless
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.
It was also fitting 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. officially
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 fleet of managed vessels
over the years. We owe it to the clear-cut vision
and mission of the leadership of our company.
We owe it to the dedication of the men and
women behind this global organization,” stated
Mr. Vordonis matter-of-factly.
Unlike other foreign-based ship management
firms who literally blitz their manning presence
in the Philippines and disappeared just as fast,
Thenamaris had a calculated approach. Its
growth was gradual but nonetheless consistent
in all its 30 years in the country up to this day.
The company was, after all, looking to
maintain its presence in the Philippines for the
long haul as it was in fact the first few foreign
companies to have recognized and began
11
Thenamaris Marks 30 Years
in the Philippines in Great Style
Thenamaris Shipsmanagement Inc. officials and Thenamaris Philippines, Inc. officers and staff
show their best smiles following the inauguration of the company’s new and bigger offices at the
3rd Floor of Marbella II Building.
if not for the dedication and loyalty of the men
and women who served this company well and
our Filipino seafarers onboard. That is why, we
are profusely grateful to our Filipino seafarers,
whom we can only be proud of and admire for
maintaining their global competitiveness,” Atty.
Ortega recounted.
“Now that the company has already logged
in 30 years of consistent crewing operations and
a seaborne workforce of about 3,000 competent
and quality Filipino seafarers rotating onboard
builders of their new offices, and most especially
their Filipino seafarers, who have contributed
immensely to the continued growth of the
company for all of its 30 years in the Philippines.
He also expressed his gratitude to Mr. Vordonis
and the entire Thenamaris organization for their
confidence and trust in him. He likewise paid
tribute to Atty. Ortega, whom he regarded in jest
as his boss, mentor and tormentor
Thenamaris Through the Years
While he first set
foot in the Philippines
back in 1974, it was
only five years later
that Mr. Vordonis and
Thenamaris had their
initial relationship with
the Philippines and the
Filipino seafarers.
“We
looked
in
China,
India,
Bangladesh,
Burma
and we felt that in the
Mr. Vordonis and Carlos Salinas, President of Filipino Shipowners Association, are joined by Atty. Gregorio Ortega (left), Philippines we have a
Engr. Jose Abugan, and Capt. Nikolaos Martinos (right) in cutting the ribbon to officially inaugurate Thenamaris Philippines’ group of people with
new offices. A local priest is shown at right blessing the offices and its people for guidance and prosperity.
common values. We
a substantial number of Thenamaris-managed
noted the Catholic community that brings about
appreciating the skills, know-how and virtues of
fleet of vessels, we felt that our local crewing arm
an affinity in faith and religion the same way as
Filipino seafarers as mariners, long before they
should bear the same name as our company,
Greeks do. The second factor was the ability of
became the global maritime industry’s hottest
thus giving birth to Thenamaris Philippines,” Mr.
Filipino seafarers to communicate in English. Not
commodities in the latter years.
Vordonis explained.
that good during the early years but it’s getting
When Thenamaris first ventured in the
Capt. Nicanor B. Altares, General Manager
better now,” explains Mr. Vordonis.
Philippines, it formed a local company,
of Thenamaris Philippines, Inc., who had been
“The third factor for the selection of Filipinos
in partnership with local stakeholders to
serving the company for a long time, welcomed
then was the history of the Philippines which
recruit Filipino seafarers exclusively for the
with open arms the new company name as well
showed that Filipinos can effectively work in crossvessels being managed by the Greece-based
as its bigger office in time for the celebration
shipmanagement company.
Atty. Gregorio F. Ortega, President of Thenamaris’ 30 years in the country.
“These major developments provide
of
Thenamaris Philippines, Inc., in his
a glimpse of the bigger things that
inspirational message during the inauguration
rd
Thenamaris has in store for the Philippines
of the company’s new offices at the 3 Floor
and the Filipino seafarers in the future. We
of Marbella II Building along Roxas Boulevard,
will be looking forward to building on the
vividly recalled that the company started at the
Thenamaris brand of excellent crewing
ground floor of Doña Remedios Building at the
service and provide continued employment
corner of Remedios Street and Taft Avenue.
opportunities to Filipino seafarers, anchored
“That was the place of the office for so many
on strong family ties and friendship,” Capt.
years.”
“After 30 years, we all come to this new office Altares cited in his welcome remarks during
the inauguration of the company’s new
that has state-of-the-art facilities and surely,
Capt. Nic Altares delivering the welcome remarks during
offices.
everyone is excited. But we will not be able to
Capt. Altares also acknowledged the the inauguration program.
achieve this milestone here in the Philippines
Mr. Vordonis sharing Thenamaris’ rich history
with the Philippines and the Filipino seafarers
during his inspirational message.
cultural environments, having been colonized at
one point in time by Spaniards, Americans, as
well as Japanese. Filipinos know how to adjust.
And it was all continued journey from there as
far as the relationship of Thenamaris and the
Filipino seafarers are concerned,” he added.
“That relationship has since been nurtured
over the years and has grown by leaps and
bounds. Many people have grown. Many people
now have better lives. But our work and dream
for people who work onboard our ships shall
continue. That is why we decided to put up an
office in a place facing the waterfront with an
added bonus of the Manila Bay sunset. This will
be a home to our seafarers who have certainly
made us better and better over time,” remarked
Mr. Vordonis.
“I am certainly most thankful to the Filipino
people and the Philippines because I have
been here for 35 years, savoring both good
times and bad. The growth of Thenamaris in
the Philippines also speaks of the friendship
between Greeks and Filipinos as well as the
friendship between our countries. It is a symbol
of our long-standing friendship,” states Mr.
Vordonis, who soon requested every Greek and
Filipino in the crowd to join as they sang the
TURN TO PAGE 16
Mr. Nikolaos Martinos, Thenamaris Athens
representative congratulates Atty. Ortega
for a job well done as far as the growth of
Thenamaris in the Philippines.
12 TINIG NG MARINO
SEPTEMBER
MARCH
- OCTOBER
- APRIL 2010
2009
JANUARY-FEBRUARY
TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY
2010
SEPTEMBER
- OCTOBER
2009
ENGR. NELSON P. RAMIREZ
Most Outstanding Marine Engineer Officer, PRC, 1996
Most Outstanding Student, ZNSAT, 1970
Outstanding Achiever of the Year, Province of Zamboanga del Norte, 2006
13
MEAN INDICATED
PRESSURE
Perfect Formula for Maritime Disasters
G
ive an idiot, who does not know the
basic rules of the road and collision
regulation, a license to command a
vessel and put him in a wooden passenger
vessel or a vessel designed to navigate only
in inland waters but nonetheless allowed
to sail in the open sea. Permit that vessel
to load 10-wheeler trucks without proper
lashings and voila! You have yourself a
perfect formula for a maritime disaster.
Do we need a new law to stop these
unnecessary deaths? Definitely not. We
have enough laws to prevent them. In fact,
five years ago, some smart-alecks drafted
a bill which was hurriedly passed into law
without public consultation to ultimately
put an end to maritime disasters, so
they say. That law is Republic Act 9295
otherwise known as An Act Promoting
the Development of Philippine Domestic
Shipping, Shipbuilding, Ship Repair and
Shipbreaking, Ordaining Reforms in
Government Policies Towards Shipping
in the Philippines and for other Purposes
or for the short title, The Domestic Shipping
Development Act of 2004.
That law put to rest the bickerings
between the Philippine Coast Guard
(PCG) and the Maritime Industry Authority
(MARINA) as to what government agency
must enforce maritime safety rules and
regulations. It is very clear in Section 9
of that law, under ‘Safety Standards,’ that
all vessels operated by domestic ship
operators shall at all times be in seaworthy
condition, properly equipped with adequate
life-saving communication, safety and
other equipment, operated and maintained
in accordance with the standards set by
MARINA, and manned by duly-licensed
and competent vessel crews. The MARINA
shall have the power to inspect the
vessels and all equipment onboard these
vessels to ensure compliance with safety
standards. The problem though, as what
a good administrator of the MARINA said,
“We pampered our shipowners too much.”
*******
Who pampers the shipowners? I cannot
understand why we have to pamper
shipowners. Aren’t they supposed to follow
the law that MARINA must implement?
Administrator Bautista went on to say in
one TV interview that she could not impose
the law because the livelihood program of
the law-breakers would be affected. Holy
cow! But what livelihood are we talking
about if hundreds are already buried in the
sea?
The good administrator insists that
a new law is needed to stop maritime
disasters. Meaning, more power must be
given to MARINA. Isn’t it that MARINA has
swallowed more than it could chew? I kept
on saying for years that the first mandate
of MARINA was to promote the economic
viability of the maritime industry which is
shipbuilding, shipbreaking, drydocking,
ship repair and transshipment of cargoes.
I’m certain that they will be able to perform
these functions because they have lots
of people who are commerce graduates,
major in business administration.
But dipping their fingers into maritime
safety would be like courting disaster and
this is exactly what is happening now.
MARINA is now majoring in minor and
minoring in major. They forgot their first
mandate and got entangled in something
that they do not know how to handle. They
do not have the capability and they do not
have enough suitable personnel to do it.
And because they know that they will not
be able to enforce maritime safety, they
ask the PCG to sign a memorandum of
agreement with them to do their job. If I
am the Coast Guard I will not allow myself
to be dragged into the courts because the
Coast Guard is not mandated to enforce
maritime safety. Nobody wants to lose his
job and go to jail for no reason at all. The
Philippine Coast Guard is only limited to
rescue operations, marine environmental
protection, and the setting up of aids to
navigation.
*******
The role of MARINA is to provide the
maritime industry in general and seafarers
in particular and other maritime authorities
with rules, regulations, policies, systems
and procedures in accordance with
international conventions. Then why should
TURN TO PAGE 45
14 TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY
JULY - AUGUST 2010
2009
Gordon Takes a Stand (Again) for the Maritime Industry
S
enator Richard J. Gordon, Chairman
of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee
and a presidential aspirant for the
May 2010 national elections took a gallant
stand again for the embattled local maritime
industry when he practically pulled all
stops to derail the impending revisions to
Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant Workers
Act of 1995.
Gordon personally made the assurance
when he phoned Engr. Nelson Ramirez,
president of the United Filipino Seafarers
(UFS) on December 20, 2009, and informed
the latter that the proposed amendments
to RA 8042 have been ‘de-prioritized’ and
would not be calendared for discussion
by the bicameral conference committee
in its remaining sessions in 2009 or in the
next few months of 2010 or until the 13th
Congress officially draws to a close in June
2010.
The proposed amendments to RA
8042 were about to be discussed by the
bicameral conference committee on its
second meeting late in December 2009
and there was a good chance that if that
meeting pushed through, the revisions
would eventually be approved by the
legislators and it would be endorsed to the
President for enactment into law.
During the meeting of Senator Gordon
with several leaders of the Republic of
Somalia and some stakeholders of the local
maritime industry at his office in the Senate
on December 23, 2009, he personally
stated that the proposed amendments to
RA 8042 are now off the boards.
“Senator Enrile was telling me why are
you opposing this? This is a good law.
No, Mr. Chairman, let me point out to you
a couple of things. The Senate President
was convinced that the points I raised were
valid so any revisions to RA 8042 would
not be happening soon,” narrates Senator
Gordon.
The Senator’s efforts send elation to the
local maritime industry stakeholders, who
have been practically moving heaven and
earth to halt the rampaging bull.
The local maritime industry has been up
in arms against at least four critical revisions
to RA 8042 since it would ultimately have
an impact in the deployment of Filipino
seafarers onboard international oceangoing vessels.
Major stakeholders in the local
seafaring industry averred that they were
never consulted at all when the proposed
revisions to RA 8042 were put to the table
for discussion either in the Senate or in the
House of Representatives. They claimed
that the revisions are tailor-fit for the landbased manpower deployment sector but
certainly not palatable to the sea-based
sector.
Early in December 2009, the UFS and
Engr. Ramirez made their formal opposition
against three proposed revisions to RA
8042 citing that it may lead to the ‘untimely
demise’ of the local seafaring industry.
In particular, UFS is questioning the
proposals to have all seafarers undergo
TURN TO PAGE 24
the initiative to help the country of the
lawless individuals. I am in favor of such
a move but I would have to refer this to
the FAME membership for their opinions
or decision. But I am thinking that it would
not be easy getting a favorable response
No less than Prof. Abdulrahman Adam from this extremely good proposal.”
n what could be the beginning of a
Consul-General Lising of UPL also
breakthrough initiative to address the Ibrahim ‘Ibbi, First Deputy Prime Minister
problem of Somali piracy right from the and Minister of Fisheries and Marine agreed with the proposal citing that in
roots, Senator Richard J. Gordon, as Resources of the Somali Republic led the addition to the Filipino seafarers, other
chairman of the Philippine National Red Somali delegation during the meeting at major industry stakeholders, associations
Cross (PNRC) has recently brokered Senator Gordon’s office. Prof. Ibbi was and other groups can also chipped in
a meeting between officials of Somalia joined by Ambassador Mohamud Olow to make their contribution for the sake
Republic and several leaders of the local Barow, Ambassador of the Republic of of bringing back governance into the
Somalia in Indonesia; Admiral Farah Republic of Somalia.
maritime industry.
Engr. Ramirez of the UFS, who was the
On December 23, 2009, Senator Ahmed Omar, Deputy and General Chief of
Gordon hosted the breakthrough meeting Staff and Navy Chief of Staff of the Somali one who called Mr. Marquez and Capt.
of several top officials of the Republic of Armi Force; and Mohamed Ibrahim, a Casareo to the breakthrough meeting
Somalia and several stakeholders of the Somali Research Fellow from the National at Senator Gordon’s office, concurred
with the recommendation
local maritime industry at
and that he will work
his office in the Senate
for ensuring that each
in an attempt to develop
seafarer-member of the
a working solution to the
UFS and the organization
problem of piracy in the
itself would be able to
Gulf of Aden, which has
come up with something
been affecting a number
for the noble cause.
of Filipino seafarers, and
“This
is
not
a
continues to be a threat
government-toto many others up to this
government
initiative,”
day.
clarifies Senator Gordon.
Having realized that
“I am just acting here on
the problem of piracy in
a private capacity and not
Somalia is an offshoot of
as Senator of the Republic
non-governance, as an
of the Philippines.”
aftermath of the recent
The
proposed
civil war that literally threw
donation of the Filipino
the country into chaos and
Senator Gordon brokering the breakthrough meeting at his office in the Senate
seafarers and the local
its people in a continued
between several officials of the Republic of Somalia and key stakeholders of the
maritime industry shall
struggle against poverty, local maritime industry to thresh out possible solutions to the Somali piracy.
be channeled to the
Senator Gordon gallantly
proposed to put some semblance of Centre of Excellence for Islamic Studies in Philippine National Red Cross, chaired
by Senator Gordon, and the PNRC will
governance in the country to restore order the University of Melbourne in Australia.
The stakeholders from the local transmit it to the International Red Cross.
among its people.
The good Senator believes that once maritime industry included Mr. Fernando The IRC will eventually give it to the
the Republic of Somalia achieves some V. Lising, Chairman of UPL, and Consul- Republic of Somalia.
Capt. Casareo actually backed the
form of governance, law and order will General of the Philippines in the Republic
be restored in the country and its people of Poland; Ericson Marquez, President claim of Somali officials that piracy
will avoid going into criminal and lawless of the Filipino Association for Mariners’ in the Gulf of Aden is being funded
Employment (FAME); Capt. Reynaldo by other foreign mafias. He narrated
activities, including piracy.
Piracy has literally become a brisk Casareo, Director of FAME; and Engr. a story sometime last year where he
business off Somalian waters because Nelson Ramirez, President of United accompanied a representative of a
Japanese shipowner, whose two ships
of the lucrative ransom packages that the Filipino Seafarers (UFS).
As the local maritime industry has been were held hostage in Somalia months
pirates are getting for hostaging merchant
ships traversing the Gulf of Aden. But bearing the brunt of the Somali piracy in before, in withdrawing some US$3 million
of late, it has come to the realization of light of the hundreds of Filipino seafarers from Citibank Makati. Capt. Casareo
several shipping industry analysts, that being held hostage in practically every continued that from Makati, he and
it is not actually the Somalis who are ship being hijacked by pirates in the Gulf the Japanese proceeded to meet two
Caucasian males near the Ninoy Aquino
funding the illicit activities of the pirates of Aden since the middle of 2005.
Senator Gordon proposed that maritime International Airport to whom the money
but actually some mafias from other
countries, with the Russian and other industry stakeholders, including Filipino was turned over. Several weeks later,
foreign mafias being looked into as prime seafarers, contribute to a sort of seed fund the two Japanese ships were released
that will enable the Republic of Somalia by Somali pirates one after the other.
suspects.
Prof. Ibbi and the other Somali
It has become obvious to the shipping and its leaders to stand on its feet to be
officials were more than happy to hear
industry that the level of sophistication able to govern again.
“A dollar for every active Filipino seafarer the pledges and commitment of support
of Somali pirates’ weaponry and fast
crafts or boats that they have been using would not be too much to ask,” suggested from the stakeholders of the local
to go after commercial ships has gone Senator Gordon, “but then that is not for maritime industry. They vowed to work
within their powers for the immediate
up several notches higher. Their brand me to say. It is just a proposal.”
FAME President Ericson Marquez called and safe release of all the remaining
new rocket-propelled grenade (RPG)
launchers, AK-47 assault rifles, among the proposal brilliant aside from dramatic. Filipino seafarers that are still in the
other things, are good indications that “It would be very good because it would hands of Somali pirates at the time of the
appear that it is the victim which is taking meeting.
they are a well-funded lot on a mission.
Gordon: Governance is Key
to Solving Somali Piracy
I
TINIG NG MARINO
JULY
- AUGUST
2009 2010
JANUARY-FEBRUARY
SEPTEMBER
- OCTOBER
2009
B
right Maritime Corporation (BMC)
recently marked its 15 solid and
productive years in the local
maritime industry by doing what it has
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
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 significant 15th
anniversary celebration held at the
Richmond Hotel in Ortigas Center last
December 11, 2009, BMC fittingly honored
a total of 54 Filipino seafarers, composed of
19 officers and 36 ratings, and bequeathed
each of them 15-year service awards.
Some 62 others, made up of 30 officers
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
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 officers
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
minute they join the company.
Ms. Sillar also lauded the continued
support, trust and confidence of the Greek
principals of BMC, thus ensuring that the
company will reach its 15th year milestone
in the business, bigger, stronger and better
than before.
The BMC president also led four BMC
officers and staff who have been handed
that night with their 15-year service
awards. She was joined in the loyalty
elite roster by Webena Dabuco, Bulk
15
‘BMC Got Talent’ Highlights Manning
Firm’s 15th Anniversary Celebration
BMC’s Tanker, FLD and Legal Departments were the big winners during the talent showdown with their Egyptian dance presentation
The Pussy Cat Dolls of Bulk Department I.
Operations Manager; Clarissa C. Mendoza,
Finance Officer; and Nerissa Gasmen,
Chief Documentation Officer.
But as expected, it was the BMC talent
showdown that stole the thunder of the
anniversary celebration as each department
of the company, featuring their respective
officers, staff and cadet utilities, performed
extravagant production song and dance
numbers that really wowed the crowd with
glee and delight.
Ms. Desiree P. Sillar (right), President of BMC, with some of the 15-year service awardees
Filipino seafarers of the company. Most of the honorees are serving actively onboard.
The combined Filipino and Greek dances by the Accounting Department.
Both the guests and the Filipino seafarers
and their families were clapping their hearts
out after each presentation because of
familiar faces from BMC, who for the first
time, have let their hair down just to entertain
and give them memorable performances.
The presentation of each department
was spiced in between by the handing out
of service awards to the Filipino seafarers,
as well as officers and staff of BMC.
Several special awards were also
handed out by BMC that night including
three ‘Athletes of the Year’ awardees
in the person of Arthuro Argaon, who
copped First Prize in the Bracket D of the
recently-concluded badminton tournament
of the Filipino Association for Mariners’
Employment (FAME); Mark Jaum, who
finished as 7th placer in the FAME Fun Run
for the three-kilometer category; and John
Catalino Tenorio, who was named Most
Valuable Player of the Year during the 1st
LUSWELF Basketball Tournament, where
the BMC squad also finished as runner-up.
BMC also had a special portion during
the program for the program for a number of
Filipino seafarers who previously fell to the
hands of Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden
as hostages, when the vessels that they
were manning were captured by the lawless
elements now plaguing the so-called Horn
of Africa.
The Filipino seafarers, who came to
the stage along with some of their family
members, were given citations by BMC for
their bravery and for not giving up on their
seafaring careers despite going through a
tough and traumatic ordeal.
The proverbial icing on the cake of
the celebration was none other than the
awarding of the talent showdownm which
as expected, became the most anticipated
moment of practically everyone who was
present during the night.
When the votes of the judges were cast
and counted, the best of the BMC talented
performers were honored.
First Prize went to the Tanker, FLD, and
Legal Department for their Egyptian dance
presentation. The second team from the
Bulk Department copped second prize
honors with their Jai Ho dance number alaPussy Cat Dolls.
The first team of the Bulk Department
came in as a close Third Prize winner
for their jazz dance presentation. The
Accounting Department completed the
winners’ circle by bagging the Fourth Prize
with their presentation of a combination of
Philippine and Greek dances.
Bright Maritime Corporation certainly
knows how to give due recognition to their
Filipino seafarers not only by honoring them
with much-deserved accolades but also by
entertaining them in a night that would surely
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
national anthems of Greece and the Philippines
one after the other.
In his inspirational message, which he
stated as one that comes from his heart, Mr.
Vordonis also proudly recalled the company’s
big celebration when it turned 20 years back
in 1999.
“When we started here in the Philippines,
we were employing 100 seafarers; then it
became 300, then 500, then 700. By the time
we turned 20 years, we were already employing
1,200 Filipino seafarers. We had such a big
celebration then at the Westin Philippine Plaza,
attended by over 4,000 people composed of
Filipino seafarers and their families.”
He even recalled then that a number of
children of their Filipino seafarers were even
named after vessels being managed by
Thenamaris, which was a clear manifestation
of the Filipino crew’s dedication and loyalty to
their company.
Enjoying the company of Filipino seafarers
and their families is what Mr. Vordonis considers
a high point in his professional career. “It is
the result of a lifetime of work, friendship and
rapport. And I am very happy that we are very
close to our people,” he says.
