A SUPER CONVENTION FOR SEAFARERS Making waves: Pinoy

PHILIPPINE SEAFARERS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME, ROTTERDAM
NO: 127 PSAP-PAROLA in 2006:
25 years of dedicated
advocacy and service
Inside . . .
Making waves:
Pinoy Captain
hailed in
Australia
A Holy Week
Millionaire
Seafarers’
phone sex and
remittances
Poetic licence:
Commentary
on the current
political situation
January - April 2006
Seafarers’ Bill of Rights
A SUPER CONVENTION
FOR SEAFARERS
GENEVA, 23 Feb 2006 – The
International Labour Organization
overwhelmingly
adopted
a
comprehensive new labour standard for
the world’s maritime sector, in what ILO
Director-General Juan Somavia called a
landmark development in the world of
work.
The new Maritime Labour Convention
2006 was adopted by a vote of 314
for, with no votes against and four
abstentions at the 94th International
Labour Conference (Maritime). The
vote marked overwhelming support by
delegates from more than 100 countries
representing seafarers, ship owners and
governments.
“We have made maritime labour history
today”, Mr. Somavia said. “We have
adopted a Convention that spans
continents and oceans, providing a
comprehensive labour charter for the
world’s 1.2 million or more seafarers
and addressing the evolving realities
and needs of a sector that handles 90
per cent of the world’s trade.”
“What’s more, we have established
a socio-economic floor to global
competition in the maritime sector”,
Mr. Somavia said. “This initiative can
also provide the impetus and support
for similarly innovative and balanced
approaches to addressing the need to
make globalization fair in other sectors
of the world of work.”
The new Convention sets out, in plain
language, a seafarers’ “bill of rights”
while allowing a sufficient degree of
national discretion to deliver those rights
with transparency and accountability.
Its provisions will help to meet the
demand for “quality shipping”. The
Convention will apply to all ships
cont’d next page
Fired?Here’s some
legal advice
Pinoy seaman’s
act of kindness in
Nigeria
Memories of
Pinay cruise ship
workers
Parola no.127 - January - April 2006 - Page engaged in commercial activities,
with the exception of fishing vessels
and traditional ships, such as dhows
and junks.
Minimum requirements for decent
work in the maritime industry
The new Convention is designed to
encourage compliance by operators
and owners of ships and strengthen
enforcement of standards at all
levels, including provisions for
onboard and onshore complaint
procedures for seafarers regarding
the shipowners’ and shipmasters’
supervision of conditions on their
ships, the flag States’ jurisdiction
and control over their ships.
The Convention sets minimum
requirements for seafarers to work
on a ship and contains provisions
on conditions of employment, hours
of work and rest, accommodation,
recreational facilities, food and
catering, health protection, medical
care, welfare and social security
protection.
Among the novel features of
the Convention are its form and
structure with legally binding
standards
accompanied
by
directions given by guidelines. Most
importantly, it sets out a system for
the certification of seafarers’ labour
conditions.
Under the new Convention,
ships that are larger than 500
GT and engaged in international
voyages will be required to carry
a “Maritime Labour Certificate”
and a “Declaration of Maritime
Labour
Compliance”.
The
Declaration sets out shipowners’
plans for ensuring that applicable
national laws, regulations or other
measures required to implement the
Convention are complied with on
an ongoing basis. Shipmasters will
then be responsible for carrying out
the ship-owners’ stated plans and
keeping proper records to provide
evidence of compliance with the
Convention. The flag State will
review the shipowners’ plans and
verify and certify that they are in
place and being implemented. This
will put pressure on shipowners that
disregard the law, but will remove
pressure from those that comply.
The new Convention consolidates
and updates 68 existing ILO
maritime
Conventions
and
Recommendations adopted since
1920.
The Convention received strong
support from representatives of the
ILO’s tripartite social partners.
Brian Orrell, the Seafarer VicePresident of the Conference from
the United Kingdom said “We
believe that the agreement we have
concluded will make a significant
contribution to ensuring decent work
at sea and making a real difference
to the lives and life chances of many
of the world’s seafarers.”
Mr. Dierk Lindemann of Germany,
the Conference Vice-President for
the Shipowners said “it may have
seemed a long road, but we have
got to the end of it and we have
made history. We now have a
single maritime labour standards
Convention embracing virtually
all we need in order to establish a
uniform and acceptable regime for
the world’s seafarers.”
Mr. Bruce Carlton of the US, who
chaired the Committee of the
Whole said “This Convention is
unique in that it has teeth. What is
fundamentally different about this
Convention is that it is about quality
shipping. Beyond improving the
working conditions of seafarers, it
is also about further marginalizing
the bad shipowners who end up
costing the entire industry. This is a
very sound economic benefit for the
entire industry”.
Mr. Somavia said in conclusion
that the Convention marked a new
departure in the pursuit of a fair
globalization by making “the rules of
the game fair for everybody. At the
Parola no.127 - January - April 2006 - Page same time, the market should have
the necessary space to perform
its key functions for the economy
and for society. In the search for
solutions it has become more and
more evident that there can be no
lasting success with purely national
solutions to global problems”.
The next step will be the widespread
ratification of the Convention so
that it becomes the “fourth pillar”
of international maritime regulatory
regime, at the side of the three
key IMO Conventions, namely
SOLAS, STCW, and MARPOL.The
Convention will come into force
after it has been ratified by 30 ILO
member States with a total share of
at least 33 per cent of world gross
tonnage. (ILO news)
EDITORIAL
2006
2006 marks the 25th jubillee year
of the Philippine Seafarers Assistance
Programme, PAROLA’s publisher. For a
quarter of a century now, PSAP/PAROLA
has advocated the rights and welfare
of Filipino seafarers everwhere, giving
them a virtual home and a focal point
in Rotterdam, and giving them a voice
in local, regional, and international
fora where their interests and values
are at stake. PSAP welcomes its 25th
anniversary year with much enthusiasm,
more so on account of PSAP’s election
to the Presidium of the International
Committee on Seafarers Welfare.
2006 is a particularly auspicious
year because it marks the adoption of
the ILO Convention on Maritime Labour. This historic international treaty,
adopted last February 23, has been
rightly described as the “bill of rights”
or the “magna carta” for seafarers. It
establishes the decent work agenda for
seafarers and deals comprehensively
with pre-employment, employment, and
post-employment issues facing seafarers.
The Convention also lays down new
responsibilities for governments of
“labour supply countries” like the
Philippines.
2006, therefore, opens up a new
era for seafarers. The campaign to have
the new Convention widely ratified has
begun. It is in the interest of all maritime
stakeholders to have this international
agreement come into force as quickly as
possible.
For seafarers in general, they
shall be observing how governments and
shipowners will follow through with their
commitments under the Convention. For
Filipino seafares in particular, they will
keenly await their government response
to the challenge of implementing the
Convention provisions. The immediate
test of the Philippine government’s
resolve to meaningfully enforce the
Convention will its soonest ratification
of the Convention. Filipino seafarers
also look forward to the clarification
and adjustment of their POEA contracts
according to the decent work standards
set forth under the Convention.
As part of its annversary
celebrations, PSAP is only too glad to
join the global information campaign to
promote the new Convention. Here lies
a rare opportunity to truly humanize
globalization, a precious gift of the
international seafaring community to all
humanity.
Parola no.127 - January - April 2006 - Page SHIPPING NEWS
MARITIME NEWS
Bow Mariner’s master and operator slammed
Channel Collision
Greek-based ship manager Ceres Hellenic has been criticised by
a US Coast Guard report re the sinking of the Singapore-flag,
39,821dwt chemical tanker Bow Mariner in February 2004 with
the loss of 21 lives out of a total crew of 27. The report blames
the master, who died in accident, for ordering the venting of
vapour-filled tanks which led to two catastrophic explosions. The
master is also blamed for a shambolic response to the emergency
which demonstrated a lack of preparedness and cost the lives of
most of the crew.
An oil tanker and a dry cargo ship were involved in a collision
off Boulogne with the latter being towed into the French port.
The report states: “Contributing to this casualty was the failure
of the operator, Ceres Hellenic Enterprises, Ltd., and the
senior officers of the Bow Mariner, to properly implement the
company and vessel SQEMS (Safety, Quality and Environmental
Management System).”
