Pinay Seafarer Aileen London: A Rising Star PSAP and the making

PHILIPPINE SEAFARERS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME, ROTTERDAM
NO: 125
May - August 2005
2005 ICONS REPORT
Exploitation of Seafarers Persists
July 27, New South Wales, Australia - The International Commission on Shipping (ICONS) released its follow-up
report to the widely-acclaimed 2001 Report entitled “Ships, Slaves and Competition”.
In its new report, ICONS came up with sharp conclusions in the context of post 9/11 global developments related
to ship safety, security, and seafarers’ welfare.
• Abuses and exploitation of seafarers still exist and shady owners still hide behind layers of secrecy.
• Seafarers are still treated as scapegoats and there is a worrying trend toward the criminalisation of mariners as a soft
option for States that cannot or refuse to accept their responsibilities under the international maritime conventions.
• Unscrupulous manning agents and rogue employers still exist and the evidence seems to be that their methods are
becoming more sophisticated and better concealed.
• On the positive side, the moves to better identify seafarers as part of the improvements in maritime security may
have far reaching effects in addressing issues such as the proliferation of fraudulent certification, questionable training
establishments and dubious manning agents.
The ICONS report is a major contribution to seafarers’ welfare advocacy. Here is a summary of the relevant
findings made in the July 2005.
Seafarers now find increasing restrictions on their employment with increasingly stringent (and sometimes
questionable) visa requirements, the reduction in their ability to transit certain countries to and from their ships and major
impediments to their access to shore leave and family communications, notwithstanding the development of international
legal rules which sought to prevent the denial of shore leave.
(cont’d next page)
Making Waves
Pinay Seafarer Aileen London: A Rising Star
S
L
CIA
IN
E
SID
E
SP
Behind the Scenes
PSAP and the making of ABS-CBN’s “Marino”
From the Homefront
Values-formation for Seafarers’ Sons and Daughters
Parola no.125 - May - August 2005 - Page A worrying trend is the growing misuse of the ISPS Code provisions for setting security levels on board ships
to deny access to welfare personnel.
Need for transparency
For most abused seafarers it is business as usual and in fact for some, conditions have worsened. Four years
after 9/11, with the ISPS Code entering into force in 2004, the initial security measures have been watered down to
protect the continuing secrecy covering the control and beneficiaries of international shipping.
The seafarer is an easy target, a person with no political or economic status, a ready scapegoat. A fully
transparent system would enable responsibility to be sheeted home to the real culprits, the owners and operators who
wilfully decide to run sub-standard ships and avoid their responsibilities.
The current system provides fertile ground for rogue manning agents, owners, operators and some
administrations that are corrupt and exploitative. More worrying is that such a system is not only open to abuses of
personnel; it presents almost endless opportunities for lawlessness and terrorism.
Malpractices of Manning agents
The issue of manning agents and their recruitment and crew welfare practices is a major one and the 2001
ICONS report highlighted the great need to reform and regulate this area; the need is still there and just as great. Added
to this is the impact on security of a plethora of unregulated, unaudited and unaccountable providers of marine labour
– who are they? What is the money flow? Who pays whom for jobs? Who sets labour rates? What grievance mechanisms
are available? How do maltreated, victimised and defrauded seafarers obtain redress? How are the perpetrators to be
brought to account?
Some employers adopt laissez-faire procedures whereby seafarers with disputes or grievances are ignored
and allowed to complete their current contract (without access to advice and assistance) and are never re-employed.
By this means, claims for unfair dismissal are avoided, repatriation and replacement costs are not incurred and
the employer can demonstrate that the seafarer has received all due entitlements, making complaints hard to sustain.
There is also evidence that, with respect to international regulations on Liability and Compensation regarding
Claims for Death, Personal Injury and Abandonment of Seafarers, these are not being implemented and that, in the
Philippines, the P&I Clubs still use quit claims (with all the associated abuses of seafarer’s rights they entail) rather than
the model release form endorsed in these international regulations.
Recommendations to the Philippine Government
The Philippines, as a major labour supply country, may well contribute to the improvement of the present system
for the benefit of Filipino seafarers by acting on the recommendations made by ICONS:
• Review maritime training and labour supply arrangements to ensure compliance with relevant IMO and ILO
Conventions.
• Introduce legislation to licence manning agents, address wages, hours of work, allotments, repatriation, and job finding
fees, transportation charges and black listing.
• Prohibit the practice of blacklisting of seafarers, and prosecute and publicly name those companies and organisations
found to be involved in blacklisting.
• Urgently establish independent seafarer grievance agencies to provide speedy and accessible means of resolving
seafarer claims relating to employment.
Parola no.125 - May - August 2005 - Page EDITORIAL
LAW-LESS
The failure of the International Labour Organization to adopt a new
treaty for the fishing sector last June is truly disappointing. For the vast
majority of the 15 million fishers all over the world, this means no standards
and no regulations that will promote their rights and ensure their wellbeing. It will be business as usual, especially for fishers who are engaged
in dangerous distant-water operations.
The proposed Convention on work in the fishing sector would have
revised several outdated conventions and would have covered hours of rest,
social security, and provisions on minimum wage, apart from recommending
written agreements between fishers and vessel owners. It was not adopted
because there was no quorum. According to reports, the employers came
up with last-minute objections, banded together, and decided to abstain
from voting.
The regional ICMA meeting held in Kaoshiung Taiwan last March
2005 considered the dire situation of fishers from the developing countries
working onboard foreign-owed fishing vessels. The Philippines has its own
share of these OFWs engaged in large-scale, trans-oceanic fishing who
are exploited and enjoy no legal protection whatsoever, whether under
Philippine laws or international treaties. Their very poor working conditions
exacerbate the life-threatening risks they constantly face. These sea-based
OFW’s are virtually law-less. The fish they catch are entitled to more legal
protection under existing regulatory standards!
Seafarers, who work aboard international trading ships, can only
express their sympathy and solidarity with the fishers of the world, their
less-fortunate brethren. While governments, shipowners, and seafarers have
now come together and will soon adopt a comprehensive “bill of rights” for
international sailors, it is clear that employers in the international fishing
industry, as well as some governments, are not yet ready to recognize
meaningful human rights for fishers. This is an irresponsible position,
reinforcing perceptions about the long-standing greed, inhumanity, and
wilful indifference of commercial fishing operators.
There is a widely-shared consensus that all seafarers are entitled to
legal protection at the international level. For fishers, who are ultimately
also seafarers, this consensus remains a dream.
Parola no.125 - May - August 2005 - Page PSAP Bulletin
RO
T T E R DA M
The Making of ABS-CBN’s “Marino”
The Correspondents is a weekly programme of ABS-CBN, the largest
media network in the Philippines with a global viewership. Last May 30, The
correspondents featured MARINO, a special one-hour TV episode on Filipino
seafarers. MARINO was reported by Rose Eclarinal, who was then in the
Netherlands doing a journalism program. Her documentary focussed on Filipino
seafarers in the Netherlands whom she met in the course of her project.
The centerpiece of the documentary was no doubt Ms. Eclarinal’s encounters with the Filipino seafarers in the
port of Rotterdam, critical encounters which were facilitated by PSAP-PAROLA.
The coverage of the Filipino seafarers onboard the PLV Solitaire was a unique one, and the most memorable
part of the documentary. The MV Solitaire is the biggest pipe-laying vessel in the world, with a crew of over 450, of
which around 100 are Filipino seafarers. Given the very strict ISPS-related regulations on public access to ports and
ships, Ms Eclarinal was indeed fortunate to have been able to get onboard to take video footages and conduct interviews.
Thanks to the all-out-support of Baby Gonzales from All Seas BV, the company which owns the Solitaire, PSAP was
able sponsor Ms. Eclarinal as a ship visitor.
The first-ever TV documentary on Filipino seafarers
on board ship could not have been possible without the warm
welcome and enthusiasm of the seafarers themselves who were
in Rotterdam.
With The Correspondent’s MARINO report, the public
is one more step closer to understanding the rich and diverse
working and living conditions of Filipino seafarers everywhere.