Mr. Vordonis assured that Thenamaris
will continue to nurture its long-standing
relationship with its Filipino seafarers and their
families because the company’s values are
also intertwined with family values.
Indeed, 30 consistent years of growth in a
competitive industry is a tough act to follow. But
Thenamaris, through Thenamaris Philippines,
is now gearing up to take on more and bigger
challenges that lie ahead and can hardly wait
to mark another important milestone in its rich
history soon enough.
Annual Seminar
Thenamaris also held its annual conference
for its Filipino officers and ratings early in
November 2009. The topics discussed during
the conference included: human error - types and
management, leadership, energy management,
maintenance, purchasing, voyage planning and
operational incident analysis, time charters,
steel cargo handling, claims prevention, speed
claims, inclident investigation, purchasing and
IT matters (MGA account).
Capt. Timothy Crowch, a noted airline
pilot, facilitated the topics on human error
management and leadership.
Several officials from Thenamaris Athens
also flew all the way from Greece and contributed
to the success of the annual crew conference.
They include: Capt . Nikolaos Kirkilis, Manager,
Marine Personnel; Mr. Yannos Koudounnas,
Training Coordinator; Mr. V. Lampropoulos,
Technical Department Manager; Mr.
I.
Kollaros of the Puchasing Department; Capt
P. Theodoridis of the Operations Department;
Mr. George Deligiorgis, DMR, Thenamaris
and Safety and Quality Department; and Mr.
Tassos Skaltsas of Information Technology
Department.
TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
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
Y
es, Southfield Agencies Inc. has
a new home! Our new corporate
address is at 2115 Madre Ignacia
Street, Malate, Manila. We moved in last
November 16, 2009, giving us ample time
to settle from the topsy-turvy of things
before the New Year ushered in.
Wow! Am I amazed and could not
help but feel the pride and excitement of
having our very own company building.
The scaffolding is down and the façade is
all cleaned up. Passers-by can now have a
glimpse of the new and fresh structure.
Getting to the new office site is easy.
Madre Ignacia Street is sandwiched by A.
Mabini and M. Adriatico Streets traversing
San Andres or Pres. Quirino Avenue.
Just a stone’s throw away are Aristocrat
Restaurant, Raha Sulayman Park, Max’s
Restaurant and Cowboy Grill to name a
few establishments.
If you take Quirino Avenue from Quezon
City, see to it that you do not cross over
Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden
(Manila Zoo). Make a right turn to Madre
Ignacia where an imposing red arch catches
the eye; reduce speed now and before you
know it, you have reached your port of call
(left side) where two courteous guards and
helpful cadets await to attend to you at the
spacious, clean and welcoming lobby.
On the other hand, one can take a
jeepney and get off on A. Mabini Street
corner Qurino Avenue, and make a short
walk towards Madre Ignacia.
I was aboard Hyundai 202 where I
joined as an emergency relieving chief
engineer when Southfield transferred to
the new building. I missed the chaos, if
there was any, and the frantic and frenzy
of it all transferring one thing after another.
When I arrived, everything was already
spic and span on the third floor that houses
Southfield Maritime Training Foundation
Inc. where I hold office.
Easily, one notices that the whole building
is a tangible reflection of our company’s
mission as the Ship Owner’s chosen
Human Resource Manager of Philippine
seafarers. For me, it mirrors the company’s
commitment to quality whose essence is
to meet and exceed our clients’ needs and
expectations through excellence in service,
thus the ambitious project of having a fivestorey office building. Truly, it holds true to
our core values one of which is cultivating
a culture of continuous development and
improvement.
The Southfield Agency building features
sleekly-appointed
department
offices
for each floor: payroll office, a receiving
area for seafarers and allottees on the
ground floor; fleet operations’ offices on
the second floor; the training office, the
simulator rooms and other training rooms
on the third floor; the managing director’s
office, the accounting office, the executive
office and a conference room on the fourth
floor; and the Penthouse on the fifth floor
for various functions.
Embellished with Christmas décors, the
staircase leads to a door for each floor that
is akin to that of a ship’s portholes. Indeed,
the building exudes an office atmosphere
that is well-lighted, well-ventilated and
spacious as if it is an urban “land-based”
ship building. Each floor has a pantry,
separate rest rooms for the ladies and
gentlemen (excluding the third floor that
has a rest room only for my kindred since it
caters mainly to seafarers).
Its overall design stands in stark contrast
to Southfield’s decades-old former home
though I will surely miss the majestic sunset
on the vast horizon of Manila Bay which
I got to enjoy looking from our window
glass. The view never failed to bring back
memories of my sea-going service and
sometimes drew as an inspiration or two
on what to write for Tinig ng Marino.
We may not still be accustomed to our
new place because of how it looks and
feels. In our old site, we knew the route
even when we were sleeping, and we have
figured out the shortcuts to avoid traffic. The
good news is that it is only 5-10 minutes
away (light traffic) from our previous office
building and so there is not so much
difference in time element and in our sense
of navigation as we take almost the same
everyday route. The big difference may be
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
I
s there an exception to the requirement
under
the
Philippine
Overseas
Employment Administration - Standard
Employment Contract (POEA-SEC) that a
seafarer should submit himself to a postemployment medical examination by the
company-designated physician within three
(3) working days upon his repatriation? The
answer is a resounding yes.
Under Section 20 (B) of the POEA-SEC,
in the event the seafarer is “physically
incapacitated” to submit himself to the
medical examination, then the threeday reporting requirement will have no
application. In other words, the seafarer
must first have a valid excuse in order to
disregard such a requirement.
The decision of the Supreme Court in
Wallem Maritime Services, Inc. and
Wallem Ship Management, Ltd. vs.
NLRC and Elizabeth Inductivo (G.R.
No. 130772) which was promulgated on
November 19, 1999, vividly shows the
application of the exception to the threeday reporting requirement.
In this case, the seafarer boarded the
vessel as a utility man under a ten (10)month employment contract.
Barely two months before the expiration
of his contract, he was discharged from
the vessel and arrived very ill in the
Philippines.
Two days after his return, he was
hospitalized and was transferred from
one hospital to the next, until he died just
three months after his arrival. The manning
agency denied the death benefit claims of
the deceased seafarer’s spouse.
The labor arbiter, the NLRC, and the
Supreme Court all held that the death
of the seafarer was compensable,
notwithstanding the seafarer’s failure to
comply with the mandatory three-day
reporting requirement.
The Supreme Court observed that
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.
Significantly, 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 benefits.
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 filing of claim for disability benefits.
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 officers 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 Offices (formerly Sapalo
& Velez Law Offices). 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 Offices is located at the 11th
Floor, Security Bank Centre, 6776 Ayala
Avenue, Makati City with Tel Nos. 89113-16.]
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2009
TINIG NG MARINO
19
20 TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
UFS Seeks Lifting of Age-Old MTC Moratorium
I
n response to the complaints of many
Filipino seafarers who are now finding it
difficult 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,
Acting Executive Director of MTC, dated
November 26, 2009, copy furnished to all
10 members of the MTC governing board.
“The UFS has been receiving numerous
complaints not only from its seafarermembers but other Filipino seafarers as
well regarding insufficiency of training
providers for the Basic Safety Course
in Metro Manila and nearby provincial
outskirts,” posed Engr. Ramirez in his
letter.
“We have looked into the legitimacy of
their concerns and we found out that there
are only three MTC-accredited providers
of Basic Safety Course in Metro Manila
and nearby outskirts and these are PNTI,
Simms, and MTCP; four if we are to
consider the facility of MPCF at Lido Beach
in Cavite. The three training centers have
been down to two as the facilities of MTCP
in Calamba, Laguna has gone underwater
in the aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy in
the last week of September 2009,” he
explained.
“Two training providers for a course that
is practically required in all of the 300,000
Filipino seafarers, including those who had
been idle as active seafarers for five years
and need to take a refresher, is certainly
not enough. Note that the provision of
Basic Safety Course shall only be good
for 24 trainees at a time based on the IMO
STCW ’95 Convention to ensure effective
knowledge assimilation,” Ramirez pointed
out.
“Looking deeper into the issue, we have
discovered that the reason behind the
insufficiency of training providers for the
Basic Safety Course is MTC Resolution
08, Series of 1995 issued on October 4,
1995, which is a moratorium on training
center establishment and course offerings
on new entrants to maritime training in
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
center.
Metro Manila, to spread the resources and
facilities of training providers outside of
Metro Manila to accommodate and serve
the training needs of Filipino seafarers
based in remote provinces especially
Visayas and Mindanao,” the UFS president
explained.
“Like the Seafarer Identification and
Record Book (SIRB) or the seaman’s
book processing in MARINA that has
hit a stonewall as of late, this problem in
training provision may eventually have a
telling impact on the deployment of Filipino
seafarers to international ocean-going
vessels. The industry certainly does not
want that to happen in the near future or
ever,” Ramirez stressed.
The UFS was actually among the
stakeholders in the local maritime industry
who lobbied in 1995 for the imposition of
the MTC moratorium.
“You see, we had this campaign then
against the proliferation of substandard
maritime
schools
because the country
was already churning
out some less than
qualified
Filipino
seafarers,
skillswise. The UFS held
several protests with
the Commission on
Higher Education and
even lambasted the
influx of substandard
maritime
schools,
which are not qualified
to
offer
maritime
education and training
at all and what they
are focused on is
generating profits
at the expense
of the hapless
Filipino seafarers.
In fact, the efforts
somehow
paid
off because from
131
maritime
schools then, the
number of CHEDrecognized
maritime schools
to
a
A lifeboat drill at a local maritime training center is also shrunk
over 20.
an important component of the Basic Safety Course. little
Eventually, it rose to more than 50. We
believe that the figure is now around 91.
All those initiatives and efforts are welldocumented in the pages of Tinig ng
Marino,” Ramirez elaborated.
“MTC got thrown into the fray at that
time when we expanded our campaign
to include maritime training centers. We
wanted to make sure that substandard
maritime training centers cannot just
come into the industry without ensuring
that they have what it takes to offer quality
training and additional education for
Filipino seafarers. Then MTC Executive
Director Lorna Fajardo saw the merit of our
argument and brought the matter to the
MTC Board. It was eventually made into
Resolution No. 08, Series of 1995, and the
rest was history,” he went on.
The MTC has also seen that Resolution
08, Series of 1995 has outlived its
usefulness. It issued Resolution 06, Series
of 2006, lifting the suspension/deferment
in the issuance of permits to operate or
establish maritime training centers and
accreditation of additional courses for
existing maritime training centers.
Surprisingly, the moratorium on safety
course offerings has been lifted with the
exception of the Basic Safety Course.
“We still can’t fully comprehend the
reason why. Fourteen years since the
moratorium was issued, the UFS firmly
believes that MTC Resolution 08, Series
of 1995, has well served its purpose in the
maritime training sector. It is time for its
lifting in order to unclog what appears to be
a bottleneck in the continued professional
and skills development of Filipino seafarers,
particularly in the crucial issue of safety,”
Ramirez cited.
“Furthermore, a moratorium that has
been in effect for 14 years is technically
and legally unsound and might as well
be considered a permanent injunction,”
observed the outspoken UFS president.
TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
21
C’EST LA VIE
ARIANNE BLANCHE R. RODRIGUEZ
Of Magic and Clowns
Le Cirque du COMELEC
O
ne day the circus came to town.
And it never left. It is called the
COMELEC and indeed, ever since,
the Commission on Elections has been
entertaining us for the longest time.
Most Filipinos see COMELEC as
providing some kind of comic relief to an
otherwise, tense and tenuous political
setup. This government agency, tasked
with putting people in office via what seems
to be a democratic, if often bloody, election
process, has gained notoriety it can only
blame on itself.
Mention the word ‘COMELEC,’ and
inevitably the word ‘Garci’ also crops up like
magic. Magic is a staple in circuses and it is
with much amusement that the people have
equated magic with the COMELEC.
Add and subtract are basic arithmetical
functions as they are as basic with the
COMELEC. Dagdag-bawas is a literal
translation of these two arithmetical
functions and indeed, like magic, votes have
been known to be drawn by what seems to
be an invisible magnet toward candidates
that didn’t deserve these votes. “They could
be holding the magnet.” Kibitzers routinely
shrug their shoulders, as they go about their
business thoroughly entertained.
The elections are upon us and in a
couple of months we will have a change of
performers sitting on chili-sprayed chairs.
The palace is the prime target and the trimedia is busy parlaying the attributes of
so many hopefuls who are salivating at the
thought of licking up all that chili.
The media have likewise been
airing ads that extol the virtues of
candidates brandishing well-worn lists of
accomplishments on top of promises to
make rich people out of the poor, transform
the great unwashed into well-educated and
well-fed, first-class citizens. All these being
delivered to the tired and weary viewer
like some magic wand that could instantly
change the landscape. Again, that word
‘magic.’
The COMELEC seems to be armed with
enough magic potions while concocting
even more. One potion seemed to work
very well as the agency ironed out kinks in
a number of election protest cases. Some
of these involved those of Loren Legarda,
Obet Pagdangan and Grace Padaca.
Loren Legarda shelled out the initial
amount of something like two million pesos
to have ballot boxes opened for a recount.
She has since given up realizing that many
elections could happen before the case
could be resolved, if at all.
Even funnier are the cases of
Pagdanganan and Padaca whose ruling
came in six months before the elections.
What are people to do in six months
The COMELEC circus and clowns are here to entertain us.
assuming that they indeed can sit on those
chairs? Considering the endless motions of
reconsideration and TROs, will anyone be
even close to being delighted? And after
spending several millions, will they ever get
some kind of satisfaction, or even closure?
Again, COMELEC’s magic potions are
working without fail.
And to tickle your memory a bit, the late
Fernando Poe, Jr., famous actor and wellloved by Muslims, got zero votes in many
Muslim precincts. How did that happen?
Only in the Philippines indeed!
When the May 2010 elections were
announced, the COMELEC instantly
transformed the Palacio del Gobernador
into a huge circus tent, true to its calling.
Various rulings and pronouncements
came from the circus’ several clowns that
contradicted their earlier statements and so
on.
Then, candidates for various positions
came in droves to the circus, many of whom
were certified clowns, aiming for those hot
chairs.
People were wondering if they too were
applying to be circus performers.
Comelec did itself proud when the party
list conundrum made people sit up and
take notice. The agency, in all seriousness,
ruled that “Ladlad,” an applicant for
partylist accreditation that claimed to
promote the welfare of gays and lesbians,
was “immoral.” Much shrieking was heard
from many sectors who asked with raised
eyebrows, “Since when did COMELEC
become a vanguard of morals? Since when
did being gay become immoral?” And so
on. The Supreme Court has since ruled in
Ladlad’s favor, putting it on the ballot.
There are about 144 accredited partylist
groups. Some are outright jokes and some
are simply funny. Others are intriguing and
many partylist names invite even more
questions.
There’s one called “Ang Mata’y
Alagaan” (The Eyes Should be Taken
Care Of). People are asking what sector
they are representing. Is it the optometrists
and opthalmologists or is it the blind? No
one knows. One group called themselves
“Yes We Can”. We can what? We can
eat, we can drink or we can dance? The
partylist group called “Ang Tao Muna at
Bayan (A TAMBAY),” certainly refers to
those who are jobless, vagabonds and
merely “standing by.” Again, what sector is
this? “Atong Paglaum” (Our Hope) which
behooves the question, “Who doesn’t hope,
or want to hope?” “Batang Iwas sa Droga
Foundation” and “Ako Ayoko sa sa Bawal
na Droga” clearly repeat what every citizen
wishes for: drugs are totally out. And both
are obviously representing one sector.
There’s also “Adhikain ng mga Dakilang
Anak ng Maharlika.” Does this group really
exist and who is it representing? The nobles
and royal bloods of yore? Surely, they are
not marginalized.
The group “ORAGON” somehow
connotes something carnal in a particular
TURN TO PAGE 53
22 TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
WES Now Drawing Flak
from Some Seafarers
T
he Walk-in Examination System
(WES), which is widely regarded as
one of the most bankable solutions that
the local maritime industry has come up with
to address the officer shortage problem, the
other being the two-level written examination
system, appears to have hit a stonewall in
terms of praises, and is now generating flak
from many disgruntled Filipino seafarers.
Apparently, online application for WES has
now become a pain-in-the-neck especially
with the one-track-mindedness of people
in the Professional Regulation Commission
(PRC) who process and assess the seafarer
applications.
Tinig ng Marino received several
complaints from a number of Filipino
seafarers whose applications to take the
WES were either denied for lack of supporting
documents or worse, for not being allowed
to edit the details that they had put on their
applications online.
One deck rating was saying that unlike
before when the PRC website allowed
WES processing without the complete
support documents, nowadays, one missing
document (like the transcript of records for
instance), and the application is automatically
disapproved.
The online application was also designed
in such a way that editing is not possible at
all. So if an applicant entered a wrong entry
and saved the application, it is almost sure to
be disapproved by the PRC assessors.
Several Filipino seafarers are also
wondering why applications of retakers of
WES are also being disapproved sometimes
when in fact, they used the same requirements,
which were approved in securing a slot the
first time that they took the WES.
There was this eyebrow-raising case of a
certain Filipino seafarer where he applied for
WES on October 21 and 22. His application
was disapproved because apparently he put
the wrong information on his sea service. So
he had no choice but to re-apply for November
5 and 6 WES dates, this time with the
corrected information on sea service. Again,
it was disapproved by the PRC assessors
because this time, the seafarer was said to
have put a wrong date of graduation. The
second error could have been pointed out in
the first application of the seafarer but then
the PRC assessors waited for the second
time to point out the second mistake to reject
it again.
Apparently, assessment or checking of
online applications for WES is now being
done 10 days before the scheduled date
of exams. Reuploading is not allowed but
reapplication or cancellation of application is
permitted. Some of the PRC assessors have
also been quoted as telling seafarer WES
applicants that they should not be asking
assistance from anybody in uploading their
TURN TO PAGE 40
TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
Maximize Your Money Potential
I
n times of recession, we should be smart
in spending and saving our money. There
are a lot of people around us, from media
and seminars who show us how to save
and spend our hard-earned money. But
do we pay attention? Or do we just ignore
them thinking, “I already know that”. But
have you really thought about planning your
finances?
Here are some tips that are easy to follow,
but need a lot of discipline to do:
1.
Instead of buying lunches and snacks
from fastfood or dine-in restaurants,
why don’t you cook your food at home
and bring a “baon” and reheat it in
the office’s microwave oven. This will
save you a lot of money, not to mention
saving for more important purchases
like medicines, or as an emergency
fund.
2.
When eating out, order to share with
friends and split the check. It will be
cheaper than ordering solo.
3.
If you want to go to the mall, or visit
a neighbor, why don’t you take a
walk, or use your bike or take public
transportation. You can save a lot than
bringing your car. Treat this as a form of
exercise. Good for your health!
4.
Buy everything on sale and buy UkayUkay for clothes. Most of them are
actually overruns, or have slight defects
that can easily be repaired.
SOUNDING LEAD
Watch Lists for 2010
FROM PAGE 6
Filipino seafarers are the number one in
the world in terms of supply, however, nobody
is claiming yet that the Filipino seafarers are
the world’s best. How can it happen? We are
still taking soundings. This stays on the list.
12. Disclosure of the EMSA Report (since
2008).
The EMSA report was extremely revealing
particularly on the issue of the Philippine
Maritime Education and Training Regime.
The report indicated how deficient our BSMT
and BSMarE courses are in terms of full
compliance with the mandatory requirements
of the STCW 95; this report will educate a lot
of those who are willing to be educated. This
stays on our list.
13. The computerization of the TESDA
Assessment and Certification for Seafarer
Ratings (since 2008).
An efficient, seamless and clean service
for seafarer ratings so that the processes for
assessment and certification are secured
with integrity.
14. The Board of Marine Inquiry to adopt the
IMO’s Code of Practice for the Investigation
of Maritime Casualties (since 2009).
The IMO’s Code of Practice for the
Investigation of Maritime Casualties, come 01
January, 2010 becomes part of the Standards
of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping
Convention, as Amended, and becomes
mandatory for member-nations of the IMO.
15. From “Blame Culture to Safety Culture”
(since 2009).
That the Philippines’ maritime culture may
evolve from blame culture to safety culture.
This will mean that all concerned, particularly
the authorities, will focus on solutions to
prevent maritime incidents/accidents from
happening again via new policies, standards,
and realistic rules and regulations.
“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be
those who
cannot
read and
write, but
those who
cannot
learn,
unlearn
a n d
relearn.”
— Alvin
To f f l e r ,
futurist.
A
peaceful
& happy
2 0 1 0
ahead of
us.
5.
Borrow books, newspapers or DVDs or
just hang out at bookstores to read. It will
also allow you to evaluate the content
first if you really want to buy your own.
copy. Buying during sale period will be
best too.
6.
If going out of town, research and
plan where to stay, what to visit and
where to eat. Then join a carpool and
split up the expenses on gas, toll fees,
accommodations and food. It would be
a fun way of strengthening friendship,
while discovering the beauty of the
Philippines.
7.
If you are looking for a yield that will
give you more than the inflation rate,
you don’t have to look far. PRU LIFE
23
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annual earnings which you can use for
your dream vacation, pursue other plans
such as remodeling your house or raising
enough capital to start a small business that
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grandchildren.
To assist you on how to maximize your
money potential, please contact Pru Life
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ELLO, to help you assess further how you
want your wealth to grow. You may contact
her at +63 – 9209510388, +632 – 8422007
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VAST HORIZON
Happy New Year, Happy New Building
FROM PAGE 17
the accessibility of transportation for the
employees who commute every day.
Interestingly, as if predestined, one
of our nearby neighbors is a church
– giving us the comforting awareness
that God is with us wherever we go. It is
Malate Church, a Baroque-style church
whose patron saint is Nuestra Señora de
Remedios. It has a historical significance
dating back to the Spanish regime just like
our former neighbor, Ermita Church whose
patron saint is Nuestra Señora de Guia.
Meanwhile, our company and our
principals as well have held their first
Christmas parties in our new home. With
joy, led by our managing director, Mr.
Reuben Romero, Southfield Agencies
Inc. celebrates His goodness this blessed
season and welcomes the New Year with a
new building!
24 TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
Gordon Takes a Stand (Again)
for the Maritime Industry
FROM PAGE 14
pre-employment medical examinations in
a specifically-designated medical clinic,
have them train in specifically designated
maritime training center, and require all
shipowners and manning agencies to
protect all their seafarers with appropriate
insurance coverage. These three issues
are actually part of the four major bones
of contention of the Joint Manning Group
(JMG) against the revisions to RA 8042,
with the fourth issue being the restriction on
foreign nationals in holding chairmanship
positions in manning agencies.