Among its many critical findings the Coast Guard report found
that the 24 Filipino officers and ratings lived in fear of the three
senior Greek officers, the master, mate and chief engineer. (MGN,
4 Jan 2006)
16 seafarers in sea mishap return to RP
Ambassador Victoria Bataclan of the Philippine Embassy
in Sweden informed the DFA that sixteen Filipino seafarers
survived a shipping mishap when their Danish flag cargo ship
M/V Vertigo was involved in a collision in the Great Belt off the
coast of Agersoe, Denmark on December 7, 2005.
“The vessel sank within one hour after the collision. All the
16 Filipino crewmembers are safe,” Bataclan said. The travel
documents for their return to the Philippines have been issued.
(Ebalita, 9 Dec 2005)
The vessels involved were the Norwegian cargo vessel Starhurdla
and the 35,159 dwt Marshall Islands-registered chemical tanker
Cape Bradley.
A emergency towing vessel went to the assistance of the
Starhurdla which was reported to be taking on water. The Cape
Bradley, operated by Columbia Shipmanagement, continued its
voyage to Rotterdam. (MGN, 13 Jan 2006)
Crew held on murder charge
The captain and three members of the crew of the bulker African
Kalahari have been charged with murder in a Durban court,
South Africa. The charges arise from the death by drowning of
two Tanzanian stowaways who were thrown overboard. Another
five stowaways, who boarded the ship in Mombasa and managed
to remain hidden until shortly before the vessel sailed from
Durban, were also thrown overboard but managed to swim to
safety and alert the authorities.
Appearing in court were the Polish captain and three Ukrainian
seafarers, who faced two counts of murder and five counts of
attempted murder. The ship has been detained in port (i-Fairplay,
9 Jan 2006)
DOLE mulls plan to increase maritime officers
To increase the Filipino seafarers’ chances of getting some
35,000 jobs for maritime officers demanded by the international
market in the next 10 years, Labour Secretary Patricia Sto.
Tomas said a program is being prepared that will allow graduates
of other courses, such as mechanical or electrical engineering, to
“shift and become marine officers”.
She said the Commission on Higher Education, the Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority, and the
Professional Regulation Commission are coordinating toward
this effort. (PDI, 7 Jan 2006)
Filipino seaman safe after collision
Al-Salam Boccaccio 98,
Egyptian ferry that sank in the Red Sea
with some 1400 passengers
(Photo: Y. Perchoc, BBC 3 Feb 2006)
Parola no.127 - January - April 2006 - Page The Malaysian freighter that collided with a South Korean
fishing boat off South Korea had only one Filipino seaman on
board and he is safe, said deputy POEA administrator Ramon
Tionloc.
over five months detained by Somali pirates on an island off
southern Somalia.
The three vessels were en route to the southern city of Kismayo
to collect their annual fishing licenses when they were boarded
and commandeered for fishing “illegally” in Somali waters.
The crewmembers told their stories of the malnourishment and
the torture which ensued for nearly half a year.
The Filipino seafarers often acted as translators, furthering the
negotiation process between the pirates, the ships owner, and
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs due to their superior grasp
of the English language. (Mla Times, 9 Feb 2006)
Storm sinks cargo ship in Italy
(Photo: BBC, 4 Dec 2005)
Six Filipino seamen rescued off UK Channel
Tionloc said almost all the South Korean fishermen of the
sunken fishing vessel 97 Handong remain missing, prompting
the Korean maritime police to detain the Malaysian vessel. (PDI,
Six Filipino seamen have been rescued in international waters off
the UK Channel Islands after their Marshall Islands-registered
tanker the “ECE” collided with an unidentified vessel on January
31.
Massive fine for MSC boxship
One of the six Filipinos informed the Philippine embassy in
London that they “are all accounted for, in good condition, and
taken care of at the St. Margaret’s Lodge in the UK Channel
Island of Guernsey.” The six Filipinos were among the 22
survivors.
3 Dec 2005)
A court in Brest, France this week ordered a euro350,000
($412,000) fine against the master and owner of the Panamaflagged container vessel MSC Rhone for deliberate pollution off
the French Atlantic coast in September 2004. Some 90% of the
fine will be paid by the vessel’s owner, Technomar Shipping of
Athens, the balance being borne by the Russian master, Girman
Shirokov.
On 21 September 2004, the 29,200-dwt, 1,830-TEU MSC Rhone
was seen by a French Navy aircraft with a 30km-long oil slick
in its wake as the ship was sailing about 250km off Brittany’s
Penmarc’h point, on a voyage from Antwerp to Istanbul. (iFairplay, 25 Nov 2006)
Navy goes to the rescue
The Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) rescued 28 Thai
sailors stranded for 12 days after their cargo ship, loaded with
fertilizer, ran aground near Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi, known as
Mapun Island.
The M/V Thor Traveller, a cargo boat that left its port of origin
in Thailand last Feb. 2, was on its way to Lahad Datu, Malaysia
when it encountered an accident. The rescue mission of the illfated cargo boat yielded positive result after 10 days of search
that went as far as the international treaty limits off Fearless
Shoal down to Malugi patches.
The six Filipinos were listed as: Charlie A. Alvarico; Oliver
Musca; Danilo Villa; Marcel M. Manalastas; Lydio Morgia; and
Anter Saligumba. (PhilStar, 2 Feb 2006)
US Court Jails Chief Engineer
A US court has sentenced the former chief engineer of the 7,326
gt Panamanian-flag reefer vessel Magellan Phoenix, now the
Saronic Wave, to one year jail and three years probation for
falsifying records that attempted to conceal repeated overboard
discharges of oil waste from his ship.
According to a US Justice Department statement Noel Abrogar
pleaded guilty to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from
Ships, based on his role in discharging oil sludge and oilcontaminated bilge waste directly into the ocean and then
falsifying the ship’s records to cover up the discharges between
December 2004 and March 2005. (MGN, 12 Jan 2006)
Only in December, Navy men rescued at least 75 people,
including children and women, after their motor launch
malfunctioned in the rough waters of the Sulu Sea. The vessel,
Jolo, Sulu and was en route to Zamboanga City when one of its
propeller blades broke. (PhilStar, 17 Feb 2006; 18 Dec 2005)
Seized Filipino seafarers released
The 12 Filipino crewmembers aboard the Taiwanese registered
FV Feng Long No. 16, Chung-yi No. 218 and Hsin-lienfa No.
36 have set sail for their homeland. The Filipinos had spent
Polluted beaches on Semirara Island, Panay, after a
major oil spill from a NAPOCOR barge, 3 Feb 2006
Parola no.127 - January - April 2006 - Page 9,000 Filipinos positive for HIV
The Department of Health sounded an alarm over the more than
9,000 Filipinos who are unaware they have been infected with
the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said they found out that
11,168 Filipinos are living with HIV. “This is a sharp increase
compared to three years ago. In 2002, the number of Filipinos
living with HIV/AIDS was at 6,000,” he told a National
Dissemination Forum on HIV/AIDS. (PhilStar, 1 Feb 2006)
14 OFWs freed from Kuwait prison
14 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) imprisoned in Kuwait were
granted amnesty by the Kuwaiti government on the occasion of
Kuwait’s Liberation Day last February 26.
The DOLE said the 14 OFWs were serving sentence on various
crimes they committed in the course of their employment
in Kuwait, such as falsification of documents, drugs, theft,
drunkenness, and extramarital relationships. (PDI, 4 March
2006)
97 OFWs in Saudi to be repatriated
Ninety-seven distressed OFWs in Saudi Arabia will be
repatriated after the Riyadh Governorate issued them airline
tickets.
Many of the distressed OFWs have labor disputes with their
employers, though some of them were endorsed by their
employers or the police. (PhilStar, 10 Jan 2006)
2005 overseas workers remittances $10.7B, up 25%
Remittances from OFWs coursed through Philippine banks rose
25 percent to a record 10.7 billion dollars last year, the central
bank said.
Large amounts of money sent home by around 8 million Filipino
workers overseas were the main reason the peso soared to threeand-a-half-year highs against the US dollar this year. The number
of newly hired and rehired workers grew 5.2 percent to 981,677
last year. (XFN-Asia, 15 Feb. 2006)
Pinoy Exodus brings boom to international airlines
The exodus of Filipinos seeking higher-paying jobs overseas
continues to convince international airlines operating in the
country to open routes to new destinations with Gulf Air
resuming its Manila to Johannesburg flights and opening a
Manila to Dublin flight route.
This developed as a shortage of international flights during the
past few months has slowed down the deployment of OFWs.
Recruitment agencies have complained about the lack of
flights among airlines servicing the Middle East and Taiwan.
South Korean employers have been forced to use chartered
planes to transport Filipino workers to meet their manpower
needs. Recruiters have also complained that the shortage has
led to cancellations of visas held by departing Filipino workers.