Ms Rose Eclarinal of ABS-CBN taking video shoot of Engr.
Felix Pulmano of PSAP-PAROLA
Some of the Pinoy crew on the Solitaire:
proud and hardwokring
The PLV Solitaire: PSAP’s Ship of the Month (May-June 2005)
Parola no.125 - May - August 2005 - Page 500,000 OFWs dispatched in first half of 2005
A total of 502,772 overseas Filipino workers have been
deployed in the first half of the year, breaching the half a
million mark of OFW deployment for the first time since
the country started sending workers abroad, according to
acting Labor Secretary Danilo Cruz.
Citing reports from the Philippine Overseas Employment
Administration (POEA), Cruz said the figure, noted as of
June 26 this year, is 19,276 more than the 483,496 OFWs
deployed in the same period last year. (INQ7.net, 2 July
2005)
OFW Remittances contribute 9.2 percent to GNP
Labor and Employment Secretary Patricia A. Sto. Tomas
said there are now about 8.1 million Filipinos living or
working in 194 countries and territories all over the world,
with their $ 8.5 billion remittances contributing some 9.2
percent of the country’s gross national product (GNP) in
2004.
The overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and migrants, she
said, now make up almost 10 percent of the total Philippine
population.
Of the total, 3.2 million are permanently living abroad while
3.6 million are temporarily working overseas. Irregular
Filipino workers overseas, on the other hand, are estimated
to constitute some 1.3 million. (Philstar 2 July 2005)
BSP open to idea of an OFW bank
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) supports the idea
of putting up a bank that would cater to the needs of
overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
especially in areas affecting moral values. Divorce is illegal
and the use of contraceptives is opposed in favour of what
the clergy calls “responsible family planning.”
The government has left the issue to local governments,
with some supporting the use of contraceptives such as
the pill and condoms while others stick to the ruling of the
church.
Analysts say that without a comprehensive national
approach to family planning, which includes the use of
contraceptives, the Philippines is destined to remain poor
and economically weak.
According to the Phil Population Commission, 51 percent
of the population don’t use any form of contraception with
condoms used by less than one percent and the pill by
only 13 percent. (AFP, 10 July 2005)
HIV/AIDS figures just the ’tip of the iceberg’
Health Sec. Francisco Duque said the local HIV/AIDS
situation was just the “tip of the iceberg” with more cases
likely to be discovered with better monitoring systems.
The Health chief reported 10 new HIV Ab seropositive
cases in April, which now brings the total number of people
in the country with HIV or AIDS to 2,260. Of the 10 new
cases, seven are males and while three are females who
contracted the affliction mostly through sexual contacts.
Alarm bells are particularly up for overseas Filipino workers
(OFWs). About 268 seafarers of the total 749 OFWs are
afflicted with the disease while domestic helpers comprise
only 126, employees at 69, health workers at 52 and
entertainers at 50. (Ebalita, 6 June 6 2005)
Kuwaiti court punishes 2 abductors of 4 OFWs
BSP Board member Vicente Valdepenas said “There
were some interested OFW groups that approached us
two years ago but they never came back, maybe they lack
capital. But there maybe some banks that are being sold
right now, all you have to do is put up the needed money
(capital).” (PhilStar, 8 Aug 2005)
Church stance vs birth control hampers RP policy
The Philippines has the highest birthrate in southeast Asia
which could see its 84 million population double within the
next 30 years, yet contraception remains a taboo in this
predominantly Roman Catholic nation.
The church still wields considerable political influence
The Philippine Embassy in Kuwait reported that two
Bangladeshi nationals who abducted four female overseas
Filipino workers (OFWs) in Kuwait last November 2004
have been found guilty by the Kuwaiti court for white
slavery.
Soroar Bihian Karom Ali and Abulkalam Anwar Hali, have
been meted life sentences and subsequent deportation.
The OFWs— Leonora Perez, Norbaya Usman, Marilyn
Bayao and Armia Maddi— were held captive by a whiteslavery gang in November last year.
The OFWs were rescued, along with four other Indonesian
captives, after action by the Philippine Embassy in
Parola no.125 - May - August 2005 - Page coordination with the Kuwaiti police. (Philstar, 3 June 2005)
Ex-Taiwanese lawmaker convicted of raping Filipina
A former Taiwanese vice presidential candidate and
lawmaker was convicted of sexually assaulting his Filipino
maid last year.
Elmer Fung, 56, was sentenced to four years in jail. Tests
showed semen samples taken from the maid’s underwear
matched Fung’s DNA, a statement from a Taipei district
court said.
Fung insisted he was innocent and suggested that the
maid framed him by taking semen from a condom he had
used with his wife. The court dismissed his argument. (AP,
June 12 Parade in Manila
9 July 2005)
2 Filipina drug couriers nabbed overseas
Two Filipinas have been arrested in Bolivia for acting as
drug couriers, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said
as it warned the public against dealing with recruiters who
deceive prospective overseas workers.
“We cannot allow our nationals to be victimized by these
criminal drug syndicates”, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto
Romulo said.
Prospective overseas workers were warned by the DFA
against dealing with unlicensed recruiters. (PhilStar, 9 Aug
2005)
RIYADH, Deputy Minister of Labor Dr. Ahmed AlZamil announced the formation of a specialdepartment
to safeguard the rights of guest workers - and
impose sanctions on employers who abuse them.
Dr. Al-Zamil said the Department of Protection of Domestic
Workers will receive complaints from housemaids who
have been sexually harassed, mistreatedor who have not
been given their salaries. “If it is proven that an employer
has not paid his maid, we will ban him from applying for
any domestic house worker for five years,” Dr. Al-Zamil told
reporters. (Arab News, 25 July 2005)
Three Kuwaiti cops get 7 to 10 years for raping Pinay
Resolution to honor Filipino-Americans in the US
A resolution to celebrate the achievements and
contributions of Filipino Americans over the past century
and to formally recognize 2006 as the centennial of
sustained immigration from the Philippines to the United
States has been filed in the US Congress.
Democratic Congressman Ed Case of Hawaii who
introduced the measure in the House of Representatives
said the contributions of Filipino Americans to all aspects of
society, including business, labor, politics, medicine, media
and the arts have won them a “well-deserved place in our
national fabric.”
There are currently about 2.4 million Filipinos or FilipinoAmericans in the US. Case said immigration from the
Philippines to the United States began in 1906, when the
first group of 15 “sakadas” (contract farm workers) arrived
in Hawaii to work in sugarcane fields.
Today about 60,000 new Filipino immigrants come to the
United States every year, making Filipinos the largest
immigrant group from the Asia-Pacific region. (PhilStar 29
July 2005)
Saudi
Arabia
cracks
down
on
maid
abuses
Parola no.125 - May - August 2005 - Page Kuwait’s top court sentenced three policemen to between
seven and 10 years in jail for raping an 18-year-old Filipina
housemaid at a police station in 2003, their lawyer said.
The court, whose verdicts are final, sentenced Mohammed
Abdullah to 10 years in prison, while Mohammed Falah
and Abdul Latif Johar were each given seven years behind
bars, Abdulmajeed Khuraibet told AFP.
More than 70,000 Filipinos live and work in the oil-rich Gulf
Arab emirate, 47,000 of them as domestics, some of whom
complain of maltreatment.
In November 2003, the Philippine foreign ministry
summoned Kuwait’s charge d’affaires to express outrage
over a Philippine domestic helper being gang-raped by
nine Kuwaiti teenagers at a desert camp. (AFP, 2 June
2005)
2 Filipino seamen acquitted of murder charges
A Panamanian court acquitted two Filipino seafarers
accused of killing their Japanese ship officer three years
ago on board the ship M/V Tajima.
In a report to the DFA, a Philippine Embassy official said
the court found seafarers Noelito Pabiona and Elmercito
Racela not guilty of murder.
A Panamanian lawyer assigned to the Filipinos emphasized
to the jury that the rights of the accused Filipinos were not
respected. The report said that the signed confessions of
the two Filipinos were executed in Japan and written in
Japanese, which both of them did not understand.
