Parola no.101 • November - December 1999 • Page ¾

NO: 101 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1999

Peace and prosperity in the new millennium. Happy New Year !!! Welcome 2000!

Malacañang announced in Novem-ber the reelection of the Philippines as a member of the council of the Inter-national Maritime Organization (IMO), a victory that will help the Estrada administration fulfill its commitment of safeguarding the welfare of more than 250,000 Filipino seafarers and protecting the country’s marine re-sources.

Transportation and Commun-ica-tions Secretary Vicente Rivera Jr. reported to President Estrada that the Philippines retained its seat in the council for another two years until 2001.

Rivera headed the Philippine dele-gation at the 21st session of the IMO assembly held in London.

In his memorandum to the Presi-dent, Rivera noted that despite limited resources, the Philippines ranked ninth among the 22 countries that contested 16 IMO council seats.

“This is a hotly contested, hard-won and well-deserved victory, Mr. President. This victory reflects the lofty stature and tremendous pres-tige being enjoyed by our country under your inspiring leadership. Our being elected for the second time is a confirmation of our country’s posi-tive contribution to the world maritime community,” Rivera said. (ManilaB-ulletin, Philippine Media Online editon, November 1999)

IMO reelects RP

The year 1999 is a very significant period in PSAP’s almost 20 years of exist-ence. This year, PSAP has been able to strengthen its AIDS education program for seafarers. The evaluation and the fine tuning of the educational approach developed during the pilot years of 1996-1998 have enriched tremendously PSAP’s capacity in dealing with the issue.

With all the experiences earned in the last three years, PSAP has been challenged to expand the AIDS education campaign to include general health issues, specifically, malaria and hepatitis. Networks and contacts in Amster-dam, Delfzijl, Piraeus, Barcelona and Copenhagen have agreed to join the campaign. Furthermore, with PSAP’s initiation, discussions and planning are going on among Ghanaians and Indonesians seafarers and their friends who have shown interest to take up the issue of health.

Seafarers’ health: PSAP priority in the new millennium

More on page 2

The November meeting of the International Committee on Seafarers’ Welfare (ICSW) approved the membership of PSAP.

“It gives me great pleasure to be able to inform you that at its meeting of November 30, 1999, the Committee of the ICSW approved membership of the PSAP within the ICSW,” wrote Andrew Elliott, Secretary of the ICSW in a letter to PSAP.

The ICSW’s Presidium comprise representatives of the International Transport workers Federation (ITF), International Shipping Federation (ISF), International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA), United Seamen’s Service (USS) and the Swedish Government Seamen’s Service (HKF).

The main objectives of the ICSW are:To promote the provision of welfare services at sea and ashore for seafarers;

to identify the need for facilities and services in accordance with ILO instru-ments; to provide advice and assistance to international, national, municipal and port authorities including advice on practical implementation of the ILO instruments; and to establish and maintain close working relationships with ILO, and in particular, act as an advisory body to ILO.

For PSAP, its membership to ICSW means, among other things, a very strong support for its lobby and advocacy work. (Nonoy Ty)

ICSW approves PSAP membership

Parola no.101 • November - December 1999 • Page ¾

In early 1990’s, the program was conceptualized when PSAP’s seafaring contacts became increasingly worried about the general lack of information and serious discussion on STD’s and HIV/AIDS. In 1996 the program was made possible with the support of the ITF Seafarers’ Trust in London. The three-year pilot project was started in Rotterdam.

In designing a prevention program for STD’s/HIV/AIDS for seafarers, PSAP considered the following: seafarers stay for short periods in ports; there are cul-tural sensitivities to recognize and respect; and, the issue of STD’s/HIV/AIDS among seafarers is very sensitive because it may cost them their job.

Twenty years of providing assistance to the seafarers has created a bond of trust between PSAP and the Filipino seafarers. Therefore, PSAP was chal-lenged and was confident to initiate and implement the project.

Development of an educational approach: the Rotterdam Experience

An AIDS prevention approach for seafarers can only be effective if it takes into consideration their concrete life situation, especially those factors that make them vulnerable like their extreme mobility, their great stress and their binge behavior once on the shore, like excessive drinking and womanizing.

The joint training provided by PSAP and the GGD/City Health Depart-ment, Rotterdam clarified the basic information about HIV/AIDS. Among the participants, were experienced seafarers who contributed significantly in un-derstanding the attitudes that put seafarers at risk.