(PhilStar, 1 jan 2006, 12 Dec 2005)
Daughter of seaman honored
President Arroyo honored Cristina “Tinay” Bugayong for her exemplary honesty and for
showcasing the positive virtue of the Filipino.
Tinay, 12, returned to its owner P300,000 worth of cash and checks she found while playing
with her friends in Barangay Kamuning, QC. A six-grader at the Tomas Morato Elementary
School, Tinay is the daughter of a former seaman, Cesar , and an assistant cook, Luzviminda,
who works for a catering outfit.
The presidential accolade was the latest in the public outpouring of appreciation for Tinay’s
honesty. She has received various gifts and her college education has been assured through
a scholarship.
Manny Pacquiao: World Super
Featherweight Boxing champ
(photo: PDI, 23 Jan 2006)
Tinay’s request to the President was to give his father, who has been jobless for the past eight
years, a job. (PhilStar, 9 Jan 2006)
Parola no.127 - January - April 2006 - Page Another drive vs illegal recruiters
An “order of battle” against notorious
illegal recruiters is being established by
the government in a bid to eliminate the
multibillion-peso industry in the country.
POEA chief Rosalinda Baldoz said her
agency is working with the Philippine
National Police in drawing up a list of
primary targets. “Unlike the Presidential
Anti-Illegal Recruitment Task Force, the
POEA anti-illegal recruitment office’s
marching order this time is not only to
produce arrest but must ensure prosecution
of illegal recruiters,” Baldoz said.
Earlier, DOLE officials admitted that
government efforts against illegal recruitment
agencies had not been effective. (PhilStar, 23
Jan 2006)
Pinay teacher faces beheading in Kuwait
The impoverished family of a teacher from
Surigao del Sur appealed to President Arroyo
to save her from being put to death by the
Kuwaiti government.
Marilou Ranario, 33, was sentenced to death
by a Kuwaiti court last year for allegedly
stabbing her employer to death with a
kitchen knif. The reason for the killing was
not clear but sketchy foreign news reports
said the victim had “insulted” Ranario and
“her people.” (PhilStar, 23 Jan 2006)
RP is world’s friendliest country to migrants
The Philippines is globally the friendliest
country to migrants, while Thailand has the
biggest number of xenophobic citizens.
The latest Gallup International Voice of the
People survey also found that more than
half of Asians — 56 percent — consider
immigration “a good thing for their own
country,” even as negative sentiments prevail
in the world against people moving from
their native land to settle in another country.
The study found 87 percent of Filipinos
believing that immigration is good for the
country whose own citizens — five million
or so — have left to work and live in foreign
lands. (PDI, 22 Dec 2005)
Singapore rewards 2 Filipinas with cash
The tiny but affluent city-state honored two
Filipino maids, chosen from among tens
of thousands of foreign workers employed
there.
Site of one more Philippine tragedy:
Guinsaugon village, St. Bernard in Leyte (photo:PDI, 17 Feb 2006)
Elizabeth Yanos Quiatchon, 38, was
named Singapore’s “Foreign Domestic
Worker of the Year”. The citation came
with a S$2,500 (P82,500) cash prize.
Another Filipino, Marina Bayabay
Garcia, placed third and the award
carried a S$1,200 (P39,600) purse.
Quiatchon has been working for 19 years
for the family of Singaporean Loke Lai
Kuen. She was cited “for looking after
and caring for two sick members of the
family while also attending to household
work.” Garcia has been employed by the
family of Mae Heng for six years. She
has looked after Heng’s young son who
has a motor-planning speech disorder.
(PDI, 9 March 2006)
Two overseas Filipino workers die in Saudi
crossfire
Two Filipinos commuting to work were
killed by crossfire in Saudi Arabia as
security forces in Riyadh clashed with
suspects who had attempted an attack on
the world’s largest oil-processing plant.
Filipino construction workers Abel
Monterela and Felix Lorando were killed
by bullets that hit their shuttle bus as it
passed through the Rawda district while
Saudi police were conducting a manhunt
for militants.
What TV audiences are watching in RP
These are the five shows that had
audiences across the nation glued on
their TV sets every night, seven days a
week last year.
1. Darna. The telenovelizaton of Mars
Ravelo’s comic book serial on the
Filipino female superhero. Darna, even
with its flawed narrative, holds the
highest rating show in the history of
Philippine TV.
2. Encantadia. The fascination for
Encantadia can be attributed to the
people’s longing for another Okay Ka
Fairy Ko.
3. Pinoy Big Brother. ABS-CBN’s muchpublicized franchise of the popular
European reality TV show.
4. Bubble Gang. The best gag show since
curtains dropped on Tropang Trumpo.
5. Goin’ Bulilit. This gag show for kids
and by kids is in reality a spin-off of
the popular early-’90s sitcom, Goin’
Bananas. (EBalita, 13 Jan 2006)
Three other Filipinos on the same bus
— Rodel Miranda, Salvador Bibon and
Jimmy Pactor — were wounded. (AFP,
28 Feb 2006)
Parola no.127 - January - April 2006 - Page A Holy Week Millionaire
Fr. Sean Coyle *
S
alvacion Ortenero Orge, who
is 44 and mother of three
teenagers, hails from Bicol.
On 23 March 2005, she began work
in a beauty parlor onboard the Isle of
Inishmore, a vessel owned by Irish
Ferries. That was the Wednesday
of Holy Week. One week later, she
returned home to the Philippines a
(peso) millionaire!
Here’s her story.
Salvacion wasn’t employed directly
by Irish Ferries, nor was she hired by
them. She had been recruited by CF
Sharp Crew Management and had
a letter from that agency saying she
was to work 12-hour shifts and would
have three days’ holiday per month.
Her salary was to be €354.00 per
month. At the exchange rate of PHP64
to €1.00, this worked out at just over
€1.00 per hour, or less than half the
standard rate recognized by the ILO
for seafarers. The Isle of Inishmore
plies between Rosslare in southeast
Ireland and Pembroke in south Wales,
a journey of less than four hours.
When Irish Ferries discovered the kind
of salary that Salvacion was being
paid, they closed down the beauty
parlor where she worked.
The Services Industrial Professional
and Technical Union, or SIPTU, which
represents over 200,000 Irish workers,
got wind of Salvacion’s predicament
and came to her defence. The union
was unhappy with the way Irish Ferries
dealt with the situation. With Union
support, Salvacion refused to leave
the ship. She asked for the same work
and pay conditions as other workers
onboard. (I am not sure if Salvacion
had joined the union before she began
her employment, or if the union made
her a member in order to defend her).
A SIPTU spokesperson said that
Salvacion had refused an offer to be
repatriated, as well as an offer for her
contract to be bought out.
to Manila. It was a bonanza. Just two
days earlier, the crew on the Isle of
Inishmore had raised € 1,000 for her.
On March 30, the newspaper Irish
Independent carried the headline
“Payoff is a happy ending for Filipina
ferry tale”. It reported that SIPTU
had sought a settlement with Irish
Ferries that would assure financial
independence for Salvacion upon
her return home to the Philippines.
Paul Smyth, a SIPTU official, had
expressed fears that she might be
blacklisted for future employment in
her own country.
It was also reported that Salvacion
was “overjoyed and emotional” about
the settlement. She would now be able
to set up her own beauty parlor.
On Good Friday, Irish Ferries director
of human resources Alf McGrath made
an announcement: “We collectively
made a mistake. We’re doing our best
to rectify it. It’s a messy situation. I
hope that the lady involved is spared
any further distress. We’d like to deal
with the matter as speedily and as fully
as possible.” This statement was in
response to SIPTU’s accusation that
Irish Ferries were paying a foreign The support of the most powerful
worker “slave wages”.
labor union in Ireland and the publicity
given by the Irish media were two very
In the meantime, SIPTU members on important factors in this case. The
the Normandy, another Irish Ferries
cont’d next page
vessel that sails between Rosslare
and Cherbourg in France, voted to
go on strike after the company had
taken off two other Filipinas from that
ship. These two Filipinas had also
been recruited by CF Sharp Crew
Management and had contracts similar
to that of Salvacion’s.
Company and the union officials met
on Good Friday but did not reach any
agreement. They would resume talks
on Easter Tuesday, as Easter Monday
was a public holiday in Ireland.
