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8|2019 Volume 15 Issue 7

London International Shipping Week, September 10 — Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Inc. (PTC) and its official training arm, the Philippine

Center for Advanced Simulation and Training (PHILCAMSAT), were honored at the prestigious 2019 Safety at Sea Awards.

PHILCAMSAT’s Human Element Leadership and Management (HELM) was recognized as this year’s Best Crew Training Program. Developed by

PHILCAMSAT to answer the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) call for the development of a new Model Course on the use of Leadership and Managerial Skills, the Center’s fresh take on HELM enables Management

Level Officers to demonstrate proactive behavior and effective critical thinking in the face of challenging situations onboard.

PTC Inc. meanwhile was Highly Commended as Maritime Employer of the Year, a category which seeks to recognize companies in the maritime sector whose commitment to safety and excellent

working practices set them apart from industry rivals.

Representing the company at the awarding ceremony held at the London Marriott Hotel were Edgar Milla, PTC Inc. Chief

Operating Officer; Karen Avelino, PTC Inc. Executive Director of Business Development, Shipping Cluster; and Major

General Restituto Padilla, PTCH Executive Director for Corporate Public Policy & Sustainability.

“To win and be recognized in London, a global center for the maritime industry is indeed a special occasion for the PTC Group. It is especially timely as the company is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year,” said PTC

CEO Gerardo Borromeo. “This honor goes to all the members of the PTC Group who have made these awards

possible, and most especially to our crew members whose commitment to the maritime industry helped PTC get to

where it is today.”

Safety at Sea has a proud history of promoting safe and secure work practices within the commercial shipping industry. The

Awards recognize those who improve seafarer competence and risk management with innovations and achievements in the fields of

training, operations, equipment, and services.

Subic Bay International Airport, Zambales, August 5 — The Make a Wish Foundation, working with First Aviation Academy (FAA), fulfilled an 11-year-old

boy’s dream of flying a plane. Mark Jamir “MJ” Cantuangco, diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, is presently undergoing treatment at the Philippine General

Hospital. MJ’s wish has been to experience being on a plane and looking to the skies. His hope, as he continues to battle his illness, is to one day become a pilot.

To prepare him for his flight, MJ visited the Philippine Airlines Flight Simulation Center wherehe experienced being on board a flight simulator. He also spent the day with three pilots who

taught him about the technical aspects of a commercial airplane.

On August 5, with the support of Marc Soong, President of Autostrada Motore, Inc., and First Aviation Academy, MJ successfully took his first flight and fulfilled what was once simply a dream. He

even experienced on-ground schooling courtesy of Capt. Janine Alcantara, operate a simulator with Capt. Mike Tan, and flew a four-seater plane with Capt. Bryan David.

“We are so grateful to have real-life heroes who believe in our mission and work with us intransforming lives, one wish at a time. We are celebrating this milestone of granting the 3,000th wish in the

Philippines and we could not have done all these without the support of our volunteers, sponsors and partners,” said Ana Chua, president of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. MJ’s experience was just as enriching and memorable

for everyone who helped to make his dream come true. And with his courage and positivity, MJ will surely continue to inspire those around him to soar high and reach for their dreams.

Through the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), the Philippines hosted the Second High-Level Regional Meeting on Marine Environment Protection of the Southeast Asian Seas (MEPSEAS) last August 27 to

29, 2019. This event brought together heads of maritime agencies from participating International Maritime Organization (IMO) Member States.

IMO Maritime Ambassador Carlos C. Salinas welcomed the delegates to the Fellowship Night held at the New World Manila Bay. Ambassador Salinas emphasized the

Philippine maritime community’s commitment to protecting the oceans and further advancing the industry, cognizant of the important role it

plays in global development.

“We are all familiar with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which we are called upon to achieve by 2030,”

said the Ambassador. “At this gathering, we direct our focus on ways the Southeast Asian maritime industry can better contribute to the attainment of Goal No. 14, which recognizes that the sustainable use and conservation of marine resources are

essential in development. By pursuing sustainable maritime strategies and joining the fight against climate change, we, in Southeast Asia, can play a key role in supporting this goal.”