To reach out to the seafarers, the PSAP existing social and sports activities were used as vehicles to bring out the issue. For example, during the sports activities, the slogan “Play Safe” was introduced with a logo showing a basket-ball with an anchor entering a condom.

These activities were also meant to intensify contact with seafarers and facili-tate educational sessions on board and ashore. Seafarers themselves became participants in the particularization of the approaches and the educational ma-terials.

Seafarers expressed strong interest in real life stories and fresh information, especially in terms of what is happening back home. This led to the publication of a number of specific materials — three posters; a series of articles printed in Parola; and the Singing Mate comics.

The story of the Singing Mate was drafted by a seafarer, based on a real-life experience. It was developed by PSAP AIDS educators into comics form. The Singing Mate story was enriched with the experience of a seafarer living with AIDS who was met by two PSAP educators during the Asia-Pacific AIDS Congress in Manila in November 1997. The first draft of the Singing Mate was published in February 1998 and tested by the AIDS educators on board ships and ashore, including Filipino migrant community in Rotterdam. The response of Filipino seafarers was very positive and with some adjustments based on their questions and suggestions, the Singing Mate was finally published in Feb-ruary 1999.

Singing Mate evaluated

A report

PSAP AIDS education program for Filipino seafarers

Nonoy Ty

The publication and evaluation of the Singing Mate were made possible with another grant from ITF Seafar-ers’ Trust. The Seafarers International Research Center (SIRC-Cardiff Uni-versity) through Dr. Erol Kahveci helped in the evaluation. He trained the AIDS educators and volunteers of PSAP. He also assisted in developing the questionnaire.

Seafarers working in the regular lin-er trade Amsterdam and Rotterdam, and seafarers on board in dry-dock were given the comics and the ques-tionnaires. A follow-up visit after a few days or weeks was made to collect the filled out questionnaires.

Of the 322 respondents, 97% stat-ed that using comic materials like the Singing Mate is a good idea to rein-force AIDS awareness. Although 3% of the respondents questioned the ef-fectiveness of using comic for AIDS awareness, all respondents agreed that in particular the Singing Mate has a strong message. 96% shared the view that the Singing Mate sends a clear message about the impor-tance of safe sex. When respondents were asked whether there is need to produce similar comics with different stories, 98 % answered yes. Rea-sons for answering yes: 44% said that comics give good advice and good lesson; 26% stated that the comics are a mind opener and pro-mote HIV/AIDS awareness and 17% said that they are reminded to take precautions.

The futurePSAP network and contacts in Bar-

celona, Piraeus, Amsterdam, Delfzijl and the Philipppines are interested to test and use the Rotterdam ex-perience. The plan is to validate and enhance this experience in various ports. Furthermore, other groups of seafarers, specifically the Ghanaians and Indonesians will be approached for possibilities of collaboration. PSAP has had initial discussions with these groups.

Next Issue: The results of the study on Filipinos on board Dutch ships.

Parola no.101 • November - December 1999 • Page ¾

The livelihood and trade fair - “Pam-askong Handog para sa Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) 1999’’ - was held at the POEA grounds in Mandaluyong City from December 7 to 24.The fair dubbed “OFW Family Mil-lennium Fair ’99 sa POEA” is aimed at providing benefits and opportunities to the country’s more than seven million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families. The event organized by GPI-Pamilyang OFWs Network (POFWN) in cooperation with POEA is in support of President Es-trada’s programs to welcome the OFWs who are returning home to their loved ones this Christmas season and in line with the OFW Month celebration this December. The millennium fair is a one-stop-shop for job, livelihood, investment and busi-ness opportunities being offered by the

POEA holds OFW trade fair public and private sectors. GPI-POFWN Managing Director George A. Arriola said the objective of the fair is to make the OFW families aware of where to best invest the hard-earned money of the OFWs. It is also aimed at making the families of OFWs earn extra income during their spare time. The fair’s theme is “Modern-Day Heroes Gear Up for the New Millennium.” Arriola said among the beneficiaries of the fair are the families of 13 stranded OFWs in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Ara-bia, and other distressed OFW families. Last year, the OFWs deployed across the globe in various occupations and profes-sions remitted US $8 billion plus to their families. (Manila Bulletin, Philippine Me-dia Online edition, December 1999)