The talks on 29 March, Easter
Tuesday, resulted in an agreement that
Irish Ferries pay Salvacion € 25,000,
which was received by Salvacion. The
company also paid Salvacion’s air fare
Parola no.127 - January - April 2006 - Page Beautician Salvacion O. Ogre,
“ferry tale” heroine (photo: Irish
Independent, 30/3/2005)
also in the news .....
Random act of kindness saves Pinoy seaman in Nigeria
Anthony Santos, a 36-year-old OFW stationed in
Nigeria’s oil-rich Delta State, did what any prudent
person in a restive land would have done: give help
to the weary.
A group of famished fishermen went alongside his
company barge one day, asking Anthony if he could
spare them some food. Soon enough, Anthony
was handing over slices of bread from the vessel’s
stock. It was just another encounter with the
impoverished folks of the Niger Delta, witnessed all
too often by Anthony during the two years that he
had worked there. He had actually forgotten about
that incident.
Until February 18, 2006, when militants opposing
foreign activities in the Niger Delta abducted
Anthony and eight others - three Americans, two
Britons, two Thais and an Egyptian. At the time of
the kidnapping, Anthony’s vessel was doing pipelaying operations around a Shell Co. terminal.
The captives were brought to a jungle hideaway,
as news about the abduction sent shock-waves
around the world.
Underneath this international crisis was a lesserknown sub-plot, which tells the story of how the
Filipino knack for making friends and generating
goodwill served Anthony well during such traumatic
episode.
One of the kidnappers, it turned out, was one of the
Philippine media mentioned nothing
about the matter at that time.
When I phoned CF Sharp Crew
Management, a company which
was given one of the 2002 Agency
Performance Awards by the POEA,
they confirmed that they had indeed
hired Ms. Salvacion Orge and the
other two Filipinas mentioned. They
told me that the three had been paid
the money due to them. However,
they would neither confirm nor deny
hungry fishermen whom Anthony had given food
months before.
The man recognized Anthony among the captives,
and assured the Filipino that “nobody among the
other kidnappers could touch him.” He regarded
Anthony as someone he should “protect” in case
his comrades decided to make good their threat to
torture or kill any of the hostages. The kidnapper
made sure that his brothers-in- arms knew the little
history he shared with the Filipino hostage.
The Philippine Embassy in Abuja, who took custody
of Anthony after he was released on March 1,
reported that “a small gesture of Anthony in the
past helped sustain him in the difficult and tense
moments of his captivity.”
Anthony, a father of two, returned to Manila on
March 4. He told reporters he was willing to go back
to Nigeria despite what had happened, to be able to
continue supporting his family.
Anthony’s father-in-law and two brothers-in-law
are also OFWs in Nigeria, working for the same
company that employed Anthony.
Anthony’s wife, Helen, sums up her husband’s
experience: “It seems like any thing good you have
done, no matter how small, finds a way to give you
something in return. Anthony said so himself.” (PDI
19 March 2006)
the details of Salvacion’s contract as
exposed in the Irish media. The CF
Sharp official I spoke to said that Ms.
Orge was now in Bicol, but that their
company hadn’t heard anything from
her or the other two.
For Salvacion Orge, returning to
the Philippines with more than
P1,500,000, after only a week as
a worker on an Irish ship, was a
‘Cinderella’ experience. Irish Ferries
were generous to this Bicolana.
Unfortunately for many others, there’s
no “glass slipper that fits.”
Irish Ferries was involved in an
attempt to replace many of their Irish
workers with lower-paid workers from
countries in Eastern Europe that
joined the European Union in 2004.
This move took place, ironically, on
Labor Day.
* Father Seán Coyle, a member of the Missionary Society of St Columban, is from Dublin,
Ireland, and came to the Philippines in 1971. He has worked mostly in Mindanao and the
Visayas and is currently editor of Misyon, www.misyononline.com
Parola no.127 - January - April 2006 - Page .... and still in the news
Famous Filipino
smile stuns
cruise ship
guests
My reason for writing this is an experience my
wife and I had with some Filipinos aboard a cruise
ship. From the moment we boarded the Costa
Mediterranea, I could sense her excitement as she
greeted Filipino after Filipino among the vessel’s
crew.
We had an absolutely fabulous time on board this
cruise, and every single crewmember from the
Philippines just seemed to radiate the country’s
claim, “Where Asia wears a smile.” There was,
however, one Filipina aboard who impressed us
with her marvelous strength of resolve and spirit.
A 22-year-old bar attendant from Manila, Arlene C.
Pimentel has been working seven days a week,
16 hours a day on board Costa Mediterranea for
eight months straight. She has little contact with
her family due to the prohibitive cost of calling via
satellite phone. While the tourists embarked and
disembarked every seven days and scattered to
the four winds, Arlene and her fellow countrymen
labored on through a spartan regimen just to
provide for their families back home. Arlene showed
herself to be a warrior.
Arlene impressed us most for a gift that she shared
with us on the night that the ship’s crew performed
for the guests. She was not an original member of
the cast of performers, but when a crewmember
from Honduras quit and went back home, a
substitute performer was needed. Arlene told her
supervisor that she could sing if they needed her to.
Whatever shyness there was in Arlene vanished
when she went on the stage and sang “Como
puede ser verdad”, the opening lyrics to
Madonna’s “La Isla Bonita”. When she nailed
the high notes to this song, she had put on an
electric performance that none of the professional
entertainers aboard the ship could have matched.
The theme of the show was “World Showcase,”
but all of the passengers clearly realized this was
a demonstration of Filipino talent. She and the
entire Filipino cast were given a standing ovation,
the only standing ovation given that entire week of
performances. Filipinos had given notice: this was
their ship and their show, and the night belonged to
all of them.
It was not only the beautiful voices and the stunning
performances that amazed us all, but also the
enduring human spirit that Arlene and the cast
displayed. To work hard every day and then deliver
a performance that leaves the throng in complete
awe.
There is a bright future for Filipinos, Mabuhay!
Many thanks to the Costa Mediterranea Filipino
crew!
J.R. JENSEN, President and CEO
Quomation Insurance Services Inc.
(via e-mail to Philippine Daily Inquirer,15 Dec 2005)
Parola no.127 - January - April 2006 - Page 10
Damdamin ng Nagbabarko
Maricel Nuyda Delicana *
Haaayy!!! Ýsang kontrata na naman ang matatapos... linggo
na lang ang binibilang... akalain mo un?! Di ko akalaing
makakaraos na naman ako ng isang kontratang puno ng
maraming karanasan... masaya, malungkot, makulay na
maidadagdag ko na naman sa king alaalang babaunin sa
pagtanda! Di biro bunuin ang isang kontrata lalu pa’t sa barko!!!
Baket??!! Mahirap atang labanan ang alon!!! Yayakapin mo
ang inidoro at tatawag sa lahat ng santo ang mahirap pa nito
kung walang laman ang tyan mo dahil di masarap ang luto ng
kusinero.
Nguni’t kung banayad naman ang dagat aayy kay sarap!!! Mag inuman tatawagin ang mga
kaibigan at gagawa ng dapat ipagdiwang. “Nanganak ang pusa namin kaya tayo ay mag-inuman,
hehehe. Sige inom laklak basta’t wag lang pahuhuli na pasuray-suray sa alleyway, kundi yari ka
ke kapitan mag handa ng paliwanag kinabukasan!!! Pagnakalusot... bukas ulit, hehehe.
Minsan naman ay tatamaan ka ng lungkot... labanan mo man kahit sa anong paraan ito pa rin
ay bumubuntot sa iyong isipan. Sasagi ang mga mahal sa buhay... “Ano kaya ang kanilang
pinagkakaabalahan? Naaalala kaya nila ako? Masaya kaya sila kahit wala ako?” Mga katanungan
mo sa sarili na kahit kailan di mo nalaman ang kasagutan... nakakabugnot, nakakasawa,
nakakapagod ang ma-layo!!! Nguni’t yan ang papel nating mga marino. Kapag ika ba’y nakaka
tatlo, apat, lima masakit
kung mas matagal pa sa naging kontrata sa iyong bayan... ano ba ang iyong hinahangad... kundi
ang mapadpad muli sa malayong karagatang pilit mong kinakalimutan!!!
Masakit mang ma-layo sa iyong minamahal nguni’t kung ang kapalit nito’y isang pangako ng
masarap na hapunan para ke bunso di ba’t isasakripisyo mo ang
pansariling kalungkutan...??? Wag mag-alala kabayan tayo naman ay mag-tutulungang labanan
ang kalungkutan dito sa karagatan bibigyan kita ng isa kong matamis na ngiti wag lang pag-iisipan
ng di magandang kahulugan kundi tayo ay mayayari!!!!
