Ten Outstanding Maritime Students of the Philippines: Excellence as a habit

Excellence as a habit
AMBASSADOR CARLOS SALINAS NOVEMBER 06, 2018 https://www.manilatimes.net/excellence-as-a-habit/462740/

For anyone who is deeply committed to their field and profession, there are few things more gratifying than being with young people who excel in the same field, who will carry the torch and ensure that the field will expand and grow stronger.

That’s how I felt last September 30, when 10 young men were honored as the Ten Outstanding Maritime Students of the Philippines. Now on its eighth year, the annual search has inspired maritime students to achieve excellence in the field and serve as inspiration to those who will come after them.

When British statesman James Ramsay MacDonald was asked to define the educated man, he said: “The educated man is a man with certain subtle spiritual qualities which make him calm in adversity, happy when alone, just in his dealings, rational and sane in the fullest meaning of that word in all affairs of life.”

This is the kind of person the search committee, led by Search Director Jo Mari Hieras, had in mind, when they scoured the country for active learners who have initiative and creativity, positive values and collaborative spirit, vision, confidence, and integrity. Out of the 70 candidates, 20 finalists passed the rigorous screening process. They are from universities in various parts of the country, among them Asian Institute of Maritime Studies, Davao Merchant Marine Academy, John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation, Malayan Colleges, Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific, Philippine Merchant Marine Academy, ST-MTCM, University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu Mandaue, University of Perpetual Help System, and University of the Visayas.

When I embarked on a career in maritime entrepreneurship 50 years ago, seafaring was not yet a developed sector. Only 2,000 Filipino seafarers were sailing on international ships at any given time. But driven by dogged singleness of purpose and our unwavering belief in the future of the industry, and with the help of the Philippine government and other industry stakeholders, we successfully harnessed the potential of the Filipino seafarer. With proper education and sustained training, our seafarers have become the most sought-after by foreign shipowners because of their competence, dedication, professionalism, service orientation, and English proficiency. Consequently, there are now roughly 400,000 Filipinos plying international waters, comprising 25 percent of total maritime professionals worldwide.

Last year, these Filipino seafarers brought in US$5.9 billion in remittances, 22 percent of the total dollar remittances from OFWs. As such, they play a significant role in promoting sustainable national economic growth.

It is only right, therefore, that we recognize the excellence of the best among them, and hold them up as role models for the younger ones to emulate, and encourage those who are still trying to decide on what profession to pursue, to consider seafaring as a viable career choice.

And because it is part of our objective to acknowledge the excellence of our top maritime students, let me now commend the 2018 TOMSP Awardees: Aison Belarmino (University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, UPHSD), Ian Christian Elardo (DMMA College of Southern Philippines), Christian Gilbert Esteban (Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific), John Paul Guevarra,
(Philippine Merchant Marine Academy), Daimler Daves Nisco, (Malayan Colleges), Jancarl Gregory Palacio, (University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu Mandaue), Carl Oscar B. Pena, (Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific), France Gerard Santamena (John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation), Junel Kristian Semana, (Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific); and Ken Arnie Tulmo, (John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation).

Congratulations to all of you, keep up the good work, and remember the words of Martin Luther King Jr: “Whatever your life’s work, do it well. A person should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.”