The two were detained when the vessel docked in Japan
on April 7, 2002. Since the vessel was registered in
Panama, the case was referred to Panamanian authorities.
Ambassador Anota reported that the Filipino seafarers
received 2,000 US dollars each as compensation. He said
that there were 21 Filipino crewmembers – including a
missing seaman Chief Officer Rogelio Dres Desamito – on
board the ill-fated vessel. The body of Desamito was later
found floating in the middle of the sea near Pulau, Tioman
in Pahang, Malaysia.
There were also three Indonesian crewmembers aside
from the Filipinos. (PhilStar, 16 & 17 June 2005)
Filipino sailor missing after ship sinks off Japan
A Filipino sailor was missing in Japanese waters after his
cargo ship hit another vessel and sank.
Fourteen other crewmembers from Cyprus-registered
Asia Concerto were rescued after the crash off the coast
of western Yamaguchi prefecture.
(INQ7.net, 24 May 2005)
2 Pinoy seafarers in US repatriated
Filipino seafarers, Mario Nocon and Reynaldo Ramonida,
who were detained by US authorities since Nov. 2004 in
connection with the investigation of their vessel for marine
pollution, have been repatriated to the Philippines.
The Philippine Consulate in New York reported to the DFA
that the two were treated well by US authorities. The two
sailors were billeted in a New Jersey hotel for the duration
of the investigation and continuously received their salaries
from their employer.
Their vessel M/V Friendship was detained by US
authorities on suspicion that it was dumping oil in
US waters. Subpoenas were then issued to several
crewmembers including the two Filipino seafarers as
material witness in the investigation.
The two seamen may still board vessels plying the US
route since they were neither the subject nor the target of
any criminal investigation. (PhilStar, 15 June 2005)
“We are searching for a Filipino sailor who went missing
in the accident,” the Japanese Coast Guard spokesman
said. Nine vessels and one helicopter were dispatched to
search for the missing sailor.
The 4,458-ton ship had collided with the 4,314-ton South
Korean-registered Pine Pia, whose 15 crewmen were safe
and had rescued the sailors from the sunken vessel. (AFP,
10 Aug 2005)
Filipino training centres suspended
Three training centres in the Philippines had their
operations suspended for failing to comply with Maritime
Industry Authority standards. East Asia Maritime Training
Centre, JCC Review Centre & Marine Consultancy and
Stargate Management Corp have been issued ‘cease
and desist’ orders after inspections conducted by Marina
in March. The training centres, which offered short term
courses to seafarers bound for domestic ships, were found
to be short of training equipment, materials and qualified
instructors. Marina administrator Vicente Suazo ordered
a re-inspection of the training centres after all three
protested. (Fairplay, 29 June 2005)
Filipinos figure in Singapore sinking
Filipino seamen urged to learn Japanese, Greek
The Philippine Embassy in Singapore has issued travel
documents to twenty Filipino crewmembers of the
Malaysia-registered bulk carrier Everise Glory, which
sank after a sea collision with Taiwan-registered container
vessel Uni Concord on June 4.
Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas is encouraging Filipino
seamen to learn French, Japanese, and Greek so that “the
Philippines’ position as the premiere source of maritime
workers for the global economy” is maintained. Sto. Tomas
said these languages make for “higher marketability”
Parola no.125 - May - August 2005 - Page Master of UK vessel jailed for excess alcohol
THE Ukrainian master of the UK-flag general cargo ship
Hoo Tern has been sentenced to four months’ jail for
having excess alcohol in his breath.
Volodymir Dushyn pleaded guilty to the offence which
occurred when he was in command of the Lapthorneowner Hoo Tern on July 5. (MGN, 5 Aug 2005)
Malaysian police arrest two crew members of tanker
in botched hijacking
Malaysian police have arrested two crew members of an
oil tanker which was hijacked in Malaysian waters, saying
the suspects may have been involved in the botched
operation.
Philippine Coast Guard personnel rescue a seriously-ill Chinese cook
needing immediate evacuation from a research ship returning to China
from a Pacific Ocean journey. (Mla. Times)
skills for Filipino seafarers, preferred by many shipping
companies for their proficiency in English. (INQ7.net, 15
July 2005)
Ten pirates from Indonesia’s Aceh province surrendered
about 12 hours after storming a Malaysian-registered
tanker. The pirates, who were armed with submachine
guns and machetes, also released the 19 crewmen
unharmed after police and naval forces laid siege on the
ship in northern Malaysia. The 10 pleaded guilty.
“We believe this is an inside job,” an official was quoted
as saying. “This hijacking was well planned.” A malaysian
businessman suspected of planning the attack was also
arrested. (AP, 16 June 2005; MGN, 30 June 2005)
Spate of attempted boardings off somalia
INTERFERRY targets death toll in developing nations
INTERFERRY, the 160-member trade association for the
worldwide ferry industry, is set to tackle the appalling safety
record of domestic ferry operations in developing nations ­
responsible for more than 1,000 deaths a year ­ with major
backing from the IMO.
The association has reached agreement in principle for a
joint ten-year project aimed at reducing fatalities by 90%
in countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Maldives,
the Philippines, Somalia and Senegal.(MGN, 27 June 2005)
Armed pirates made three determined attempts to board
merchant vessels in late-July, with shots being fired in all
cases, off Somalia according to the latest weekly report
from the ICC International Maritime Bureau. The locations
were widely dispersed off the Somali coast.
In late June, a UN World Food Programme-chartered
general cargo ship was hijacked off the Somali coast
with its crew held hostage by pirates who demanded
US$500,000 for the release of vessel and crew.
(MGN, 6 July & 3 Aug 2005)
Liberian flag CEO: open registers are a “necessity”
UNHCR Thanks Maersk Ship
The chief operating officer of the Liberian International Ship
& Corporate Registry (LISCR), the US-based managers of
the Liberian Registry, says that most - if not all - national
flag administrations are incapable of understanding the
needs of shipowners and that quality open registers are
flags of necessity, not convenience.
THE UN High Commission for Refugees has thanked
the master and owner of the container ship Clementine
Maersk for rescuing 27 people from Mediterranean waters
and landing 26 of them as asylum seekers at Felixstowe
in the UK.
CEO Scott Bergeron said, “Quality open registers are
essential in order to bring about a continuous improvement
in the safety, security, environmental protection and welfare
of seafarers employed in the global shipping industry.
Without an open register, how would a Norwegian owner
gain access to US public finance, or Japanese shipbuilding
expertise with Scottish and Hong Kong shipmanagers,
while employing cost-effective yet well-trained crew from
the Philippines, India or China?” (MGN, 17 June 2005)
Parola no.125 - May - August 2005 - Page “We are very grateful that the captain followed international
maritime law and custom, as well as his moral instincts,
and rescued the group from their boat,” said Pirkko
Kourula, Director of UNHCR’s Europe Bureau. “But we are
also disturbed to hear that other ships apparently ignored
them and left them to what might have been a disastrous
fate.”
The UNHCR also praised British authorities for allowing
the group to land. (MGN, 9 June 2005)
Shipping News Feature:
The Philippine Shipbuilding Industry
A WORLD-CLASS, 5-STAR SHIP IS
MADE IN THE PHILIPPINES
Carrying 1,200 passengers and 58 cars from mainland Harlingen in the Netherlands to Vlieland across the
Waddenzee is one of the world’s most advanced, state-of-the-art passenger ferries.
The Vlieland, which started its commercial operation in July, is 64.14 meters long and constructed with steel hulls and
an aluminum superstructure. It runs at 15 knots when fully loaded and can cut through ice that regularly forms on the
Waddanzee.
The three-deck ferry boat comes with all the comforts of a luxury hotel, bringing tourist ferry service to a new level. It
boasts of a VIP lounge, tourist class saloons, a long bar with piped-in Heineken beer, a play area for children, ice cream
bar, sun deck and ramps for the disabled.
And the Vlieland is made in the Philippines.