Buhay sa barko ano ba ang meron ka iwanan man kita nguni’t ito’y panandalian lamang... labanan
ko mang di ka na balikan nguni’t salapi ko naman ay kulang...!!! Dito sa puso’t isipan ikaw pa
rin ang number1!!! Kaya Marino hangga’t me kontrata sunggab ang kasagutan... sa sikmurang
walang laman!!!
* onboard the cruise vessel M/V Calypso
Parola no.127 - January - April 2006 - Page 11
Making Waves
Tribute to an outstanding Filipino Seafarer
THE TRIUMPH OF CAPTAIN ROMAN ALCANTARA
Waging a 21st Century Sea Battle
through OFW Leadership
Norma Hennessy *
Captain Roman Alcantara was in command of the MV
Mawashi AL Gasseem, a livestock carrier, when it was
arrested in Adelaide, Australia in March 2005. The ship, with
its 69 mainly Filipino crew, had been sailing the previous
month without any provisions. The ship was arrested after
a Danish company, the OW Bunker and Trading Company,
sued for non-payment of fuel.
At the time of the arrest, the crew had
not been paid their wages for many
months. Their families have also not
received their monthly allotments. An
offer of assistance to the crew was
initially made by the Maritime Union of
Australia. But Capt Alcantara carefully
declined, fearing the repercussion
of getting his crew and himself
blacklisted in the maritime industry
in the Philippines. He had hoped that
the ship’s Kuwaiti owners would settle
matters eventually.
However, the owners, through their
agent in Australia, soon issued
orders to stop all disbursements
and transactions on the ship, in
practical effect abandoning the ship
and the crew. It was then that Capt
Alcantara, after consulting with his
men, took up the offer of assistance
from the Maritime Union of Australia.
The MUA, with the help of the ITF in
Australia, provided the sailors with
legal representation through the
Holding Redlich law offices based in
Melbourne.
For the the next six months of court
litigation, Capt Alcantara and his
crew remained onboard and dutifully
kept their daily tasks of maintaining
the ship in tip top shape. During the
legal proceedings, Bunker Co. was
ordered by the court, on humanitarian
grounds, to provide for the basic fuel
maintenance of the ship and the
medical and food provisions of the
crew.
The long wait for the court’s final
decision proved to be a real ordeal
for Alcantara and his men. The crew
were confronted with every kind of
bleak uncertainty. Everything was
turning into a tragedy: their voyage,
their welfare, their careers, the future
of their children and their families.
Stranded in a strange place, they
did not even have the money to buy
telephone cards to call their loved
ones back home.
The prayers of skipper Alcantara
were slowly but surely heard. The
Apostleship of the Sea of South
Australia, headed by Richard Lloyd,
lent a compassionate hand to the
crew. Soon, news of the abandoned
crew spread to the Filipino community
in Adelaide, who rallied every kind of
support for Capt Alcantara and his
men. Mass services were held on
board, and barbecue gatherings, bus
trips and picnics were organized for
the crew, with many of them invited
to private homes for meals and visits.
Cash donations were also collected
for telephone cards.
Finally, after seven 7 agonizing
months, an Australian Federal Court
rendered a decision in September
2005 to put the vessel up for sale
and, from the sale proceeds, to pay
the crew’s wages. To the crew’s relief,
the court also ordered the repatriation
of some 35 crew members.
More good news was coming for
Capt Alcantara. Owing largely to the
good maintenance of the ship, the
vessel was sold at auction sometime
in October to the best of four bidders,
the Liberian-based Hijazi & Ghosheh
Company.
During the sale proceedings, the new
owners have insisted that the ship
* Correspondent, Philippine Community Herald Newspaper in
Australia. Editor’s note: Norma Hennessy’s coverage of Captain
Alcantara’s travails and triumph was featured in the editorial
page of the Philippine Star (“A hero from a land of heroes”, BY
THE WAY, Max Soliven, 2 Jan. 2006). Ms. Hennessy, author of “A
Journey in Antipodean Land (Filipino Heritage in Australia)” is
also a distinguished Filipina artist. This article was contributed by
Norma upon Parola’s request. Visit Norma at:
www.hennessyinfolink.com.au
Parola no.127 - January - April 2006 - Page 12
TRIBULATION, TRUTH, TRIUMPTH:
A HEROIC OFW LEGEND
Photos from top to bottom-right: * The anxious
and abandoned crew of MV Mawashi al Gasseem
listening to their lawyer * Legal representation
down under: Capt Alcantara with Matt Purcell of
the ITF, Lance Grant of the Melbourne Federal
Court, lawyers John Tesarsch and Mandy Lloyd
* Finally, some relief: Capt. Alcantara with Fr.
Richard Lloyd of the AOS-Stella Maris & Julie
House of the Adelaide Federal Court hand out
modest allowance to each crew member after court
victory * Pinoy pa rin: members of the Filipino
Community in Adelaide giving cheer and gifts to
the crew * Homeward bound: the first batch of
crew to sign off after court judgement was rendered
* Vessel redeemed: the MV Mawashi Al Gasseem
was flying a Kuwaiti flag. It is now called MV Al
Mawashi, flying a Panamanian flag and owned by
a Jordan-based company.
(These great photos are courtesy of Jo Isler,
electrician onboard the Al Mawashi, whose
professionally-shot photos have been published in
Australian newspapers)
was to be captained by the same
Filipino shipmaster but crewed by
Pakistani recruits. But setting aside his
personal advantage, Capt Alcantara
bargained instead for the rehiring of
the old crew, or at least employment
of Filipino sailors.
At the end of the negotiations, the new
owner not only rehired all the Filipino
crew, including those who were
repatriated earlier, but also agreed
to improved conditions and a better
compensation package for the crew.
On November 5, 2005, the vessel
officially started its operation under
its new name, the M/V Al Mawashi.
On the same day, , members of
the Filipino-Australian community,
the Philippine Community Herald
Newspaper, and the Apostleship of
the Sea, presented a special plaque
Gawad Dangal Pilipino-Australia
to Captain Roman B. Alcantara,
Jr., in recognition of his exemplary
leadership. For their remarkable
conduct, Parchments of Appreciation
were also given to each member
of the crew. (Read the offfical
commendation of an Australian MP
to the crew, next page)
The vessel, re-born under the
command of Captain Alcantara and
manned by 69 Filipino sailors, left
South Australian waters on November
23.
Parola no.127 - January - April 2006 - Page 13
Having learned of the amazing story involving Captain Alcantara, Steve Georganas,
a Member of the Australian Parliament, delivered a commendation at the House of
Congress in Canberra on 3 November 2005:
I rise to speak on a matter concerning the MV Mawashi Al
Gasseem, which was impounded in South Australia seven months
ago.... Many of the crew were in a desperate plight, as they were
the breadwinners for their extended families living in poverty back
home in the Philippines, to whom they normally sent most of their
wages. Many others connected by family ties were also depending on
their help to pay bills for food, medicines, and the education of their
children.
....But thank God for the generous, supportive Filipino community
in South Australia. Their generosity meant that the crew who stayed
on were looked after whilst in Adelaide. The captain and his crew
were strongly supported by the Apostleship of the Sea, the MUA and
the ITF, who had campaigned against these ‘ships of shame’—flags of
convenience vessels, whose owners treat employees like disposable
garbage.…
The courage, hope, and optimism of people in such adverse
conditions should be recognised and celebrated. The moral leadership
of Roman Alcantara Jr, the captain of Mawashi Al Gasseem, kept his
crew focused despite the difficult circumstances that they were in.
Leadership such as this, displayed when things are at their worst,
should be acknowledged. So should the involvement and the help of
the strong local Filipino community that we have in South Australia.
The Filipino community responded to the needs of those on board the
ship and tried to alleviate their plight. Month after month, the crew
waited to be paid, dreading going home empty-handed to those who
depended on them under these dreadful circumstances. Even the
most level-headed people would be exasperated. One or two of the
crew members were nearly suicidal. But the captain ensured that the
Filipino crew did not lose their cool.
