Capt. Adonis Donato: The epitome of seafaring dignity and nobility

The epitome of seafaring dignity and nobility
Yashika F. Torib December 25, 2019 https://www.manilatimes.net/2019/12/25/business/maritime-business/the-ep...

Adonis Donato is known to the maritime industry as a man of many designations: ship captain; rear admiral with the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary; president of OSM Maritime Services, one of the country’s biggest manning companies; a Navy man; and an early achiever at the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA).

Behind all the accomplishments, decorations and accolades, however, is a simple and modest man who embraces his moral ideals and faith so much that he would shun convenience and stand by his principles.

As his peers would attest, the industry over the years bore witness to Donato’s integrity that shook the deeply rooted foundations of corruption in various sectors. Case in point was the ultimate educational sacrifice that he had to endure, leaving the academy as a first classman along with his batchmates, as a show of disapproval of the exploitation of resources by the Academy officials and instructors back then.

Donato, then the cadet captain and corps commander of his class, marched off the grounds of PMMA to advocate the rights of his fellow cadets, even at the expense of his own standing. Even after concessions were made, the young man and his batchmates withstood appalling circumstances during their graduation, an incident that led most of Batch 66 to work straight for the Philippine Navy.

Giving dignity to the maritime profession

It was his stint with the Navy and the transfer to the Coast Guard that led Donato to another test of integrity — managing the infamous Seaman’s Registry Processing Unit (SPRU) which handles the processing and release of Seaman’s Book in the early ‘80s.

“The seafarers were not treated as professionals but as mere military recruits who were demanded to take haircuts, knock their heads, and sing the national anthem prior to the issuance of their seaman’s book. Many were asked for bribes even as people were looking down on them as an inferior class of mariners,” Donato recalled.

Emphasizing for his fellow merchant mariners, Donato, then a Coast Guard commander, requested to be assigned at the SPRU to correct the practices and remove all forms of corruption and degradation that seafarers had to endure in exchange for the issuance of their their Seaman’s Book. Such daring and direct act of intervention enraged many with some remarking how the new SPRU Director was foolish not to enrich himself with the opportunities at hand.

Nonetheless, Donato gathered all of the bribed items and returned it to the shipping agencies and seafarers, thus, earning their respect and finally setting straight the reputation of SPRU.

It was also during this time that he headed the National Seaman’s Board and became the sole representative of the Philippines to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 1978 Mother Convention in the United Kingdom. It was the first and founding event that commenced the professionalizing of the merchant marine industry through the implementation of guidelines on certification and training, an episode that gave birth to a series of amendments to further improve and professionalize seafaring.

More than just dollars and travels

“Whenever I ask the seafarers as to why they are in this profession, I normally get these: ‘to earn dollars and see the world for free,’” Donato lamented. “If your motivation in entering this profession is merely material-based, you cannot be successful. There is no respect to the nobility and significance of our profession.

“Many would simply stop sailing as soon as they have saved enough to build a business; only a few have dreamt of becoming captains and chief engineers. They must understand that ours is second to none when it comes to nobility. Ships connect the world by transporting goods and people thus boosting global economy. This is the oldest profession in the world and we have been instrumental in all of the nations’ economic progress and human survival.

“The ships don’t move by themselves, seafarers do it and no ordinary man can be a seafarer. People would say that those who are not intelligent enough to become doctors or architects or teachers should just become a seaman; that is not true. In fact, we are the only profession that has several licensure examinations for a person to reach the peak of his career. We move an island of steel worth billions of dollars, we navigate using highly sophisticated technology and celestial landscapes. Without seafaring, world economy will be paralyzed. How come we let others insult our profession without defending it?” Donato explained.

“It takes a different person to be a seafarer, not everyone is made for it. You need to be strong in faith, be able to face the storms and loneliness of being away from your loved ones.”

In honor of his contributions for more than two decades of service, OSM named a foundation after Donato’s name. He is technically retired, but practically never will be as he continues to be the lighthouse of OSM. He shares a life of faith and simplicity with wife Josefina and daughter Cheri Marie, and as with many Filipino seafarers, takes to singing his faith, joys and blues away.