The UFS called on the local maritime
industry to formally take a stand on the
issue, even to the point of spearheading
a protest rally in the Senate if need be
just to ensure that the members of the
bicameral conference committee, who
shall be discussing the proposed revisions
to RA 8042, would be enlightened on the
‘injustice’ that they could be doing for the
local seafaring sector should they approve
the revision to the existing law.
Subsequently, Engr. Ramirez personally
conveyed the sentiments of the local
maritime industry to Senator Gordon who
promised him that he would try to remedy
the situation the best way he can.
It would be remembered that back in
September 2007, Ramirez also sought
the help of Senator Gordon in taking up
the cudgels for the beleaguered Filipino
seafarers on the
controversial issue
of the Management
Level
Course
(MLC). Gordon then
delivered a privileged
speech on the issue
in October 2007. The
series of hearings on
the Senate floor in a
Gordon co-chaired
committee early in
2008 eventually led
to the compromised
implementation
of
MLC, which formally
ended all brickbats
of local maritime
industry stakeholders
for or against the
implementation of the
course.
In the aftermath
of two Christmastime
maritime mishaps in
the country’s coastal
waters last year,
Senator Gordon was
there again to make
sure
that
justice
would be served to the victims of the
maritime tragedies and that government
officials responsible for enforcing maritime
safety rules and regulations were made
aware of their shortcomings.
Since December 29, 2009, the Senate
Blue Ribbon Committee has been
conducting a series of hearings not only
to investigate the reasons behind the
series of maritime disasters that seem to
be hounding the domestic shipping front
but more importantly to come up with
legislations to rid the industry of the perfect
formula for maritime disasters.
TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
25
PISOBILITIES
FRANCISCO J. COLAYCO
Chairman, Colayco Foundation for Education
Entrepreneur, Venture Developer and Financial Advisor
Ano Nga Ba Talaga ang Kayamanan?
Kadalasan, iniisip natin na ang ibig sabihin
ng kayamanan ay ang pagkakaroon ng
maraming-maraming pera. Pero ang totoo,
hindi dahil marami kang pera ay puwede
ka nang tawaging tunay na mayaman,
at puwede ka nang tumigil magtrabaho.
Walang halaga ang pera mo kung di
naman nito kayang tustusan lahat ng mga
gastusin mo sa mahaba-habang panahon.
Mayaman ka na bang matatawag kung
meron kang isang milyon sa bulsa? E kung
meron kang dalawang milyon? Sampung
milyon kaya o kahit sandaang milyon?
Depende ’yan sa dami ng gastusin mo.
Kung magastos ang klase ng pamumuhay
na napili mo, o di kaya’y marami kang
utang, kahit pa may milyon-milyon ka,
kulang pa rin. Kung gayon, di ka talaga
mayaman.
Ang tamang tanong ay: Kung titigil kang
magtrabaho ngayon, gaano ka katagal
kayang bubuhayin ng iyong naipon,
napamuhunan at mga ari-arian?
Ngayon, kung meron ka ngang sapat na
pera at mga ari-arian na kayang sumuporta
sa klase ng iyong pamumuhay sa loob ng
mga sampung taon, mayaman ka na ba?
Depende pa rin ’yan sa haba ng ’yong
natitirang buhay. Kung nakapagretiro ka na
at humigit-kumulang sampung taon na lang
ang nalalabi sa ’yo, at meron ka pang sapat
na perang pangsuporta sa klase ng iyong
pamumuhay sa loob ng sampung taon,
masasabing mayaman ka nga. Pero kung
pang-limang taon lang ang iyong pera,
hindi ka talaga ganun kayaman. Kapag
ganito, dapat ay palaguin mo pa ang iyong
pera o baguhin mo ang iyong pamumuhay
para makaya mo itong suportahan.
Ang tamang batayan sa pagsukat ng
kasaganaang pinansiyal
Ito ang tinatawag na netong halaga ng
bawa’t isa sa atin. Ito ay ang kalabisan
(o kakulangan) ng iyong mga ari-arian
(kasama na ang cash, bahay, lupa, atbp.)
sa lahat na iyong mga pagkakautang.
Hindi mo kailangan ng napakadaming
pera upang maging tunay na mayaman.
Kahit konti lang ang iyong naipon o
napamuhunan, kung kaya naman nitong
tustusan ang iyong pamumuhay sa
nalalabi mo pang panahon sa mundong
ito, mayaman ka na rin. Ang mahalagang
maintindihan ay ang kaibahan ng tinatawag
na “Asset Wealth” o kayamanang batay
lamang sa ari-arian laban sa “Income
Wealth” o kayamanang batay sa kinikita
galing sa pagne-negosyo at sa pag-lagak ng
salapi sa mga iba’t ibang “investments”.
Kaya mong makamit ang kasaganaang
pinansyal kung mapapalago mo ang mga
naiimpok mo mula sa iyong kita o personal
income. Kailangan lang ay magkaroon
ka ng wastong kaalaman tungkol sa iba’t
ibang uri ng kita.
Ang ipon mo ang una mong puhunan
Kung nais mamuhunan pero wala kang
kapital, mag-ipon ka. Kung nagsisimula
ka pa lang, wala nang pinakamainam na
mapagkukunan ng puhunan kundi ang
sariling ipon.
Kailangang kumayod para magkapera
at mabuhay nang maayos. Ngunit bago
natin magawa ito, kailangan munang magaral nang mahaba-habang panahon.
Sa madaling salita, kailangan munang
mamuhunan ng pagod, tiyaga, talino at
abilidad para magkaroon ng sapat na
perang makapagbibigay sa atin at sa
ating mga mahal sa buhay ng masaya at
masaganang pamumuhay.
Ngunit nakalulungkot isiping kahit na nga
hirap na hirap kumita, karamihan sa ating
mga Pinoy ay hindi binibigyan ng sapat na
halaga ang ating mga trabaho at kinikita.
Kaya lang natin gustong magkapera ay
para makabili ng kung anuman na kailangan
o gusto natin ngayon. Ang ibig sabihin,
karamihan sa atin ay kumikita lamang ng
pera para gastusin. Kung mag-iipon man,
ito’y para lang mabili ang isang bagay na
‘di kayang mabayaran agad-agad, gaya ng
usong modelo ng cellphone, mga alahas o
mamahaling damit.
Ang ganitong klaseng pag-uugali ay
malalim ang ugat sa ating kultura, na mas
pinahahalagahan ang kasalukuyan kaysa
sa hinaharap, na ang gusto lamang ay
makuha ang gusto natin ngayon — bahala
na kung ano ang mangyayari bukas.
TURN TO PAGE 56
26 TINIG NG MARINO
JULY - AUGUST 2009
JANUARY-FEBRUARY
JULY - AUGUST 2009 2010
TINIG NG MARINO
27
eagle star Seeks to Become Second to None
I
f the commitment of the leaders and its
Filipino seafarers are to be the basis in
charting 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-sodistant future.
This became apparent during the
unveiling of the ‘commitment wall’ that
highlighted the celebration of the first
anniversary of the company at Sofitel
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
Simon Heo, company officers, staff and
Filipino seafarers wrote their respective
pledges in order to make Eagle Star soar
‘Beyond Expectations,’ which happened to
be the theme of the two-tiered event.
In both his impromptu message during
the program and the vow he subsequently
wrote on the commitment wall, Capt.
Rajalingam stated: “I will guide Eagle Star
to be second to none! Only the best!”
Simon Heo on the other hand promised
to ‘bring Eagle Star to the next level,’ clearly
indicating that the company has already
exceeded the expectations of the three
corporations which have all teamed up late
in 2008 to pave the way for its birth.
Eagle Star is an offspring of the joint
venture of Parola Maritime Agency
Corporation, MISC Berhad and AET
in an effort to streamline the crewing
operations of both MISC Berhad and
AET as both companies gear to become
global champions in the specialized field of
petroleum and chemical transport.
In his short inspirational message
during the program, Capt. Rajalingam
even specified that the joint venture began
with the signing of the memorandum of
agreement between the three companies
sometime in August 2008.
“MISC and AET currently have a combined
140 vessels and 135 newbuildings on order.
Putting this in the global economic scenario,
both companies are still looking forward to
One of the event’s major attractions was the
wall-climbing board where seafarers and their
kids had their fair share of adrenaline rush.
Capt. Rajalingam (second from left) acknowledging the lean and mean team
behind the success of Eagle Star Crew Management, headed by Simon Heo
(left) right on its first year.
Simon Heo and Capt. Rajalingam were the first to write on the
commitment wall.
taking its newbuildings on schedule. We
are definitely a long-term player and we are
happy with the fact that we have a good
partner in the Philippines in Parola and a
good joint venture in Eagle Star,” noted the
Eagle Star Chairman.
“I would like to commend Simon Heo and
his lean and mean team for doing a splendid
job in making sure that Eagle Star surpass
the expectations laid before it,” praises Capt.
Rajalingam, as he eventually called on every
officer and staff of Eagle Star to join him and
Simon Heo on stage and asked for a warm
round of applause for the team.
“These are the same guys who have gone
Simon Heo delivering
to great lengths in putting this event together.
the program’s welcome
It’s the Filipino seafarers’ turn to write on the commitment wall.
They made sure that every bit of detail is
remarks.
taken care of so that we can have a gala of
a time tonight,” remarks Capt. Rajalingam, seafarers who have contributed significantly hosts.
asking for yet another round of applause for to the success of the company, following the
One extraordinary feature of the Eagle
blazing trail relinquished to it by Parola.
the Eagle Star team.
Star event, which can hardly be seen in a
Later on in the program, Capt. Heo, gala Christmas party, was the 50-foot wallCapt. Rajalingam even narrated that
when he arrived at the Manila airport from Chairman of Parola, also decided to climbing board where everyone, including
Malaysia at 1:30 that afternoon, he saw inconspicuously write his piece on the seafarer children, were free to try complete
Simon very worried, given the magnitude of commitment wall. Basically, it was meant with mountain-climbing harnesses. The
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
Whatever will be, will be. It turned out well as he wrote: “Love (your) vessel. Love (your) top and Eagle Star slightly located below
as we all can see. So my hats off to you company.”
but right in the middle, connoting in a way
guys. This is the first Christmas party in my
the commitment of the crewing company
An Evening of Fun and Excitement
life where I am not wearing something very
to go beyond expectations to serve its two
Eagle Star Filipino seafarers and their principals.
special and it’s good to be part of history. So
just sit back and relax, have a good time and families, as well as company officers 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
event as it was not only literally oozing with at the wall climb. Not to be outdone, officers
Capt. Rajalingam.
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 officials 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 officers 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. Raffle prizes were
Star that ensured its smooth sailing
also given away during the night that added
during its maiden year. He likewise
to the excitement of everyone and extreme
Mrs. Gelladuga receives a loyalty plaque on behalf of
acknowledged the support of Eagle
delight to the lucky winners.
her husband from Capt. Rajalingam as Capt. Heo and
Star’s qualified and dedicated Filipino Simon Heo look on.
TURN TO PAGE 45
28 TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
INDOMITABLE SPIRIT
FROM PAGE 3
He likewise cited the UFS for its threepronged celebration that night, with the third
being the 60th birthday celebration of UFS
President Engr. Nelson Ramirez.
“The UFS has a colorful history as one of
the country’s leading maritime unions whose
steadfast commitment to the advancement
of the maritime industry and the seafaring
profession is beyond question. The DOLE
family shares with you the significance of
these events and wishes you the best in the
years to come,” praised Usec. Lagman.
“As an archipelagic nation, maritime
and seafaring are strategic features of the
country’s development agenda. Filipino
seafarers play a vital role in the social
progress and economic development of
our country. It is to the best interest of our
country to optimize our inherent strengths in
this area,” he posed.
“I am therefore pleased to note that during
the past 15 years, the UFS has consistently
demonstrated world-class professionalism as
one of the enduring pillars of the profession
and the industry. It is our expectation that
together, we will continue to harness the
skills, talents, and positive work ethics of our
seafarers as our most competitive advantage
in the world’s maritime and seafaring sector,”
Usec. Lagman noted.
He likewise cited the active participation
of the UFS in the development and
transformation of the local maritime industry.
“You have played an important role in many
multi-stakeholder initiatives to ensure that
we produce highly-skilled and globallycompetitive seafarers.”
“The Philippines, as the crewing capital of
the world, will continue to pursue initiatives
to sustain its distinct position amid the
increasing challenges posed by emerging
regional industry players. The country is still
in a better position, due in large measure
to the help of our partners in the private
sector, including the UFS and its partner
organizations, to facilitate the skills transition
of our ratings to assume bigger and higher
responsibilities onboard,” the labor official
stated matter-of-factly.
He concluded his speech by saying:
“Let us further enhance our partnership
and together, sustain our reputation as the
primary supplier of ‘seafarers of choice’ to
the world’s maritime fleet.
The Awards and the Awardees
Tinig ng Marino Awards has been
institutionalized by the UFS almost a
decade ago to pay tribute and give honor
to outstanding individuals and organizations
who have become the bastions of excellence,
credibility and integrity in their respective
fields of specialization in the maritime
industry.
Over the years, it has also become
one of the most reputable and prestigious
award-giving bodies in the local maritime
industry. In fact, during the 2008 edition
of Tinig ng Marino Awards, no less than
Senator Richard J. Gordon dubbed the
winners not just as prime movers of the local
maritime industry but actually as ‘captains
of the world’ because they can surely hold
their own against the world’s best in their
respective fields.
Tinig ng Marino Awards has also
become an equalizer of sorts. As much as
the union can dish out criticisms and stage
lightning protest actions in a snap of a finger
against individuals or organizations that
make life miserable for Filipino seafarers
or the maritime industry, it also gives
commendations and take its hat off to those
who deserve the accolades or citations for
making a significant difference in the lives of
others, particularly Filipino seafarers.
The 7th Tinig ng Marino Awards was
headlined by eight outstanding awardees
from the local maritime industry who have
distinguished themselves in their respective
fields. The eight awardees were evenly
divided into four individuals and four
institutions, one of which was awarded
as a collegial body of committed men and
women.
The individual awardees of the 7th Tinig
ng Marino Awards, who each bested
formidable nominees in their respective
categories, included Capt. Jaime D.
Quiñones, Professor of the PMMA Graduate
School, as Outstanding Master Mariner;
Chief Engineer Miguel O. Marasigan,
Vice Chairman of the PRC Board of Marine
Engineer Officer and Owner’s Representative
of General Maritime Crewing Pte. Ltd. as
Outstanding Marine Engineer; Lt. Eliezer O.
Dalnay of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG),
Commander of Coast Guard Station Subic,
as Outstanding Maritime Law Enforcer; and
RMI Leonardo T. Valdez of the Philippine
Coast Guard, Acting Commander of
MEPGRU NCR-CL, as Outstanding Marine
Environment Protector.
The men and women of the Philippine
Coast Guard led the institutional awardees
as Outstanding Maritime Public Servants
for their selfless display of courage and their
humanitarian side in carrying out rescue
and relief operations for stricken Filipino
families and individuals who felt the wrath
of typhoon Ondoy in Metro Manila and the
nearby provinces of Rizal, Laguna and
Bulacan in the last weekend of September
2009.
INC Navigation Company Philippines,
Inc, which marked its three decades of
successful and sustained crew management
operations in the country on September
2009, was adjudged as Outstanding
Maritime Manning Agency. John B. Lacson
Foundation Inc. Maritime Training Center
meanwhile, bested several contenders and
was named Outstanding Maritime Training
Center while the Pangasinan Merchant
Marine Academy (PAMMA) was adjudged
as Outstanding Maritime School.
Two Filipino seafarers of Marlow
Navigation Company Philippines, Inc. were
also given citations for their bravery during
the rescue of an ill-fated ship somewhere
in Africa. Mr. Antonio Galvez, CEO for
Administration, and Capt. Leo Tenorio, CEO
for Operations, accepted the plaques on
their seafarers’ behalf.
TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
29
INC 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.
I
n what could be the perfect crescendo to a
banner year that was 2009, INC Navigation
Company Philippines, Inc. was adjudged
as Outstanding Maritime Manning Agency for
2009 during the 7th Tinig ng Marino Awards
held on November 6, 2009 at the Philippine
Coast Guard headquarters in Port Area,
Manila.
A brainchild of the United Filipino Seafarers
(UFS), the country’s most influential maritime
union, Tinig ng Marino Awards has
developed its reputation through the years as
one of the most prestigious accolade-giving
bodies in the Philippine maritime industry.
It is the UFS’ way of paying tribute to
outstanding individuals and organizations
that have remarkably shone brightest during
the past year with their almost unparalleled
commitment to excellence, credibility and
integrity redounding to the benefit of Filipino
seafarers in particular and the maritime
industry in general.
In bagging the highly-coveted award,
INC Navigation Company Philippines bested
formidable competitors, which are all reputable
manning agencies in the country.
The
company’s
impressive
accomplishments over the last two years in
terms of providing rewarding opportunities to
its Filipino seafarers and seafarer-cadets and
other initiatives for the local seafaring industry
have made it a shoo-in for the award.
INC Navigation Company Philippines
was one of the eight outstanding awardees
during the awarding rites composed of four
institutional and four individual honorees.
The top officials of the company were in
full force to receive the award headed by
Capt. Jerome Delos Angeles, CEO, who were
obviously very elated and honored to have
received such a recognition, which is most
likely the first in a series of possible accolades
for the company in the near future.
INC Navigation Company Philippines,
Inc. officially marked its 30th year in the local
maritime industry in September 2009.
Over the past 30 years of providing
seafarers to its principal, the company has
transformed itself into a dynamic entity with
an average annual deployment of about 1,600
Filipino seafarers per year. The deployment
figure is expected to increase in the coming
years as the principal has on order several
newbuildings for delivery starting in late 2009
up to 2011.
In April 2008, INC Navigation Company
Philippines, with the full support of Interorient
Marine Services (IMS), initiated an agreement
with the University of Cebu to provide qualified
Filipino high school students interested in
entering the maritime profession with holistic
scholarship grants. The first batch of 50 INC/
UC cadet scholars was formally taken into
the program at the start of school year 20082009.
The transformation of INC Navigation
Company Philippines was further hastened with
the arrival in August 2008 of new CEO Capt.
Jerome Delos Angeles, which was followed by
the restructuring of the organization and the
modernization of its office facilities at the 17th
Floor of the Raffles Corporate Center in Pasig
City.
In order to optimize personnel performance
in providing quality service to both its Filipino
seafarers and its principal, training programs
were also institutionalized for office staff.
Thus, when INC Navigation Company
Philippines marked its 29th year in the presence
of Mr. Themis Papadopoulos, the CEO of
Interorient headquartered in Cyprus, and his
wife Nayla in September 2008, the local firm
had more reasons to celebrate.
Apart from the inauguration of its newly
refurbished offices and its 29th year in the
business, the cadet sponsorship program
also began to take the strength the way it has
envisioned.
In April 2009, INC Navigation Company
Philippines formally launched its first three
full-crew vessels, which is only a testament to
IMS’ growing confidence on the crewing firm’s
ability to provide competent and qualified
seafarers to man its managed fleet of tankers
and bulk carriers. It was also in April 2009
when the company launched a comprehensive
insurance scheme for its Filipino senior officers
as a form of incentive to ensure their continued
commitment and dedication to the company
and its principal.
As a way of reaching out to its Filipino
seafarers who live in the southern provinces
of the country, INC Navigation Company
Philippines formally inaugurated its Cebu
branch office on June 12, 2009, helmed by a
veteran master mariner as branch manager.
The Cebu branch office has since been
augmenting the recruitment activities of the
Manila office. Given that there is plenty of
Filipino seafarers based in Cebu and other
nearby provinces, INC has been conveniently
meeting the challenge of manning the IMS
fleet of tankers and bulk carriers, including
newbuildings, with competent seafarers.
Also in June 2009, the second batch of
50 INC/UC cadets scholars was taken into
the cadet sponsorship program. With the
opening of the Cebu office, INC has provided
direct support to cadets. When the company
marked its 30th year in September 2009, it
fittingly coincided with the celebration of the
National Seafarers’ Day.
Although just a simple celebration at
its offices, it was quite a meaningful event
nonetheless as it basically paid tribute to the
priceless contributions of its Filipino seafarers
to the continued growth of the company over
the last three decades.
From a humble beginning in 1979 with
only four personnel, INC Navigation Company
Philippines now consists of 34 employees that
have resulted in significant improvements in
productivity when considering the number of
Filipino seafarers being employed through the
company then and now despite the increased
administrative burdens that also increased
over time.
An outstanding performance over the last
two years certainly deserves an outstanding
recognition no less.
30 TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
INC’s Transformation Continues as its N
Certainly, it was. Apart from
the priceless contributions of
its dedicated and competent
Filipino
seafarers,
INC
Navigation Company Philippines’
Still Together
monumental surge in 2009 can
INC N
at 30
also be attributed to the holistic
spread it
and wholehearted support thrown
opening
September 21, 2009
its way by its parent company in
the 14th F
Cyprus and IMS.
Cebu Bu
INC Navigation Company
What’s remarkable about the
Saballa a
Philippines toasted its 30 years
surge of INC Navigation Company
Richa
of proud commitment to the
Philippines is that it happened
Philippines and the Filipino
when the global shipping industry
seafarers as it held another event
was actually experiencing its
at its offices in Ortigas Centre,
worst downturn in over half a
aptly themed: “Still Together at
century.
30.”
So while practically every
Highlighting the event was
shipping company in the world was
the handing out of Long Service
feeling the pinch of the economic
Awards to several INC Filipino
downturn that was tipped off by the
seafarers as well as paying
US financial crisis that began late
tribute to the contribution of each
in 2008, INC was still going on with
and every staff of the organization
its plans in the country in 2009.
as mentioned and recognized
Unlike other ship owning or ship
by Capt. Peter Bond and Mr.
management companies that had
Shane Rozario, Training Director
to cancel their newbuilding orders
of Interorient headquartered in
because of the bleak charter
Cyprus.
scenario, all the newbuilding
orders of INC, mostly tankers and bulk
carriers, are being delivered as scheduled
from 2009 up to 2011.
INC has obviously planned ahead for
More and more Filipino seafarers have or seeking that lucrative employment
the rainy days and it has reaped the dividends
already realized the employment premium opportunity with the company.