I will have the pleasure this Saturday in Adelaide of attending
a ceremony organised by the Filipino community under the guidance
of journalist Norma Hennessy and Dr Dante Juanta, OAM, to express
appreciation for and pay tribute to the ship’s master, Captain Roman
Alcantara Jr, and to acknowledge the efforts of the many local
Filipino and Australian families who helped the crew with care and
compassion. They understood this question: if we are not on this
planet to help each other, then what are we here for?
cont’d next page
Parola no.127 - January - April 2006 - Page 14
KWENTO AT BUHAY MARINO
“PHONE SEX” ONBOARD
Roli Ancha *
MV Meridian Lion
“Hello!”, “Oh!, kmsta na kayo dyan?”, “Ang mga bata,ok b’ang lahat?”, “Wala bang nagkakasakit?”, “Anong balita
dyan?”. At iyan din ang pinaka-mabisang pang-alis ng homesickness, ang pagtawag sa telepono lalo pa kung ang
barkong sinasakyan mo eh! VLCC na halos di tumatabi sa pantalan. Diyan mo maririnig yong tumatawag ng malungkot,
yong tumatawa ng hagalpak, meron ding ubod ng lambing, at mayroon ding nang gagalaiti sa galit.
Ang pagtawag sa phone ay tinagurian naming “phone sex” dahil pagkatapos kumustahin yoong mga bata, ay yoon
namang “dinaanan” ng mga bata ang kakamustahin. “Kaw sweetheart, Kmusta na?”, “Miss mo na ba ko? Miss na miss
na kita” (sus bola!!, sabay kindat sa kasamahang nakangiti habang naghihintay ng torno nila sa pagtawag). “L na L na
nga ako rito eh!, lungkot na lungkot bah! sa tuwing maririnig ko ang daing mo ... este... boses pala!” “Sige sweetheart…
malapit na akooooo!, malapit na matapos ang lintik na kontrata ko… sige at may tatawag pang iba. I love You… tsup…”.
At doon naubos ang $ 20.00 na card ni seaman.
Torno naman ni AB. Siya naman ang tatawag. Aba! 60 minutes card na iridium ang inilabas!, patay..! “Mahaba-habang
hintayan ito”, sabi ni oiler. “$57 yan ah!”, sabi naman ni pumpy!. Idinayal ang number, “ Hello? Oh anak... ikaw pala. Si
mama mo?, asan? Kausapin ko ha! Di pwede! Bakit?, Busy! O... sige… ingat dyan. Click.
“O, kayo naman!, busy daw sa tindahan naming yong misis ko… wala daw panahon kausapin ako!”, malungkot na
pahayag ni AB. “Malakas ang tindahan ni manoy!”, sabi ni fitter. “Pila-pila siguro ang bumibili”, sambot ni pumpy. “Ah!,
kung sa akin yan, ipapasarado ko yang tindahang iyan!”, yamot na komento ni Bosun.
Isang araw, nakalitaw ang mga ngiping nagbalita sa akin yong isang AB, “Yor, nakuha ng misis ko yong puwesto ng
bigasan sa palengke, he!he! he!, may pagkaka-abalahan ako pag-uwi.” “Bakit, tumawag ka ba? Di pa naman off-peak
ah? Sa sabado pa!”, tanong ko kay AB. “Kagabi Yor! nagtagay kami ni super-mario, yong OS, nalasing ako!, kaya naka
dalawang t-cards ako”, sagot ni AB, “he! he! he!, $40.00 yon!”
May kanya-kanyang schedule ang pagtawag. Merong araw-araw; merong pasundot-sundot lang; padala-dalawang
minuto lang, marinig lang ang boses ni mahal, ok! na. Meron namang kada Sabado’t Linggo lang, dahil discounted ng
35% pag week-end, pero ubos naman ang isang card. Meron ding hindi tumatawag sa loob ng walong buwan dahil
nagtampo sa asawa. Meron namang “occasionally”, pag birthday, anniversary o fiesta lang tumatawag.
Subalit ang hindi ko makalimutan, ay yung tawag minsan ni Ricky Boy, ang pinaka matanda naming AB. “Hello!, oh
kmusta dyan? Ang mga anak natin? Ikaw? Anong latest news?” panimula ni Ricky boy. Sagot ng misis nya, “Hindi ko
maintindihan ang sinasabi mo! Putol-putol ang dating mo!”. “Ika ko, kmusta na diyan? Ang mga bata?, Kmusta?” halos
pasigaw niyang ulit. “Wala talaga,, gumagaralgal at hindi ko maindihan ang sinasabi mo!”, ganting sagot ng asawa. “Pera,
nagpadala ako ng pera! Uuwi si mayor, magkita kayo sa opisina”, galit na sabi ni Ricky Boy. “Ha!, Magkano? Anong
pangalan ng Mayor? Kelan kami magkikita?”. “Anak ng pating!”, sabay baba ng telepono ni Ricky Boy. Sa puntong
ilonggo, at nag-uungol na umalis, “Sabi, malabo ang dating ko, di maintindihan! Noong sabihin
kong pera, biglang luminaw! Hay naku!.. makatulog na nga!”
P.S. Masayang pagbati ang ipinaaabot ko sa mga kasama ko ditto sa Meridian Lion. Sa magic
5: 3/E Edgar Ortega, Gener “liliw” Arquiza, Angel Andales, Edwin Estopare, likewise to Mario
Diosana, Pumpman Nestor Garcia, Fitter Simple Gamilla, To deck boys:Ricardo Deang, Sammy
Tayong, Rommel Calamba, Roger Tibegar, 2/O Edwin Amparo, 3/O Robert Edison, also to James
Villasis, Ronaldo Hernandez, 2/E Arman Carpio and not but not the least… Messman Joie De
Jesus and Bosun Ariel “Abe” Pamintuan.
* Editors Note: Mabuhay and Welcome Back, Roli! Your colorful anecdotes and much-appreciated
insights have been missed by many faithful readers of Kwento at Buhay Marino.
Parola no.127 - January - April 2006 - Page 15
Huwag Kayong Mga Pasaway *
1st/Asst. Engineer Leonardo Purca
Ano pa ang halaga ng ating kalayaan sa kamay ng mga dayuhan,
Kung tayong mga Pilipino ay walang pagkakaisa at nagbabangayan?
Saan natin ihahambing ang ating lahi, kung may palakasan at may pinipili?
May lamangan at pagsasamantala lalo’t pinakisamahan
Hindi ba dapat pantay-pantay tayo sa mga karapatan?
Pero, bakit nga kung mahirap ka ay kaydaling lapatan ng kaparusahan.
Kahit pa ikaw ay napagbintangan lang at wala kang kinalaman ni anupaman.
Ngunit kung ikaw ay mayaman, waring ang batas ay napaglalalangan
O, sadyang mayroon lang na kasunduan sa mga naglalapat ng kaparusahan?
Dahil nga mayroong palakasan, o, di nga ba mayroong suhulan?
Hindi ko naman nilalahat, ngunit batad na ang isipan ng bawat mamamayan,
Sa ganyang uri ng kalakalan na kasumpa-sumpa ang kalokohan.
At sagwil sa paglinis ng ating lipunan, at siyang pumipigil
Sa pag-unlad ng ating kaawa-awang bayan
Na lugmok na sa kahirapan, dahil ang bawat isa ay nagsisiraan.
Mga pasaway at nag-uudyukan ng mga patalikuran.
Nang mga pangungutya at patutsada kahit kanginong kasamahan,
Walang pagkakasunduan, labis ang pagtrayduran
Walang galang sa mga magulang at lalong walang respeto sa pagkakaibigan
Kahiyahiya ang katutuhanan, kahiyahiya ka kababayan.
Ganyan karami ang kaululan sa Pilipinas nating bayan.
Aber nga, tayo’y tumingin at mangatwiran
Saang bayan kaman na ang sa kapwa’y walang siraan?
Saang bayan dito ang walang kalupitan?
Kaya’t dama ng lahat ang bigat ng kahirapan,
Pasan ang pagdarahop at mga kaapihan.
Kailan ba matuto matatanda na tayo
O mga kababayan ko?
* PSAP-PAROLA Poet Laureat’s commentary on the current political situation in the Philippines
Q: Are you proud to be a Filipino?
A: “In spite of how the Filipino is deemed by many nowadays, yes, I am proud to be a Filipino. I am not proud of how
some of my countrymen have been conducting themselves, especially some in government. But I love my country
and have faith in the Filipino’s strengths, abilities, resilience, and faith in the Almighty. Kahit saan sa mundo, magaling
tayo. We are basically a caring people. Our smiles and warmth are genuine. And we are smart and talented. Kulang
sa bansa natin nga lang opportunities, kaya madaming magaling sa atin ang umaalis. Sayang. We should get down
on our knees and pray.” - Sharon Cuneta (Pinoy Abroad eForum, March 2006)
Parola no.127 - January - April 2006 - Page 16
u
l
B
letin
PSA
t
P Por
PSAP-PAROLA SCORES BIG TIME AT
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE
ON SEAFARERS WELFARE
PSAP’s Programme Manager, Atty Peter Payoyo,
was elected to the Presidium of the ICSW, the
highest decision-making body of this global umbrella
organization. And as if this mandate was not enough,
Atty Payoyo was soon after elected as ICSW ViceChairman. Great challenges indeed lie ahead as
the year ushers in major responsibilities for PSAPPAROLA in the arena of seafarers’ welfare.