More specifically, in Balamban, Cebu, where hundreds of workers of
the Aboitiz group’s FBMA Marine Inc. are hard at work on offshore crew
boats finishing yet another ship for delivery to Mexico..
It had taken 16 months to build the Vlieland. It left Cebu last May 12,
sailed through the Suez Canal and arrived in the Netherlands on June
30 to the delight of Doeksen Transport Group, one of the Netherlands’
oldest maritime services companies.
Philippine Ambassador Romeo Arguelles and Philippine Trade Attaché
Corazon Canlas visited the ship onsite and joined a trial voyage on
28 July.
IMO number: 9303716
Name of ship: VLIELAND
Call Sign: 3EBJ
Gross tonnage: 2726
Type of ship: Passenger/Ro-Ro Cargo Ship
Year of build: 2005
Flag: Panama
Status of ship: In Service
Registered owner: WILBAR SHIPPING
Address: Harlingen NETHERLANDS
Ship manager: DOEKSEN G.
Address: Harlingen NETHERLANDS
Aside from the Vlieland, FBMA’s shipbuilders in Cebu have built
the following vessels: a 180-passenger catamaran for the Shin Han
Shipping Co. in South Korea; 25-meter, high-speed training boats for
the British Ministry of Defense; a 32-vehicle ferry currently operating in the Bahamas; Supercats operated by the Aboitiz
Transport System Corp.
According to FBMA president Doug Border, the company’s most exciting projects in the pipeline are the two high-speed
offshore crew boats under contract with Lockheed Martin, the world’s biggest defense contractor, costing $9.3 million
each.
The successful delivery of the two ships next year is expected to further cement the Philippines’ position in the
shipbuilding industry. (INQ7.net, 31 July 2005; http://home.tiscali.nl/janvandewitte/mv_vlieland.htm; http://www.gov.ph/cat_
foreignaffairs/newscontent.asp?newsid=11882)
IED .
P
TIF
CER in R.
e
Mad
Parola no.125 - May - August 2005 - Page Making Waves
Tribute to an outstanding Filipino Seafarer
Mabuhay to a Fine Filipina Onboard
Marine Engineering Graduate
Aileen London hails from Palompon,
Leyte. Her initial apprenticeship in 2004 was
onboard the ro-ro ship M/V Schieborg, owned
and managed by the Wagenborg company of
the Netherlands. Towards the completion of
her apprenticeship and training, Engineer
London was recently transferred to M/V
Balticborg, another fully automated, 12640
G.T., 13,000 bhp ro-ro ship of Wagenborg
Shipping.
Aileen graduated in 2003 with the degree
B.S. Marine Engineering at Palompon Institute of Technology, a maritime school
established under the Filipino-Dutch
concession Maritime Education Project
(PIT-KVNR). Aileen was supported in her
studies by a scholarship grant from Wagenborg Shipping. PSAP got wind of Aileen’s
fame among Dutch maritime circles, who
spoke very highly of her as an amazing seaman who is really a woman!
Engr. Felix and Josie Pulmano of PSAP visited Aileen onboard to interview one true
“pearl of the orient seas”. Here are some
excerpts from that interview.
PSAP: You are a highly commended employee of your company, and news
about your good status has even reached high officials at the Dutch Ministry
of Transport. Could you tell us more about your apprenticeship and the
events that made you famous?
Aileen: Am I that famous? I don’t know that! I guess I’m just lucky and
privileged to be the very first Filipina technical seafarer to be employed in
Wagenborg shipping, and here in the Netherlands.
The thing is that I was there at the right time and at the right
place when the fire incident happened. I was onboard ro-ro the ship M/V
Schieborg, my first vessel assignment. The ship was underway to one of
the Scandinavian countries when we encountered very bad weather. Our
sailing was rough and our ship was like a toy pitching and rolling against the
big heavy seas. As it was my first time to experience that situation, personal
doubts and fears went through my mind that left me wondering whether our
ship could withstand those heavy waves pounding our vessel.
I was off-duty at that time. I decided to go outside, on deck, to see
for myself how our ship was taking the waves. I had mixed emotions. On one side there was fear, and on the other
side, I made myself confident with the thought that this heavy rolling and pitching was normal for all sea-going ships in
this part of the world. Then I looked at the cargoes on deck - trucks, trailers and containers - to check just for curiosity
whether all the lashings were completely secured. Suddenly, I heard a loud snapping sound, and smelled smoke from
somewhere. I felt something bad had just happened. A minute has gone by and to my horror, I saw fire on one of the
trailers loaded with a huge roll of papers, hitting and rubbing against the other trailers. The lashings were broken and,
as the waves battered the ship, the loaded trailers also crashed on the other containers. Coming quickly to my senses,
I immediately called the attention of the other deck apprentice and together we rushed to the bridge to inform the officer
on watch, and then the Captain. I was ordered to just remain in the bridge while the Captain summoned all the crew to
combat the fire. A catastrophe was avoided.
PSAP: Luck and God above are really smiling down on you. What a good start to your career! At this stage, do you have
any goals or dreams?
Aileen: I wish that I could reach the top, to become a chief engineer. I know that I will need to ‘still eat a lot of rice’ to
achieve that, but I’ll try.
Parola no.125 - May - August 2005 - Page 10
Proudly, Modestly Pinay!
Aileen London works side by side with the men
of Wagenborg Shipping
PSAP: Seafaring is a male-dominated profession. Are you bothered by this? Do you have second-thoughts about your
choice of profession, considering that you are a woman?
Aileen: At first, I was hesitant to take the marine engineering course. But when I passed the entrance exam given by
PIT and awarded a scholarship grant by Wagenborg Shipping, plus I was motivated by our Dutch instructor during the
school orientation that in Holland, female seafarers are appreciated and honored, then I was challenged to pursue this
career. Right now, I want to prove to myself and to others that I can also do a man’s job, and that being a woman is not
an obstacle to being a successful seafarer.
My Captain and my Chief Engineer treated me with respect, like the rest of the crew. All I can say is that honest
communication is vital to a healthy work relationship onboard.
PSAP: This is your first time to work overseas, on board ships. Do you call home frequently? Do you often feel
homesick?
Aileen: I used to call my parents once every two months if the opportunity permits, usually in Sure Ness, Ireland. But
now most of the time I send SMS [text] to my parents.
PSAP: Thank you very much, Aileen, from everyone in PSAP-PAROLA and from all hard-working Filipino seafarers.
Your example is a beautiful demonstration of the saying “Do only what others require of you, and you remain a slave.
Do more than what is required and you become free”.
Ship & Crew of the Month
(July-August 2005):
The Filipino Seafarers of the
MV Balticborg
Parola no.125 - May - August 2005 - Page 11
PSAP Bulletin
RO
T T E R DA M
STAFF & VOLUNTEERS JOIN HUGE PHILIPPINE
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS IN AMSTERDAM
Setting up the PSAP picnic tent
PSAP’s community: the huge crowd gathered before the picnic stage
(photo courtesy of Munting Nayon)
The Tent: PSAP youth volunteers share space for the cause of
migrant workers. Food and loyal friendships (below)
Picnic rhymes with barbecue
The Strategic Review Group of the
International Committee on Seafarers Welfare met in Moscow on 18-19
August 2005 to make further recommendations on the future of the ICSW
- the core global network of organizations committed to the total well-being
of all seafarers.
PSAP notes with appreciation the
continuing messages and alerts
posted by seafarers on PSAP’s
website.
Visit
www.psap-parola.org
This is your home on the web.