The consistent growth and no-nonsense of its forward planning maneuvers. It also
being offered by INC Navigation Company
Philippines, Inc. that is why its spacious commitment to crewing excellence of INC became obvious when INC Navigation Company
seafarers lounge, which occupies a Navigation Company Philippines drew Philippines continuously held sway in 2009 with
good portion of its cozy offices at the recognition not only from its principal and various groundbreaking initiatives, programs,
17th Floor of Raffles Corporate Centre in Filipino seafarers; it also did not escape and activities in the local seafaring industry that
Ortigas Center, is almost always filled with the attention of major stakeholders in are practically unmatched during the entire year.
The activities of the company are also buoyed
Filipino seafarers any day of the week the industry, including the United Filipino
either waiting for their formal deployment Seafarers, the most influential maritime in part by the good rapport and camaraderie
labor federation in the between the officers and staff of INC Navigation
country, and Tinig ng
Marino, the Philippines’
only globally-circulated
maritime newspaper.
On the occasion of
3 and Counting ....
the maritime union’s
15th Anniversary on
November 6, 2009,
April 24, 2009
the UFS and its official
publication
fittingly
INC Navigation Company Philippines
honored INC Navigation
had another event at its offices in Ortigas
Company Philippines as
Center entitled “3 and Counting…” which
the Most Outstanding
was actually a celebration meant to
Maritime
Manning
recognize its first three full Filipino crew
Seafarers’ Valentine Party
Agency
for
2009
vessels, with several more to be added
themselves to become senior officers in the not-soFebruary 11, 2009
during the holding of
to the list. Obviously, it only was a good
th
distant future.
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
confidence of the principal to the crew
flew to Cebu to meet and literally bond with the
off what can be officially
management capabilities of INC Manila.
first 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 offices in Ortigas Center that was highlighted
of the manning firm’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 officer.
Capt. Bond motivated each one of them not to be insurance cover from Marine Benefits Assistance
in 2009 that began
content with merely being given the opportunity Services for all Filipino officers and their families on
during the second half
to board ocean-going vessels but to also envision its full-managed vessels.
of 2008.
T
he year 2009 saw the continued
transformation of INC Navigation
Company Philippines, Inc. from
being once a low-profile and low-key yet
productive manning firm of Interorient
headquartered in Cyprus to one that
can be at par with some, if not all of
the country’s most reputable crewing
agencies.
And the company has all the reasons
to stand proud and be in the class of the
elite in the Philippine seafaring sector.
After all, it has in its arsenal 30 years of
solid experience in the crewing business,
posting constant and consistent growth
year in and year out since it broke ground
in the Philippines in September 1979.
More than its three decades of
experience, it was actually the heightened
quest of INC Navigation Company
Philippines, Inc. for crewing excellence
that began almost two years ago, that
ushered its transformation into an abovepar manning company.
Today, it has adhered itself to a number
of Filipino seafarers, both officers and
ratings, who consider being employed
through INC Navigation Company
Philippines, the best career decision they
have ever made in their entire lives, which
have not only ensured their professional
development but more importantly gave
their respective families a rosy and bright
future.
At present, INC Navigation Company
Philippines is deploying 1,600 Filipino
seafarers onboard the vessels of its
principal, which also owns the fleet.
Those vessels are being managed by
Interorient Marine Services (IMS), which
is the parent company’s ship management
company.
TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
31
Neverending Quest for Excellence Surges
Inauguration of Cebu Branch Office
June 12, 2009
Navigation Company Philippines officially
ts wings south of the Philippines with the
of its branch office in Cebu located at
Floor of the Keppel Center in the bustling
usiness Park under the helm of Capt. Gil
as branch manager.
rd Schultze, Fleet Personnel Manager of
Interorient Marine Services, was the guest of honor
during the inauguration as he was actually one of
those officials in the INC head office in Cyprus who
pushed for a concrete presence of the company
in Cebu not only to reach out to southern-based
Filipino seafarers but also to be able to monitor its
holistic cadet sponsorship program at UC-METC.
Around this time, the cadet sponsorship program
has taken on its second batch of 50 INC cadets.
INC - UC
Cadets and Families
Christmas Party
December 12, 2009
Company Philippines led by its CEO Capt.
Jerome Delos Angeles, with practically all of its
Filipino seafarers.
“We treat each one of our Filipino seafarers
not as mere seaborne employees but as integral
parts of our family – the INC family - where every
member is given premium importance,” states
Capt. Delos Angeles.
“In fact, during the celebration of our 30th
Anniversary on September 21, 2009, Capt.
Peter Bond, General Manager and Director of
Interorient of Cyprus, made mention that our
company would not be where it is now if not for
the loyalty and dedication of a great number
of our Filipino seafarers,” Capt. Delos
Angeles pointed out.
Thus it was fitting in a way because
when INC Navigation Company Philippines
celebrated its 30th year in the local seafaring
industry on the 21st of September 2009,
the entire nation was actually toasting the
new breed of modern-day heroes of the
sea – the Filipino seafarers.
“The family concept in the INC
organization emanates from the values
that were inculcated in the entire global
organization by Mr. Adonis Papadopoulos,
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
but most especially for their families and
the Philippine maritime industry in general,”
explains Capt. Delos Angeles.
Looking back in 2009, INC Navigation
Company Philippines had such a prolific
year in terms of activities for Filipino
seafarers, keeping that bright spark
shining despite the various challenges and
hurdles being faced by the local maritime
industry.
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
highlighted by various entertainment
presentations from the INC cadets.
Capt. Jerome Delos Angeles
represented INC Manila and personally
took part in the gathering with Atty.
Augusto W. Go, President of UC.
Seafarers’ Christmas Celebration
December 18, 2009
The company had its Seafarers’
Christmas Celebration one week before
Christmas and it was again highlighted
by the great appreciation of the company
officers and staff to the efforts and
contributions of its Filipino seafarers in
the organization to become what it is
today – truly an outstanding maritime
manning agency.
Typical with INC celebrations for
seafarers, the event was oozing with
sumptuous food and drinks and loads of
entertainment and excitement brought no
less by the fun-loving Filipino seafarers
and their families.
32 TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
33
Solon Calls on ‘Elena Biyahera’ to Resign from Public Office
R
ep. Rodolfo ‘Ompong’ Plaza of
the lone district of Agusan Del Sur
blatantly referred to the Administrator
of the Maritime Industry Authority as ‘Elena
Biyahera’ and that she is better off resigning
from public office.
In a privilege speech delivered on January
18, 2010 at the House of Representatives,
Rep. Plaza lambasted Administrator Bautista
for her agency’s failure to arrest the series of
maritime disasters that seem to have been
hounding the domestic shipping industry
because she was an ‘absentee’ Administrator
first and foremost.
Rep. Plaza disclosed that he has been
furnished official documents by the Bureau of
Immigration that confirmed that Administrator
Bautista has made 77 foreign trips in the 18
months that she has served MARINA, or an
average of 4.8 days of foreign trips per month
or about once a week. “President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo has only made 80 official
trips thus far during her almost nine-year
tenure in office yet Administrator Bautista has
traveled so much, she can even beat a retiring
AFP pilot for making 2,500 flying miles,” bares
Rep. Plaza.
“It should also be made public that since
Usec. Bautista assumed the post of MARINA
Administrator, there have been a total of
17 maritime disasters in the country, most
of which occurred when she was out of the
country,” he pointed out.
Tinig ng Marino has also been furnished
a dossier of special orders from Administrator
Bautista, a total of 19, dating from October
14, 2008 up to August 28, 2009 where she
designated various officers-in-charge at
MARINA in light of her absence, whether
official or unofficial.
“In a press forum last September, Bautista
was quoted to have said that she would
resign if other vessels would sink during her
tenure as MARINA Administrator. Maritime
industry representatives were there, even
MARINA personnel were present. Since she
said that, the twin December sea tragedies
happened. Hindi ba dapat ay por delicadeza
at kung mayroon siyang palabra de honor ay
dapat na nga siyang magbitiw bilang MARINA
Administrator?” Rep. Plaza posed.
“I am willing to understand if Ms. Bautista
might have conducted those trips abroad
because she loves Europe, or loves someone
from Europe, but for the love of the Filipinos,
must she always be several time zones away
while people die and children are orphaned
and traumatized? How can she fly abroad
almost needlessly when people going to
the provinces keep on dying?” the solon
stressed.
“It angers me and it should anger all of us that
Usec. Bautista is blaming ship operators and
our archipelagic environment when she should
look at the mirror and accept her ineptitude
or inefficiency at her job. It should also anger
members of the House of Representatives
and the Senate that during that same forum at
the Senate, in her interviews in various media,
and in her many conversations with many
government officials and representatives in
the private sector, Usec. Bautista either said
or implied that legislators are partly to blame
because we, Senators and Congressmen,
have been sitting on Senate Bill 3545 or The
Philippine Merchant Marine Act of 2009 and
House Bill 6927 or the Philippine Maritime Act
of 2009, two versions of the bill being pushed
by MARINA. She
maritime offices
also either said or
and agencies in
implied that we,
the country like
politicians
and
the Philippine
lawmakers, have
Ports Authority,
been pressuring
the Philippine
her
policy
Coast Guard,
decisions in order
and
the
for our requests to
M a r i t i m e
be accommodated
Security Affairs,
by the MARINA,”
under
one
explains
Rep.
body
called
Plaza.
the
National
“Those pending Administrator Bautista still exudes that glamor under pressure M a r i t i m e
bills are not the despite being in the ‘hot seat’ these days.
Authority. This
issue here because this bill deserves to new authority will subsume all the powers and
remain pending and should be archived and the functions of these three bodies, with the
never re-filed. MARINA does not need a head of this new body—presumably Elena
new law in order to
Bautista – given
perform its basic job.
a fixed term of six
We have enough
years,” the Agusan
laws to ensure
del Norte solon
maritime safety. The
pointed out.
proposed bill is administrative in nature and it
“On her claim of being pressured by
is only aimed at restructuring supervision of members of the House and Senate and the
our maritime system by putting all the existing threat of Congressmen to defer the MARINA
Costly MARINA Safety Campaign
Failed to Produce Results
The recent spate of maritime tragedies during
the Holiday Season only showed that the
high-profile and expensive Maritime Industry
Authority (MARINA)10-point program called
“MARINA Making Waves” supposedly
geared towards maritime safety and service
efficiency, failed to produce the results that
Administrator Ma. Elena H. Bautista was
proudly crowing about when it was launched
in March 2009.
Photocopies of official documents from
MARINA furnished to Tinig ng Marino
by reliable sources showed that MARINA
actually spent a total of PhP 5,186,657.71
for the launching of its 10-point program on
maritime safety and service efficiency on
March 16, 2009 including the expenses for
the production of its TV commercial.
The total cost was broken down into
several items including the production of the
safety campaign/commercial which ate much
of the budget at a little over PhP 3.5 million,
talent fees, production of AVP and launch
event costing almost PhP 1 million, and
the series of full-page, full-color newspaper
advertisements.
The funding was sourced from the
MARINA Trust Fund, which is being derived
from the collection of tonnage fees.
In addition, MARINA even sought the
sponsorship of the Philippine Inter-Island
Shipping Association, an association of
domestic shipowners, to bankroll its full-page
newspaper advertisements that appeared
on the March 19, 2009 issues of Philippine
Daily Inquirer (one spread) and Abante (full
page) amounting to PhP 772,051.40.
The domestic shipowners’ group can only
comply with the ‘small favor’ requested from
them by the MARINA Administrator.
One official correspondence dated March
27, 2009 from Administrator Bautista sent to
the Chairperson and Members of the MARINA
Board even had this paragraph that reads:
“In the aftermath of maritime accidents last
year, and in line with the thrust of the DOTC
Secretary to focus on maritime safety and
security, MARINA came up with the 10-point
program on safety and service efficiency.
These programs are included in the FY 2009
regular budget of the agency.”
Administrator Bautista was obviously
referring in her letter to the high-profile
maritime tragedies of 2008 including the
capsizing of MV Princess of the Stars
and the accident involving MV Don Dexter
Katlyn, among several others.
But just a couple of months after MARINA
launched its “MARINA Making Waves” 10point program, another maritime tragedy
struck with the sinking of MB Commando 6
off Puerto Galera during the summer. Then
budget, I dare Administrator Bautista to name
even one member of this chamber who has
sought her accommodation. Not only is her
claim irresponsible and useless because she
cannot name names. Her statement is also
proof that she will do and say anything just to
drive the issue away from her office and pass
the blame,” challenges Rep. Plaza.
“Before I end my speech, I would like to
inform the members of this chamber that
Administrator Bautista is still in London today,
overstaying the period stated in her Travel
Authority for her attendance from January
11 to 15 of the 41st Session of the IMO,” he
noted.
“Elena Bautista is without compassion
for our people and genuine concern for our
maritime industry. If we want our maritime
industry to prosper, and for the love of the
Filipino people, especially the sea travelers
who cannot afford plane tickets and the
children who are orphaned and traumatized,
let us please join hands to send Elena Bautista
off to the last leg of her odyssey and make
her time zones away permanently from public
service in this country,” Plaza concluded.
there was MV Superferry 9 in September
2009. And it was capped off by the backto-back maritime incidents on December
24, 2009 with the collision of MB Catalyn
B and FB Anatalia, and the sinking of MV
Baleno 9 on December 26, 2009. There
were several incidents in between but those
were minor ones.
“Obviously, the MARINA 10-point
program went for naught. It would be easier
to accept if the agency hardly spent anything
just to ensure that the problem of maritime
safety enforcement was addressed,
but spending a substantial amount and
producing nothing is like throwing people’s
taxes down the drain,” quips Engr. Nelson
Ramirez, President of the United Filipino
Seafarers (UFS).
“There are more than enough rules and
regulations regarding maritime safety in
our country. MARINA need not go bananas
with a high-profile publicity program when
all it has to do is to direct its people from
the head office down to its regional offices
to strictly enforce maritime safety,” Ramirez
said.
“Aside from maritime safety, maritime
security was also one of the other areas the
DOTC Secretary wants MARINA to focus
on. So it is really surprising why MARINA
allowed MV Princess of the South of
Sulpicio Lines to sail again in November
2009 despite not having a security certificate,
which was supposed to be issued by the
Office of the Transport Security, under the
DOTC,” Ramirez added.
Phase-Out of Wooden-Hulled Vessels in 6 Months Doubted
The United Filipino Seafarers (UFS) highly doubts
if the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) can
live up to its commitment to phase out woodenhulled vessels which are not classed within six
months.
MARINA Administrator Ma. Elena Bautista
made the commitment to Senator Richard J.
Gordon during the Senate hearing on maritime
disasters to phase out wooden-hulled vessels.
However, Marina officials said that woodenhulled vessels could not all be phased out, given
the fact that there are islands in the Philippines
that do not require steel-hulled vessels. “If within
the period of six months, wooden vessels were
not classed by the classification society, their
CPC (certificate of public convenience) would
not be renewed,” Gordon said.
The class societies supervise the construction
of ships according to the standards and carries
out regular surveys of ships in service to ensure
the compliance with these standards.
“The problem boils down again to enforcement
of maritime safety rules and regulations. MARINA
oversees the work of these class societies so
if they do not do their job, the class societies
will have their way and who knows, classed
but unsafe wooden-hulled vessels may still
find themselves sailing in the open seas soon
enough,” Engr. Nelson Ramirez, president of the
UFS observed.
Senator Gordon has recommended that
wooden-hulled vessels be used only as fishing
boats and not to ferry passengers. He added
that if these vessels would be used for tourism
purposes, they must be allowed to sail only
within three miles from the coastline.
34 TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY
JULY - AUGUST 2010
2009
A
shipowner who puts value on
tradition and family ties, Athensbased Empire Navigation, Inc. has
further endeared itself to the families of
its Filipino seafarers by celebrating its first
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
confidence on Filipino seafarers is very
much reflected on the fact that all its initial
fleet of four chemical tankers is actually
manned by full Filipino crew.
“We can assure our Filipino seafarers
and their families a bright future with the
company. Aside from enjoying competitive
salaries, Empire Navigation also provides
them with other benefits that would
ensure their professional development
as well as their own well-being and that
of their families too,” says Capt. George
Tsoukatos, Designated Person Ashore of
Empire Navigation, Inc. who flew all the
way from Greece to join the momentous
celebration.
While the overall shipping industry
is still working its way to full recovery in
the aftermath of the global economic
meltdown starting late in 2008, Empire
Navigation has already laid out plans
for a massive five-fold expansion in its
operations within two years.
“From an initial of four vessels, we
expect to bring our total number of ships
to 11 before the end of 2010 through
acquisitions, and eventually to 20 by
2011. So we are actually opening more
employment opportunities for competent
and qualified Filipino seafarers to join
our growing company,” projects Capt.
Tsoukatos, who delivered the Christmas
party’s closing remarks.
Empire Navigation gave its Filipino
seafarers and their families a glimpse
of its big heart following the devastation
brought about by Typhoon Ondoy late in
September 2009. The company selflessly
extended financial assistance of US$1,000
each to several families of its Filipino
seafarers, who were most affected by the
massive flooding brought by the typhoon,
in order to help them pick up the pieces
and focus on rebuilding.
Children of a local orphanage perform a Christmas carol song-and-dance
Empire Navigation, Michaelmar Greece, and Global Gateway officials repertoire to open up the program. Impressed by their performance,
pose with a seafarer-family during the gift-giving portion of the Seafarers’ Empire Navigation and Michaelmar Greece donated US$1,000 to the
Christmas Party.
orphanage.
Filipino Seafarers, Families
Get a Good Feel of
Empire Navigation’s Big Heart
Making Empire Navigation’s Seafarer
Christmas Party both historic and unique
was the fact that none of its almost 100
Filipino seafarers manning its initial four
full-crewed tankers were around as they
were all actively serving onboard for their
first shipboard contracts with the company.
Only their respective families made it to the
affair, in full force.
Engr. Ricardo N. Galvez, Jr., CEO of
Global Gateway Crewing Services, clearly
pointed that out in his brief welcome
address to open up the program.
“We at Global Gateway and Michaelmar
Shipping Services, Inc of Greece, on behalf
of Emprie Navigation, are bonding together
as one to bring you this historic Christmas
party,” Engr. Galvez remarked.
Michaelmar Shipping Services, Inc is
the ship management company tapped
by Empire Navigation to manage its fleet
and Global Gateway Crewing Services
is Michaelmar’s branch office in the
Philippines focusing on crew management
operations.
“We are here because we are
celebrating Christmas. Let us however not
Filipino seafarer-families of Empire Navigation, staff of Global
Gateway and guests from the local maritime industry fill up the
spacious venue for the Seafarers’ Christmas Party.
Capt. George Tsoukatos of Empire Navigation
gives a rosy picture of a bright future for Filipino
seafarers and their families who chose to join
the dynamic shipowning firm.
be overshadowed by the real reason for
this gathering. To the wives and children
of our Filipino seamen, we owe all our
presence tonight to your husbands and
fathers who are out there at sea, halfway
across the globe and struggling against
your longing in this joyous season of the
year,” remarked Engr. Galvez, almost
indirectly stating that Empire Navigation
was pinch-hitting in the absence of their
respective family’s patriarch.
Harry Papadimitriou, Crewing Manager
of Michaemar Shipping Services, also flew
all the way from Greece to participate in
the important gathering, as he delivered
the program’s opening remarks.
“Thank you all for coming. We called
on all the masters of the four vessels of
Empire Navigation and we told them that
their families are all here and are having a
good time. One or two masters told us that
they wished that they were. Some of them
will definitely be around here next year as
some other captains would be relieving
them subsequently and taking their posts
but more important than that is that their
families would surely be celebrating more
Christmas parties with Empire Navigation in
the future,” expressed Mr. Papadimitrou.
“It is important for our principal to secure
the families of our Filipino seaman who are
onboard, to make them happy and to help
their families, particularly their children.
Empire Navigation makes sure that most
of their needs toward such respect are
attended to,” he further explained.
Staff of Global Gateway showcase their terpsichorean talents in Seafarer-families and Global Gateway officers and staff battle it
out in a popular parlor game.
a group dance number.
TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY
JULY - AUGUST 2009 2010
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
was also graced by guests from the
local maritime industry, both from the
government and the private sector, and
Ms. Xenia Stefanidou, Ambassador of
Greece to the Philippines.
The seafarer-families were actually
grouped into tables according to the ships
being served by their seafarer-patriarchs
– namely: MT Faithful, MT Vanguard,
MT Doubtless and MT Spotless – thus
ensuring that the bonding and camaraderie
of Filipino crew onboard those four
vessels extend all the way ashore with
their respective families as well.
Typical of a Christmas party, food,
entertainment, Christmas raffle, parlor
games, and give-aways literally flowed
during the night.
Ushering the night’s intermission
number however was the rendition of
Christmas carols by several kids of a
local orphanage, giving everyone a vivid
reminder that Christmas is about children
first and foremost. Impressed by their
performance and also aware of their
state, Empire Navigation and Michaelmar
Greece instantly committed a donation of
US$1,000 to the orphanage taking care of
those kids.
Following a solo song number from
Anne Marie J. Alcalen, a live performance
by Ms. Mary Ann Alcalen and her band
provided the lively sound backdrop as
guests and seafarer-families enjoyed the
sumptuous dinner buffet.
Several folk dance numbers including
the Maglalatik and the Cariñosa were also
showcased during the program, much to
the fascination and delight of the Greek
guests.
Not to be outdone in the entertainment
category, cadets and staff of Global
Capt. Tsoukatos, Engr. Galvez, Ms. Xenia Stefanidou,
Ambassador of Greece to the Philippines, and Capt.
Lafkas of EF Shipping (also a principal of Global Gateway)
are joined by the kids of the orphanage to express their
appreciation for the monetary donation.
Gateway
Crewing
Services
also
showcased their terpsichorean talents by
performing a modern dance number that
drew appreciation from the crowd.
Brighter Things Ahead
While the Seafarer Christmas Party
was Empire Navigation’s very first in the
Philippines, the bonding of the Filipino
seafarer-families among themselves and
also with the staff of Global Gateway during
the event appeared as if they have been
in acquaintance for a long time, which was
the very essence of the gathering in the
first place.
The officials of Empire Navigation and
Michaemar Greece, who were at the party,
also went out of their way to practically rub
elbows with seafarer-families during the
socializing portion of the program, further
intensifying the ‘family concept’ within the
Empire Navigation organization.
