CHESTER Cokaliong, the dynamic chief executive officer/chief operating officer of the pace-setting inter-island passenger service provider Cokaliong Shipping Lines, is focused on being a step ahead in the shipping industry. He continues to expand his fleet of internationally classed ships, bringing in innovations for the comfort and safety of his passengers. No ifs and buts, he is determined “to provide only the best for our passengers.”

It was therefore no surprise when he announced the 12th addition to his passsenger roll-on, roll-off fleet, the beautifully renovated mv Filipinas Surigao del Norte which plies the Cebu/Surigao/Cebu route daily; and tugboat number 2, the mt Cokaliong Tug 2, a support vessel to accelerate the docking of the Cokaliong ships in the Cebu port.

Inauguration day was a lovely Saturday afternoon at the Port of Cebu, 3rd Street. Guests of honor were Takanori Tsutai, president of Heart Land Ferry, Sapporo, Japan; Jose Venancio A. Vero Jr., regional director, Maritime Industry Authority 7; Cesar Romero, country chairman of Shell Philippines; Giosue Vezzuto, chief operating officer, Registro Italiano Navale-Asia Singapore; and Toshiki Ishihara, director of Kunimori Engineering Works Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Kobe, Singapore, Manila and Shanghai.

Graciously attending to guests during the inaugural party were members of the Cokaliong family led by the moving spirit of the company Chester, and his charming mother, Gregoria Cokaliong, the grand matriarch of the clan.

Cheers!