The running Pinoy seaman

The running seaman
Yashika F. Torib June 10, 2020 https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/06/10/business/maritime-business/the-ru...

Life at sea is hard. The physically and mentally draining tasks, social isolation and deadly sea-borne calamities literally place a seafarer’s foot on the grave. But life on shore, without a job, is equally fatal not just for the seafarer but for his family and all others on his long list of beneficiaries.

Such difficulty struck tens of thousands of Filipino seafarers who were left jobless by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic that rendered global industries paralyzed for months.

John Diamante, a former seafarer, knows how this struggle could take a hard toll on a mariner and his family. Seafaring has been anchored so deep in him that even after two decades of hanging his hat, his affinity with the sea stays. He understood the level of distress and as with the usual esprit de corps among shipmates, he immediately moved to rescue as much floundering men as he can.

And so he ran.

Known in the United Kingdom as “John the Running Man,” Diamante did what he does best to raise funds for financially-challenged Filipino seafarers – running an ultramarathon.

“After speaking to a number of seafarers, I found out that they have been struggling financially as they could not go back to work yet following the lockdown caused by Covid-19,” Diamante said.

“And so I asked a few friends at the Parkrun organization to help me complete a 100-kilometer run with the aim of raising at least £1000. Afterwards, I contacted Roger Harris, executive director of the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) to assist me in setting up the donation page JustGiving,” he added.

The ultramarathon made waves in London, Diamante’s home for two decades now. The Filipino running community joined the said virtual and global isolation running festival at the Norman Park in Bromley, a large town in southeast London. It also earned the support of Parkrun organizers and several British running clubs, particularly the Bromley Veteran Athletics Club were Diamante is a member.

“They took turns running with me during the entire distance until I finished the challenge. Betty Foggitt, Arvin Panes, Santos Diana, Eduardo Buglosa Jr., Myelene Ugali Elliott and Marlo Foronda, who are all members of our Pinoy Runners London group, provided me with moral and physical support at that time,” Diamante said,

Helping those back home

As Diamante and his friends sweated out 50 laps of the Norman Park track, overwhelming responses flooded his social media and donations trickled in generously until it reached more than £3234 (about P204,840) – a substantial amount that was used to feed jobless seafarers that are stranded in dormitories around Metro Manila.

“They were laid off or unable to join their vessels because of the pandemic. Their families and extended relatives who are relying on them are now facing severe financial hardship. ISWAN is providing financial support through our hardship fund; we urgently raised more money as thousands of seafarers and their families are becoming desperate and unable to afford basic necessities,” he said on the JustGiving website.

“We only need to communicate closely with the mariners to check their needs and identify ways and means to assist them and their families survive a crisis like this. I also believe that this should be done on a regular basis rather than a one-off thing,” Diamante explained.

Looking back, the man shared how from Pontevedra, Negros Occidental, he moved to Manila in 1991 and eventually met his boss, Raul Austria, who hired him in the food, beverage and housekeeping department onboard international cruise ships. This opened opportunities and experiences for Diamante who went on serving the maritime industry for four years, inspired by his older brothers who are also seafarers.

“Seafaring runs in our family and it gave us a chance to see the world. It also opened our eyes to the reality of life at sea – it was never easy. Just like any other jobs, it demands commitment, discipline and passion,” he said.

His love for the sea was matched only by the love he has found in his wife and three children, leading him to hang his hat as a seafarer and happily settle in London. He then worked as a security personnel for pharmaceutical firms and service apartments in London, and now with UK’s largest housing company.

In his free time, Diamante runs long distances and has so far completed more than 40 official ultramarathons and marathons on top of his regular weekly runs. “This form of lifestyle has helped me improve my health as well as inspire fellow Filipinos to use running as a means to become a better person,” he said.

Amid the new life he is leading in a far-off land, Diamante never lost touch with his seafarer friends. “Seafaring has left a deep mark in me that I still remain in contact with my former colleagues and friends on cruise ships,” he said.

His communication led him to discover the plight of his brothers in the service.

“Never give up’, I’d say to them. Always have hope and remain strong in the middle of life’s challenges. Know that someone somewhere has always got your back. You just have to stay active to stay strong,” he advised.