ONE OF the questions I propounded as judge in the 2018 Ten Outstanding Maritime Students of the Philippines (TOMSP) was this: what single personal item will they bring in the event they have to abandon a sinking ship?
The question was in relation to the story of the 11 missing cadets involved in the unfortunate sinking of MV Starlite Atlantic off Tingloy, Batangas on December 2016 due to the onslaught of typhoon “Niña.”
The answer given by Ken Arnie Tulmo of John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation (JBLCF) Bacolod was his cellphone since this would, in a way, also be used for survival purposes. Answers given by the other candidates included rosary, Bible, family pictures, official documents, identification card, and notebook with prayers, among others.
Cadets are required to undergo apprenticeship aboard an actual ship to expose students to real-life applications of the concepts and techniques that they learned in the classroom.
For those on board ships engaged in international voyage, a Standard Cadet Training Agreement took effect on Aug. 25, 2013 to ensure compliance with the requirements of MLC 2006 in safeguarding the rights of and affording social protection for marine cadets while undergoing the mandatory shipboard training.
It is almost a mirror image of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Standard Employment Contract for seafarers. In contrast, there is no such standard agreement for those on board domestic ships, including the 11 missing cadets of M/V Starlite.
Elardo was later declared as one of the winners of the TOMSP that was announced on Sept. 30, 2018 as part of the 23rd National Seafarers’ Day (NSD) led by Apostleship of the Seas (AOS). Other Ilonggo winners are France Gerard Santamena also from John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation – Bacolod and Ian Christian Elardo of Davao’s DMMA College of Southern Philippines.
The nationwide search started in 2010 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.
Then President Fidel V. Ramos issued on July 9, 1996 Proclamation No. 828 declaring Aug. 18 as National Seafarers Day. The AOS was tasked to coordinate with the public and private sectors in activities related to the celebration of 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.
The theme for this year’s 23rd NSD was “Marinong Filipino: Kayamanan ng Lahi.”
This is the complete list of 2018 TOMSP winners:
- Aison Belarmino, University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, UPHSD (Las Piñas)
- Ian Christian Elardo, DMMA College of Southern Philippines (Davao)
- Christian Gilbert Esteban, Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP) – IMMAJ JSU (Bataan)
- John Paul Guevarra, Philippine Merchant Marine Academy PMMA (Zambales)
- Daimler Daves Nisco, Malayan Colleges (Laguna)
- Jancarl Gregory Palacio, University of Cebu-Lapulapu and Mandaue UCLM
- Peña, Carl Oscar, MAAP-IMMAJ JSU (Bataan)
- France Gerard Santamena, John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation JBLCF-Bacolod
- Junel Kristian Semaña, MAAP-CGSO (Bataan)
- Ken Arnie Tulmo, JBLCF-Bacolod
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Atty. Dennis Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, email info@sapalovelez.com, or call 09175025808 or 09088665786./PN