The officers and staff of Global Gateway
led by Engr. Galvez and Capt. Simeon
Flores, President, were more than delighted
to likewise exchange banter with seafarerfamilies as well as new seafarer-recruits,
who were also invited to participate in the
party.
Capt. Flores says that it is a indeed a
big challenge on Global Gateway to be
given the task of manning the additional
vessels to be entrusted to them by Empire
Navigation, considering its number and the
prevailing officer shortage problem in the
seafaring industry, but he is optimistic that
they will pull through.
Global Gateway cadets rendering a modern dance number
clad in their ‘Hawaiian’ outfits.
Daughters of seafarer-families compete
in an impromptu dance contest during
the program.
A seafarer-wife receiving from Capt. Simeon
Flores one of the many raffle prizes given away
during the fun-filled Christmas party.
“We will be able to man those
additional vessels to be given
to us by Empire Navigation by
competent and qualified Filipino
seafarers for sure. It is just a
matter of time when they start
finding out how good Empire
Navigation is as an employer and
pretty soon, Filipino seafarers will
be joining our bandwagon,” Capt.
Flores confidently stated.
Incidentally, Global Gateway
has also passed the certification
audit
for
ISO
9001:2008
conducted by Bureau Veritas
Quality
International
(BVQI)
at the end of November 2009,
reflecting the crewing agency’s
no-nonsense commitment on
quality management system.
For
this
achievement,
Engr. Galvez, the company
CEO, personally extended his
appreciation to the managers and
staff members of the office for their
support and active manifestation
in the effective implementation of
the company’s quality system.
Several more seafarer-families pose with officials of Empire
Engr. Galvez is likewise thankful Navigation, Michaelmar Greece and Global Gateway
for the support being extended following receipt of their respective Christmas gifts.
to Global Gateway by its parent
company Michaelmar Greece, and the trust
Indeed, brighter things are in store
and confidence afforded to it by a major for Filipino seafarers working for Empire
principal like Empire Navigation. “These Navigation as well as their families as
things have collectively paved the way for they are employed by a company that has
Global Gateway to be able to offer Filipino a big heart and who surely recognizes the
seafarers under its employ productive importance of its manpower resource in
career journeys,” he keenly noted.
its expanding shipping operations.
Back-to-back folk dance numbers were also performed during the program - Cariñosa (left) and the Maglalatik (right)
36 TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY
JULY - AUGUST 2010
2009
ROGUES’ GALLERY
Scalawags to Watch Out for In
(and Out) of the Industry
S
ome 12 individuals including a lady
official of a local manning agency and
aspiring mariners recently trooped
to the office of the United Filipino Seafarers
to complain that they have been duped by
a certain Ramon Camu, who introduced
himself as a Chief Mate and a Pre-Departure
Orientation Seminar (PDOS) provider of a
reputable manning firm.
This Chief Mate Camu apparently
promised them that he would be able to have
them employed on an international passenger
cruise ship in exchange for soliciting an
amount from each of them ranging from
PhP30,000 to PhP40,000, which he claimed
he would use for the processing of their
documents.
A check on the PRC website showed that
his professional license is a ripoff. Camu
apparently used the number of another Chief
Mate and simply pasted his face and name
on it, and voila, he had himself a PRC license,
which he had been using to dupe people.
Camu used to be a friend of the lady official
of a local manning firm and he was able to
prey on her just as well by borrowing money
from her on two occasions – one where he
got PhP 41,000 and the second where he
netted US$500. He promised her that he
would make sure that her four nephews would
be employed on an international cruise ship,
manned in the Philippines by Magsaysay
Maritime Corporation.
Since then, Camu was nowhere to be
found. And so was the money that he took
from the hapless aspiring mariners, who
were mostly graduates of HRM courses and
who completed the one-year Seafarer Rating
Course. Worse, Camu also took with him all
their documents including seaman’s books,
passports, among other things.
The UFS recommended to the victims
that they file their formal complaints with the
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) so that
if apprehended, they can immediately file
multiple charges against Camu and ensure
that he will stay long in jail.
Camu’s exploits have already been
published in the November-December 2004
issue of Tinig ng Marino. Back then he was
introducing himself as a Chief Cook. The guy
is now at large and every one is advised to be
wary of him.
A Taiwainese Misfit
Tinig ng Marino
also got word from a
Filipino chief engineer
who works for a local
training center that
a certain Taiwanese
is also on the loose
these days looking
for unwitting victims,
particularly in the
manning business.
This felon is using
the ‘have mercy’ effect to be able to solicit
certain amounts from people, usually top
officials of manning firms, promising them
practically the moon and the stars because
he claims that he has a lot of money and is
well-connected in Taiwan.
But once he gets the bounty, he disappears
into thin air. So again, be wary of this felon.
on Filipino seafarers by ripping off US visas
on their passports,
and selling these to
others , is now off the
‘wanted list’ as he
has already joined
the Creator. Ronald
Imperial, who in 2005
was personally caught
red-handed by Engr. Ronald Imperial
Nelson Ramirez, is now dead. Back then he
was introducing himself to seafarers either
as Capt. Demosthenes Vergara, Chief Mate
Ronnie Vergara or Chief Engr. Vergara to
lure seafarers into letting him borrow their
passports and conduct his wicked ways.
Airport Customs Syndicate Still Operates
The latest victims (upper photo) of Ramon Camu
(shown below) with his before-and-after mug shots.
Dugo-Dugo Gang Leader Now Out
Every OFW and
their families should
also be wary that
Gilbert Tuliba, the
gay mastermind of
the dreaded DugoDugo Gang is now
out of the coop of
the NBI on bail. It
Tuliba
was not clear how he
managed to extricate himself from the mess
considering the tons of cases hurled against
him by his countless victims, but he’s out. So
every one is advised to be very careful not to
fall prey to this gifted and sweet-talking con
artist.
Visa Moocher Officially Gone
One lawless individual, who used to prey
The swindling ways of an airport customs
syndicate that operates
via
the
telephone
to
dupe
people,
particularly top officials
of organizations, or
offices,
and
OFW
families, in giving up
money in exchange for Rufino Bernardo
imported items is still
out so every one is advised to be wary. In
January 2, 2007, Engr. Ramirez put a decoy
in an entrapment operation of the NAIA police
and they were able to bag Rufino Bernardo, a
member of the syndicate. The guy is now out
on bail from the Parañaue Police station.
Just last year, Engr. Ramirez got a call
again from another person who employed the
same modus operandi – selling hot imported
items confiscated by the Bureau of Customs
at a lower price including expensive mobile
phones, electronic gadgets and other technosavvy stuff. The UFS president was about
to put him to the wringer but apparently the
criminal sensed that something was amiss
with his swindling technique and he backed
off at the last minute.
Illegal Recruiters on the Loose
The Jallorinas of the notorious CrossOcean Marine Services, Inc., which duped
some 207 aspiring mariners back in 2005, are
still conducting their dastardly acts of illegal
recruitment but
they have taken it
to the provinces.
They are now
recruiting
unwitting young
men, who don’t
even have an
educational
The Jallorinas when they
background as
got caught back in 2005.
mariners, to work
onboard Taiwanese fishing vessels poaching
off African waters, and most of them are being
abused by the Taiwanese ship officers.
Rommel Jallorina and his sister have
been apprehended back in 2005 by elements
of then Presidential Anti-Illegal Recruitment
Task Force through the efforts of UFS and
Engr. Ramirez but the crooks eventually
found themselves out of the coop even before
PAIRTF officially folded up.
There have been a number of seafarer
accounts where they are said to be abused by
Taiwanese onboard illegal fishing vessels and
these are mostly because of the handiwork of
the Jallorinas. So beware.
Salisi Gang Operator Now Out
An operator of the dreaded Salisi Gang
is now out on bail. On June 1, 2009, he was
caught red-handed by alert security staff of
the TSM Training Center about to steal a
powerpoint projector. He was brought to the
Makati Police station where he was made to
undergo inquest procedures.
He is now on the
loose so manning
agencies are advise to
be very careful of this
man, who disguises
himself as a seafarer
either out to apply for a
job or undergo training. Once he gets into the
offices, that’s when he starts pocketing office
items, especially when no one is looking.
Skippers United Pacific Starts Putting its House in Order
Following a report that came out in the November
– December 2009 issue of Tinig ng Marino that
the foreign principal of Skippers United Pacific
Inc. is skipping payment on the back wages and
leave pay of a number of its Filipino seafarers, the
local manning agent has taken drastic measures
in the last couple of months and started putting
its house in order.
Aside from a house cleaning that started with
the giving of the boot to Mr. Triffiles Yanis, and
two other Filipino officials of Skippers United,
the company has brought in Capt. Grigorious
Tragakis as Owner’s Consultant, and a local
lady consultant to ensure that all arrears of the
company to its Filipino seafarers will be taken
care of and settled soon.
Since the number of claiming Filipino
seafarers are significant and the total amount
of claims substantial, Skippers United vowed to
pay the backpay and leave pay of their seafarers
in trickles so that the financial windfall would not
have a telling impact on their operations.
In October 2009, 10 Filipino seafarers trooped
to the office of United Filipino Seafarers (UFS) to
air their respective grievances against Skippers
United. UFS President Engr. Nelson Ramirez
was already preparing to make a protest rally in
front of Skippers United offices the following day,
on behalf of the complaining seafarers, but no
one showed up on the day of the protest action
which fizzled out even before it began.
The article that came out in Tinig ng Marino
however had Skippers United in the ropes in no
time at all and it was then that Capt. Tragakis and
the local lady consultant of Skippers United decided
to seek a formal audience with Engr. Ramirez.
They assured the UFS President that they will
settle their outstanding financial obligations to the
company’s Filipino seafarers.
True enough, within two to three weeks time,
Filipino seafarers are already being paid their back
pay and leave pay. Oiler Dexter Requintina had
a collectible US$ 872 representing his leave pay
after serving for eight months onboard the reefer
vessel MV Taisetsu.
Skippers United paid the amount in two
tranches but it was paid in full. His latest shipboard
contract ended on August 2, 2008 and the
company promised him to be onboard again on a
tanker vessel by January 2010.
Electrician Sotto is also collecting from Skippers
his unpaid leave and balance of wages amounting
to US$13,000. The company has already paid him
almost US$10,000 on a staggered-payment basis.
As of this writing, he only has US$3,000 collectible
from the company. Sotto’s last vessel with the
company was MV Vinashin Atlantic under its
principal Archipelago.
Chief Cook Lolito Sumargo, who served
onboard MV Bianca and who was one of the 10
seafarers who personally brought their complaint
to the UFS, is apparently contented that Skippers
United is doing something to settle his leave pay
and back pay. His wife attested to it over the
mobile phone.
It was further revealed to Tinig ng Marino by
other Filipino seafarers that the other problematic
vessels of Skippers United, whose crew
management is being handled in the Philippines
by Skippers United, include MV Volissos Spirit,
as attested to by 3/E Darwin Dela Cruz and
Bosun Vicente Falalaria; MV Symphony I, MV
Vinashin Atlantic as reported by Capt. Antea
and Electrician Sotto, MV Vinashin Phoenix as
confirmed by C/E Aguanta, MT Lovell Sky as
told by Pumpman Escaño, MV Doña Libra and
MT Atropos.
In the first week of January 2010, UFS got
surprised when seven of the 10 Filipino seafarers
who have earlier complained to the union about
their unpaid leave pays and back wages from
Skippers United, returned to seek again the UFS
intercession on their case. UFS tried to mediate
things between the seven Filipino seafarers and
Skippers United.
But UFS learned later that the seven Filipino
seafarers have already filed a complaint with the
NLRC against Skippers United. At this juncture,
Engr. Ramirez gave up the fight for the seven
Filipino seafarers.
JANUARY-FEBRUARY
JULY - AUGUST 2009 2010
TINIG NG MARINO
37
Seafarers’ Favorable Views
Even before the two-day crew conference
of POSH drew to a close, Filipino seafarer
participants were practically in unison in
stating that they had found their in a good
and stable company.
Capt. Rex Demetrin, who has been
employed by the company
OSH Fleet Services Pte. Ltd., a
for the last 29 years,
Singapore-based ship owning firm,
says: “It is true that I have
whose crew management operations
received countless offers
in the Philippines are being handled by
in the past to work with
SSM Maritime Services, Inc. has brought
other companies but I feel
itself closer to Filipino seafarers during the
comfortable with POSH
holding of its first crew conference for its
and its management. The
offshore operations held on December 2-4,
communication is very
2009 at Traders Hotel.
open. They take care of
On the eve of December 2, 2009, SSM
us well. So I intend to
Maritime Services, Inc. and Protect Marine
retire here. That cannot
Deck and Engine Officers, both headed by
be bought by money
Chief Engr. Antonino R. Gascon Jr. formally
alone.”
inaugurated its new building along Leon
The
53-year-old
Guinto Street in Malate, Manila where POSH
skipper says that he has
top officials joined various guests from the
Filipino seafarers of POSH further bonded themselves with the management of the Singapore-based shipowning firm, whose officials
learned a lot from the
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.
conference and more
toasting their local crewing firm’s important
it from there. We want our people to walk the in the Filipino seafarers. “Filipinos can speak importantly strengthen the bond between
and certainly very concrete milestone.
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 officials
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
the Philippines for its AHTS/DP operations
almost two years ago but it was only the first Filipino seafarers in its employ in the near employers in the world are hiring Filipino teamwork can continuously improve,” he
said.
time that it held a similar forum for its officers future. “By conducting regular seminars and seafarers,” he noted.
Capt. Roger Sario, who has been
and ratings on the offshore operations unit trainings like this, we also build the name and
He also believes that the local seafaring
industry is very competitive employed by the company since its name
was Selco back then, says that POSH is a
at the moment.
“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.
“The training was very good particularly
do so much in developing
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
want to become part of the growth of the
doing now,” Mr. Lim cited.
“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.
Chief Engr. Lorenz Lemery is also a loyal
it is the CEO or the Director
profile of our company here in the Philippines who is talking or directly participating and sea staff of POSH. At 56 years old, he has
of the company.
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
Filipino seafarers, would know what we are put a face to POSH among Filipino seafarers 30 years. He started in 1979 as a fitter and
the theme, “An Enterprise of Excellence.”
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 firms opportunities but a well-rounded career and my officers here. We are not here just to give provides us premium benefits 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
“We are not just training our people on Filipino sea staff,” Mr. Lim stated.
for good. The conference was very good
platform and podium for resource speakers
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 officials 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 first week of March 2010 to set another Lemery remarked.
Young deck cadet Jay-R also has positive
were made analogous to the rise of Filipino good professionals and future leaders,” he similar seastaff seminar for another batch
boxing icon Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao. emphasized.
of Filipino seafarers in their employ through vibes with the company. “I have learned a
Despite the economic slowdown brought SSM Maritime Services, Inc.
lot from this company even though I’ve only
Even the participants were dressed in shorts
about by the US financial crisis that has
had a short stint thus far.
and gym outfits.
My fellow seafarers are all
Mr. Lim Tau Kok, Director of POSH literally swept major economies in the world
very supportive and very
Fleet Services Pte. Ltd., says that it is the off their feet last year, POSH is still doing
kind. It is easy to understand
management collective idea to have a better than average and it will most likely
why many Filipino senior
conference that is more than the usual or improve in the next few months considering
that recovery has already started.
officers have stayed long
more adventurous.
“As far as our offshore unit is concerned,
with this company and if
“We choose boxing because we know that
given the proper break and
almost all Filipino seafarers love boxing and business is still vibrant. It’s cold a little bit
opportunity, I might do the
they all can relate to it. In boxing, you also but it’s still vibrant. Shipping has somehow
same too,” he said.
need to do something you have not done stopped but it is still moving on. Many
“The management of
before to be able to be good and become a companies believe that cutting cost is the
POSH Fleet Services treats
champion. So we came up with this idea to way to go during crisis. But in our opinion, this
their crew on equal footing
demonstrate and talk about how our Filipino momentary downtime is the best time to train
regardless of rank or status.
seafarers should acquire new skills and also our staff. So when the industry is back on its
And that’s something we
challenge them from within so that they grow feet, we have ourselves a good quality crew
ready to take on the challenges that lie in the
are really proud of being
further,” Mr. Lim explained.
Director Lim and POSH officials show teamwork at its best during employed by POSH,” Jay-R
“Part of the vision and mission of our future,” Mr. Lim cited.
the outdoor tug-of-war activity.
Mr. Lim believes and exudes confidence
added.
company is to reach excellence and maintain
POSH Brings Itself and Excellence
Closer to its Filipino Seafarers
P
38 TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
39
DJ Joph Marino
Making Waves
as a Gifted Rapper
at a Young Age
A
young and gifted child-rapper is
making waves in the entertainment
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
age, giving him the unique advantage.
Now 11 years old and about to graduate
from elementary at a prestigious school in
Quezon City, DJ Joph was born in Manila to
parents who are both from Bohol. He is the
youngest of five children of Capt. Marino
Ucang and Mrs. Maria Helen Ingles.
In fact, he and his sister gave the United
Filipino Seafarers (UFS) officers, staff and
cadet volunteers and their guests from
the local maritime industry a taste of their
singing and rapping abilities during the
union’s Christmas party held at its offices
on December 22, 2009, which wowed the
crowd and generated much-deserved rounds
of applause.
DJ Joph started singing when he was
only two years old. He has since started
showing his talent to the public. He usually
sings in school activities and family affairs.
Subsequently he joined ABS-CBN’s Star Circle
Quest when he was five years old.
He was talented alright but he was too
young then so his focus was not really on
becoming a singer but more on showcasing
the talents he has, like most children do.
So his dream of becoming a full-blown and
well-rounded celebrity singer was put on
hold then.
Four years later, a little more mature but
still very young his talent has improved
significantly, he started performing at various
concerts and entertainment joints including
Pope Pius in UN Avenue, Big Bowl in Tomas
Morato Avenue in Quezon City, The Hobbit
House in Ermita, The Metrobar in Quezon
Avenue, as well as in different malls and
provincial capitals.
It was about the same time in 2009 when
he underwent a talent workshop where he
was named as Best Singer, Best Dancer and
Best in Acting, attesting to the talent variety
that this young boy has developed over
time.
But it was during one of his performances
at The Hobbit House together with his siblings
where he was discovered by a local talent
manager who eventually helped him cut his
own album, which DJ Joph to promote these
days. He is the youngest rapper ever to cut
an album at the tender age of 10. His album,
DJ Joph performing live at the Luneta Seafarer’s
Center during the National Maritime Week.
entitled “OFW – DJ Joph Marino,” is currently
DJ Joph’s ‘OFW’ album is now drawing waves among the OFW crowd, including seafarers.
being distributed by Eon Records.
DJ Joph is now going through mall shows,
TV and radio tours and school tours to
promote his album. He has also taken part
in several international shows to be able to
entertain and lessen the ‘homesickness’ of
OFWs.
Come the summer break, he intends to
go on his first international promotions tour
for his album, which hopefully can lead to a
big break for him, the way it did for the now
world-famous Charice Pempengco, who also
DJ Joph is the youngest
started with ABS-CBN’s Star Circle Quest.
of the five children of
DJ Joph Marino’s name is starting to gain
Capt. Marino Ucang
popularity in the OFW sector as well as in
and Mrs. Maria Helen
the local seafaring industry because he is
Ingles.
obviously an offspring of a sea-based OFW.
impart.
Despite what appears to be a hectic
Like most local rappers, DJ Joph has the late
His dad feels the same way every time he schedule for the young DJ Joph, it still does
Francis Magalona as his idol. It was his dream
to be able to sing with Francis M for his first hears the songs of his son, particularly ‘Dear not deprive him from enjoying his regular
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,
playing PSPs, network gaming, and the
master rapper’s untimely demise. Still, Francis all the way, for as long as he can.
Capt. Ucang and Mrs. Ingles say that the like.
M will forever be his idol and inspiration to
songs from DJ Joph’s album were composed
Asked what the plans of his manager are to
be good at his craft.
DJ Joph says that his album is dedicated in such a way that they would be intended continue building on his growing popularity,
especially to OFWs in practically every corner for the OFWs. “Most albums these days by DJ Joph quipped that they are now working
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
special tribute for all their hard work and either remakes or are rehashed, so we thought followed by massive promotional tours.
As a testament to his popularity, DJ Joph
efforts just to ensure that their families here of offering something new and unique,” they
now has a Boholano-based fans club, whose
in the Philippines gain a better life and a good said.
Still, education is a priority for DJ Joph. His members normally join him in his local mall
future. I am a son of an OFW so I can relate
to their sentiments. My elder brother is also parents always make sure of that. “My grades shows and tours.
DJ Joph is also encouraging young rappers
a seafarer. I even have a song in my album in school are all okay. I can only perform
personally dedicated to may father – Dear on shows after class or during weekends or to come out in the open and be like him.
when there are no “Just make sure to tell and show your talents
Dad,” says DJ Joph.
classes,” states DJ to your parents so that you will be able to
DJ Joph actually sang
Joph.
get their support. That’s the route I took
‘Dear Dad’ song during
His
mother and my parents have been very supportive
the National Maritime
insists that he of me in my endeavors as an entertainer,” he
Week celebration at the
focuses on his remarked.
Luneta Seafarers’ Center
studies so that
DJ Joph is ever thankful to his parents
last September 2009
in the event that for their uncompromising support and for
and it brought tears to
he does not gain his growing legion of fans not only among
the eyes of a number of
headway in his seafarers and OFWs but also those who
Filipino seafarers who
e n t e r t a i n m e n t appreciate modern rap that has sense and
were present that day,
career, he will valuable messages to impart. His is obviously
as they can obviously
always have a a gift that truly deserves to be unwrapped
relate to the message
DJ Joph and Jop Ramnel in Graffiti
fallback,
and shared with everyone.
that the song wants to
40 TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
Seafarer Group Distributes Relief Goods to Typhoon Victims
L
AMBAT, which is short for Lupon Angat
Marino Buhayin at Tangkilikin, a small
volunteer group of seamen, their wives,
and other concerned individuals, recently
distributed relief goods to victims of Typhoon
Ondoy.
LAMBAT is an organization whose goal is
to extend help to people who are in need of
their support, whether
financially or in kind.
Part of the goal of the
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 fill up the slots for November 5 first.
Although reports are still unconfirmed, Tinig ng Marino got word
from the industry grapevine that PRC assessors are making life difficult
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.
blessings being enjoyed by its members.