Parola no.125 - May - August 2005 - Page 12
Strategic review group at work: (L-R) Atty Peter Payoyo
(PSAP), Rev. Canon Ken Peters (Mission to Seafarers,
UK, Rapporteur), Jean-Yves Legouas (ILO, Chair), Torbjorn Cruth (Swedish Government Seamen’s Service) &
Roald Aliakrinsky (Intl Confederation of Water Transport
Workers Unions, Russia)
b in Rotte
u
l
Po
rda m
C
’
rt-abl
s
r
e
e Se af ar
Summer Highlights
KARAOKE, SPORTS, and BARBECUE at
The INTERNATIONAL SEAFARERS CENTER DE BEER
PRIDE ROTTERDAM SUMMER PHOTO-ALBUM
Parola no.125 - May - August 2005 - Page 13
The Filipino Seafarers’ Family
Caregivers Association
THE SEAFARERS’ SONS & DAUGHTERS WEEKEND
Building Bridges, Sharing Values
Ma.Lourdes B. Ceniza
In response to the need that surfaced during
the Mini-Conference for Seafarers’ Families
held in February, the Filipino Seafarers’
Family Caregivers Association, Inc. (FSFCA)
conducted a Seafarers’ Sons and Daughters
Weekend Program with the theme “Bridging
the Gap -Towards Proactivity” on May 13-15,
2005 at the Don Bosco Seminary, Lawaan,
Talisay City, Cebu. Concerned parents saw
the weekend as an opportunity to talk and
listen to their children, and to inspire them to
develop the necessary skills to face problems
and difficulties in the family, school, and
community.
President, FSFCA
The idea of a SEAFARERS SONS & DAUGHTERS
WEEKEND PROGRAM started from a very personal need.
I am committed to helping seafarers’ families and rejoice
when I see positive results.Then one day, I realized that I
also needed help as a mother and a seafarer’s wife. My son
was having problems in school and I felt that I could not do
anything about it. It was a big problem.
The problem was, my son was overwhelmed with the latest
computer games and he spent a lot of his time at the internet
café with friends who are not motivated to go to school.
My son stopped his schooling. We thought he was finally
graduating last March, only to find out that he was still in the
2nd year of his 4 year-college. This really saddened me and
my husband because for many years we have sacrificed a lot
for the sake of the education of our children.Upon discovering the problem, I did not lay blame on my son. I told myself,
maybe this happened because I was too busy.
I was searching for answers. In my search, I found out that many seafarers’ wives also had the same problems, some
even much more difficult than mine. We, mothers, came together, discussed issues, shared ideas, and decided to have
an activity for seafarer’s sons and daughters, particularly our very own children.
The program was planned. In spite of so many constraints, we were able to carry through. There was resistance at first
from our children who participated in the program. But as we moved on, they started to gradually open up, to talk about
themselves, their sentiments, aspirations and problems.
The parents planned the program thinking there will be “modular activities”, but because of the resistance from the
children, the facilitator altered the whole program structure during the first day. Imagine, I ran out of paracetamol and
aspirin because almost everyone was having a headache. “Pocket meetings” were held during breaks to evaluate
progress during the opening day. In reviewing the program, the organizers and mothers came up with many realizations
and became aware of our failures.
We were told about boundaries, and the proper area of responsibility for each person. The parents failed to see
boundaries. We were demanding that our children participate in a weekend activity without really making them understand
what they were supposed to do. Our great enthusiasm and passion for our children had blocked communication lines.
When the facilitator did the expectation-setting, she knew the difficulties in the group. The facilitator’s feedback and
recommendation helped a lot. The mothers were mistaken in not making their children aware of the program, in not
preparing them psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually. The facilitator turned a “structured modular activity” into an
“unstructured experiential event” for everyone.
I was even given the task to facilitate a “truth or order” activity. I’m so grateful because I was able to level with our
children, to ask for forgiveness from them, to share aloud the caregivers’ dream, and most importantly to know them
Cont’d next page
Parola no.125 - May - August 2005 - Page 14
Empowering the Youth: Seafarers’ sons and daughters link and learn .... and play
as young adults better. A dramatic change happened.
Everyone was oozing with energy and joy.
The participants were able to come up with their own group
presentations, sharing their expectations about forthcoming
weekend activities: film showing, bonding activities, talent
showdowns, sports, leadership skills training, partying, and
more self-awareness sessions. The youth were also able
to identify and discuss their issues: how is it like to be the
son or daughter of a seafarer?
of seafarers”.
The weekend gathering was a first in the whole Visayas,
and the first ever meeting of two generations to confront
difficult OFW family issues and struggles. For both parents
and young adults involved, this was a sure eye-opener,
the opportunity for them to learn a great deal about
COMPASSION. It was a baptism of fire. There was a
breakthrough.
Their most painful issues are as follows: the feeling of
loneliness, that they sometimes are misguided, they feel
like strangers to their OFW parent, misunderstanding, lack
of attention and seeking it to fill in that need, often times
feeling other people’s irritation, absence of parental love
that leads them to find it outside the home leading them
to be hooked-up on vices like drugs and alcohol, great
fear of losing, they find it hard to accept austerity in their
lives, boredom and unhappiness because they do not
understand why the father has to be away from home,
and wanting so much a complete family.
Our sons and daughters also acknowledged the good
things they have: chance to a good education, enough
supply for their needs that leads to better living, financial
stability, they have so many presents/ “pasalubong” from
a loved one who is not always around, and they have
enough money allowance.
The most reassuring outcome is that the participants
have organized themselves into many committees and
that they want to have regular weekend programs. They
have launched their own group “the sons and daughters
OFW Dad’s blessing: a smile from the heart
Parola no.125 - May - August 2005 - Page 15
Kuwento at Buhay Marino
Maricel N. Delicana *
CRUISE SHIPS
Cruise ships!!!??? Lahat ay nagpapantasya makasay sa
barkong iniikot ang pulu-pulo sa karagatan. Ang gandang
pakinggan ang gandang ipamahagi ng iyong pang arawaraw na karanasan sa iba’t ibang lugar sa europa,asya at
kung papalarýn pa’y america!
Kung inyong mararapatin nais kong ibahagi ang
masaya,malungkot at kakaibang karanasan ko sa bagong
karagatang aking kinagagalawan.
Loveboat.... familiar ba sa inyo ang series na ‘to?
Maaring sa mga kasing edad ko. Nuong bata pa ako
at napapanuod ko ‘to ako’y manghang-mangha imagine
isang malaking hotel na umaandar sa dagat bakit ika n’yo
magandang restaurant, maraming kwarto o tinatawag na
cabins, gym, disco, swimming pool ang galing dba?
Imagine swimming pool sa dagat! Ang mga pasahero
talaga’y ala ng hahanapin pa habang sila’y naglalakbay.
Samahan pa ng naggagandahan at gwapong nagse serve
na pagtatakhan mo ang mga ngiti sa labi’y di napapawi.
Pero kung iyong mapapansin parang kaninang umaga
sila ang sumalubong sa iyo ngayon nama’y magsisilbi sa
iyong pagkain. Iba’t ibang lahi greek, romanian, cypriot,
egyptian, indonesian, filipino at marami pa to mention.
Syempre bilang pinoy tayo ang bida!
Magpapaalam ka panandalian sa iyong bayan at mga
minamahal sa buhay upang makipag sapalaran sa bayan
ng mga dayuhan upang kumita ng mas malaki. Sa iyong
paglisan nais tumulo ng iyong mga luha dahil malalayo
ka na naman sa kanila at mahaharap na naman sa mga
pagsubok sa buhay ngunit pilit papawiin ng isipang kikita
ka na naman ng $$$$$$$$$!!!!!
Sa iyong pagdating sasalubong sa iyo ang hari ng
karagatan!!! BOINK!!!! BOINK!!!! BOINK!!! Ang pagbati
n’ya sa’yo......
Pero teka... mukang me kakaiba? Tama nga ata ang
kasabihang di lahat ng kumikinang ay ginto!!! Habang
papalakad at hinahatid kami sa crew area nawawala
ata ang mga ngiti sa aking mga labi... madumi, makalat,
magulo, me mga kalawang in short ang pangit ng
accommodation para sa mga crew.
Paghantong sa aming cabin maliit, masikip parang marumi
di nalalayo sa kulungan ng mga preso bakit ika n’yo?
