The Philippines is considered as the major supplier of maritime labor globally as it is estimated that there is one Filipino seafarer for every four complements on board a vessel at any time.
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) data showed that there are 367,166 Filipino seafarers with POEA approved contract deployed in 2013. In 2014, the deployed seafarers brought in US$5,575,722,000 as dollar remittances. The sea-based sector’s remittance comprises at least 22% of the total dollar remittances of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
These remittances help spur domestic consumption in the Philippines and a key ingredient in the country’s drive to achieve higher but sustainable growth.
Given the vast Philippine coastline (twice the size of the United States and nearly three times more than China), Filipinos have natural maritime instincts that place them at an advantage over other nationalities. Foreign shipowners are known to prefer Filipino seafarers for equally important qualities: dedication and discipline, industry, flexibility, loyalty, English language fluency, adaptability, positive work attitude, law-abiding, and problem-solving capability.
Recognizing the vital role of Filipino seafarers towards the development of the Philippines as a maritime country, former President Fidel V. Ramos earlier issued on July 9, 1996 Proclamation No. 828 declaring August 18 as National Seafarers Day wherein the Apostleship of the Sea (AOS) was tasked to coordinate with the public and private sector in activities related to the celebration of said event. Later, Proclamation No.1094 was issued in 1997 by President Ramos which moved NSD during the last Sunday of September every year.
Now on its twentieth (20th) year, this year’s NSD fell on September 27, 2015, with the theme “MARINONG PILIPINO: ISULONG ANG EDUKASYON AT PAGSASANAY!”
During the same week, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz. Both events highlight the Filipino seafarers sailing around the world and Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, who suffered martyrdom after sailing to Japan.
“In his time, Saint Lorenzo Ruiz was a powerful prophet, and his example became a challenge to seafarers to be nowadays prophets of the seven seas” says Fr.Paolo Prigol, chaplain of AOS Manila in the Sambuhay Missallette. “Among seafarers, there are many stories of injustice, exploitation, and downright abuse. Seafarers are very familiar with the dangers of the sea, and the image of being thrown into the sea with a millstone around one’s neck can be especially horrifying for them to even think of, especially when accidents of men/women going overboard, millstone or not, almost always spells death by drowning or by hypothermia. This powerful image in today’s Gospel illustrates how those who lead others to take the wrong ship will be treated. In his time, it is better to sail in the Kingdom of God crippled and blind than ending up in the depth of the sea.”
Fr. Paolo stressed that life at sea poses many challenges to seafarers. For the families left behind it is always tough to keep sailing in the right direction. Guided by Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, he prayed the Church may be a safe sailing ship where the people-of-the-sea can find guidance, courage, and strength to be able to reach their ports of destination
Nationwide NSD activities included the Memorial at Sea for the deceased seafarers, Grand Parade, High Mass, Oratorical/ Art/ Photo Contest, and Karaoke challenge.
The Manila Celebration commenced with Grand Parade to the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay which was participated by more than 5000 stakeholders from maritime schools, government agencies, manning agencies, training centers, maritime organizations, unions, families and private institutions. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Rosalinda Baldon was the guest speaker while the main celebrant of the high mass was Most Reverend Ruperto Santos, Bishop of Balanga, CBCP-ECMI Chairman.
“There is much to learn and much to gain in the world of seafaring. Your education and training is a continual process. Just like any other learner, you build on your previous gains. But unlike any other, you practice what you learn out there, where there will only be you, your team, your ship, and the big blue ocean. As you sail during good or bad weather, there are uncertainties that only the well-earned experience can properly respond to. You can say you have done your part when your ship has arrived safely on port.”, thus said Secretary Baldoz.
Highlights of the festivities include the awarding of the winners in the different NSD contests, one of which is the Ten Outstanding Maritime Students of the Philippines (TOMSP). The search started in 2011 and gave recognition to students for being academically excellent, highly competent in practice, in good moral standing and active in their respective communities. The chosen students are seen as the embodiment of the “ideal seafarer,” displaying “integrity, passion, assertiveness, dependability and camaraderie” that will allow them to become globally competitive Filipino seafarer.
The Philippines is one of the countries with the highest number of maritime schools in the world but unfortunately, this is not equal to the highest quality in training. Since many Filipino families are investing a lot of money in supporting their sons and daughters in pursuing the seafarer career, we appeal to the government to guarantee that maritime schools provide higher standard of quality in teaching and training, with equipments, which would allow students to have practical experience of their future life on board of a ship. Thus declared in a statement by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People
In an earlier General Assembly of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU), the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Mr. Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, in his keynote address said: “As human element at sea is critical in ensuring safe, secure, clean and efficient operations, it is only feasible to secure, and to preserve, properly qualified human resources for the maritime industries through effective education and training – based on scientific and academic rigor; the development of a clear linkage between practical skills and management techniques; and an unerring focus on quality.”
Ironically, the Philippines almost lost its slot on the historical first thirty ratifying countries of the Maritime Labour Convention of 2006 (MLC2006). It took the Philippines six years to ratify MLC2006 on August 13, 2012, after it became a signatory of the so-called international Magna Carta for seafarer’s rights. The convention sets out minimum standards and fair working conditions for seafarers worldwide. Philippines is the thirtieth (30th) country to ratify MLC 2006 out of the 314 signatories and one of the first thirty ratifying countries required for the convention to take effect.
NSD coincides with the National Maritime Week. Presidential Proclamation No. 866 dated Sept. 6, 1996, declared Sept. 27, 1996 and the last Friday of September every year, as National Maritime Day (NMD) spearheaded alternatively by the government agencies, to wit Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA). This was later amended by another issuance making the last week of September as National Maritime Week.