Underway with a global agenda: the ICSW Annual
General Meeting in London, January 26-27, 2006
The Presidium Members of the ICSW are:
Elected Presidium Members:
Mr. Bjørn Lødøen, Chairman, Norwegian Government Seamen’s Service
Dr. Peter Payoyo, Vice Chairman, Philippine Seafarers’ Assistance Programme
Mr. Roger Korner, United Seamen’s Service
Capt David Parsons, Merchant Navy Welfare Board (UK)
Permanent Presidium Members:
Mr. Tom Holmer, International Transport Workers Federation
Ms Natalie Wiseman, International Shipping Federation
Dr. Juergen Kanz, International Christian Maritime Association
www.seafarerswelfare.org
HAVE TIME TO SURF? Check-out the newly
launched fleet of ICSW WEBSITES: ICSW,
ICSW Sports, and ICSW Health.
AND DON’T FORGET, log into your home at
www.psap-parola.org
www.seafarershealth.org
www.seafarerssport.org
PSAP & UP Museum launches
Kuhang Marino photo exhibit
Feb. 23, University of the Philippines, Diliman,
Q.C. - PSAP-PAROLA and the UP Jorge
Vargas Museum and Filipiniana Research
Center opened “Kuhang Marino: Images of
Filipino Seafarers - a photo documentary and
poetry exhibition”. Later, poems published in
Parola were read at the Conspiracy Cafe in QC.
Thanks to a great public reception, Dr. Ana
Labrador, Museum Curator, has set her sights
to a nation-wide tour of the exhibition project.
Parola no.127 - January - April 2006 - Page 17
PAYO ni ATTORNEY
Atty. Peter B. Payoyo
DID THE CAPTAIN MAKE YOU RESIGN?
Like their pinoy seafarer-counterparts, pinay sea-based workers are making their presence felt in international
shipping. Modest, unassuming, sincere, and hard-working, they toil the seven seas, usually aboard cruise and passenger
ships. They contribute not only economic value but also human values to the global maritime industry – an industry that
sometimes exhibits the worst forms of greed, abuse, and irresponsibility.
The story of six Filipina sea-based workers illustrates the courageous and dignified assertion of human values on
the part of OFWs.
Jennifer Anne Acuña, Haydee Anne Acuña, Marites Clarion, Marissa Enriquez, Graciela Torralba, and Mary Pamela
Santiago were hired as croupiers (card dealers) aboard one of the vessels of Ferry Casinos Ltd. Sometime in July
1993, even before their six-month employment contracts expired, the women were informed by their manager that their
services onboard ship were no longer needed. Their plane tickets have been readied. Each one of them was then made
to sign individual documents specifying that they were the ones who terminated their employment and that they have
been treated fairly by their employer.
All the “resignation letter cum release and quitclaim” documents, which were prepared by Ferry Casinos Ltd,
uniformly read as follows [grammatical and other errors reproduced as part of the original]:
In signing this document, I am declaring my decision to return to the Philippines with the other eight
employees of Ferry Casinos Limited and Great Southern Maritime Corporation, on the 25th July 1993.
I understand that my contract is uncompleted and I fully understand the consequences of that. I do
however promise to work to full for both companies before my departure.
I realise that I may be dismissed by the captain or Purser of my assigned vessel, if I am suspected of
misconduct in the remaining weeks of my employment, until my departure, and I understand that I will
compansate both companies for the results from my actions.
I sign to say that I will follow the instructions of Captain A. Sanchez upon my arrival in the Philippines
and that any previous arrangements to this date are nul and void.
I recognise that I have been fairly treated by both companies and for this I will not jeopardise them
upon my arrival in the Philippines.
I acknowledge and accept this as evidence for my departure to be shown to the P.O.E.A. in the
Philippines.
cont’d next page
Parola no.127 - January - April 2006 - Page 18
OUT
IN
Immediately after they were repatriated, the six women proceeded to the POEA to file a complaint for illegal dismissal
against Ferry Casinos Ltd and its local agent Great Southern Maritime Services Corporation.
The respondent-companies denied the charge of illegal dismissal and countered that the complainants voluntarily
resigned from their employment. Their version of the story: in early July 1993, the six women intimated their desire to
resign. However, Ferry Casinos Ltd did not allow them to resign because the simultaneous loss of croupiers would
paralyze casino operations. The workers thereafter exhibited lukewarm attitude towards work, and became defiant and
rude, on account of which Ferry Casinos Ltd was forced to accede to the workers’ demands. The women thus resigned
en mass by executing their respective resignation letters, and disembarked.
After weighing the merits of these contradictory claims, the POEA ruled that the six women were illegally dismissed
since the company failed to prove that the workers voluntarily resigned from employment. The POEA ordered the
payment of salaries representing the unpaid portion of the complainants’ 6-month contracts.
Ferry Casino et al. contested this ruling all the way to the Philippine Supreme Court. To the company’s
disappointment, however, the Supreme Court upheld the POEA and declared that the six women OFWs were summarily
dismissed without just cause.
The Supreme Court reminded the company that in illegal dismissal cases like the present one, the burden of proving
that the employee was not dismissed, or if dismissed, that the dismissal was not illegal, rests on the employer. The failure
to discharge this burden of proof means that the dismissal is not justified and is therefore illegal.
The company’s complete reliance on the “resignation letters, with release and quitclaim” to support their claim that
the women voluntarily resigned is unavailing, because the filing of the complaint for illegal dismissal is inconsistent
with resignation. The similarly-worded ‘resignation letters’ were, in reality, waivers or quitclaims which are not sufficient
evidence to prove valid separation from work.
In the Court’s opinion, it was “highly unlikely that respondents would just quit even before the expiration of their
6-month contracts, after all the expenses and the trouble they went through in seeking greener pastures and financial
upliftment, and the concomitant tribulations of being separated from their families, having invested so much time, effort
and money to secure their employment abroad. Considering the hard economic times, it is incongruous for the workers
to simply give up their work, return home and be jobless once again.” (Great Southern Maritime Services Corp. vs. Acuna
et.al., February 28, 2005)
The experience of the six courageous women imparts a valuable lesson for the benefit of their fellow sea-based
OFWS Problem-situation: Your contract has not expired. Your captain tells you that your services onboard are no longer
needed. You have not been accused of any misconduct. The captain ordered you to sign a resignation letter plus a
document stating that you release your employer from any kind of liability. What do you do?
Solution: If you have been made to sign a quitclaim or a resignation letter under conditions of coercion, deception, or
harrassment, just keep your cool. Immediately after your repatriation, file a complaint with the POEA, and be not ashamed
to say that you have been forced into signing that document. The shipping company will be duty-bound to come forward
and to prove with convincing evidence that your resignation was voluntary.
Parola no.127 - January - April 2006 - Page 19
SHIP & CREW OF THE MONTH
MT Falcon
The MT Falcon is an 8882
GT chemical tanker under the
command of Capt. Miguel
Fernando Jardiel and Chief
Engineer Cipriano Paragas.
CSO Orelia
A Diving Support Vessel 6,368 GT
Crew with PAROLA ship
visitors
Left: The Filipino crew
with their British captain
and chief engineer.
PHOTO ALBUM: CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION IN ROTTERDAM
Seafarers enjoyed the Yuletide and the New Year with the PSAP team and many friends in the Netherlands. A special appreciation
goes to Port of Rotterdam Harbour Master Mr. Jaap Lems and Philippine Ambassador Romeo Arguelles for their generous
support and encouragement.
Parola no.127 - January - April 2006 - Page 20
The Funny Side of a Seaman’s Life
2 BIRO galing kay Romie D. Rollen, M/V Orelia
Ang Dalawang Probinsiyano
AB at OS
Ang magkumpare nag kita sa kalsada at sabi nang isa,
“Pare, inum tayo kase dumating ang allotment nang
dalawa kong anak.”
Sagot naman nang kumpare nya, “Pare, ano naman ang
trabaho nang dalawa mong anak sa abroad?”