The MEPSEAS Project is a 4-year project (2018-2021) of the IMO in cooperation with the Norwegian Agency for Development and Cooperation (NORAD) providing assistance to East Asian countries in ratifying and implementing IMO Instruments for the protection of the marine environment. It aims

to reduce the risks and impacts of environmental issues related to maritime transport in the ASEAN region. It supports the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 14 – to “conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.”

PTC-CSJ-TK Foundation Scholarship Program Welcomes Six Scholars

PTC Mil-Com Strengthens Partnerships

The Philippine Center for Advanced Maritime Simulation and Training (PHILCAMSAT) has been selected as a finalist for the 2019 Lloyd’s List Asia Pacific Awards. The Awards are part of the Lloyd’s List Excellence in Shipping Awards - considered as the industry’s flagship recognition program aimed to reward excellence across all sectors of maritime. The finalists were selected by a community of associations and industry leaders, making the Lloyd’s List Excellence in Shipping Awards a highly coveted distinction.

PHILCAMSAT is vying for the Excellence in Safety and Training Award which recognizes a company’s outstanding commitment to improving welfare, safety and training for employees ashore and/or at sea. The nominees were evaluated on the basis of their systems for safety management to avoid casualties, improved metrics in safety and accident rates, staff retention, equality and diversity policies that have affected positive changes, investment in new facilities, courses, and innovative training solutions, and a sustained and effective approach to developing quality staff in the maritime sector.

PTC-CSJ Foundation, through a grant from the TK Foundation, a private independent foundation named after Teekay Corporation Founder, J. Torben Karlshoej, recently welcomed six sophomore scholars at Malayan Colleges Laguna’s (MCL) Mapúa-PTC College of Maritime Education and Training (CMET). The three cadet-scholars enrolled in BS Marine Transportation are Jonnar P. Mina, Juan Patricio V. Castillo and Hanna Claire N. Samiano, while the remaining three are enrolled in BS Marine Engineering: Melbert Jim M. Arreo, Justin S. Caliguia and Mark Jeff M. Fenol.

During the orientation and signing of the Memorandum of Agreement with the scholars and their parents, PTC-CSJ Foundation President Mrs. Carla S. Limcaoco reminded the scholars to “always keep your focus on your goals despite the challenges that you would surely encounter along the way.” The scholarships shall support the cadets’ second to fourth year studies at MCL-CMET for as long as they are able to meet the program’s academic requirements.

MCL joined forces with the Philippine Transmarine Carriers Inc. (PTC) to establish the Mapúa-PTC College of Maritime Education and Training (CMET) which offers a solid and balanced academic program, a content-centered curriculum and skills-based training in seafaring. PTC-CSJ Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of the PTC Group of Companies. Since its inception in 2002, the TK Foundation has awarded grants to non-profit organizations and projects to improve the maritime realm and the lives of disadvantaged youth. The PTC-CSJ-TK Foundation Scholarship Program is administered by the US-based Orange County Community Foundation.

De La Salle University-Dasmariñas’ (DLSU-D) College of Tourism and Hospitality Management recognized PTC Mil-Com Aviation Training Center Inc. as its Internship and Linkages Program partner at a recognition ceremony hosted by the school’s Hotel and Restaurant Management and Tourism Management departments.

PTC-Milcom has been the training partner of DLSU-D for a few years now, providing students and faculty members with exposure to hands-on training in the aviation industry.

Mil-Com also recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Lyceum of the Philippines University - Laguna (LPU) to provide aviation training to the school’s Travel and Tourism Management students. Signing for LPU Laguna was Dr. Ryan Gamoso, Program Chair of the International Travel and Tourism Management Department.

The Center is also the training provider for the Cavite campus of LPU having conducted a Faculty Immersion Workshop for the College of International Tourism and Hospitality Management.

Lifelinks International Resources, represented by General Manager Arlene delos Reyes and Business Development Head Angel Escaño, took part in a roundtable discussion organized by the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI) and the German Embassy Manila, to discuss the recruitment of Philippine nurses to Germany. The event was held in honor of visiting German Federal Ministry of Health’s Parliamentary State Secretary Sabine Weiss.

