The Filipino seafarers are not only major contributors to
the country’s economic growth, they are also ‘saint potentials’, thus
said Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle during the 17th National
Seafarers' Day (NSD) last September 30, 2012 .
The archbishop was referring to Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Blessed Pedro Calungsod, the soon-to-be second Filipino saint as he noted that these Philippine Catholic Church’s two martyrs were seafarers and missionaries at the same time before they became saints. He added that Ruiz and Calungsod sailed to other countries and died for a mission: “to teach the Good News.”
“You should be instruments for what is good work and not of temptations,” he added. “The Filipinos today are sailing everywhere. Bring with you the best of the Filipinos.”
President Benigno Aquino III approved Proclamation 481 declaring October
21 as the national day of celebration on the canonization
of Blessed Pedro Calungsod to honor his “life and martyrdom”. “The life and martyrdom of Blessed
Calungsod shall serve as an inspiration to Filipinos, particularly the youth to
live a life anchored on values and principles,” part of the proclamation reads.
Calungsod was a teenage catechist from Visayas who accompanied Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores in Tumhon village in Guan, Marianas, where they were killed on April 2, 1672. Blessed Pope John Paul II beatified him in March 2000.
Calungsod was a teenage catechist from Visayas who accompanied Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores in Tumhon village in Guan, Marianas, where they were killed on April 2, 1672. Blessed Pope John Paul II beatified him in March 2000.
The Philippines is considered as the
major supplier of maritime labor globally. Philippine Overseas Employment
Administration (POEA) data showed that the deployed Filipino seafarers in 2006
(274,497), 2007 (266,553), 2008 (261,614), 2009 (330,424), 2010
(347,150), and 2011 (400,000) brought in the dollar
remittances that have also been constantly increasing from US$1.9B in
2006, US$2.2B in 2007 , US$3B in 2008, US$3.4B in 2009, US$3.8B in 2010 to
S$4.3B in 2011. On the other hand, the Philippines as a flag State has a
registered fleet comprising around 1.4% of total world tonnage.
Given the vast Philippine coast line
(twice the size of the United States and nearly three times more than China),
Filipinos have natural maritime instincts that place them at an advantage over
other nationalities. Foreign shipowners are known to prefer Filipino seafarers
for equally important qualities: dedication and discipline, industry,
flexibility, loyalty, English language fluency, adaptability, positive work
attitude, law-abiding, and problem-solving capability.
