Empathy at work: Ex-seafarer pays forward

Empathy at work: Ex-seafarer pays forward
Yashika F. Torib February 24, 2021 https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/02/24/business/maritime-business/empath...

Inability to help others can feel overwhelmingly difficult for people who made it a mission to alleviate the suffering of others. Their empathy is such that they feel particularly drawn to people who’ve had more than their fair share of troubles in life, things that can only be understood by someone who has experienced the same pains in the past.

This rings true for Arvin Peralta, an inspector for the global welfare group, International Transport Workers Federation (ITF). As a former seafarer, Peralta knew the hardships and the occasional injustices done to sea-going transport workers. These issues were the same concerns brought to him mostly by Filipino seafarers.

“Unpaid wages, repatriation, and unsafe or unhealthy working conditions are the most common issues of international seafarers. For Filipinos, concerns include blacklisting and ‘backer’ system,” Peralta said.

Accordingly, some Filipino seafarers who report their concerns to ITF are slapped with threats of getting blacklisted by their manning or shipping agencies. Others who are still new to the profession are subjected to a ‘backer system’, an unfair employment scheme that has become a norm in the Philippines.

For Peralta, these two concerns lie beyond the boundary of his ability to help.

“Blacklisting and backer system have been typical practices to some in the manning sector but it is difficult to prove. Knowing that I cannot help seafarers who are subjected to these is difficult for me because an ITF inspector can never guarantee employment – we cannot get them on board ships nor we can assure that they can keep it,” Peralta lamented.

“Companies have the prerogative to choose who to hire and who not to,” he added.

Despite working for an international trade union that passionately fights to improve the working conditions of people across the world, Peralta’s greatest frustration is not being able to help everyone.

“There are still shipowners and manning agencies that treat seafarers as an expendable resource. The most difficult for me is knowing that there is a limited extent on the assistance I could offer to seafarers,” he said.

Paying Forward

Peralta’s passion for seafarers is one that is driven by gratitude.

He came from the third generation in a family of engineers. By taking up a full-scholarship with the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP) in Mariveles, Bataan, he became the first marine engineer and seafarer in his clan.

“I owe my education and achievements to the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seaman’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) that established Maap in 1998.” AMOSUP was established by the celebrated master mariner, Gregorio Oca, in 1972 to champion the rights and welfare of Filipino seafarers.

The scholarship from Maap and a cadetship program with Thome Ship Management (Tsm) honed Peralta’s skills until he became a chief engineer aboard LPG and chemical tankers. It was here that he learned of the trials and triumphs of seafarers. “It made me appreciate the efforts and hardships endured by those who are working in the maritime industry,” he said.

It was this sense of gratitude and concern for his fellow seafarers that led Peralta to work for ITF, a path that he chose to take over an opportunity of another land-based job. He is appointed as the ITF Inspector in Manila, representing Amosup and covering the Luzon island group.

The optimist

What fuels his determination lies in the natural sense of optimism that is known to his family and friends.

“They knew me as ‘Abaw’, the optimist in the face of difficulties and someone they can rely on to,” Peralta said. He also radiates the vivacity of youth, sustained mostly by his enduring love for sports, football, in particular, building Gundam model kits, and reading picture novels.

“During the pandemic, however, most of my free time was spent making memories with my family especially with my newborn son,” Peralta said proudly.

With all the optimism and hope inspired by the cheers of a new life, Peralta urged his fellow seafarers to hold on and just keep moving forward. “Stay determined, focused, and resilient. There may still be travel restrictions around the world but rest assured that the ITF inspectorate in Manila is ready to hear you out and give assistance whenever needed,” he concluded.