With more than 30 participants, Philippine and German experts from the recruitment and health-care industry discussed possible steps to enhance the recruitment and deployment of Philippine nurses to Germany.

“The Philippines is regarded as one of the top healthcare staff providers in the world because of the availability of skilled nurses who are highly qualified, adaptable, hospitable and with a good command of the English language. As Germany has a high need for nurses and the Philippines shows an oversupply, there is a unique opportunity for both countries to create a win-win situation,” emphasized Tristan Arwen Loveres, President of GPCCI.

Germany, like many European countries, is facing a severe lack of nursing and patient care staff. To arrest this issue, the German government is looking at partnering with the private sector to recruit qualified nurses from countries outside the European Union like the Philippines. The expatriation of Philippine nurses to Germany has shown positive impact and has created more opportunities in the market, however, the recruiting process faces two key challenges. One is assuring the appropriate level of German language skills and the other is the certification of foreign nursing studies in Germany.

PTC welcomed students from the Sisters of Mary School (SMS) Girlstown in Silang, Cavite on August 27 for a career talk with Ambassador Carlos C. Salinas and PTC-CSJ President Carla S. Limcaoco. Sixty grade seven female students were in attendance at the Legaspi Room of First Maritime Place.

“When I was selected as an Ambassador for the International Maritime Organization in 2018, I was mandated to visit schools to try to invite the best of the best – both male and female - to join the maritime sector,” the Ambassador shared with the students. “Although this industry has traditionally been a male-dominated one, do not think that males have a monopoly of the jobs within this sector. Females are very much welcome to pursue careers in maritime and many of them have not only thrived in this industry, but a lot of them are actually excelling in this field and are doing very well as ship officers. So as early as now, I encourage you to think of the possibilities of a career in maritime and try to carve a path for yourself in this very challenging but rewarding field.”

PTC-CSJ President and Women in Maritime Philippines (WIMAPHIL) founding member Carla S. Limcaoco further encouraged the students to consider the prospects of a maritime career. “Women today comprise only 1% of the total population of seafarers globally and this is something that we at WIMAPHIL are working hard to change by making sure that women are given opportunities at this sector for as long as they have the passion and the desire for it. And that is the key: to have the drive and the determination to succeed, to be passionate about your job. Remember, nothing in life is easy, it just depends on how much you want to go out there and challenge yourself.”

The students were given an overview of ship operations and seafarer life onboard by C/E Petercon Lugue, AVP for Operations of MSC Crewing Services Philippines. Afterwards, they were then given a tour of PHILCAMSAT’s simulation facilities courtesy of C/E Alfredo G. Haboc, Director for Compliance and Education of PHILCAMSAT, where the students had a glimpse of what it feels like to be on the bridge and in the engine room of a ship.

Instructors of the Philippine Center for Advanced Maritime Simulation and Training (PHILCAMSAT) underwent an OPITO Internal Verifier Course conducted by Mr. John Bate of JTN Technical Services - Malaysia last August 15 to 16. OPITO, which stands for Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organization, is the global industry standard in oil and gas safety, skills, and competence. The training program is designed to equip participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to implement competency management systems, provide assessor support, monitor and verify assessment records, assure consistency in the competency process, ensure proper record keeping and implement robust communication methods.

Following the training, the participating instructors will be submitting their respective competency assessment portfolios in order to qualify for course completion certificate and become certified OPITO Internal Verifiers.

The participants included C/E Alfredo Haboc, Capt. George Sangil, Carlito Finez, Capt. Fidel Ojera, Franklin Malicay, Joel Canlas, John Ralph Galvez, and Alfred Mercado. The

effort is part of the Center’s commitment to the continuing professional development of its instructors in order to provide world-class training and competency programs to Global Maritime Professionals of all ranks. PHILCAMSAT currently offers several OPITO-accredited courses including Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET), Further Offshore Emergency Training (FOET) and Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET) at its Maritime Skills Training Campus (The MAST) in Maragondon, Cavite.