The group also shares knowledge and
experiences of its members and volunteers
about the seafaring profession.
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
TINIG NG MARINO
41
Finally, ‘Marino’ is Showing
on February 17, 2010
A
fter the highly successful
advance screening at
SM
Pampanga, “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
Institute of Maritime Studies (AIMS)
students and families at SM Manila
last September 10, and SM Bacoor last
The entire cast of ‘Marino.’
September 11, 2009.
Screenings in PAMMA (Pangasinan
Merchant Marine Academy) maritime school were screening are to follow.
held last October 19, 20 and 21.
The movie tells about the lives and sacrifices of
A series of special screenings for the thousands seafarers and their families, and pertinent issues
of seafarers organization members are also set, like sea pirates, sunken ships, sexually-transmitted
through the efforts of United Filipino Seafarers diseases, and foreign employment.
president, Engr. Nelson Ramirez, who is also the
“Marino” is topbilled by Allen Dizon and Ara Mina,
publisher of “Tinig Marino” maritime newspaper and with Emilio Garcia, Marco Alcaraz, Bangs Garcia,
“Tinig ng Marino” radio program over DWIZ.
Victor Basa, Mike Tan, Rico Barrera, Jan Nieto and
Finally, regular showing of the film in selected controversial “woman of the hour” Krista Ranillo.
theaters include some SM cinemas this coming Giving support are Lui Manansala, Benjie Felipe,
February 17, 2010.
Raymond Cabral and Nella Marie Dizon.
Another special screening and gala premiere will
Cinemalaya alumnus and Ateneo graduate Paul Sta.
be held on February 16 at SM Manila. Details of the Ana directs from his own script.
Top: Marino Allen Dizon with
his wife in the movie Ara Mina.
Left: Marino Allen Dizon
with his other woman in the
movie, the controversial Krista
Ranillo.
Mrs. Carina D. Pagcu’s CDP Events and
Entertainment Production produce in cooperation
with ATD Entertainment Productions.
The movie was shot in various Philippine
locations including Malolos and Paombong,
Bulacan, and some parts of Asia (particularly
Bangkok, Thailand).
During the planned screenings for maritime
schools and seafarer organizations, there will also
be career orientation seminars to give the laymen
insights into the lives of seafarers. The cast will be
present at those screenings.
42 TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY
- FEBRUARY
2010
JULY
- AUGUST 2009
eagle star’s Capt. Gelladuga and Family
Sharing their Blessings with Others in a Unique Way
S
eafaring is a lucrative profession
indeed but only if the person strives
hard to reach the peak of his career
early and hold sway from there. That is
precisely the career route taken by Capt.
Nathaniel T. Gelladuga, who has been a
seafarer for all of 42 years, 26 of which as a
Master Mariner.
After graduating in 1968 from Iloilo
Maritime Academy (IMA), the predecessor
of John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime
University, Capt. Gelladuga gradually
worked his way up the shipboard career
ladder until he reached the pinnacle as
captain in 1984. He has since been serving
as skipper of various vessels but eventually
focused on helming tankers.
He has been employed through
various local manning agencies before but
eventually found his home in 2001 as he got
employed through Parola Maritime Agency,
Inc and started serving onboard the tankers
of MISC Berhad of Malaysia.
Prior to his current stint onboard MT
Bunga Kasturi, he has helmed the same
VLCC (very large crude carrier) in three
different occasions with the Middle East
– West Africa – China as its regular route.
Although a very large ship, Capt. Gelladuga
says that MT Bunga Kasturi has a crew
complement of only 22 seafarers.
As everyone in the seafaring industry is
now aware of, Parola Maritime Agency has
teamed up with MISC Berhad and AET late
in 2008 to give birth to Eagle Star Crew
Management Corp. to serve the crewing
needs of both MISC Berhad and AET. Eagle
Star officially marked its first year in the local
manning industry on December 17, 2009 at
Sofitel Philippine Plaza.
Capt. Gelladuga is proud to have
become part of the Parola and subsequently
the Eagle Star family because he says the
company knows how to take care of its
people. “They attend to all the needs of
their people onboard. They also provide
reasonable compensation packages to their
senior officers.”
Given the prevailing officer shortage
in the manning industry these days, it is
tempting really for some senior officers to
look for the proverbial greener pastures
what with the abundance of opportunities
being offered by other manning companies
or ship owning firms.
But Capt. Gelladuga has decided to
drop his anchor for good with Eagle Star,
saying: “If I decide
to work for another
company, I will start
again from scratch.
I have no plan of
doing that because I
already feel at home
with MISC Berhad
and AET. I am
already familiar with
their system and the
people, whom I have
good rapport.”
During
the
Eagle Star event
of December 17,
2009 to mark the
company’s
first
anniversary at the
same time serve as
Christmas party for
its Filipino seafarers
and their families,
Capt.
Gelladuga
was among the
short list of Filipino
senior officers who Capt. Nathaniel Gelladuga (in red) and wife Mila are
were
recognized shown with several officers and staff of Eagle Star who
and given plaques paid a visit to their house while exuding its Halloween
of recognition for displays.
serving the company
for eight years or more. As he already have the convenience that
boarded on November 25, 2009, his wife, most others don’t have so
Mrs. Milagros ‘Mila’ P. Gelladuga proudly we’d rather stay this way
accepted the loyalty award on her husband’s and live a simple life,” says The facade of the Gelladuga residence during the Halloween (top)
Capt. Gelladuga.
behalf.
and the Christmas (bottom) seasons.
Indeed for a small
Capt. Nathaniel and Mrs. Mila both had
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
they met, fell in love and got married. Their three bedrooms, two attic rooms, one guest their generosity and passion for sharing and
room, two servant’s quarters, eight toilets and making everyone happy especially during
union has been blessed with two children.
The elder son, Gibson, is now married and baths, and a small swimming pool, is surely the Halloween and Christmas seasons.
For the last 10 years, the Gelladugas
has settled in the US working as a therapist, more than enough.
They have contented themselves as well have been dressing up their residence, both
and already has two children.
Their younger daughter, Genevieve, with an old Mitsubishi Pajero. Asked if he inside and its façade with Christmas decors
is now pursuing accreditation as a pre- plans to buy a new car or SUV perhaps in and robotics similar to the famed moving
school Montessori teacher for a possible the near future, Capt. Gelladuga says that the mannequin presentation and show of COD
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
who also stays with the Gelladuga residence needs, further reflecting the family’s innate Holiday Season at Greenhills Shopping Mall
in San Juan.
located at Diamond Street in Pilar Village in humility.
The Christmas designs and robotics are
Las Piñas City.
truly feasts to the eyes especially at night
The Uniqueness
Although financially-capable of residing in
when the lights are more pronounced. In
of the Gelladuga Family
a bigger house with lots of cars, that is typical
But what makes the Gelladugas a unique
to most seafarer-families especially senior
TURN TO NEXT PAGE
officers, Capt. Gelladuga and wife Mila has F i l i p i n o
maintained an average lifestyle, preferring s e a f a r e r or
to stay put in their 240-square meter three- family,
that
storey residence in Pilar Village. “We already one
Crowds gather at the facade of the Gelladuga house to The same facade now exudes a jovial atmosphere
The mains stairs during Halloween.
feast on the Halloween sights.
during the Holiday season.
The mains stairs during Christmas.
TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
fact, practically all passersby along Diamond
Street, whether onboard their cars or just
strolling by, couldn’t help but pause to stop
and take a good look at the sight.
Inside the house, detailed Christmas
designs and tidings bedecked the entire
place including moving Santa Clauses
of various sizes and shapes, reindeers,
garlands, ornaments, buntings, mistle toes,
miniature Christmas villages, and an array of
Christmas lights. Even the dining room had a
sitting Santa Claus on it. The swimming pool
had Christmas decors on its banks as well.
But the Christmas dress up of the
Gelladuga residence is just the second for
the year because the first is the Halloween
dress up, which the family also added just
several years back coming at the heels of
their successful Holiday décor repertoire.
The ghostly images during the Halloween
dress up can scare the wits of some people
who have vivid and wild imaginations,
especially those children who are out for
trick or treat during Halloween.
Consider these for starters: at the
façade of the house shows a half-bodied
manananggal, and an aswang feasting on
human flesh. There is also a kapre smoking
tobacco up in a tree. Inside the house is a
tikbalang conveniently seated near the stairs
and a silhouette of a white lady hanging by
the curtain plus several more scary stuff.
The Halloween display is put up at the
Gelladuga residence starting in the last
week of September up to November 2 while
the Christmas dress up runs from the last
week of November up to the Feast of Three
43
Sharing their Blessings with Others in a Unique Way
The Eagle Star staff pose with the ‘tikbalang.’
Kings on the first Sunday of January of the
following year.
Because of the intricacies of both the
Halloween and Christmas dress ups, it is
not surprising to know that the set-up in
both occasions usually take 10 days at the
very least to complete. But Mrs. Mila has
been accustomed to it, with the help of
her husband when he is around and their
daughter Ghennie.
They have also tapped the services of a
technical person working with Star Cinema to
design and do the robotics for them. It has
been a productive partnership ever since
and the praises as well as the oohs and
ahhs of people who catch glimpses of both
the Halloween and Christmas dress ups are
more than enough compensation for the
Gelladugas.
The dress up of the Gelladuga residence
have not only become a byword in Las Piñas
The fully-bedecked fireplace.
City but in fact the local media as well. They
have been featured in several TV programs
including Mel and Joey, 24 Oras, and
Unang Hirit on GMA-7, and just recently
in Ang Kakaibang Pasko: Jescom Xmas
Special over ABS-CBN-2. They have also
been featured in the past in Manila Standard
Today, Taliba, and Abante Tonite.
“We feel honored and happy every time
people appreciate our designs because we
know that we are contributing in making them
happy in our own little and humble way,” says
Mrs. Mila.
The dress up of the Gelladuga’s house is
actually just the tip of their family generosity
especially during Christmas season. When
they start showcasing the Christmas dress
up in the neighborhood, they also start selling
Christmas decors and other Christmasrelated ornaments.
All the money that they will derive from the
sale of the Christmas decors and ornaments
will be use to buy basic grocery items like
a kilo of rice, sugar, noodles, milk, among
others and they will repack it up to 200
bags.
Come December 31st, some 200 of the
poorest families from various depressed
areas selected by the relatives of Mrs.
Mila, will queue at their house to get their
respective grocery pack, which they can use
for their respective celebration of the Media
Noche.
Mrs. Mila says: “Unlike others who prefer
to share their blessings on Christmas day,
we prefer to give ours on December 31st
because we want poor people to have at
least something to start the New Year, be it
a filled stomach or food stock for the first few
days of the New Year.”
Last December 31, 2009, their average
gift packs have already ballooned to more
than 250 but Mrs. Mila is not bothered at
all. “For as long as every poor family who
were listed to come here get something, we
also feel happy and satisfied. We want to
promote the culture of giving among those
who have something to share in their lives.
The Lord has been good to us for the last 11
months of the year so we thought of giving
back to the needy part of our blessings on
the 12th month. Aside from feeling satisfied
knowing that we have shared our blessings
to others, the happiness that we manage to
give to them even for just one day is truly
priceless to savor.”
44 TINIG NG MARINO
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2009
EDITORIAL
Enough with Maritime Disasters
FROM PAGE 6
have passed the approval of MARINA.
Whether those approvals came with vessel
inclining experiments to test if the alterations
have not affected the metacentric or center
of gravity of each vessel remains to be
proven by MARINA no less.
For sure, MARINA is aware of the fact
that a number of imported vessels brought
to the Philippines were designed only to
sail in inland waters.
As to why the agency is giving
Certificates of Public Convenience (CPCs)
or franchises to these vessels to operate
and sail even in the open seas is another
intriguing question.
As to how and why major patrons are
being allowed to take command of ships
when most, if not all of these mariners,
hardly have an inkling of the basic ‘rules
of the road’ and collision regulation, are
two other bewildering questions that only
MARINA can provide the appropriate
answers, assuming it has.
MARINA, through Administrator Elena
Bautista, can only offer the existing policy of
the agency that major patrons are allowed
to helm a vessel 190 gross tons or below
as a convenient excuse. Since when did
dynamism get in the way of compromising
the safety of the boat-riding public?
MARINA can easily supersede the existing
policy with the issuance of a Memorandum
Circular and it would not even cost the
agency anything, if only to ensure the
safety of seaborne passengers.
Doesn’t MARINA see the logic in the
idea that major patrons should leave the
helming of vessels to real skippers when
it is carrying 100 passengers or more,
regardless of the weight of the ship?
Perhaps several blinders are keeping
MARINA and its leadership from taking into
perspective the importance of dynamism
in overseeing an extremely dynamic
industry.
Indeed, it is very easy to see and
understand, even by the ordinary layman,
why MARINA is savoring the blame-spree
these days in both maritime accidents, as
well as in several others before including
the infamous MV Princess of the Stars
maritime disaster on June 21, 2008. It is
now obvious that in addition to human
errors, MARINA is actually remiss in its
crucial obligation of enforcing maritime
safety rules and regulations.
Enough is enough with maritime
tragedies in Philippine waters. MARINA
and its leadership only have two choices
– shape up in the enforcement of maritime
safety rules and regulations or ship out for
good.
TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
MEAN INDICATED PRESSURE
Perfect Formula
for Maritime Disasters
FROM PAGE 13
we not just adopt what is in international
conventions such as the International
Safety Management (ISM) Code, Safety
and Environmental Policy, Company Safety
Responsibility which include the Master’s
Oath of Safe Departure, Resources and
Personnel
Development,
Shipboard
and Safety Operations, Emergency
Preparedness like conducting Emergency
Readiness Evaluation and Machinery
Readiness
Evaluation
(ERE-MARE),
Development of Shipboard Operations,
Designated Persons like port captains
and port superintendents, Maintenance
of Ship Equipment, Reporting of NonConformities, Incidents/Accidents and
Hazardous Occurrences, Documentation
that covers Procedures, Instructions and
Check Lists, Company Verification Review
and Certification 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
offices 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-profile 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 office 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
some of whom are now in jail, awaiting trial.
On the other hand, Administrator Bautista
said in a Senate hearing that more than
6,000 innocent lives were lost when they
sailed aboard Sulpicio Lines’ vessels. Yet it
is disheartening to note that Administrator
Bautista hurriedly lifted the suspension of
the MV Princess of the South and the MV
Princess of the Earth even if the case
against Sulpicio Lines is still under litigation
and despite reports that both ships have
yet to fully comply with safety requirements
imposed on all Sulpicio Lines passenger
vessels which have all been grounded
in the aftermath of the sinking of the MV
Princess of the Stars in June 2008.
There were reports in November 2009
that the MV Princess of the South was
not even issued a security certificate by the
Office of the Transport Security yet it was
allowed by MARINA to sail.
*******
It is common practice all over the world,
and in fact, even the previous administrator
of MARINA, Mr. Vicente Suazo insisted,
that all Philippinne registered vessels,
especially passenger vessels, must be
insured under a Protection and Indemnity
Club insurance which is an All Risk No
Fault policy so that all victims will receive
their benefits even before the culpability
for the accident is established. At present,
Sulpicio Lines’ vessels are only covered by
a local insurance company. Shall we allow
thousands more of innocent passengers
to die onboard Sulpicio Lines’ vessels?
Administrator Bautista can no longer wash
her hands should another maritime tragedy
happen.
45
eagle star
Seeks to Become
Second to None
FROM PAGE 27
Consistent with the program’s invitation
that stated: “From Me to We,” Eagle
Star succeeded in not only drawing the
continued support of its Filipino seafarers
and their families, but more importantly
their commitment to help and contribute
their respective share in ensuring the
continued growth of the company in the
years to come.
Overall, it was a fun, an exciting,
memorable and historic event for everyone.
More significantly however, it signaled a
new beginning for Eagle Star as it prepares
to take on the challenges for its second
year and open new horizons to soar into as
it works on becoming second to none.
46 TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
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-profile 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
years, I have encountered severe weather
conditions wherein the ship is rolling 30
degrees but because the ship is stable and
the cargos are properly lashed and secured,
the vessel uprighted by itself. No ship is not
designed to sink,” explains Ramirez.
Instead of focusing on the enforcement of
maritime safety regulations, MARINA is more
interested in giving permission to vessels to
sail even if those have yet to comply with
safety and security requirements. This was
quite apparent when the agency recently
gave a green light to Sulpicio Lines’ MV
Princess of the South and MV Princess of
the Earth to sail again despite reports that
those two vessels have yet to fully comply
with the safety and security requirements as
Senator Gordon commisserating with the survivors as well as the
bereaved of the two recent maritime disasters during the Senate probe
last January 7, 2010.
well as proper insurance.
“These two passenger vessels are only
insured by a local insurance which is a
liability insurance unlike the Protection and
Indemnity Club Insurance which is an all risk
no fault insurance. A liability insurance has
a provision that states that families of the
victims of the maritime disaster has to prove
the culpability of the ship owner before they
can get their benefits. This was the case
of MV Doña Paz, also owned by Sulpicio
Lines, wherein the families of the more
than 4,000 victims are still waiting for their
benefits up to this day some 22 years after
the worst maritime disaster in the history of
Engr. Ramirez and MARINA Administrator Bautista ‘face off’ during the
initial Senate probe on the maritime disasters last December 29, 2009.
shipping,” discloses Ramirez.
“Most in the domestic shipping industry
are also aware that the enforcement of
maritime safety rules and regulations
are not being given serious attention in
several MARINA regional offices because
the directors and staff have been in their
respective posts for over 10 years. Most,
if not all, have become beholden to the
ship owners, whom they surely cannot
antagonize. The Administrator, on the other
hand, is a lame duck as she is simply at the
mercy and the dictates of ship owners and
she cannot even attempt to re-assigning
these people elsewhere,” further bares the
UFS president.
The UFS has also sent a formal letter on
the issue to President Gloria MacapagalArroyo on January 4, 2010, which was copy
furnished to all members of the Senate and
the Lower House of Congress. In addition
to the marathon probe of the Senate Blue
Ribbon Committee on the issue starting
on December 27, 2009, Rep. Rodolfo
‘Ompong’ Plaza also threw his hat on the
issue when he delivered a privilege speech
in Congress on January 18, 2010 entitled:
“Elena Biyahera” alluding to the more than
77 foreign trips of Administrator Bautista in
a span of just one and a half years.
48 TINIG NG MARINO
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Clarification from MTC
on NAC
Herewith is a reaction of MTC to a letter from a Filipino senior officer published
in the November - December 2009 issue of Tinig ng Marino proposing the
abolition or dissolution of NAC. We are publishing it in full - Editor
Dear Mr. Ramirez
We refer to the letter of C/E Arnold Masaoay of MT Liquid Crystal
published in the November-December 2009 issue of Tinig ng Marino
“ONLINE” which recommends the abolition of the National Assessment
Center (NAC).
We would like to inform him that as a party to the 1978 STCW Convention,
as amended, the Philippines has international obligations and responsibility
to undertake which is to give full and complete effect to the said Convention.
The establishment of the NAC is one of the important measures to ensure
the competence and fitness of Filipino seafarers onboard and to guarantee
to the international maritime communities that the holders of such are
appropriately assessed and certificate as required by Article VI of the STCW
Convention.
As to his claim that the NAC certificate could also be obtained from the
Luneta area, we would like to inform him further that the Maritime Training
Council (MTC) has already addressed the problem that erodes the integrity
of our issued certificates under the STCW Convention. The portfolio
assessment of applicant has put a stop to this unscrupulous practice.
Also, the MTC has implemented the decentralization of assessment by
recognizing the assessment system of accredited maritime training centers.
The certified assessment results become the basis in the issuance of
Certificate of Proficiency.
The writer has finally commented on the manner of assessment at the
NAC which we would like to emphasize that such is being undertaken strictly
in accordance with the STCW standards.
Notwithstanding the above, we appreciate and thank the comment of the
writer as his feedback will give the opportunity for MTC to revisit its policy to
continuously improve its manpower services.
Very truly yours,
(Sgd) NORIEL P. DEVANADERA, Acting Executive Director, MTC
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
Risk Zone Bonus in Gulf of Aden
Humingi kayo sa POEA ng kopya
ng nasabing resolusyon bago kayo
sumampa. Minsan kasi kahit ayaw
mong bumiyahe o tumawid sa Gulf of
Aden pero kapag nasa barko ka na,
hindi ka na makaiwas.
Sa aming kompanya na BSM
Crew Service Centre Phils., Inc.,
binibigay ang aming benepisyo batay
sa nasabing resolusyon dahil liner ang
aming barko sa Yemen. Ipinadala kasi
namin sa aming principal ang kopya
ng resolution kaya nagbabayad sila ng
sapat.
Isa rin po pala sa aking naobserbahan
habang tuwina’y bumabaybay ang
aming barko sa Gulf of Aden ay ang
sobrang alingawngaw sa Channel 16 ng
ilang mga Filipino deck officers sa ilang
mga barko. Bukod sa magulo madalas
ay meron pang nagbabastusan,
nagmumurahan
at
nanggugulo.
Minsan may nag-uusap, papasok dun
at guguluhin. Minsan may tatahol at
magme-meow na parang pusa. Minsan
palalakasin pa ang music. Papapano
naming hindi malalaman na Pilipino e
ang sounds na ginagamit nila
e Dayang Dayang o kaya ay
Wonderful Tonight?
Huwag naman po sana
nilang gawin ito. Biro niyo, nasa
Gulf of Aden kayo, ganyan ang
ginagawa ninyo sa Channel 16
samantalang
napakahalaga
ng kasangkapan na iyan para
makaiwas at makatulong sa
ibang mga barko na makaiwas
sa banta mula sa mga Somali
pirates. Naturingan pa namang
The engine crew of MT Liquid Crystal with their mga deck officers kayo.
Kahit sino sigurong marino
Yemeni escorts at the Gulf of Aden.
Dear Engr. Ramirez:
Sir, I am furnishing you a copy of the
POEA Governing Board Resolution
No. 06 with regards to the Gulf of Aden
risk zone bonus, double pay, basic, OT,
and leave pay.
Marami kasi ang nga nagbibiyahe
na barko sa area lalo na ang yung
mga may mixed crew na hindi Pilipino
ang kapitan na hindi raw sila umano
binabayaran ng tama ng kanilang
shipowners, lalong-lalo na ang mga
liners ng bansang Yemen.
