Marina honors Northern Mindanao seafarers

IN GIVING honor and respect to Filipino seafarers in Northern Mindanao, the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) spearheaded Monday the second year celebration of the Filipino Seafarer’s Day at the car park of SM City Cagayan de Oro.

The celebration, dubbed as Day of Seafarer with the theme “Saludo Kami, Marinong Pinoy! Bayani Ka Talaga,” was participated by representatives from different government and shipping organizations, relatives of seafarers, ship owners, schools and other related agencies.

Engineer Emmanuel B. Carpio, Marina regional director for Caraga and Northern Mindanao, said the celebration was in line with President Benigno Aquino’s Executive Order 1183 proclaiming and giving respect, recognition and gratitude to the Filipino seafarers who became “sailing ambassadors” of the country.

Carpio said the celebration also aims to strengthen the recognition of the victims of piracy in Somalia in September 2011 where 14 Filipino crew members were held captives by pirates for 11 days.

Reports said the Philippines tops the leading supplier of ship crew with more than 350,000 sailors manning luxury liners, oil tankers and passenger vessels worldwide, thus exposing them to piracy attacks. (Abigail Chee Kee Malalis)