PTC’s Family and Crew Relations, in partnership with IEF, Inc., organized a discussion on wealth management and financial literacy among PTC Global Maritime Professionals and their families on August 24 at the Legaspi Room of First Maritime Place. A shared interest of PTC and IEF is the empowerment of Filipino seafarers and their families through improved financial literacy. The session introduced a mobile application designed to provide practical assistance in personal financial management and entrepreneurship. The session allowed PTC GMPs and their allottees to test the mobile application and have a brief tutorial on its use and benefits courtesy of Ms. Kristine B. Marcelo, Director of IEF, Inc.

Committed to providing purposeful lives to PTC GMPs and their families, PTC FCR, through its Life Skills Seminars, provides year-round entrepreneurship mentoring, financial management workshops, and livelihood courses to allow GMPs and allottees to enhance greater opportunities for themselves. The IEF mobile app is expected to supplement and reinforce FCR’s efforts. To further inspire the entrepreneurial spirit of the attendees, FCR invited Mr. Leonardo Doroja, a finalist in the recently held PTC Seafarer Awards in the Entrepreneurship category, to share what motivated him to establish his own electrical shop while pursuing a seafaring career, as well as the experiences and challenges he encountered along the way. “Sailing onboard the vessels of PTC for over five years has not only given me a means to support my family, it has also allowed me to branch out into entrepreneurship, using my skills as an electrician and my earnings from seafaring as my start-up capital,” said Mr. Doroja. “Having been trained by PTC to always perform my job onboard with dedication and excellence, I am able to apply the same passion in serving my customers at my motor rewinding and electrical shop.” As part of PTC’s commitment to its GMPs, PTC and IEF are waiving the registration fee to allow the first 1,500 PTC GMPs who register to avail of the mobile app at no cost. For more details on how to register and download the app, GMPs may visit the FCR office at the 4 th Floor of First Maritime Place.

Constellation Travels participated at the popular online travel agency Klook’s “Next Stop Travel” workshop series held on August 17 and 18 at Warehouse Eight in Makati. The workshops featured Japan and South Korea, both popular international travel destinations among Filipinos. The Klook organized event equips participants with practical tips and travel hacks, itinerary guides, and visa application advice all to help today’s modern Filipino traveler. Constellation Travels’ Feza Duque, Visa Department Operations Manager, provided expert Visa advice, walking participants through the steps of applying visas for Japan and South Korea and giving them useful tips for a more efficient and hassle-free visa application process. In the past, Ms. Duque has served as visa resource person for “Tipid Travel Talks,” a workshop jointly organized by Klook, Cebu Pacific and the Poor Traveler blog on June 22.

Along with Constellation Travels, the series also featured Boom Garcia and Sean Nolan from Our Awesome Planet; and Thea Sy Bautista, Lianne Laroya, and travel and lifestyle content creator Kristin Roces of Real Asian Beauty.

Photo shows (from left to right) host Eman Kazemi, Klook Community Lead Lara delos Santos, guest speaker Kristin Roces and CTI’s Feza Duque.

With guest speakers Boom Garcia, Sean Nolan, and Thea Sy Bautista.

Enabling PTC GMPs Through Financial Literacy

Constellation Travels at the Klook Next Stop Travel Workshop

Preparing the Filipino Youth for the Global Maritime IndustryIn 2018, Philippine Transmarine Carriers (PTC), through its official training arm, the Philippine Center for Advanced Maritime Simulation and Training (PHILCAMSAT), forged a partnership with Magna Anima Teachers College to strengthen and further enhance the implementation of the Maritime Senior High School Track of the Ismael Mathay Sr. High School (IMSHS) in Quezon City. “My idea of a seafarer is someone who would do and sacrifice a lot for his own family,” says 16-year old Ryan Maldo, currently in Grade 11 taking the Maritime High School track at IMSHS. He continues, “I want to be that kind of person. Most of all, I want to learn their level of discipline.” Maldo is one of 68 maritime high school students of IMSHS who dreams of working aboard an international ocean-going vessel or pursuing advanced maritime education upon completion of senior high school studies. Along with 88 others who have already graduated since the program was launched by IMSHS in 2016, Maldo and his classmates are benefiting from this joint project of the Quezon City government, Magna Anima Teachers College, and Philippine Transmarine Carriers.