Alang toilet common ika nga, dalawahan at me sariling
lababo sa loob ng iyong cabin. Maaalala mo ang iniwan
mong tahanan maganda, maayos, malinis at kaaya-aya
sa iyong paningin. Aangal ka ba sa iyong kapalaran
kabayan??? Ngingiti ka na lang at sasambiting “ D bale
malapit naman na akong umuwi...!”
Hehehe diba’t kararating mo palang ala ka pa ngang
nasisimulan...yan si kabayan laging me pambawý sa
hirap ng buhay laging nakangiti kakamot na lang sa ulo at
iisiping “konting tiis tatlo ang estudyante ko at makakaraos
din ito.”
Di mo pa naibababa ang iyong mga gamit ika na’y pinag
uuniporme dahil me mga pasahero na sa iyo’y naghihintay
ng iyong magiliw na pag aaruga. “Kaya ko
‘to” iyo na lang sasambitin. Yan si kabayan laging buo
ang loob at puno ng pag asa. Pilit isisilay ang mga ngiti
sa labi sa pagsalubong sa mga pasaherong excited sa
ting paglalakbay. Minsan naman yan e me kapalit konting
pabuya sa iyong paghihirap di yan malilimutan ng ating
mga panauhin. “Salamat po talagang kailangan ko
‘to.....”
Sa mga katulad kong nakikipag sapalaran sa malayong
bayan sa lupa man o karagatan tatalunin mo pa ang
* Proudly Pinay pa rin. Maricel Delicana
was formerly with the Pride of Rotterdam. She
now works on a cruise ship.
Parola no.125 - May - August 2005 - Page 16
cont’d on page 21
Life in the Spirit
The Seafarer’s Wife
A sharing from
c/o Anthony J. Cariaga
MV Del Monte Consumer
God was busy creating a model cast of a seafarer’s wife and was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel
appeared. “Lord”, the angel said, “you seem to be having a lot of trouble with this one. What’s wrong with the standard
model?”
God replied “have you seen the specification on this order? This isn’t a regular wife I have been tasked to make.
This order is for a seafarer’s wife. She is going to be some kind of a phenomenal creation, she has to be completely
independent, possess the qualities of both father and mother, be a perfect hostess to four or forty guest at a moment
notice, handle every emergency without reading a manual, be able to carry on cheerfully whether pregnant or down
with flu, and she must have six pairs of hands”.
The angel shook her head and exclaimed “six pairs of hands? Impossible!” God continued saying “Don’t worry! I will
also make other seafarers wives to help her out and encourage her, and I will give her an unusually large heart so that
she can swell with pride from her husband’s achievements, capable of saying ‘I understand’ when she really doesn’t,
and ‘I love you’ in the bleakest of circumstances. She will have a strong heart to sustain the pain of separation and to
beat soundly when she is overworked and tired.”
“Lord”, said the angel, holding God’s arms gently, “go to bed and get some rest, you can finish this project another
day”. “I can’t stop now”, said the Lord. “I am close to finishing the project. Already, this model heals herself when she
is sick, can play gracious hostess to as many as six unexpected week-end guest, wave good-bye to her husband from
the pier or airport without totally understanding why he must go”.
The angel circled the model of a seafarers wife, look at her closely and sighed “It looks fine but it is too soft”. “She
might look soft”, replied the Lord, “but she has the strength of a lion. You would not believe what she can endure”.
Finally the angel bent over and saw something down the cheek of the Lord’s creation, “there’s a leak, something is
wrong with this model. You are trying to put too much in this model!”
The Lord appeared offended at the angel’s lack of confidence and said “Er...what you see is not a leak but a tear drop!”
“A tear drop? What is that for?” replied the angel.
The Lord replied “It must be for joy, sadness, pain, disappointment, loneliness, pride
and determination to hold on to all the values she and her husband hold dear”.
“You are a genius!” exclaimed the angel. The Lord looked puzzled and replied,
“Hmmm, I didn’t put that there, did I?”
Parola no.125 - May - August 2005 - Page 17
Luneta:
The Park, the Market, and Rizal’s Legacy
Engr. Felix Pulmano
Luneta, “sa may T.M. Kalaw” , does anyone know this place?
Luneta has all the amenities of a park. Rich and glamorous gardens full of flowers, water fountains with shooting jets and
colorful lashes, spacey green lawns for picnickers and joggers, a lovers’ lane for romantic couples, and the monument
of Jose Rizal, our most famous national hero, guarded around-the-clock.
Why did this place become the open air market for seafarers?
To many people, Luneta symbolizes seafarers gathered all around to be hired for work. Inspite of rumors that shipping
and manning agencies no longer recruit job-seeking seafarers directly from the park, many manning agencies and
shipping liason people are still active in this open field market, usually on T M Kalaw Street.
The pictures tell it all: Luneta has not really changed much since 1985, when the park was just getting its reputation as
the prime recruitment venue for seafarers.
It’s an open market for maritime labor: all sort of seafarers just hang around there, experienced or inexperienced, captains
down to engineers, and other people involved in seafarers’ lives - maritime unions, religious groups, even shipping
journalist and media occasionally interested in the real life stories of sailors on the seven seas.
As a market for on-the-sport hiring , a variety of goods are also offered by manning agencies who sell their ship board
vacancies in different styles, methods, and approaches. Some jobs are offered very discreetly, with whisper-in-the-ear
styles of recruitment that mention code words like e.g., ‘NIS contract’, ‘JIS contract’, ‘German Tariff’, ‘ITF rate’. To make
the offer more attractive, they also mention “American, Caribbean and South American, or Trans-Atlantic routes”.
A researcher wanting to document seafarers’ reactions about this place will get all kinds of sentiments. E.g.,
- One job-seeker will say with huge confidence that in a tanker ship, life is slow and boring, although the money earned
is good. But a companion nearby, with a loud laugh, will contend that the money reward comes at a price: the ‘thing’ will
be so bored it won’t be able to stand anymore, because of all the fumes the seaman is inhaling.
- Another job-seeker recounts that if your ship is a car-container then life onboard can be compared to a prison term of
6 to 8 months, depending on the duration of the contract.
- Some others know very well the tricks of illegal recruiters, because they have been victimized themselves. Again,
since this is a very wide-open market, there is also room for swindlers and con-men. The seafarers concerned say they
now have to double check information advertisements and liason contacts. Illegal recruiters deploy creative methods of
duping seamen: bogus names, bogus international offices, non-existent faxes and e-mail addresses, and smooth talk
about high-income jobs. Unfortunately, even veteran seafarers often fall victim to swindling and varied types of tricks
and traps.
- Finally, Luneta is a breeding ground for a unique set of seafarers: those who have expert opinions about everything;
argument is their middle name. They invite you to discuss and debate on any topic, whether it’s politics, religion,
adventure, food, movie actors, maritime accidents, maritime rights and labor laws. You name it, they can talk about it;
from sunrise to sun set, argument, debate and lively conversation is their music. And these debaters can easily spot the
‘new kids in town’, seafarers who have just arrived from abroad. If you happen to encounter the good conversationalists
in Luneta, don’t get engaged too much. You might find yourself inviting the guy to lunch so that you can continue with
your very important discussions. For all you know, the takative ‘expert’, smiling, is silently assuring himself, “Today, I will
enjoy another free lunch”.
Meanwhile, Dr. Jose Rizal, the national hero, unmoved by the bustling market for modern-day heroes, just looks on.
Parola no.125 - May - August 2005 - Page 18
Luneta in the ‘80s
(photos from PSAP files)
Luneta in 2005
(photos courtesy of ex-3/E Ramon Sanchez of MV Anastasis)
LUNETA
THEN and NOW
CAN YOU SPOT THE DIFFERENCE?
Parola no.125 - May - August 2005 - Page 19
PAYO ni ATTORNEY
Atty. Peter B. Payoyo
SEAFARERS’ REMITTANCES:
RIGHTS & REALITIES
The global interest on remittances has reached euphoric
levels. Two years ago, the World Bank announced
the significant potential of remittances in financing the
development of recepient countries. Since then, there has
been a spate of international meetings, conferences, and
initiatives to examine more closely the phenomenon of
overseas workers sending their pay checks to loved ones
back home.