Nineteen countries in the Asia-Pacific region have agreed to a proposal by the Philippine government to form a united front in combatting human smuggling and the trafficking of women and children.This was disclosed in November by Immigration Commissioner Rufus Ro-driguez who was in Bangkok where he attended a weeklong conference on inter-national migration policy sponsored by the United Nations. Rodriguez reported that all delegates to the conference agreed to establish a re-gional action center that would pool all resources of the participating countries in combatting the syndicates behind hu-man smuggling and trafficking activities in the region. Aside from the Philippines, the regional action center would include Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hongkong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Papua

United front on human trafficking

New Guinea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Viet-nam, and Thailand. Rodriguez observed that human smug-gling and trafficking had become a regionwide problem in the Asia-Pacific and that the Philippines had become a major transit point for transporting illegal aliens into other countries. He said at least five countries including the Philippines have been identified as bases of operations by the syndicates, and the others being China, Thailand, Canada, and the United States. Rodriguez explained that the victims of human smuggling and trafficking usu-ally come from China, who are then sent to Manila where they are provided with fake passports from Bangkok which they would use in going to the United States or Canada. He said this was uncovered as a result of the many apprehensions of Chinese na-tions who were barred from leaving the

NAIA for using fake or tampered Japa-nese or Singaporean passports.Rodriguez disclosed that the countries initially agreed in the meeting establish a secretariat based in Bangkok which would gather information relative to the opera-tions of human smuggling and trafficking syndicates before these are disseminated to the governments involved in the ef-fort. He said the participating countries would then enter into bilateral or multilateral agreements that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of the syndicates’ mem-bers. (Manila Bulletin, Philippine Media Online edition, November 1999)

A record number of 2.6 million AIDS victims died this year. There are now a total of 16 million AIDS death and the number of victims still continue to rise despite information campaigns and new medicines developed, says UNAIDS. Since the start of the AIDS epidemic, in late seventies, there are already 50 million people infected with HIV, a vi-rus that will later developed into AIDS. Of this number, there are around 33 million HIV positive people still alive. In 1999 alone, there are 5.6 million people, including children, infected with the HIV virus. These figures were presented by the UNAIDS and the World Health Organisation (WHO) during the World AIDS Day last De-cember 1. Africa, in particular the southern part, is the hardest hit by the AIDS epidem-ic. The fastest growing number of HIV positive is in Russia. Between 1997 and 1999, the number of HIV posi-tive carriers are doubled. In Moscow alone, there are more people infected in the first nine months of 1999 than the total of the whole previous years. According to Peter Piot, director of the UNAIDS, there is no land in this world where the threat of HIV decreases.

AIDS plague continues

Parola no.101 • November - December 1999 • Page ¾

Josie Morilla Pulmano

“Mommy...” Pag may karamdaman ang ating mga anak, si Mommy ang tinatawag. Pag nagugutom sila, si Mommy at ang luto niya ang hiling. Pag teen-ager na sila, at kung ang anak ay lalaki, si Mommy dapat ang tanungin papaano ba sumagot ang babae kung sasabihing “I love you girl”. Kung babae naman ang anak natin, higit na marami dapat tayong maibahagi kung papaano sila mag-ingat sa mga matatamis na salitang “I love you or I just like you”.

Tayong mga Mommy ay may mala-kas na impluwensya sa buhay ng ating mga anak. Pag mali ang prin-sipyo natin sa ating pamumuhay ay siyang babalik sa atin sa pamamagi-tan ng ating mga anak. Naibibigay ba natin ang kanilang kalayaan o sila’y ating pinapahirapan. Napapaunawa ba natin na ang disiplina ay pag-mamahal hindi abuso? Kinakailangan ding magmula ang disiplina sa atin.

Please release them Katulad ng karanasan ko sa aking

mga teenagers. May anak akong babae na 15 anyos. Siya ang gumis-ing sa akin na unawain ko siya bilang isang teenager. Teenager na pala ang aking anak. Mabigat ang loob kong magbigay ng pahintulot upang siya’y mamasyal na kasama ang mga kaibigan at hindi kaming mag-anak. Na-iinsecure akong masyado. Hanggang isang araw ako’y nagising ng paalalahanan ako ng aking anak na siya’y teenager na. Nagkaroon ng panandaliang friction ang aming relasyon. Hindi pa ako handang i-re-lease siya.

