National Maritime Week 2005 in the Philippines
National Seafarers’ Day, 25 September 2005
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National Seafarers’ Day is celebrated every year on the last Sunday of September. From the outset, the Apostleship of the Sea has been mandated to organise the events of this day. Other maritime related organisations are officially encouraged to lend support. In Manila alone, several hundred participated in 2005 including most of the manning agencies together with maritime schools.
On National Seafarers’ Day 2005, all AOS Port Chaplains presided over a Eucharistic celebration offered for the welfare of all seafarers. Several hundred seafarers’ wives and port workers attended these ceremonies.
Around 8,000 people participated in National Seafarer’s Day in Manila. Events included a grand parade: a sea of colours, banners, uniforms and floats with music from bands of the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard Agency. One maritime school, the Asian Institute of Maritime Studies, provided a beautiful float inspired by the AOS image of Jesus pointing the way to seafarers across the oceans.
The parade ended at the Quirino Grandstand which was filled to capacity. Events at the grandstand included a silent drill display and the awarding of the title of Outstanding Seafarer of the Year. Prizes were also awarded in the oratorical and song-writing contests organised by AOS. Participants used their talents to record joys and sorrows in the daily lives of seafarers.
A highlight of the event was the keynote speech by former President Fidel Ramos. Mr Ramos reflected on the changes since the celebrations were instituted ten years previously. Standards in maritime schools had greatly improved. The Philippine Overseas Employment Agency had worked hard to streamline regulations and offer support and guidance to seafarers. However there were still challenges to be met such as:
improving the terms of the standard contract
reducing waiting time for compensation and for other claims
easing the costly and inconvenient process of applying for new contracts
providing appropriate employment programmes for ex-seafarers
legal ratification of norms and recommendations for the protection of seafarers
Mr Ramos paid tribute to all Filipino seafarers, recognising their vital contribution to the national economy. For this reason seafarers are called the “Bagong Bayani” or “new national heroes of the Philippines”. As he spoke, an elderly lady called out from the audience
“Sir don’t forget that behind every one of the “Bagong Bayani”, there is a hard working and self-sacrificing Mother and Wife”.
National Maritime Week, 24-30 September, 2005
National Seafarers’ Day is celebrated as part of National Maritime Week. These celebrations were instituted in 1996 by the then president Fidel Ramos to give due recognition to the vital role played by Filipino seafarers towards the development of the Philippines as a maritime country.
Activities of National Maritime Week are co-ordinated by MARINA, the Maritime Industry Authority working in co-operation with numerous government agencies, industry and welfare bodies. AOS port chaplains and their teams play their part in the celebrations by organising events in their ports.
In the ports, the week began with a “showing of the flags” on all ships in port and a prolonged blowing of ships’ horns. In many ports this was followed by formal opening ceremonies sponsored by the local offices of the Philippine Port Authority. Numerous local radio and television stations broadcast discussions of maritime issues.
During the week several symposia were held on the following themes:
the role of local and national maritime institutions in keeping the country globally competitive
the dangers of STD/HIV/AIDS in the maritime profession
wealth management for seafarers and their families
rights, privileges and programmes for seafarers and their families
In Davao, the week’s events included a mass donation of blood hosted by the Stella Maris Centre. Together, 64 maritime students and port area workers donated approximately 32,000cc of blood to the local Red Cross.
As in previous years, among the most well-attended and moving events of the week were the acts of remembrance for the Filipino Seafarers who had lost their lives at work during the past year. Ceremonies were conducted by AOS port chaplains and seafarers’ family groups in the ports of San Fernando, La Union, Batangas, Manila, Maasin, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Iligan and Davao.
A typical example was the Mass of the Resurrection in the Port of Davao. Mass was held onboard the passenger ferry MV Princess of the South at the invitation of Captain Rito Nerie and his crew. The names of the 224 deceased Filipino seafarers were read during Mass. As each name was read, a candle was lit in the memory of the deceased Seafarer.
Following the Eucharistic celebration, the Davao Harbor Pilots’ Association provided several tug boats for the fluvial procession. As the seafarers’ wives and maritime students made the slow voyage around Davao Gulf, hundreds of cut flowers were thrown into the waves in memory of the deceased Seafarers.
click here to read about the memorial service held during National Maritime Week 2006