OFWs, the modern-day heroes, are called upon not only to
assure the survival of their immediate families back home,
but also to see to it that their remittances must directly
contribute to the prosperity of their communities, their
country, and the international banking structure.
Seafarers’ Remittances under the Allotment System
The Remittances Debate
Among OFWs, seafarers are in a rather peculiar position as
remitters. Under their standard POEA contract, seafarers
are required to remit at least 80% of their earnings to
Philippine banks. Furthermore, their “allotments” do not go
directly to their beneficiaries but are coursed through their
manning agencies as middle men, who disburse in pesos
the seafarer’s monthly earnings to the allottee-family.
OFW remittances are indeed crucial and the problem of
how to directly harness them for development purposes
is a subject that deserves extended consultations among
all stakeholders concerned. However, much of the current
discussions on remittances have turned very technical:
how governments, banks, and other financial institutions
can further statistically maximize to their advantage
the global flow of remittances. There exists, they say, a
problem of “banking the unbanked” – that is, how to make
foreign workers remit more of their hard earned money
only through banks or formal channels. Some sectors have
also expressed alarm that remittances are being used for
wasteful family consumption, rather than for productive
investment.
It is doubtful whether the “allotment system” has worked to
the advantage of seafarers and their families. Their general
sentiment is that they do not welcome the intermediation
of manning agencies in the processing their allotments.
Manning agencies do certainly pinch valuable pesos from
seafarers’ monthly remittances. In a recent survey made by
PSAP, it was revealed that manning agencies have been
using a variety of odd techniques to make a quick buck
from the remittances flow: “delayed forward of allotment”,
using a “house rate” for the currency exchange, “allotment
slip available upon request”, “allotment slip mailed to
seaman onboard”, or “alloment after all deductions
made”, which are often not explained to the seaman or
the family.
And so the “new agenda” on remittances
has somehow come up with the following
message to OFWs: “Your responsibility to
your family is not enough. You have more
duties. Allow government to monitor your
remittances. Do not sent your remittances
through informal channels like “pa-bitbit” or
“padala”. Instead, send your remittances
only through properly regulated bank
channels. And set aside a portion of your
remittances for investment purposes. Be
entrepreneurs!”.
These practices are clearly contrary
to the letter and spirit of the POEA
contract which says that facilitation by
the manning agency of allotments shall
be “at no expense to the seafarer”, and
that “allotments shall be paid to the
designated allottee in Philippine currency
at the rate of exchange indicated in the
credit advice of the local authorized
Philippine Bank”.
In sum, the the inward flow of seafarers’
remittances via the allotment system is not empowering,
In the Philippines, everyone knows that OFW remittances
have become the lifeblood of the economy, allowing the
country to survive through prolonged political crises and
instability.
Parola no.125 - May - August 2005 - Page 20
either to seafarers or to their families. If government is sincere in
listening to the OFWs in the on-going dialogue on remittances, it can
immediately address the malpractices of maning agencies who profit
from the allotment system at the expense of seafarers and their families.
As a first step, the government can force manning agencies to be fully
tansparent in the facilitation of allotments, as the POEA standard contract
requires. Foreign employers and principals can also play a role, for e.g.,
by remitting seafarers wages directly to individual family bank accounts
in the Philippines, rather than through the bank accounts of manning
agencies.
Remittances as a challenge to OFW Empowerment
Who has ultimate control over remittances? Empowering OFWs in regard
to their remittances means giving them real choices. And having a choice
means getting the right information and being aware that a right to choose
exists. In the case of seafarers, the allotment system has failed to give
them this choice because seafarers have been deprived of their basic
right to decide the manner in which their earnings abroad are channeled
to their families back home.
CRUISE SHIPS, from page 14
pagiging martir ni Jose Rizal at mga
bayani ng ating bayan kung yan ay
kanilang nalalaman.
Huwag kang mag alala kabayan
ang lahat ng ating paghihirap at
pagsusumikap bukas ay may sisilay
na liwanag di man ngayon...basta wag
mo lang kainipan mapapasaan ba at
mapapasa atin din ang kaginhawahan.
Mula ngayon tuwýng ako’y makakakita
ng tinatawag nilang cruise ship unang
sumasagi sa aking isipan “Kumusta
kaya si Kabayan maayos kaya ang
kanyang tulugan.........?”
###
The policy regarding OFW remittances must give priority to protecting
OFWs, rather than protecting the finacial interests of others in these
remittances. The objective will then be to take care of people, to assure
them of their rights and how they could make informed choices, and to
encourage them to have noble visions. And then it will follow that OFWs
themselves will put their remittances to the best use possible - for their
own sake, and for the sake of society at large.
The Funny Side of a Seaman’s Life
REMITTANCE BLUES
“Wow, You’re in fine condition”, the doctor concluded after finishing a thorough
physical. “How old did you say you were Mrs.?” “Fourty four”, the female patient
replied. “Fourty four! Oh my, you have the health of a 24 year old! What’s your
secret?”.
“Well, I guess Doc, it’s due to an agreement I made with my seaman husband when
we got married, that if he sends me his allotment 100%, plus all his overtime pay,
then, everytime he’s home, he’ll be the king of the house, I’ll be his slave, he can
do whatever he wants, and I’ll work day and night to pamper him.”
“I don’t understand”, the doctor said. “How does that help you stay so young and
fit?”
“Well”, the patient explained, “My husband is a good seaman. Every time he calls me from
abroad, I’d tell him, ‘Don’t come home yet, dear, the dollar exchange rate is high!’ And when
he’s home, I would say ‘Honey, the dollar rate is high. Call your company immediately and tell
them you’re ready for the next assignment.’ I’m done, and he’s gone.”
LUTONG MAKAW ONBOARD
Captain: Cook! Bakit napakaliit ang Peking duck?
I told you to prepare a good-sized Peking duck.
Cook: Eh .... kasi sir, manok lang ho iyan.
Capt: Naloloko ka na ba! Bakit manok iyan?
Cook: Kaya nga “pekeng duck” ang tawag diyan eh!!!
Parola no.125 - May - August 2005 - Page 21
Marinong Pinoy
Crossword Puzzle
ni
Atty. Sed Santiago
PAHALANG
Pinakamalaking port sa buong mundo at homebase ng Philippine
Seafarers Assistance Program.
10
Initials na karaniwang inilalagay bago ang kursong natapos.
12
Panghalip o pronoun na ginagamit sa Ingles para tukuyin ang isang
bagay.
14
Ilaw ng tahanan.
17
Gamit sa panligo at panghugas na wala sa mga taga-Kanluran.
21
Palayaw ni Alfredo.
26
Sitwasyon ng mga taong masikap kaya naaambunan ng swerte.
30
Kapag kakambal ng “niho”, ito ay me tono ng pagrereklamo.
36
Bayan sa India kung saan namayagpag ang Kristiyanismo dahil
napasailalim sa Portugal.
39
Kolokyal na tawag sa isang kabaro ni Eba na ang hinahanap ay si
Eba.
43
Sambit ng pasasalamat na shinortcut.
45
Ina ni Rap at Renz (initials lamang) na mga anak din ni Daboy.
47
Minsan patanong, minsan padabog – ito ay expression na maaring
magwakas ng isang pangungusap.
49
Hinihingi ng isang taong nangangailangan; minsan me kasama pang
luha.
56
Isang siyudad sa Florida na unang nakita ni Ponce de Leon noong 1513
subalit iniwanan din; ito rin ang sinasabing ika-pitong pinakamalaking
puerto sa Estados Unidos.
61
Pananaw ng tao na malaki ang paniniwala sa magandang kinabukasan;
daglat din ito na me kinalaman sa kamera.
64
Kahit magkaaway ang dalawang salita, puwede mo silang pagsamahin
pag ginamit mo ang salitang ito.
66
Usong negosyo sa Pilipinas dahil nakakabigay ng ginhawa sa mga
katawan at isipang sobrang pagod.