Ang katanungan sa aking isipan ay marami, katulad ng: paano na kung may mangyari sa labas at hindi ko nakikita? Paano na kung maaksi-dente at hindi ako kasama? Wow! Para lang akong nanaginip at nagis-

ing. Ngunit nang iwinaglit ko muna ang aking pagka-ina at inumpisahan kong maging isang kaibigan ng ak-ing anak, malaki ang aking nakitang pagbabago. Nahuli ko ang tiwala ng aking anak. Kahit ano ang itanong niya ay bukas ang kalooban ko.

Isang kagalakan nating mga magu-lang yaong kahit wala tayong pera o wala tayong magagawang paraan ay mararamdaman pa rin ng ating anak na tayo’y hahanap ng paraan. Higit sa lahat pagmaipakita natin ang at-ing sarili na sa kahit anong panahon tayo’y bukas sa kanilang pangangai-langan. Yaong maging bukas ang ating pinto sa mga kaibigan din nila. Kausapin mo rin silang tulad din ng isang kaibigan.

OK ba si Britney Spears?Ito ang nararanasan ko sa ngayon.

Masaya ang puso ko pag tinatanong ako ng aking anak kung ano ang masasabi ko doon sa isang kaibigan niya na parang may pa-eye-to-eye ba sa kanya. O kaya tatanungin sa ‘yo kung sino ang pinaka-magandang lalaki sa band na West Life. Ganon din sa anak kong lalaki na 13 anyos. Pag may bagong computer game sa shop bubulahin ako hanggang sa makuha ang loob ko. At tatanungin din sa akin kung maganda ba si Brit-ney Spears (bagong sikat na young American singer) na may kamukha siyang kaklase. Sa mga tanong na ganito mararamdaman lagi nilang sila’y “feel-at- home” sa atin.

Ang ating karanasan sa hirap at ginhawa bilang isang babae, isang maybahay, isang magulang, isang propesyonal at isang mananampal-ataya, sapalagay ko’y makakatulong ng malaki sa pagpapalaki. Ito ang nakita kong isa sa mga malaking re-sponsibilidad nating mga ina. Pag tayo’y isang working Mom, hindi lalo madali ito. Pagkagaling sa trabaho ay may trabaho pa ring sa bahay. Pag wala si Daddy, si Mommy ay Daddy rin. Kahanga-hangang katangian pag tayo’y isang magulang, ang mag-ing maunawain at mapagmahal kahit minsan hindi madali sa kalooban.

Balikan natin ang puso ng at-ing Panginoon bilang isang ina (the

mother heart of God). “Jerusalem, Jerusalem. Pinapatay mo ang mga propeta at binabato ang mga sinugo sa iyo. Makailan kong sinikap na kupkupin ang iyong mga mamamay-an, gaya ng paglukob ng isang inahin sa kanyang mga sisiw ngunit ayaw ka” (Matthew 23:37).

Sa mga may bahay, mga ina na may magandang maibabahagi sa kapwa nating mga kababaihan, in-aasahan kong isulat n’yo sa Kami namang mga babae kolum ng Paro-la.

At para sa lahat, ang aking pagbati sa bagong taon na nawa’y higit nating makamtan ang pagpapala ng Poong Maykapal.

Ang matalinong babae ay

nagtatatag ng kanyang

bahay. Nguni’t ang tahana’y nawawasak

dahil sa kamangmangan.

(Proverbs 14:1)

Ang babae ay isang maybahay, isang karanga-lan ng kanyang

asawa.(Proverbs 12:4)

Kaibigan ng mga anakKami Namang Mga Babae...

Parola no.101 • November - December 1999 • Page ¾

The Maltese-flag tanker Erika was broken into two in heavy seas around 70 miles south of Brest, France on December 12, 1999. All 26 crewmembers were lifted to safety by a French Navy Super Frelon helicopter. Part of the 24,000 cu m heavy fuel oil cargo of 37,283 dwt tanker Erika have already reached the Brittany coast of France as of last week of December 1999.