“Eighteen students from our original batch of graduates are already undergoing basic safety training as a pre-requisite to their employment with a foreign fishing vessel,” says Augustus Caesar Parra, the Maritime Program Coordinator of IMSHS. “When Magna Anima and PTC started helping us out through the provision of instructors, teaching material, and training equipment, our enrollment spiked to 140 students; 70 of which have graduated and have continued on to the country’s leading maritime colleges,” he continued. “I’ve always wanted to become a seafarer just like my uncle who works as a Second Mate. IMSHS prepares me well with the basics of maritime education and the quasi-military training that wait for us in college,” explained 16-year old Kennedy Villegas. Such aspirations of the young are molded into reality by ISMHS, Magna Anima and PTC with the end goal of producing global maritime professionals. “We want to show them, even at a young age, the importance of the maritime industry. To do that, we go back to the formative years of primary education,” said Ysabelle Tengco-Reyes, Head of the Education Program Management of PHILCAMSAT. “This is actually the fifth of PTC’s Maritime Senior High School projects with the rest being located in Negros Occidental, Muntinlupa, Iloilo and Malabon.” The Maritime Senior High School’s primary goal is to prepare students for employment immediately after graduation. By elevating the importance of the maritime industry, the program has encouraged some students to pursue studies in the industry in their formal tertiary education. “I am determined to finish this and continue studying in a maritime college to get a degree,” Villegas stated. “And someday, after I become a Chief Mate, will also work for a maritime school to share my knowledge. Just like what our teacher Mr. Ramos does,” Maldo added in admiration for his professor.

IMO Maritime Ambassador Carlos C. Salinas made a courtesy call to the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Kitack Lim at the IMO Headquarters in London, England last June 19, 2019.

Tristan Arwen Loveres, Managing Director of TÜV Rheinland Philippines Inc., visited PTC Inc. on August 1 to award the company’s ISO 14001:2015 Certification for its Environmental Management System (EMS). The certification was received by PTC Inc. Chief Operating Officer Edgar Milla, Fleet Manager Ronald Macalintal and Environmental Management Representative Benjamin Reyes.

Major Gen. Restituto F. Padilla, Jr., PTCH Executive Director for Corporate Public Policy & Sustainability, conducted a discussion on “Enterprise-Wide Risk Management” for executives of the PTC Group on August 6 at the Legaspi Room of First Maritime Place. Introducing VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity), Gen. Padilla illustrated how risks can be overcome despite the increased uncertainty and volatility of today’s world by the implementation of a risk management process aligned with a VUCA environment.

Lighthouse Shipmanagement (LHSM) conducted its LHSM Officers & Crew Conference last August 15 to 16 at the Legaspi Room of First Maritime Place. The two-day conference included learning sessions on crew health, ECDIS matters, maritime security and updates on the ISM Code, MLC and STCW among others.

Congratulations to Team PTC for being named 2nd Runner-Up at the 20th Inter-Manning Bowlers Association (IMBA) Tournament which ran from June 15 to August 21 at the Makati Superbowl Bowling Center. The team also received the award for Highest Team with Handicap (Top Finalist after the Regular Game) while Ms. Edna Neptuno of Crewing won the award for Highest 3 Games w/o Handicap (Female Category).

PTC Inc., through its Family and Crew Relations group, took part in the Seafarer Family International Congress held last August 14 to 15 at the Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel. The event focused on the theme “All Aboard: Seafaring Families Engaging the World for Sustainable Well-Being” and sought to highlight the stories and experiences of seafarers and their families.

Chief Engineer Alfredo G. Haboc, Director for Compliance and Education of PHILCAMSAT, facilitated a workshop on “Internal Quality Audit: ISO 9001:2015 and STCW 1978, as amended” for the administration and faculty members of the Mapúa-PTC College of Maritime Education and Training (CMET) in Malayan Colleges Laguna on August 19. The workshop is designed to aid the CMET team in the continuous process of enhancing the effective implementation, monitoring and control of the school’s Quality Standards System (QSS) based on the ISO 9001:2015 standards and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, as amended.

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