Spark: The Filipino Seafarers' Voice

26/06/2025

Ginugunita ang International Day of the Seafarer tuwing June 25. Para daw mabigyang pansin ang napakahalagang tungkulin ng mga tripulante na nagpapa-andar ng mga barko at naghahatid ng 90 porsyento ng kalakal sa buong mundo. Pagkain, makinarya, krudo, raw materials, kahit ukay-ukay at halos lahat ng iba-ibang kagamitan sa buong mundo ay nakararating dahil biniyahe sa dagat. Tunay na ito nga ang pandaigdigang ekonomiya, at batayan ng yaman sa buong mundo.

Pero walang umaandar na barko na walang tripulante. Walang nagtatanggal ng lubid sa angkorahe, walang nag-iistart ng makina, kung walang seaman sa barko. Lulong sa trabaho ang lahat ng seaman - mula kadeta, AB, oiler, mga engineer, deck officer, lahat yan sagad sa trabaho. Pagdating sa laot, anumang trouble ay gagawan ng paraan. Dahil kailangan makarating sa destinasyon ang barko: hindi pwedeng umayaw. Kahit sa ganun pa lang na sitwasyon, masasabi nang tunay silang bayani.

Hindi lang yun ang nararanasan ng mga seaman. Sagad na nga sa trabaho, sagad din sa exposure at stress. Extreme nga, dahil kapag bumagyo, talagang tumba-tumba at ihahampas ka sa kubyerta. Parang hindi na matatapos ang delubyo. Kapag patag naman, extreme din ang pagkatulala sa tanaw sa puro dagat hindi na masukat kung ilang linggo na ang lumipas. Lahat yan ay nagdudulot ng physical strain hanggang ugat, kalamnan, buto, kasu-kasuan. Mental and emotional strain: isip, kaba, takot, inip, tiis, tulala, siphayo.

Kaya iba ang realidad sa karaniwang kaisipan. Akala nyo lang namamasyal lang sila sa dagat. Akala nyo lang panay inom, bisyo, babae, waldas. Pero kabaligtaran yun ng tunay na nangyayari- kahirapan, buwis-buhay, aksidente, pagkakasakit.

Batay sa isang pag-aaral, aabot sa 10% ng mga seaman ang hindi na nakakabalik sa trabaho dahil sa aksidente, pagkakasakit, o kamatayan.

1. Musculoskeletal issues (like back pain and injuries),
2. Gastrointestinal problems (such as gastritis and ulcers),
3. Cardiovascular diseases (including hypertension and heart conditions),
4. Genitourinary conditions (like kidney stones and infections),
5. Injury/Trauma,
6. Infectious diseases,
7. Dermatological issues,
8. Respiratory problems,
9. Psychiatric or psychological disorders, and
10. Dental problems

Mahirap na nga ang indibidwal na working conditions ng Pilipino seaman, hindi pa pumapabor sa kanila ang mga batas ng gubyerno ng Pilipinas at mga patakaran ng ahensya ng Gubyerno na sumasakop sa kanila. Ang Kongreso, kung maglabas ng batas, ay palaging pabor sa mga shipowner at may-ari ng manning agency. Ang MARINA, bilang flag state administration ng Maritime Labor Convention (MLC), ay incompetent para ipatupad ang pang-manggagawang probisyon ng MLC. Hanggang ngayon, iniipit pa rin ng POEA (ngayon tinaguriang DMW o Department for Migrant Workers) ang wage increase ng seaman para hindi pumantay sa ILO standard, dahil sa dikta ng manning industry. Ang disability claims ng seaman ay iniipit pa rin ng P&I club, dahil protektado sila ng gubyerno ng Pilipinas, mula sa mga Labor Arbiter ng NLRC at NCMB, hanggang sa Supreme Court.

Hanggang pag-uwi, walang pabuya ang mga Pilipinong seaman. Ang tanging inaalok lang na programa ng OWWA at TESDA ay mga reintegration programs na walang kaugnayan sa kanilang pagbabarko. Bilang seaman na santambak ang proficiency trainings at competencies, pag-uwi sa Pilipinas, hindi na ma-apply ang kanilang skills para sa pag-unlad ng kanilang mga komunidad. Silang mga kumpleto sa safety trainings, first aid, disaster management, safety, hanggang operation ng electrical, communication, power generation, water management, at iba pang systems sa barko na maaaring ibaba sa komunidad para sa pag-unlad nito.