Oil pollution disaster

An Iloilo-bound passenger ship carrying at least 650 passengers and crew members sank off Bantayan Island due to big waves after it left Cebu City in the morning of December 23. As of December 27, the death toll in the tragedy has risen to 42.The number of casualties and survivors indicate the ferry, MV Asia South Korea, owned by Trans Asia Shipping may have been overloaded. Reports also indicate government port authorities may have been negligent in allowing the vessel to leave Mandaue City on the night of December 22 for Il-oilo City. Maj. Gen. Santos Gabison, chief of the military’s Visayas Command which is coordinating search and rescue efforts, pointed out that the number of casualties and survivors now placed the number of those aboard the ferry at 755. Jonji Gonzales, spokesperson of Trans-Asia Shipping Lines, said the government figures were “inaccurate and unreliable.’’ “We are asking the Office of Civil De-fense in Regions 6 and 7 to cross match their figures,’’ he said. The Viscom had accounted for 689 sur-vivors while the OCDs in Central and Western Visayas both listed 711 survivors. The Office of Civil Defense in Manila also has the same number of survivors. There were also conflicting reports on how bodies have been recovered. The PDI Visayas Bureau counted 42 bodies. But Angel Gaviola, OCD director in Central Visayas, said 45 bodies had been found.

Above the limitWhatever, the number of casualties and survivors still puts the number of those aboard the ferry way above the limit of the 2,840-ton vessel. Trans-Asia Shipping, the operator of the 27-year-old ferry, said the MV Asia South Korea was authorized to carry 614 pas-sengers and a crew of 58. The firm has also denied there was over-loading, stressing that port authorities

Interisland ship sinks in Cebuallowed the ferry to leave after a head count. The Coast Guard district office in Cebu earlier admitted it initially barred the ves-sel from leaving Cebu after discovering it was overloaded. It gave permission for the ferry to leave Wednesday night after unloading excess passengers. Press Secretary Rod Reyes said the sink-ing of the ferry underscored the need for more foreign investments in the local shipping industry. According to a press statement issued by Reyes, the President said the infusion of foreign capital would enable local ship-ping lines to acquire new vessels instead of second-hand ones. (Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Media Online edition, December 1999)

European Union transport ministers have agreed to continue talks on introducing a directive to raise pay and conditions of non-EU crew on passenger ferries on routes within the community to EU lev-els. The owners are against the directive and the unions are for it. Spain emerged as the strongest opponent of the measure, according to a diplomat. The EU’s Por-tuguese presidency in the first half of the year 2000 has agreed to take up the is-sue.

The economic study rejected an argu-ment from the European Community Shipowners Association that other trad-ing blocs would adopt similar measures. Extra annual cost for owners would total US $8 million with US $6 million of this suffered by DFDS and P&O North Sea Ferries on the North Sea market. (Lloyd’s List, December 1999)

Salary standard talks continues

Parola no.101 • November - December 1999 • Page ¾

Kuwento at Buhay Marino Roli Ancha

“. . . Just like the one I used to know? Where the tree tops glisten and children listen to hear the sleigh bells in the snow.” He!he!he! Kay sarap pakinggan at pangarapin ang awit na ito pag ikaw eh nasa Pilipi-nas. Para bagang pagkasarap-sarap sa pakiramdam kapagka Pasko na kung saan ikaw eh nasa sa malamig na lugar at napapalibutan ng sangkat-erbang yelo na anaki mo’y mga bulak sa puti at katabi si Frosty the Snow-man na naka alampay na pula sa leeg at may sambalilo. Ito kasi ang ating naii-picture sa ating isipan kapagka tayo eh nakakatanggap ng X-mas card na imported galing sa malalamig na bansa.

Subalit . . . kung sa kagaya nating Marino na ang biyahe eh sa Argenti-na, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia, Upper North Europe o America, are you dreaming of a white Christmas? Na kung saan halos manigas ang lahat ng parte ng katawan mo sa ginaw. Cold bites na pagkakati-kati, putok na labi at namimiyak na mga palad?? I think it was not the one we used to know. He! he! he!