Sagot naman nang ama, “Ang isa Pare, ay AB, at ang
pangalawa ay OS.”
“Ano naman ang
AB at ang OS?”
Sagot naman nang
ama. “Ang isa Pare,
AB ay abroad, ang
isa naman Pare, OS
ay overseas.”
May dalawang magkaibigan na galing probinsiya. Nag
punta sila sa siyudad. Sabi nang isa, “Bay, tara munang
mag palamig, sobrang init.”
At nakakita sila nang isang tindahan,
ang tindera ay nag gagadgad nang
yelo. At sabi nang isa, “Mukhang
masarap yan sa init.”
Sagot nang tindera, “Para sa halo
halo poi to.”
Umorder sila nang dalawang baso.
Sabi nang isa habang kumakain,
“Bay, parang naloko tayo, walang
lasa.”
Sabi naman ang isa, “Wag kang
maingay baka mahalata nila tayong
galing probinsiya.”
Sabi naman ang isa, “Teka, bilis bilisan natin ang kain,
habang lumalalim tumatamis.”
PSAP SHIP VISITOR’S LOG
13 October 2005
Another film documentary featuring the
crew of the PLV Solitare
Dutch graduate school researchers Mr. Joris
de Jong & Dr. Roos Krootjes went onboard
the PLV Solitaire to take video shoots and
interviews of the star-studded crew. The ship
visit was made possible with the assistance
of PSAP’s Engr. Felix Pulmano and Ms. Baby
Gonzales of All Seas BV.
Earlier last year, the Filipino crew of the
largest pipe-laying vessel in the world was
featured in Philippine national television, on
ABS-CBN’s special Correspondents’ epidode
entitled Marino.
Parola no.127 - January - April 2006 - Page 21
PINOY JOKES CONTINUED
(When a ship engineer becomes a radio announcer)
- biro lang ni Engr. Rodnie Ayala, M/V Balticborg
Muli po nating tunghayan, dito lang po sa (DZMD) Direct Zone Maling Dial, ang ulo po nang ating mga balita, sa
ngayon ay masyadong kagimbal-gimbal.
Samantala, dalawang malalaking sasakyan ang mabilisang isinugod, sa kadahilanang pagsalpukan ng dalawa. Napag
alaman ng intistigador ng bayan ang isang sasakyan ay bumabay-bay sa kahabaan ng Alaya sa naturang lungsod ng
Kamatis city. Ang isa namang sasakyan ay kumaripas ng takbo mula sa may Gil Duyan St., ng hindi nila namalayan
ang kanilang pagsalpukan.
Ng dahil sa malakas ang tinsyon ng kanilang banggaan, kaagad naman namatay ang dalawa. Kung kaya’t mabilis sila
nakita ng MMDA, na kung sila kaagad ay kinuha sa lugar na pinangyarihan ng sakuna at dagliang isinugod sa mga
lehitimong manggagawa.
Hindi na nakuhang gawin ng manggagawa na ayusin ang dalawang namatay ng dahil sa malakas na salpok na kung
saan ang mga kasu-kasuhan ay nagkalasug-lasug na, dagdag pa dito, biyak na ang kanilang mga ulo.
Sa ngayon, ang mga namatay ay nasa pangangalaga ni SPO-10, kung sino man
ang nakakakilala sa kanila, maaari na po nating kunin ang dalawang namatay.
Sila po ay nagngangalang, IZUZU-4BC2 at si TOYOTA XE.
Ang dalawang namatay na ito ay ang kanilang mga makina. Na kung saan ay
biyak na ang ulo o cylinder head, kung kaya’t hindi na kayang gawin ng mga
lehitimong manggagawang inhinyero.
Iyan po ang ating ulo ng balita. Hanggang sa muli.
Na-aalala mo pa ba noon na:
1. diyes lang ang pamasahe, kandong libre pa
2. ang babae lang ang may hikaw
3. ang preso lang ang may tatoo
4. diyes lang ang isang basong taho
5. at kailangan mong magdala ng sarili mong baso, kasi wala pang plastic cups noon si manong na magtataho
6. chocnut, bukayo at vicks ang pinag-gagastusan mo ng singko mo
7. sarsi with egg ang pampataba, at star margarine, at matamis na bao sa umaga
8. nagkakalyo-kalyo ka dahil sa manual typewriter pa ang ginagamit mo para sa school paper mo
9. kaya uso pa noon ang carbon paper
10. at tancho o superman ang pang-ayos mo ng buhok
11. naka-kapag grocery ka na 20 piso lang ang dala
12. anim na numero lang ang kailangan mong tandaan para tawagan ang kaibigan mo
13. singkwenta sentimos lang ang song hits
14. singkwenta sentimos lang ang pagupit
15. pinag-tatawanan ang kalbo
16. hindi uso ang gusot ang buhok at damit
17. nakakahiya kung nakalitaw ang halfslip ng babae, ngayon naka display pa ang panty at pusod
18. hostess pa ang tawag; ngayon GRO na
19. sa Escolta ka namimili ng pamasko mo
20. Jingle lang ang song hits nakakanta na; ngayon naka Karaoke pa
21. $1.00 = 4 pesos
22. sa Quiapo “Praise the Lord”, ngayon “salaam alekum” na
Kung na-aalala mo pa yan eh......MATANDA KA NA !!!
Parola no.127 - January - April 2006 - Page 22
PHILIPPINE SEAFARERS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME, ROTTERDAM
ISSN: 1389-9465
Editorial Staff
editorial box
Josie Pulmano
Peter Payoyo
PSAP was founded in 1981 in
Rotterdam with the aim of supporting
Filipino seafarers in their struggle for
better working and living conditions.
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 intercultural understanding .
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
Center for Seafarers’ Rights
241 Water Street, New York, NY 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
FROM THE CREW OF CSO ORELIA
Greetings to my wife Joan Sajonia and my little boy Marc Justine.
Wishing you all the best out there, I love you. God bless
Tatay (Marco Sajonia)
I love you, I missed you so much. Bear in your mind,
that you’re the only wife in my life. If you trust me, I trust you 100%
Jass Ranoco, Southern Leyte
Hi Love its me once again. Kumusta na sila Carl at EJ.
Hope you’re all okey, God bless!!!
Jay Parras
My wife, Susan, Hello Kumusta na. I love you, I miss you so much.
Take care, be with you always. Aaron aral kang mabuti.
Armando Caneda
To my wife Annabel & sons: Mac-mac & Aky. This sacrifice of mine is dedicated
to all of you. We may be far away from each other, but my heart stays with you.
My loving wife and sons, God is always with us.
Love & kisses, Papa Bien
Happy greetings to my wife Lisa Aquino & to my children Clarisse & Jeff Jeff.
Wishing you all the best, and don’t forget I will always love you 4ever.
Love tatay Emerson C. Aquino
Greeting to my wife, Bhing, and to my two boys, Yogi and Tedi.
Reaching out with all my love across the seas...
Yong C. Hector
PSAP-PAROLA extends its heartfelt condolences to the family and
comrades of Ferdinand Plata from Parang, Batangas, who passed
away after his return to the Philippines from Adelaide. Ferdinand was
an AB on the MV Mawashi Al Gasseem (see story on pp. 12-13).
PHILIPPINE SEAFARERS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME, ROTTERDAM
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.
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.127 - January - April 2006 - Page 23
Pangarap at Pamilya
Akala ng iba, buhay marino’y kay sarap, malikot na alon, hatid ay hirap
Sa karagatang kay lapad, pag-asa’y hinahanap, upang sa pamilya’y makamit ang pangarap
Buhay mandaragat, kung iyong iisipin, hirap at pasakit, pilit mong titiisin
Hagupit na alon, ay di mo pansin , sa litrato ng pamilya, lagi kang nakatingin
Dalangin sa maykapal, ilayo sa sakuna, araw ng pag-alis, mahal paalam na
Pangarap sa pamilya, ay syang laging una
Sipag at tiyaga, sa barko’y lagi kong gawa, aking perang naipon, ang hatid ay tuwa
Pag-tiket ko’y hawak na, agad tawag sa asawa, buo kong pamilya, lahat ay nakatawa.
Arman Enriquez & Neil Verocel
PHILIPPINE SEAFARERS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME, ROTTERDAM
MV Pride of Brugges
YES, I would like to receive a copy of Parola regularly.
Please send my copy to the name and address below.
Name:
Address:
Parola no.127 - January - April 2006 - Page 24
Parola is a publication
supported by
FILIPPIJNENGROEP
NEDERLAND