Sa mga kabaro kong mga marinong
Pilipino na karaniwan ang mga barko
ay tumatawid sa Gulf of Aden, huwag
po kayong papayag dahil nasa batas
na ito batay na rin sa POEA Governing
Board Resolution No. 06. Karapatan
ninyo ang benepisyong nakasaad
doon dahil talaga namang napaka-risky
kada dumadaan ka sa lugar. Personal
kong naranasan ang panganib dahil
ang huling barko na nasakyan ko ay
tumatawid tuwina sa risk zone. Pero
may mga escort naman kaming kasama
mula sa Yemeni navy.
Copy of POEA Board Resolution No.
06, Series of 2009
kada tumatawid sa Gulf of Aden risk
zone ay kinakabahan pero ang iba ay
nagagawa pang magbiro o manloko
sa Channel 16. Huwag po sana nating
tularan ang ibang mga marino mula
sa ibang bansa sa kanilang mga pagaaway at pagmumurahan sa ere. At kung
maaari ay maging disente sa Channel
16 hindi lang habang nasa Gulf of Aden
risk zone ngunit sa pangkalahatang
biyahe nang sa ganoon ay lalo pang
gumanda ang imahe ng mga marinong
Pilipino sa daigdig.
Ito po ay paalaala at paglilingkod na
rin sa ating mga kapatid sa hanapbuhay
lalo na yung mga nasa barko na
tuwina’y tumatawid sa Gulf of Aden.
Happy New Year!
Lubos na gumagalang
(SGD) C/E Arnold Masaoay
TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
ENTERTAINMENT
T
hey say money can never buy class.
It is inborn.
Say Alonzo must’ve been at the right
place when God showered the world
with class.
Clad in jeans and shirt, she exuded
elegance and grace despite the
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 flood waters.
Sherylle Ann Alonzo Yutadco first
came out in Pinoy Big Brother as one of
the first 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.
49
By ARIANNE BLANCHE R. RODRIGUEZ
Classy Say Alonzo Has What
it Takes to Be Durable in Showbiz
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 929KUYA.” 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 first 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?
Say: I’ve been doing what I love to do
the most - hosting and acting. So life
has been fun and exciting for me ever
since my stint with PBB.
TNM: From being a private citizen, you
were suddenly a celebrity. How did it
affect you?
Say: It affected me in a positive way.
I get to meet people, travel, sing, act
and host for work. So it’s not really work;
it’s so much fun.
TNM: From ABS-CBN, you transferred to
GMA. What made you decide on that?
How do you find your new network?
Say: I decided not to renew my contract
with Star Magic which is the talent arm
of ABS-CBN because I felt I needed a
change and I wanted work so I moved
to GMA 7. I love GMA 7 and my new
manager, Rommel Gacho is great.
He is very maalaga and I can talk to
him anytime. Just finished Stairway to
Heaven (With Dingdong Dantes and
Rhian Ramos). It’s my third soap in
GMA 7. My first soap was La Lola (JC
De Vera and Rhian Ramos) followed
by an afternoon soap Dapat Ka Bang
Mahalin (Aljur Abrenica, Kris Bernal
and Ara Mina).
TNM: How do you motivate yourself
when acting?
Say: I make sure I read and understand
the script before going to the set and if
I have any questions, I ask the director
or my co-actors.
TNM: What’s your dream role?
Say: My dream role would be a
kontrabida in a soap.
TNM: How do you see yourself
years from now?
Say: Hopefully hosting a morning show
or an everyday noontime show.
TNM: What’s something about you that
people would be surprised to find out?
Say: I love to eat streetfood like isaw,
fishball, mangga’t bagoong, kwekwek.
I love freebies, like free samples
you see at the mall, perfume, food,
shampoo. Hahaha! I love to sing in my
car. I practice my songs for mall shows
or out of town shows in the car.
TNM: What are the top three gifts you’d
love to receive this Christmas?
Say: An LV Bag, a Shu Uemura or MAC
make up and clothes from Zara.
TNM: How and with whom would you
spend your Christmas with?
Say: My family. We are going to Hong
Kong.
TNM: What’s your fondest Christmas
memory?
Say: Every Christmas is always special.
My cousins, aunts and uncles join us
every Christmas eve and we open our
gifts all together after having noche
buena.
TNM: What
resolutions?
is
your
New
Year’s
TURN TO PAGE 56
50 TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
NI-RAPE
Maid: Ma’m, ni-rape ako ng
magnanakaw kagabi.
Madam: Bakit di ka sumigaw?
Maid: Eh, akala ko po si Sir, pero nung
makadalawa, nagduda na ako!
HANGGANG 3 LANG
IT’S UP TO YOU
Nanay: Bobo ka talaga! 1 to 10 lang di
mo kayang bilangin?
Anak: Mas bobo si tatay nay, kasi
narinig ko minsan sabi, ‘tama na
inday, hanggang tatlo lang kaya ko.’
Mom: “Yaya, magluto ka na pag-alis
ko ha!”
Yaya: “Ano po lulutuin ko?”
Mom: “It’s up to you.”
(During dinner)
Mom: “Yaya, bakit ketsup at tuyo ang
ulam?”
Yaya: Di ba nung tinanong ko kayo
kung anong lulutuin ko, sabi niyo,
‘kitsup tuyo’!” (it’s up to you)
Sis: Hay naku Ate, palpak! Ginanahan
pa lalo, eh, Bicolano pala!
KATAPUSAN NA
Lumindol nang malakas noon....
Nagkagulo ang lahat at nag panic!
Sumigaw ang isang lalaki...’Katapusan
na! Katapusan na!’
Sumagot ang isa pang lalaki ....
‘Tanga! A-kinse pa lang!’
MAYAMANG NAGHIRAP
Juan: Pare, noong mayaman pa kami,
nagkakamay kaming kumain. Ngayong
mahirap na kami, nakakutsara na.
Pedro: Baligtad yata?
Juan: Mahirap kamayin ang lugaw,
pare!
LOW-BUDGET AIRLINE
I
HOROSCOPE
Sweethearts watching the sky...
Guy: Ano ang horoscope mo?
Girl: Ano’ng huruskup?
Guy: Yun bang kapalaran mo, katulad
Sa isang mumurahing airline ...
Stewardess: Sir, would you like some
dinner?
Passenger: Ano ba ang mga choices?
Stewardess: ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ lang po.
PANGARAP
ANO ANG PAGKAIN?
Toto: Pangarap ko, kumita ng P250,000
monthly gaya ni Daddy!
Juvy: Wow! Ganyan kalaki ang kinikita
ng Daddy mo?
Toto: Hindi! Yan din ang pangarap
niya!
Mister: Ano ang pagkain natin?
Misis: Nasa mesa, bahala ka na
pumili!
Mister: Isang pirasong tuyo? Ano ang
pagpipilian ko? Misis: Pumili ka kung
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.
Girl: Ah, sa akin ALMORANAS!
BREASTFED
NITRATES
A Chemistry teacher asked a sexy
student, ‘What are Nitrates?
The student replied shyly, ‘Ma’am,
sa motel po. Nitrates are higher than
day rates!’
Woman carrying sick baby enters
doctor’s office.
Doc: “Bottlefed?”
Woman: “Breastfed po.”
(Doctors squeezes woman’s breasts
repeatedly)
Doc: “Ayan ang problema, wala kang
gatas, eh.”
Woman: “Yaya lang po ako doc!
Yaya!”
DALAWANG MAYABANG
Usapan ng dalawang mayabang.... .
Tomas: Ang galing ng aso ko! Tuwing
umaga, dala niya ang dyaryo sa akin.
Diego: Alam ko.
Tomas: Ha? Paano mo nalaman?
Diego: Ikinukuwento sa akin ng aso
ko.
SILING LABUYO
Ate: Musta date mo sis? Epektib ba
payo ko, siling labuyo sa nipples mo
para di ka galawin ng BF mo?
Kid: “Yaya look, boats!”
Yaya: “Dows are not boats, dey’re
yachts.”
Kid: “Yaya, spell yachts?”
Yaya: “Yor rayt, dey are boats.”
IT’S UP TO YOU
IDD call from US:
Husband: Hon, musta ang tindahan?
Wife: Department store na!
Husband: Ang tuba-an?
Wife: KTV bar na!
Husband: Ang mga tri-sikad?
TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
Wife: Taxi na!
Husband: Ang dalawa kong anak?
Wife: Lima na!
SOLAR SYSTEM
We paid for the tuition fee of our yaya’s
son. So one day I was reviewing him:
“The Earth is the 3rd planet from the
sun. Ano ang katabi ng Mercury?”
His mom, our yaya, answered:
“Parang Watson’s yata.”
GUNTING
Sir: “Yaya, natanggal mo yung mantsa
sa barong ko?”
Yaya: “Opo! Tanggal na tanggal!
Sir: Good! Anong pinang-tanggal mo?”
Yaya: “Gunting, kuya! Gunting!
MGA PAMATAY NA
PICK-UP LINES
1. Kumain ka ba ng asukal? Ang tamis
kasi ng ngiti mo.
2. I’m a bee, can you be my honey?
3. May lahi ka bang keyboard? Type
kasi kita.
4. Papupulis kita! Ninakaw mo kasi
puso ko.
5. Are you a dictionary? Coz you add
meaning to my life.
6. I lost my number. Can I have
yours?
7. I forgot your name. Can I call you
mine?
8. Ice ka ba? Crush kita, okay lang?
9. Suswertihin ka sa pag-ibig ngayong
taon, pag naging akin ka.
10. Meralco ka ba? Pag ngumiti ka
kasi may spark.
11. Bangin ka ba? Nahulog kasi ako
sa’yo.
12. May butas ba yang puso mo?
Natrap kasi ako, can’t find my way
out.
13. Pustiso ka ba? Kasi I can’t smile
without you.
14. Nabibingi ka na ba? Coz my heart
has been screaming out your name for
quite some time now.
15. Tapos na ba yung exam mo? Para
ako naman sagutin mo.
16. Ok lang na ako ang magbayad ng
tuition fee mo? Basta pag-aralan mo
lang akong mahalin.
17. Alam mo ba na scientist ako? At
ikaw yung LAB ko.
18. May lisensya ka ba? Coz you’re
driving me crazy.
19. May kilala ka bang gumagawa ng
relo? May sira ata relo ko. Pag ikaw
kasi kasama ko, humihinto ang oras
ko.
THREE FEELINGS
What’s the difference between stress,
tension and panic?
51
Stress is when your wife is pregnant.
Tension is when your girlfriend is
pregnant.
And panic is when both are pregnant.
JOB APPLICANT
Prospective Employer to Applicant: So
why did you leave your previous job?”
Applicant: “The company relocated
and they did not tell me where!”
BASTOS!
Sa isang ospital...
Lola (may cancer): Doc, anong
gagawin niyo sa akin?
Doc : Che-chemo, lola.
Lola : T**i mo rin! Bastos ka! Walang
modo!
52 TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
C’EST LA VIE
Le Cirque du COMELEC
FROM PAGE 21
dialect. Maybe, some say, they are aiming
for brand recall but some are so funny, that
one can even die from laughing their hearts
out.
Add to this circus is the insistence of
many groups to represent the Warays,
the Bicolanos, the Ilocanos, the Ilonggos
and the many other aggrupations in the
country. Don’t these regions have enough
representation already? What is the logic
here? “Superfluous” is a tame word and
truly defies credulity.
However, there is one group that applied
for partylist accreditation. It was denied
courtesy of the COMELEC’s clowns who
dismissed it with a tart and terse answer: “It
does not exist!”
The group is “United Filipino Seafarers,”
with 38,000 card-carrying members. The
eponymous name has been in existence for
more than 15 years and the group has been
quietly carrying the torch for its federation
members.
Filipino seafarers, some of the best in the
world, have remitted over four billion dollars
to the country. And it’s been said by the
COMELEC not to exist. Its members can
only laugh at this latest comic gaffe by the
agency.
United Filipino Seafarers has a website,
a radio program and a newsletter that
is circulated worldwide. It has also been
a recipient of countless awards and
recognized by no less than President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo herself, for promoting
and protecting the welfare of the country’s
“new heroes.” And yet the COMELEC
insists that it does not exist.
With 38,000 members whose family
members count in the thousands, some
clowns in the COMELEC should try their
hand at real arithmetic. Throw in relatives
and friends and they can see that this
sector indeed needs the representation it
deserves.
However, the COMELEC’s magic
potions seem to be working fine. Even
certified witches who got a chance to take
a whiff of the potions swear on bat wings
and lizard tails mixed with mandrake root
that the potions have a complex formula
that includes 99% money. Hahaha!!!! The
witches turned away shrieking.
Many more examples have added even
more color to the COMELEC’s circus tent.
However, all signs point to the possibility
that Le Cirque du COMELEC is here to
stay. And stay. And as a real, honest-togoodness circus, it vows to entertain us for
a long time to come.
53
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
S
ince time immemorial, when the
Filipino seafarer began to join the
overseas
seafaring
profession
or vocation he has been regarded as a
CONTRACTUAL EMPLOYEE. This has
meant that his wages and benefits are only
due and counting for the duration of the
length of his contract.
This also means that the responsibility
of his employer, the ship owner or ship
manager, toward the seafarer for his
protection and welfare ends when the
contractual period ends, which normally is
when the seaman signs-off the vessel or
as far as he has arrived Manila airport.
Tragically, when he leaves the airport
and got run over or met road accident on
his way home – then technically or legally
speaking – his erstwhile employer, the ship
owner or crew manager, is no longer liable
to cover this case except maybe give some
voluntary financial assistance. Likewise,
if he gets sick while on vacation awaiting
for his next employment, he will not be
covered by medical insurance by the
previous employer as his contract is already
expired (unless of course, if he signed off
or repatriated under medical condition then
he is covered through so-called P & I cover
which is a mutual indemnity club where the
said ship owner is a member paying his
dues for the said protection).
Moreover, after some months working explained above, our OFWs (and I’d like
at sea, braving the storms and the intense to specify here) the seafarers have been
cold and heat weather conditions, when his regarded and treated as contract workers
contract is over, he takes his much needed - and so they are.
In short, there is no legal protection on
vacation to enjoy the company of his family
depending on how long can he get another the part of the seafarers when it comes
employment – and while ashore all this to the matter of continued employment or
time has no income, while meantime the job security and health and life insurance
house bills are piling up for payment. This while on leave or vacation. Of course,
it is understandable why the overseas
is a very sad and pitiful situation, isn’t it?
It is a well-known and accepted fact that seafarer have remained contractual by
the OFWs (land-based and sea-based) nature in their employment – it is because
the employers (Ship
have been a vital
owners / Managers /
source of the country’s
‘It is a well-known and
economic survival for
accepted fact that the OFWs Principals) themselves
who did not want to
many decades now
(land-based and sea-based)
employ them on a
– the billions of dollar
have been a vital source
permanent basis for
annual
remittances
of the country’s
obvious reasons we
from our OFWs have
economic survival
already know.
carried our government
And that is, they
through in times of
for many decades now.’
would like only to be
global
economic
responsible and liable for their wages and
meltdown as in our present time.
Needless to say, the accolades given benefits while they are working onboard,
them by calling our OFWs “ang mga and not after their disembarkation and
bagong bayani” is just but fitting and repatriation home.
But that may be a thing of the past
appropriate according them due respect is
now. Time has changed since the past
only but fair.
Unfortunately, however, the reality of two decades when worldwide shipping
the situation seems not to favor our OFWs began to boom in unprecedented heights.
in terms of their welfare and job security. The sudden surge of new ship buildings
For since the beginning, as I have already coupled with the natural attrition for retiring
European senior ship
officers brought about
a global shortage of
marine officers.
And by God’s grace,
the Filipino seafarers
especially
officers
suddenly
became
a prized commodity
and the Philippines
became the manning
capital of the world
until now. Needless
to say, the shortage of
officers brought about
what you may call
“fierce competition”
among the manning
companies – ship
owners and principals
unwillingly engaged
themselves
into
a wage war, with
soaring high wages
for officers which
even a shipmaster
like me way back
in our sailing years
would have imagined
could be in the market
today.
In addition to the
wages, they were also offered standby pay
while on waiting status, return bonuses,
signing contract bonuses and more – so
much so that the employers were plunged
into a trap (which they themselves made)
in a game called “ Survival of the Most
Generous.”
Meanwhile, the small players in the
manning industry who cannot cope up with
this terrible wage and benefit war lose out
in the game and most of them just have to
close shop.
Yet in all these unbelievable boosts
for our seafarers, their future still remains
unsecure – because there is no binding
or legal guarantee for continued lasting
employment and welfare once they signoff and be on vacation leave – as their
employment remains contractual only.
Again, once their contract expires and
leave the vessel to return home, wages,
life and health insurance are terminated.
Subsequently also, the guarantee for the
next employment, even if promised or
planned by the employer, is not legally
existing – until he signs another contract
for another specified period.
But going back to the what the employers
/ ship owners are giving our seafarers
now, particularly the officers, aside from
high wages, like leave pay, standby pay,
return bonus, signing bonus, pension plan,
medicare plan, and others – are these
all in essence not having the effect of a
permanent employment?
Just like in our case – my company,
OSM Maritime Services, Inc. – we have
for the past two years started to give the
following benefits to our seafarers: pension
or retirement plan, where we build pension
or retirement funds for our seafarers
(coming from our own company funds and
no contribution from seafarers) and they
are paid correspondingly to their length of
service with our fleet.
We also came up with the OSM Extended
Health Insurance for our seafarers – where
we cover our seafarers with life, accident
and health insurance while on vacation
or leave ashore, on training or company
assignment onboard or office abroad. This
also extends to the seafarers immediate
family, i.e., wife and children which would
cover them for heath treatment even of
very serious illness like cancer up to US$
1 million.
Aside from these, we have the other
benefits like standby pay and return
bonuses. In essence, therefore, all these
benefits and insurances that we in OSM
are according our seafarers are tantamount
to giving them a permanent employment
status – because we cover them both while
TURN TO PAGE 52
TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
T
he word ‘leader’ comes from Lord which
meant, in Old Norse, the path of a ship
at sea. The leader was the captain who,
in Viking days, was usually the steersman and
navigator as well.
A President governing a country is like
a captain steering a ship which requires
competency and mastery to the precise
meaning of a seaworthy ship.
The Nautical Institute of London, England
defines a seaworthy ship must be fit in relation to
its hull and machinery, its holds and equipment,
and its manning and shipboard procedure. The
vessel must be in good condition and must
have every need in order to perform its task
properly.
I believe that if the paying passengers
deserve a seaworthy ship, we Filipino taxpayers
deserve also a worthy government that will
serve and protect its people and its natural
resources. Its structure must be based on
the people’s will and aspirations. It should be
a government of the people led by honorable
men who could be heroes in their actions
and have the political will to eradicate graft
and corruption, political dynasty, wardlordism,
private armies, bureaucrat capitalism, poverty,
and injustice. As Thomas Macaulay (18801864) said: “That is the best government which
desires to make people happy and knows how
to make them happy.”
*******
The May 10, 2010 national election is crucial
and the last alternative for a peaceful change.
The Philippine government is likened to a
passenger ship that is taking water faster. The
ship of state is sinking while the ship captain
continues to give assurance from the helm even
if it is heading to the path of a super typhoon.
The candidate that we should choose must
be prepared to correct the course and keep the
ship from sinking. The survival of the Republic
is at stake therefore we should all be politically
correct voters to be able to choose the best
leaders that will be serve as mayors, district
representatives,
partylist
representatives,
Senators, Vice President, and President.
As we belong to the seafaring sector, it
easy for us to use the analogy of mismanaged
government to an unseaworthy ship thus
choosing the right partylist that will represent
us in Congress to legislate laws for the benefit
of stakeholders in the maritime industry is our
primary responsibility.
Let us remember that the partylist was the
product of our participation during the 1986
Edsa Revolution. It is the political gain of our
sector not only for the credit of cause-oriented
and civil society groups. The partylist system is
included in the framing of the 1987 Constitution.
Article VI states that: Marginalized sector of
the Philippine society should be represented
in Congress. It listed 12 sectors like the urban
poor, fishermen, labor, farmers, elderly, youth,
women, indigenous people, overseas workers
and other sectors not represented in Congress.
The Partylist shall constitute 20% of the total
number of representatives. It should obtain 2%
total votes of the Partylist system with threeyear term and allowing a maximum of three
seats.
Each Partylist candidate is entitled to 70
million pesos yearly pork barrel (20 million for
priority development assistance and 50 million
for public works projects). The monthly salary
of the representatives is negligible however
according to the Commission on Audit (COA),
six million pesos is allocated for foreign travel,
district staff allocation, contractual consultancy,
research,
local travel, communication ,
supplies, public affairs fund, central office staff,
equipment/furniture and fixtures.
The COA list is not comprehensive and does
55
PUNTO DE VISTA
By PAUL ESBER
Auditor, United Filipino Seafarers
[email protected]
Choosing Our Leaders
not even include expenses of legislators as
committee members and officers which is over
92 million pesos.
We the politically-aware citizens are not
surprised why so many groups are pretending
to be marginalized sectors. Some partylist
groups have become a ‘prostitutionalized.’
Some traditional politicians are behind in
bastardizing the partylist to be able to land a
seat in Congress
The Commission on Elections decision
to exclude UFS as legitimate party list
organization is an insult to the Maritime sector.
For COMELEC to say that UFS never existed
is a plain stupidity of the Commissioner. It only
shows that they did not carefully scrutinized
the track record, mission and vision and the
nationwide visibility of the UFS.
UFS is an independent maritime labor
federation established on December 12, 1994
and registered with the Department of Labor
and Employment. Under the leadership of Engr.
Nelson Ramirez, UFS has been consistent
with its broad and unwavering advocacy for
seafarers’ right and welfare. It has a globallycirculated Filipino maritime newspaper known
as Tinig ng Marino. How come the COMELEC
says that UFS never existed?
How could we expect a credible election
when we have myopic and corrupt officials in
the COMELEC? Anyway, the track record of
this commission has been proven for rigging
the result of the 2004 national elections in
Maguindanao with the help of the Ampatuans.
The people of Mindanao could not accept that
their idol Fernando Poe Jr. got zero votes in
Maguindanao.
Majority of the people at present are expecting
the possibility of failure
of elections and people
power. If this will be
the scenario the only
agency to be blamed
is none other than the
COMELEC.
*******
What will happen
if a ship carrying
toxic
chemicals
and
ammunition
is
approaching
a
Philippine port?
The vessel traffic
operator notices a new
target on his radar
screen but there is no
call from that ship. He
tries to call the ship but
there is no response.