69
Kung wala nito, hindi magkakaintindihan ang mga tao; pero pag
sumobra naman, tiyak na me gulo (parang nangyari sa Tore ng Babel).
73
Mahirap pag wala nito dahil walang ilalagay sa baso na nakapatong
sa ulo ng mga mananayaw na gustong magpandanggo.
77
Kung ang pang-araw-araw na dasal ay hindi uubra, kailangang gawin
1
Parola no.125 - May - August 2005 - Page 22
mo na ito sa Baclaran habang lumalakad ng paluhod.
84
Palayaw ni Paquito; isa ring bag na maaring
maglaman ng panggamot o pang-make-up.
87
Pinipindot sa keyboard ng computer kung gusto mo
ng mabilisang pag-indent.
91
Karaniwang tawag sa mga mamayan na nakatira sa
Gitnang Silangan.
92
Isinisigaw ng isang tao na nakakatuklas ng mga
sikreto o kabalbalan ng ibang tao.
PABABA
1
Ranggo sa barko na karaniwang pinag-uumpisahan
ng mga marino.
2
Binaligtad na abo bagama’t wala naming natatapon.
4
Kabiyak ng babaeng kapatid ng iyong ina.
5
Drayber o pasahero ng UFO.
7
Gamit sa pagsasalita, at masarap ding iluto bagama’t
mahal pag inoorder sa restoran.
8
Pag inulita ang katagang ito, sakit sa balat ang
makukuha mo.
9
Karaniwang tawag sa mga barakong Pilipino na
masipag at masigasig sa nagtratrabaho sa barko para me
allotment at OT pay para sa kanilang mga pamilya.
19
Kalimitang unang-unang ipinupundar ng mga
marinong Pilipino maliban sa kotse, appliances at
alahas.
21
Pampaalis ng bagot at pampasaya rin ng buhay lalo
na kung me kasamang karaoke at konting beer at
pritong mani at tsitsaron.
31
Kinakailang sukat ng duda para mapawalang-sala
ang isang inaakusa; ito rin ang pinakamaliit na letra sa
alpabeto ng mga Griyego.
40
Kung walang mantikang pamprito, at me tubig
naman, ito na lang ang ginagawang “style” ng
pagluluto, lalo na kung ang iluluto ay saging na saba.
41
Initials ng “by-the-way”
47
Kung todo-todo ang iyong pagsayaw, ito daw ang
iyong ginagawa ayon ke Gary V.
49
Hinihingi ng isang taong nangangailangan; minsan
me kasama pang luha.
51
Masarap ang ice cream lalo na kung ito ay dinidilaan
habang tumutulo sa lalagyang ito.
53
Ito ang salitang Ingles na nagsasabing, “Ako, ako,
ako! Puro na lang ako.”
57
Mga ninuno ng Pilipino; ganoon pa rin ang
kahulugan kahit baligtarin pa.
59
Ang “home away from home” ng marinong Pilipino
sa Rotterdam.
60
Initials ng isang pangdaigdigang “news agency.”
68
Di karaniwang pangalan ng isang babae.
71
Kung masipag ang isang tao at me trabaho, sa
katapusan ng araw, ito ang dala-dala niya sa kanyang
minamahal na pamilya.
74
Pag madumi na ang iyong mga gamit, ito na ang
iyong haharapin kung ayaw mong magkamot dahil sa
matinding kati.
75
Salitang ginagamit kapag marami kang binabanggit
na mga bagay.
76
Kalagayan ng isang tao na walang makain sa arawaraw; puwede rin itong gamitin sa mga bagay na me
kinalaman sa mga ilog.
79
Palayaw ni Renato.
84
Panghalip ng taong iyong kausap.
PHILIPPINE SEAFARERS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME, ROTTERDAM
ISSN: 1389-9465
Editorial Staff
Josie Pulmano
Peter Payoyo
Parola is published bi-monthly by
the Philippine Seafarers Assistance
Programme(PSAP). PSAP is a non-stock,
non-profit foundation registered in the
Chamber of Commerce
no. S127664, Rotterdam,
The Netherlands.
From the Pinoy Crew of MV Balticborg
Hello to Nuzagamireea family and hi to my wife and my son Mark-Ryan and
Happy 5th Wedding Anniversary. With all my love on my special day.
From, Daddy
Ruben N. Nuza Jr.
PSAP was founded in 1981 in
Rotterdam with the aim of supporting
Filipino seafarers in their struggle for
better working and living conditions.
Addresses:
PSAP Rotterdam
Oostbroekweg 4,
3089 KL Rotterdam
The Netherlands
Tel. 010-2400930
Fax. 010-2400932
E-mail. psap@wxs.nl
Website: www.psap-parola.org
Centro Filipino-Seamen’s Desk
Calle Riera Vaja 6-4 0881
Barcelona, Spain
Kasapi Seafarers’ Assistance
Program Labor Center of Piraeus
Skylitsi 19, Piraeus, Greece
International Christian Maritime
Association(ICMA)
2/3 Orchard Place, Southampton
S01 1BR England
NY
Center for Seafarers’ Rights
241 Water Street, New York,
10038 Tel. 212-3499090
Fax. 212-3498342
Seafarers Family Caregivers, Inc.
Nr. 4 Cor. Tulip/Anhurium Strs
Camella Homes Subd
Pajac, Lapu-lapu
Cebu City , Philippines
Tel. 032-3400334
Printed by: Drukkerij Dizayn
To my ever loveliest wife Ethel M. Atillo, advance Happy Birthday dear.
Hi to my Ivonne, Edward, Princes Ethel and Philip.
From Dad
Iraneo M. Atillo
Adi – Love u so much, till death do us part.
We are together ‘til end of the world.
Happy Birthday Seamae & Searamae, Nov 7 & 13
Lovingly, Dad
Rodnie Ayala
Baby, Merry Christmas & Happy Newyear!!!
I miss you so much! I love you…
John Beltran
Hi to the happy London family in Palompon, Leyte and also to
the Palompon Institute of Technology.
I’m truly truly yours,
Aileen London
PHILIPPINE SEAFARERS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME, ROTTERDAM
PSAP’s Objectives
• To contribute to seafarers awareness
about their workers and human rights.
• To provide support and services
to seafarers.
• To promote seafarers awareness
on HIV/AIDS and other
health related issues
• To enhance better cooperation among
seafarers of various nationalities
through better unders- tanding
of each other culture.
To My wife and kids,
From M/V Balticborg with love
I miss you,
Pepito N. Cubon
Subscribing to Parola is your way
of supporting the publication.
A year’s subscription costs US$10.00.
Send the amount to:
PSAP
Oostbroekweg 4
3089 KL Rotterdam
The Netherlands
Thank you for your support.
See page 24, please...
Parola no.125 - May - August 2005 - Page 23
ABOT - KAMAY
May kuwentong binuo sa pusod ng dagat
Mula sa marino sa katapangan ay sikat
Hindi kayang tinagin ng hanging habagat
At ng higanteng alon animo’y lambat
Buhay marino kung iisipin
Hirap at panganib ang susuungin
Ngunit di alintana sakunang sasapitin
Kung katuparan ng pangarap ang kakamtin
Akala ng iba maglayag ay kay sarap
Magaslaw na dagat hatid ay totoong hirap
Sa karagatang kay lawak pag-asa di ganap
At sa masungit na panahon kaligtasan ay di
mahagilap
Init at lamig pikit kong titiisin
Panahon oras sa laot hwag sayangin
Lahat man gagawin at kakayanin
Dahil sa proyektong dapat tapusin
Buhay at dangal ito ay iaalay
Sa propesyon na aking taglay
Pagod at lumbay, ito ay wala ng saysay
Pagkat dasal kong tagumpay
Ngayon abot – kamay.
PHILIPPINE SEAFARERS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME, ROTTERDAM
A/B Lyndon del Rosario
M/V Mathilde
Oceanwide
YES,IwouldliketoreceiveacopyofParolaregularly.
Pleasesendmycopytothenameandaddressbelow.
Name:
Address:
Parola is a publication
supported by