All is calm?“Silent night, O holy night, all is

calm, all is bright.” Tsk!tsk! Kasali ba kaya ang mga seaman dito? Doon sa all is calm (kalmada) all is bright (maaliwalas na kapalibutan)? Sana naman po eh oo dahil sa buwang ito ng Disyembre, wala pa akong na-tatandaang kalmada at halos ni isang bituin sa langit eh wala kang makikita lalo na sa Biscay at sa iba pang pan-ig ng dagat. He!he!he! Huwag kang mayayamot kabayan. Ito ang totoo

I’m dreaming of a White Christmas

eh! Isinulat ko lang ito nang kung sakaling mabasa ito ng asa-asawa natin . . . eh madama rin naman nila na tayong mga marino eh hindi nakakalasap ng talagang tunay na Pasko kapag nasa laot. Kaya?

Paligid ay magkukulay putiGayon pa man, magpasalamat

pa rin tayo, dahil tayo’y naka sakay ngayong Pasko. At least siguradong may pera at pamasko ang pamilya natin. Eh kung tayo’y nasa lupa, wala namang trabaho, walang pera. Oo nga at kapiling nating sila, pero malalasap din kaya natin ang diwa ng Pasko kung ni pambili ng isang kilong bihon eh wala tayo?

Huwag tayong magtawa kabayan. Maraming gutom ngayon sa atin.

Mas dumami ang pinapaghirap ni Erap. Kabikabila ang rally, sari-saring demonstrasyon, batikosan, pagalin-gan, bawat isa’y may namamayaning poot sa dibdib sanhi ng kahirapan. Poot at galit sa dibdib. Iyan ba ang diwa ng Pasko? Hindi ba at ang Pasko ay ispirito ng pag-ibig? Nang pagmamahalan? Nang pagpapata-wad at pagpapakumbaba? Nasaan ang tunay na Pasko? Nasa sa lupa ba o sa dagat?

Kabayan, nasa sa puso ang tunay na diwa nito. Saan man tayo naro-roon ki nasa sa lupa man, ki nasa pinakamalamig pa tayong lugar, kung may pag-ibig sa puso natin, kung handa tayong magpakumbaba at magpatawad, walang pagka-inggit at panibugho, madarama natin ang aliwalas ng kapaligiran, ang kalmada

ng damdamin. Ang buong paligid ay magkukulay puti na anaki mo’y bu-lak. Sapagka’t ipinasok natin sa ating puso ang pag-ibig na dala ng sanggol na may birthday sa araw ng Pasko na isinilang lamang sa isang napakaha-mak na sabsaban.

Sa inyong lahat na kapwa ko Ma-rino:

Maligayang Pasko, saan mang parte ng dagat kayo naroroon.

Nasaan ang tunay na diwa ng Pasko? Nasa sa lupa ba o nasa sa dagat? Kabayan, nasa sa puso ang tunay na diwa nito. Saan man tayo naroroon, kung may pag-ibig sa puso natin, kung handa tayong magpakumbaba at magpatawad, walang pag-ka-inggit at paninibugho, madarama natin ang ali-walas ng kapaligiran, ang kalmada ng damdamin.

Parola no.101 • November - December 1999 • Page ¾

My greetings to my beloved family in the Philippines. My beloved wife, Nolime Matining and kids, Michelle, Michael, Marie Grace, John Paulo, Fiena. Greetings.

Tatay Ped - M/V Nostos T. PanamaMerry Christmas to the following seafarers: Sa mga batang Career, Antonio Suner, Chris Labos, Reggie Gomez, Jimmy Brillantes, Zaldy Abejero, Litong smuggler sec he!he!he! And most of all . . here at UCT Lavenburg, Viel, Benjamine, Edwin, Lakhay, Egay Jonathan, Arthur and Captain Ernesto Mercado. Also, to Capt. Abiba and Capt. Pacaon, Merry Christmas sa inyong lahat & Happy New Year din!

Ric Santos - UCT LavenburgMy warmest greetings to my loving wife, Pingping and to my kids, Rio, Melvin, Chritopher and Johanna. Also to all my olds and in-laws, I love you all and wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2000.

George Gesulgon - M/V NeerlandicMy warmest greetings and sweet hello to my wife, Marivic. To my loving parents, brothers and sisters. My best regards to Nanay, Eva & Jos, no matter how far we are from each other, there is no distance in prayer. God will always make us close together.

Bosun Domingo Mari - M/V NeerlandicMerry Christmas and a blessed and prosperous New Year to my ever loving wife, Vangie, my cute daughters, Amor and CM Kids. May you study well and be good girls always. Sweetheart, sweet kisses.