This is a situation that
prompted
shipping
regulatory bodies to
acquire the Automatic
Identification System
(AIS) which started
in
European
and
American ports in
1999.
The Philippine Ports
Authority (PPA) is a
government-owned and
controlled corporation
under the Department of Transportation and
Communication as an attached agency. It is
responsible for the financing, management,
and operation of public ports throughout the
Philippines.
At last, after 10 years the PPA and the
Philippine Coast Guard signed the Memorandum
of Agreement on the joint manning of the
Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS)
at the Port of District of Manila and Batangas.
The MoA provides specific guidelines on the
responsibilities of the PPA and PCG in terms of
management, supervision and operation.
The collision incident between the steelhulled fishing vessel FB Anatalia and the
wooden-hulled ferry boat MV Catalyn B on
December 24, 2009 and the sinking of the roro
vessel MV Baleno 9 on December 26, 2009
are concrete proofs that the kind of VTMS
installed in Manila port could not help much in a
distress situation.
The VTMS equipment purchased by our
government has limited capabilities. The powerdriven vessels tracked by radar of VTMS were
in a crossing situation with the risk of collision
but the VTMS operator failed to use the VHF
to warn the vessels that they were about to
collide.
In almost all maritime countries in the
world, their VTMS capabilities can prevent
ship collision, assist in search and rescue,
and protect the environment. What about
in our country? Is it true that sophisticated
and modern equipment like GMDSS, VTMS,
Doppler radar and others could be acquired?
Only if there is overpricing and the primary
purpose of maintaining safety of life is only
secondary?
The Vessel Traffic System is based upon AIS
using global positioning system and very high
frequency radio. An AIS transponder can both
complement shore-based radar and operate
independently. It will operate simultaneously in
two modes, ship-to-shore and shore- to-ship.
It can transmit position reports, names of ship
and call signs, ship headings, course, speed,
hazardous cargo type, and other statistics and
dynamics.
The International Association of Lighthouse
Authorities (IALA) and IMO define VTS as a
service implemented by a competent authority,
designed to improve safety and efficiency of
vessel traffic and to protect the environment.
The service should have the capability to
interact with the traffic and respond to the
situation developing in the VTS area.
The VTS concept has been expanded into
Vessel Traffic Management Service which has
the intention to minimize risk for safety and the
environment. To my simple mind the success
of this system using modern technology for the
safety of navigation and the modernization of
our ports and harbors will still depend on the
leadership of the PPA.
The PPA priority objective of completing the
modernization of lat east 10 ports by 2010 must
be accomplished regardless of who will be next
PPA general manager.
We can say that choosing who will the next
President of the Philippines be will affect the
kind of leaders that will be appointed as the
next PPA general manager considering that
this position is co-terminous with he term of the
President. Let us make the change we have
always wanted to happen by correctly choosing
our leaders.
56 TINIG NG MARINO
Classy Say Alonzo
Has What It Takes
to Be Durable
in Showbiz
FROM PAGE 45
Say: I always
make
some
New
Year’s
resolutions but
I end up not
following them
so I might as
well not make
one.
TNM:
What’s
your message
to all your fans?
Say: Thank you so much for all the
support. I hope to meet you all someday
and I hope to visit you there wherever
you are. Thank you very much and I
hope you watch out for me in GMA-7
shows. God Bless you all!
ON THE BRIDGE
OF M/S MMAP
What the Filipino
Seafarers
Deserve
FROM PAGE 50
onboard and ashore on leave with wages
and benefits on a continuing basis.
However well-meaning is our intention
to give our seafarers a sort of permanent
employment status, one important legal
instrument is only lacking - and that is the
POEA Employment Contract for Permanent
Employment.
This is what we are now working on with
the POEA in order to formalize our hiring of
seafarers in the permanent status nature.
While there may be a ruling from
Supreme Court in one case that said
seafarers are contractual workers - this
may be so, but what was the term of
reference used by the Supreme Court in
making the judgment?
Is it not the POEA Standard Employment
Contract which specified a fixed period of
employment, thus it became contractual?
But as far as I can tell, I have not seen yet
a law that says that seafarers cannot be
employed on a more permanent status
– if it is so desired and agreed by both the
employer and the seafarer?
May all the stakeholders of the maritime
industry – both government, led by the
DOLE, and the private sector led by
manning companies and their principals
look more into the dignity, welfare and
protection of our bagong bayanis, the
seafarers, by giving them what they have
been so deserving for many years now – a
permanent employment status!
God bless at mabuhay ang marinong
Pinoy!
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
PISOBILITIES
Ano Nga Ba Talaga ang Kayamanan
at Paano Mo Malalaman na Mayaman Ka?
FROM PAGE 25
Kailangan nating matutunang paghandaan
ang ating kinabukasan, pero hindi ito
madaling gawin. Kailangan ng disiplina at
determinasyon; kailanga’y buo ang loob
natin.
Maging financially-independent
Ang magandang balita kahit na gaano
pa kaliit ang iyong kinikita, kaya mong
masuportahan ang iyong pamumuhay
— at magsimulang paghandaan ang
kinabukasan mo at ng iyong pamilya.
Ang kailangan lang ay sapat na kaalaman
tungkol sa paghawak ng pera at sa
pagpapalago nito.
Kayang-kaya
mong
abutin
ang
kasaganaang pinansiyal. Ang unang
hakbang ay maghanap ng trabaho o kahit
anong mapagkakakitaan. Mayroon na ka
na noon kaya’t laging magtatabi ng isang
parte ng iyong sahod. Ito ang sinasabi
kong “Pay yourself first.”
Ang itinatabi mo ay ang bayad mo sa
iyong sarili. Tandaan, ang ipon mo ang una
mong puhunan tungo sa pangmatagalang
kasaganaan.
Ang mas maganda pang balita, kahit na
gaano pa kaliit ang naitatabi ngayon, basta
hindi pumapalya sa pag-iipon araw-araw o
buwan-buwan, okey lang. ‘Di magtatagal
ay mapalalago ’yan. Magugulat ka na
lang isang araw kapag binilang mo ang
lahat ng iyong naipon na sapat na pala
ito para gamiting puhunan. Ito ang paraan
para mapalago ang ipon, at magkaroon
ng panghabambuhay na kayamanan.
Kayang-kaya
mo
’to
—
kailangan
lang magplano at
magtiyaga, at higit
sa lahat, magsimula
nang
mamuhunan
sa lalong madaling
pahahon.
Ang susunod na
tanong ay, saan mo
nga ba dapat i-invest
ang naipon mo?
Pero bago mo
gawin
’yan,
ilan
munang
paalala.
Ang halaga ng pera
ay nagbabago sa
pagdaan ng panahon.
’Yung dating mabibili
sa
piso,
ngayon
puwedeng dalawang
piso na. Ang ganitong
pagtaas ng presyo
ay
tinatawag
na
inflation o implasyon.
Nangyayari ito kahit
saan sa mundo, sa
iba’t-ibang uri ng
ekonomiya.
Kaya
kung ii-invest mo
ang pera mo, dapat
siguraduhin
mo
munang makakasabay ang paglago nito sa
bilis ng inflation. Halimbawa, kung ilalagay
mo lang ang ipon mo sa ordinaryong
savings account sa bangko na di hamak na
mas mababa ang interes sa inflation rate,
hindi ’yan lalago at ika’y malulugi pa nga;
para kang nag-ipon nang paurong.
Paano nga ba malalaman kung mas
mataas sa inflation rate ang interes ng
investment mo?
Kung halimbawa ang implasyon ay
pitong porsyento kada taon at ang kinikita
mo sa savings o time deposit ay 4 porsyento
lang, ang halaga ng pera mo ay bababa
ng 3 porsyento bawat taon. Pakaunti nang
pakaunti ang makakayang bilhin nito. Kaya
ang dapat na maging tanging layunin mo
sa pamumuhunan ay ang kumita nang higit
sa inflation rate.
Saan mo nga ba puwedeng ilagak ang
pera mo para kumita ng higit sa implasyon?
Sa panahong ito, mayroon kang puwedeng
pagpilian. Isa na ’yung pagpapautang
sa gobyerno o pagbili ng tinatawag na
Treasury Bills (T-Bills) o Treasury Bonds
(T-Bonds) na maituturing na promissory
notes o IOU ng gobyerno. Mayroon ring
Mutual Funds at Unit Investment Trust
Funds (UITF).
Maaari mo ring isama ang pera mo sa
pera ng iba pang investors para lumaki
ang iyong kapital katulad ng sa KsKCoop.
Sa ganitong paraan, mas marami kang
puwedeng paglagakan ng iyong puhunan.
Maraming kaalamang pinansyal ang
mababasa mo dito sa Tinig ng Marino
at sumali ka rin sa ONE WEALTHY
NATION o OWN, LIBRE lamang ito!
Makakatanggap ka ng impormasyon at
pamamaran upang maging mas madali
ang pamumuhunan ng kahit maliliit na
halaga, saan ka man sa mundo! Puntahan
ang www.onewealthynation.com o itext ang: OWNREG<space>Pangalan/
Apelyido/Kasarian/Kaarawan(mmddyyyy)/
KumpletongTirahan/pumili
ng
iyong
sariling 4 digit na password. Ipadala sa
0917 8537333
Example:
OWNREG
Juan
Dela
Cruz/
Male/09271987/#2 Pag-asa...City/2873
Paalala:
Hindi
puwede
ang
magkakasunod (1234) o pare-parehong
(1111) numero para sa PIN. Huwag
gagamit ng number zero 0 para sa letter O
sa OWNREG.
Si Francisco J. Colayco ay isang
entrepreneur, venture developer at
financial advisor. Siya ang Chairman
ng Colayco Foundation for Education
at may-akda ng tatlong bestsellers:
Wealth Within Your Reach (tinanghal
na 2004 Book of the Year for Business
and Economics), Making Your Money
Work (nominado bilang 2005 Book of
the Year for Business and Economics),
Pera Palaguin Workbook at ngayon
ang Money for Kids. Para sa iba pang
impormasyon tungkol sa kaniyang
mga itinuturo at adhikain, pumunta
sa www.colaycofoundation.com o di
kaya’y magpadala ng e-mail sa info@
colaycofoundation.com.
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
Mga Napapakong Pangako
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 magreklamo. 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 officers
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
officers, posisyon lang ang tawag. Nahihirapang bigkasin ang salitang ‘Sir,’ na hindi naman
nakapagpapabawas ng kanilang pagkalalaki o di kaya’y suweldo nila o maging pagkatao pa
nila.
Kapag marunong kayong rumespeto, pupurihin pa kayo ng mga opisyales ninyo. Sa mga
ratings at mga junior officers na marunong rumespeto sa kanilang mga senior
officers, saludo ako sa inyo. Ipagpatuloy ninyo ang magandang ugali. Sa mga
makabasa nito na hindi marunong rumespeto may panahon pa para magbago.
Yan lang ang mapapayo ko sa inyo mga kabaro ko. God bless and bon voyage to
you all. – C/E Arnold Masaoay
Meron akong kuwento tungkol sa mga manning companies na kadalasan ay gumagawa
ng mga ganito upang makumbinsi nila ang mga seaman na magtrabaho sa kanila lalo na ang
mga senior officers. Naranasan ko na rin ito minsan.
Aalukin ka na isasakay ang iyong
recomendee pero kapag nakasakay ka
na sa kanilang barko, kakalimutan na
nila ang kanilang pangako sa seaman.
Magre-report ang mga recomendees sa
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 officers na
nag-rekomenda dahil kahit na luma o Avid UFS supporter, C/E Arnold Masaoay (seated, third from left),
bulok na barko ang mamanduhan nila, leads the Filipino crew of MT Liquid Crystal, manned by BSM Crew
Service Centre Philippines, Inc. Seated with C/E Masaoay from left
gagawin nila makasampa lang ang
are C/M B. Bactol, 2/E R. Santiago AB Ariel ‘Fing Lakson’ Vista, AB
kanilang rekomendado.
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 officers, 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
(standing, from left) Pumpman. A. Ferrer, AB A. Fortid, 3/M F. Polante, Line. Sa katunayan ang pangalan ng barko namin ay Maersk Assister.
sa utang.
May mga senior officers 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
R.
Juada.
Squatting
from
left
are:
AB
Tol
Mortel.
M/M
J.
Rosales,
Oiler
kaya no choice sila kundi maghintay na
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
Reyjie,
kahit
marami
mga marino. Puwede ba ito?
nang nagdaan na cadetIto raw ay patakaran ng kumpanya. Pera na ng marino na pinaghirapan, pahihirapan pa
volunteers dito sa UFS,
siyang makuha ito? Hindi tama ang gawaing ito.
tinitiyak ko sa iyong
May karapatan ang mga marino na pumili sa kanilang gusto. Kung ayaw na nila sa isang
natatandaan ko pa ang
kumpanya, karapatan nilang umalis lalo’t wala silang anumang obligasyon dito. E bakit
karamihan
sa
kanila,
kailangan pa ng iba na panghawakan ang mga dokumento ng marino kapalit ang pagbibigay
hindi man sa pangalan,
ng leave pay?
nakakatiyak naman ako
Ang masasabi ko lang mga kabaro puwede nating kunin ang leave pay natin na hindi
sa mukha. Natatandaan
kailangang ibigay ang ating mga papeles. Anumang gagawin ng anumang manning agencies
kita dahil sa mahabana pang-iipit ng dokumento ay labag sa batas at dapat isuplong sa kinauukulan.
haba mong pinagdaanan
‘Yung iba naman kasing mga kumpanya, sa barko na ibinibigay ang leave pay. Sinasabay
na proseso at kami’y
na nila sa suweldo kaya pagbaba ng marino pagkatapos ng kanyang kontrata, wala nang
natutuwa na nagbunga na
kukunin pa sa opisina. Mas tama ang sistemang ganyan kasi hindi nila iniipit ang kanilang
rin ang iyong pagtitiyaga at
mga seaman.
pagsusumikap. Ipagpatuloy
Ang payo ko lang sa mga crewing managers at mga gumagawa ng pang-iipit ng mga
Former UFS volunteer Steward Reyjie Banga proudly showing
mo lang iyan at siguradong
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
malayo
ang
iyong
four other Filipino crew of MV Maersk Assister including Chief
naging crewing managers ay sumakay din ng barko kaya naranasan din nila ang hirap sa
Cook Roberto Manuel, Chief Cook Froilan Sandiego, Steward
mararating bilang marino.
pagbabarko,
Leandro Gumban, and Steward Jimmy Baguio.
- Editor
Sa mga opisyales ng mga manning agencies at crewing managers, alagaan niyo ang inyong
Walang Humpay na
Pasasalamat
58 TINIG NG MARINO
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2010
Mga Natutunan sa ‘Bahay ni Kuya’
Proud to Drumbeat UFS’ Works
How are you Sir? Hope you’re always fine and in good health. I know marami po kayong
ginagawa sa araw-araw na pakikibaka para sa ating lokal na industriya maritima. Alam naming
lahat Sir na para po sa kabutihan ng ating mga kabaro at ng industriya ang mga ginagawa
ninyo.
Our Almighty God will always bless your day-to-day endeavors. He would also give you
strength, good health and happy life together with your beloved wife, Ma’am Marilyn and your
entire family.
I remember before when I started as one of UFS cadet volunteers. There were so many
things I learned from UFS and I appreciate all the support that you have extended me. That’s
why I’m very proud to be a part of the United Filipino Seafarers (UFS) and I am always eager
to share my experience as a UFS cadet volunteer in every ship that I happen to work at. Most,
if not all, of my colleagues appreciate the work that our union has been doing for their cause.
You know Sir, my colleagues appreciated all the copies of Tinig ng Marino I brought for
them when I boarded the ship. They are all hoping that we get to receive every issue of our
newspaper. Thus far, we are receiving copies of Tinig ng Marino every issue and we thank
you for making sure of that Sir. Everyone is always looking to read the Gitik-Gitik Ginagmay
section because it always puts a smile on our faces.
Thank you very Sir Nelson. Sana po marami pa kayong matulungan na kagaya ko na
naghahangad lang dati na maging isang ganap na marino. Sa mga UFS cadet volunteers na
nandidiyan pa, sipag. tiyaga at pag-aaral lang ang inyong magiging puhunan. Pagbutihin ang
bawat trabaho ninyo at sigurado akong kayo na rin and susunod na makakasampa ng barko.
More power to UFS and to Tinig ng Marino! To the UFS staff and the volunteers, my best
regards to all and also to NFD International Manning Agency, Inc. Please extend my regards
as well to my beloved wife, Riza A. Sarmiento and my family, the UFS boys of 510, 309, 303,
203 of Plaza Towers and Gedisco 402. Kita-kits na lang tayo soon. – AB Roger P. Sarmiento,
MT Altius
Thank you Roger for proudly sharing the work of the UFS for our industry with your fellow
Filipino seafarers. It is also important that they are updated on the developments in our
industry because it would surely help them in charting their careers as mariners. Keep up
the good work onboard. – Editor
Taglay ang Tatak-UFS
Good day po Sir Nelson. Si Ryan Oafericua po ito alyas Buddha. Nandito po ako ngayon
sa Singapore, nakasakay sa MSC Calcutta. Pangalawang liham ko na po ito Sir at sana po ay
mailabas po ito sa ating Tinig ng Marino para naman ma-inspire po ako.
Noon po ay pangarap kong makasakay ng barko pero nanatiling pangarap iyon dahil hindi
ako matanggap-tanggap ng mga manning agencies. Dahil sa patuloy kong pagdarasal at
tulong ninyo at ng UFS, nakasakay na ako at unti-unti ko nang nararamdaman na napapasaya
ko na ang aking pamilya. Ang sarap po talaga ng feeling na malamang nakakatulong ka na sa
iyong pamilya.
Dahil sa tatak-UFS na aking taglay hawak ang puhunan kong sipag, tiyaga at determinasyon,
na-promote ako bilang Oiler matapos lang ang pitong buwan. Muli, maraming-maraming
salamat sa inyo Sir at pakipahatid na lang ng aking pagbati sa lahat ng mga staff at cadet
volunteers ng UFS na naririyan pa. – Ryan Oafericua
Nailathala na sa Tinig ng Marino ang iyong unang liham Ryan at natutuwa kamng malaman
na unti-unti ka nang umaasenso bilang marino dahil sa taglay mong tatak-UFS. Ipagpatuloy
mo lang ang iyong mabuting gawain sa barko at sigurado kaming malayo pa ang iyong
mararating. - Editor
; PROVOCATIVE
; INFORMATIVE
; RELEVANT
; CONTROVERSIAL
; ENTERTAINING
seafarers’ newspaper
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
– Santos, Brazil – Buenos Aries, Argentina at Itajai Brazil.
Okay naman po ako dito Sir. Sa una po medyo nahirapan po ako mag-adjust kasi ako po ang
pinakabata dito. Lahat po sila mga pamilyadong tao na. Sa awa po ng Diyos, naging masaya
at maganda naman po ang samahan
namin dito. Gusto pa nga po ng mga
opisyal dito na mag-extend pa raw ako.
Masaya po ako kasi nagugustuhan nila
‘yung trabaho at mga ginagawa ko dito.
Iyun po ang natutunan ko sa inyo Sir,
na kailangan mahalin mo ang iyong
trabaho para maging magaan at madali
ang lahat.
Lubos po akong nagpapasalamat
sa inyo Sir dahil marami po akong
natutunan sa UFS na nagamit ko dito
sa pagbabarko .Nung pumasok po ako
sa UFS, pakiramdam ko pumasok ako
Former UFS cadet volunteer Jhob Malvar (standing, in sa Bahay ni Kuya sa Pinoy Big Brother
black and proudly holding a copy of Tinig ng Marino) e. Hehehe. Nakaka-challenge.
is shown with fellow crew members of MV Condor 1.
Kinakabahan ako nun lalo na nang
naging leader pa ako ng mga cadet volunteers, Hindi ko alam kung paano hawakan at
disiplinahin iyung mga kapwa kong volunteers, pero sa awa ng Diyos, nagampanan ko naman
at naging masaya yung batch namin. Marami akong natutunan, hindi lang tungkol sa good
leadership kundi lalong nahubog ang aking pagkatao.
Hindi ko akalain na sa UFS ko pala lalong madedevelop yung pagkatao at pag-uugali ko,
ang maging matured at kung paano makisama sa mga taong iba-ibang pag-uugali at iba-ibang
probinsyang pinanggalingan. Naging masaya po ako nung pumasok ako sa UFS.
Naging magaan para sa aking ang trabaho ko dito sa barko at naging madali para sa
akin makisama dahil po ‘yun sa inyo Sir at siyempre dahil din sa mga UFS staff na laging
nandidiyan para sumuporta at tumulong sa aming mga kadete. Salamat din sa mga kapwa
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
naging anak ni Sir Nelson. Maraming-maraming salamat po Sir!
Nagpapasalamat din po ako sa Wallem Maritime Services, sa aking Crewing Manager na si
Sir James Estrada, Ma’am Angel ng Recruitment Department at kay Sir George Asuncion pati
na rin sa lahat ng staff ng Wallem.
UFS is the best and I am proud to be member and be part of Tinig boys. Thank you so much
Sir Nelson sa pagtanggap ninyo sa amin. Sana po ay hindi po kayo magsawa na tumulong at
magbigay ng magagandang payo sa mga seaman lalo na sa mga nagsisimula pa lamang.
Ang maipapayo ko lang sa mga UFS cadet volunteers na naririyan pa, kaunting tiyaga,
pagtitiis at pagsisikap lang, at makakamit nyo rin ang mga pangarap nyo. Huwag lang kayong
makakalimot sa Itaas at sa pinanggalingan ninyo. Matuto kayong makinig sa mga pangaral ni
Sir dahil lahat ng sinasabi niya ay para sa inyong kabutihan. Galingan niyo na lang at mahalin
nyo kung ano ginagawa niyo dyan. Good luck and God bless us all. – Jhob Malvar Jr.
Maraming salamat sa iyong paghahambing Jhob sa Bahay ni Kuya sa UFS dahil halos
ganun din naman talaga ang sitwasyon ng mga kadete na naninilbihan sa ating unyon.
Wala tayong ibang hangad kundi ang matuto ang lahat nang sa ganun ay magamit nila itong
mabuti sa oras na sila ay tumuntong sa barko. Natutuwa rin kami na malaman na nagagamit
mo na ang iyong natutunan sa UFS sa iyong trabaho diyan sa barko. - Editor
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