2:50 am Wednesday, February 1, 2017
By: Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho
My speech as President of MARLAW
Induction and Fellowship Night
January 10, 2017
The start of my term as president of the Maritime Law Association of the Philippines (MARLAW) with Hon. Raul Pangalangan, former UPLaw Dean and now Judge of the International Criminal Court, as inducting officer during the First Fellowship Night and Induction Ceremony last January 10, 2017, at the DelRosarioLaw Centre 21st Drive cor. 20th Drive Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. I am the third partner from SVBB law to be elected as MARLAW President along with Atty. Eugene Tan and Atty. Augusto R. Bundang.
“The heart of a person is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths it has its pearls too”
― Vincent van Gogh, The Letters of Vincent van Gogh
Filipinos have been historically a people of the sea.
The Balangay is a plank boat adjoined by a carved-out plank edged through pins and dowels. It was first mentioned in the 16th Century in the Chronicles of Pigafetta and is known as the oldest watercraft found in the Philippines. The balangay was the first wooden watercraft excavated in Southeast Asia and is evidence of early Filipino craftsmanship and their seamanship skills during pre-colonial times. The balangay was navigated through the old method used by the ancient mariners – steering by the sun, the stars, the wind, cloud formations, wave patterns and bird migrations.
Centuries later, there was a move to declare the Balangay as the National Boat of the Philippines so that the “future generations of Filipinos will recognize the invaluable contribution of their forefathers in shaping the country’s maritime tradition and in passing on the values of solidarity, harmony, determination, courage, and bravery.
Along with the development of the maritime industry in the Philippines, Maritime Law Association of the Philippines (MARLAWPh) was established in 1982 which aimed, among others, to maintain the highest ethical standards in the practice of maritime law. MARLAW was formed to address the need for an organization, which will help spur progress in the legal practice of maritime sector and advance the interest of the maritime profession and the maritime industry as a whole in the Philippines.
Its formal organization in 1982 was timely because at the time new maritime concerns were surfacing. Bareboat chartering was an alternative in increasing local ships and the shipowners had found the Philippines a crewing haven. Freight forwarding business started to grow. Ships were venturing into containerization. MARLAW membership later grew to cover other areas of practice like crew claims, salvage, territorial jurisdiction disputes, academe, and the public sector.
Through the years, various activities are organized to foster closer fellowship among MARLAW members and friends, by way of advocacy, education, dissemination of information and sponsorship of relevant seminars. MARLAW organized fund-raising projects to augment MARLAW funds needed to carry out its objective of promoting and advancing the interests of various players in the Philippine Maritime Industry.
Now on its 35th year, MARLAW grew with maritime lawyers taking pride that they have formed and become part of an organization that serves not only their interest but the greater interest of the common good.
As we celebrate our 35th year, let us follow what our ancient mariners did in the balangay – let us steer our beloved organization by the sun, the stars, the wind, cloud formations, wave patterns and bird migrations as we pass on to the younger generations the values of solidarity, harmony, determination, courage, and bravery
Good evening.