Papa Er Gotera - MT AlexandrosMerry Christmas and a prosperous millennium year to 2/O Eddie Aloha of M/V Good News. Kuya umuwi na po ako, kaya may God bless you and your every trip na lang.

Al Gaspar Bolijuan - MT Alexandros

Marlene Macatangay Editor

Basco Fernandez, Josie Pulmano and Nonoy Ty Editorial Staff

Margie Holmes, Felix Pul-mano and Roli Ancha

Columnists

Abas Abdula, Edgar Econ and Leshley Liauw

Technical StaffParola is published bi-monthly by

the Philippine Seamen’s Assistance Program(PSAP). PSAP is a non-stock,

non-profit foun-dation registered in the Chamber of Commerce No. S127664, Rotterdam, The

Netherlands.

PSAP was founded in 1981 in Rotterdam with the aim to support

Filipino seafarers in their struggle for better working and living conditions.

PSAP’s Objectives

To contribute to seafarers awareness about their workers and human rights.

To provide support and services to seafarers

To promote seafarers awareness on HIV/AIDS and other health related

issues

To enhance better cooperation among seafarers of various nationalities

through better unders- tanding of each other culture.

Addresses:

PSAP Rotterdam Rm. 433, Willemskade 13

3016 DK Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Tel. 010-2400930 Fax. 010-2400932

E-mail. psap97@wxs.nl

Centro Filipino-Seamen’s Desk Calle Riera Vaja 6-4

0881 Barcelona, Spain

Kasapi Seafarers’ Assistance Program Labor Center of Piraeus

Skylitsi 19, Piraeus, Greece

International Christian Maritime Association(ICMA) 2/3

Orchard Place, Southampton S01 1BR England

Center for Seafarers’ Rights 241 WAter Street, New York,

NY 10038 Tel. 212-3499090 Fax. 212-3498342

Printed by: Drukkerij Dizayn

ISSN: 1389-9465

Subscribing to Parola is your way of supporting the publication.

A yearʼs subscription costs US$10.00. Send the amount to:

P S A P Rm. 433, Zeemanshuis RotterdamWillemskade 133016 DK RotterdamThe Netherlands

Thank you for your support.See page 8, please...

Parola no.101 • November - December 1999 • Page ¾

Maligayang Pasko mga kapwa ko MarinoGayon din sa lahat na mga PilipinoAting pagyamanin ang araw na itoSapagkat ngayon nga ay ang birthday ni Kristo.

Ipinararating ko rin ang aking pagbatiSa taga PSAP at mga kawaniSana’y tumibay pang lalo ang pagpupunyagiUpang makamtan natin ating minimithi.

Sa mga magulang ko’t kaibigan, pamangkin at kapatidMaligayang Pasko rin malugod kong pagbatiSana’y malasap natin ligaya’t biyayang hatidNg Poong Maykapal na buhat pa sa langit.

Ang tahimik kong pagbati, nais kong ihandog Sa nag-iisang babaeng lubos kong iniirogTeenager pa lang kami, ang puso ko ay tumibokPasko ring tulad ngayon, hindi ko malilimot.

Saan ka man naroroon, sa Pasig, man o Makati

Ang Tahimik Kong PagbatiO baka nasa Angeles o kaya’y sa CaviteHangad ko’y ligaya mo, lahat ng ikabubutiSukdulang ibigay ko, pati ang aking sarili.

Merry Christmas din nga pala, sus! muntik ko ng malimutanSa iisang babae pang, akin namang napakasalan.Huli ka man sa pagbati ko’y, muntik pang makaligtaanAko nama’y iyong-iyo, ilang Pasko pa ang dumaan.

Sa iba pang mga babae na sa Marino’y nagmamahalHuwag kayong magagalit, ito namay biro lamangChristmas card na “for only you” sa inyo’y ibinibigayDoce-docena yan kung bilihin, hinuhulog ng sabay-sabay.

Ric Santos UCT Lauenburg

reminderYes, the year 2000 is here. We in PSAP /Parola hope that you’ll continue subscribing to our publication. So please do not forget to renew your sub-scription. For those who are not subscribers yet, start your subscription now.For more information on sub-scription , please call or e-mail us.To all those who have been with us all these years, THANK YOU.

YES, I would like to receive a copy of Parola regularly. Please send my copy to the name and address below.

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