Ilonggos dominates Ten Outstanding Maritime Students of the Philippines (TOMS)

Four Ilonggo-speaking maritime students dominated this year’s list of Ten Outstanding Maritime Students of the Philippines (TOMS) were presented during the 21st National Seafarers Day (NSD)   celebration last September 25, 2016 at the SMX Mall of Asia  in Pasay.

The four students are :

1. Prince Noel C. Cainap of  John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation-Bacolod (Marine Transportation)

2. Prince Nani A. Co  John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University-Molo (Marine Engineering)

3. John Carl T. Tagulalap  John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University-Arevalo  Marine Transportation)

4 . Sabrina Mccoy Villaruz  Colegio De La Purisima Concepcion (Marine Transportation) 

The chosen. ones 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 other judges include Atty, Dennis R. Gorecho of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law office, , Fr.Paolo Prigol of the Apostleship of the Seas (AOS), Capt. Rodolfo Estampador, chairman of the Conference of Maritime Manning Agencies, Engr. Mike Marasigan formerly of the Professional Regulatory Commission, and Aris Gamboa of Western Union.

This year's  panel interview for the annual search  started at 830am and finished at 7:30pm as 34  hopefuls  were given 15 minutes each to answer the questions propounded by the judges. . The nationwide 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. 

 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) Philippines was tasked to coordinate with the public and private sector in   activities related to the celebration of said event. The purpose of the Proclamation is to give due recognition to the vital role of Filipino seafarers towards the development of the Philippines as a maritime country. Later,  Proclamation No.1094 was issued in 1997 by President Ramos which moved NSD    to every  last Sunday of September every year.  This year 's NSD theme is "MARINONG PILIPINO: TATAK NG KAHUSAYAN!" 

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) data showed that there are 44L,826  Filipino seafarers with POEA approved contract deployed in 2014. On the other hand, , the deployed seafarers in 2015 brought in US$5,792,459,000 as dollar remittances. The seabased sector’s remittance comprise 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. Filipino seafarers are the top choice in the international maritime industry because of their industry, compassion, resilience and good grasp of the English language.

Father Paulo Prigol, chaplain of  AOS Manila said in the SAMBUHAY missalette: "The seafaring profession, by its nature, is marked by circumstances that create ‘abysses’ like family separation and isolation, lack of communication, travelling the world but being seldom at home, being considered or called ‘one day millionaire’, etc. thus, to cross this abyss seafarers and their families need support, or using the maritime language, a compass. The compass gives direction....The compass brings the ship and her crew members to the port of destination...The faith and courage of Juan’s family and millions of other families were tested next to the extreme, but like Lazarus, they never gave up and kept sailing till safe shores." 

The other  2016 TOMS  are: 

1. Mark Kelvin C. Abarado Marine Transportation Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific

2. Andre’ Chad C. Acosta  Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (Marine Transportation) 

3. Jan Carlo A. Carpio  Southwestern University-Maritime Regiment (Marine Transportation )

4. Manasseh M. Disto  University of Cebu-Lapu lapu and Mandaue (Marine Engineering) 

5. Juelle Jade B. Espiritu  Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (Marine Transportation)

6. John Marwin D. Palma Technological Institute of the Philippines-Manila (Marine Transportation) 

Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho  is a graduate of UP College of Law (1998)  and  is currently a junior partner of Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan (SVBB) law offices  who heads the seafarers’ division. He is a  speaker on  nationwide paralegal seminars on  seafarers rights.  He is presently the executive vice president of the Maritime Law Association of the Philippines (MARLAW),  and an active  member of the Maritime Forum Inc. , the National Seafarers Day (NSD) committee and International Pro Bono Network. The SVBB law works hand in hand with various seafarers welfare  organizations such as the Apostleship of the Seas (AOS) Philippines, Luneta Seafarers Welfare Foundation (LUSWELF), International Seafarers Welfare Assistance Network (ISWAN) and United Filipino Seafarers (UFS) . He is a legal commentator on maritime issues on print, radio and TV. A co-anchor of the radio program Bantay OCW Usapang Marino aired over Radio Inquirer/ DZIQ every Wednesday 10:30am to 12noon. For comments, please send  email  at info@sapalovelez.com or call  09175025808/ 09088665786.