Pero wala. Sa dinami-dami ng mga mambabatas, pulitiko, departamento, sangay at ahensya ng gubyerno, walang gumagawa ng anumang programa o proyekto para mapakilos ang 450,000 seaman para sa bansa. Sapat nang pagkakitaan ang seaman mula sa kayang kolehiyo hanggang makauwing baldado o may edad na, expired na ang lahat ng STCW certificates, at bibigyan na lang ng training sa soap-making at dishwashing liquid.

Winaldas ang buhay ng isang malaking sektor ng uring manggagawa.

Yan ang gunitain natin sa International Day of the Seafarer. Ang realidad ng buhay ng seaman.

17/04/2024

Dehydration and heat illnesses are both more common during the summer, and older adults as well as young children are typically more at risk for these conditions.

Dehydration occurs when your body loses more fluids than you take in. Symptoms may include:

feeling very thirsty
dry mouth
dry skin
feeling tired or dizzy
sweating or urinating less than usual
having dark-colored urine

Seek medical attention right away if you experience any of the following:

fainting
confusion
lack of urination
rapid heartbeat or breathing
shock

Heat illnesses include the following:

Heat stroke: A life-threatening illness that causes body temperature to rise above 106 degrees F within minutes and may result in dry skin; strong, rapid pulse; nausea; dizziness; & confusion. Get medical help right away if you experience any of these signs.

Heat exhaustion: This can happen when you have gone several days in with exposure to high temperatures without enough hydration. Symptoms include rapid breathing, heavy sweating, and a rapid, weak pulse.

Heat cramps: These are muscle spasms or muscle pain that happen when you exercise heavily. These symptoms usually occur in the abdomen, arms, or legs.

Heat rash: This is skin irritation from sweating, and is more common in young children.

Proper hydration can decrease your risk for heat illnesses, as well as limiting your time in the heat.

11/04/2024

Complainant’s job As WIPER onboard the Ultramax cargo ship AL JIMI consisted of engine duties as assigned by his superior officers, such as assisting in machinery repair, maintenance, overhauling of the ship engines, generators and other machinery, and lifting of provisions and heavy parts such as piston rings, chain blocks, and other machine parts, aside from his regular cleaning up and mopping duties, over and above his regular eight hour day work. So much so that at times the seaman rendered more than four additional hours a day.

25/06/2023

https://www.facebook.com/dmw.gov.ph/posts/pfbid02RjDCM16r4Y9MuP8CNigGvnjWuXYkzM6Kd4JfWa5T7YsJbs3yn7JCbvsKSbSCxvbBl?notif_id=1687660186473047¬if_t=notify_me_page&ref=notif

Happy Day of the Seafarer sa ating magigiting at masisipag na Marinong Pilipino! Maraming salamat po sa inyong sakripisyo at paglilingkod sa buong mundo! Dalangin po namin ang inyong kaligtasan sa bawat paglayag! Mabuhay po kayo! ⚓️🌊🇵🇭

12/06/2022

Madaming seaman ang naloloko ng kumpanya kapag nagkasakit sa barko, napauwi, kunyaring pinagamot, at kunyaring nabigyan ng "fit-to-work declaration". Kahit pa nabigyan ng "financial assistance" o settlement, maaari pa ring habulin ang benefits dahil ito ay nararapat sa kanya. Sa kasong nasa ibaba, namatay ang seaman dahil sa pagkakasakit nya habang nagtatrabaho sa barko, at na-award ng death benefits and kanyang naiwan, sa halagang USD50,000.00, USD 7,000.00 sa kanyang underage na anak, burial benefits at attorney's fees. Kahit pa ginamitan ng panloloko ng kumpanya, nanatili ang karapatan sa kanyang benepisyo. Kailangan lang huwag sumuko na ipaglaban ang karapatan.

Sabi ng Supreme Court:

Lastly, despite the declaration of fitness that would have entitled him to reinstatement to his former position, Joselito was not provided work, apparently due to his worsening health. He was thus constrained to seek medical attention at his own expense and was continuously unable to work until his death. This only shows that his medical condition effectively barred his chances of being hired by other maritime employers and deployed abroad on an ocean-going vessel. In a number of cases, the Court disregarded the medical report issued by the company designated physician that the seafarer was fit to work in view of the evidence on record that the latter had in fact been unable to engage in his regular work within the allowable period, as in this case.

In view of the foregoing, Joselito's death is compensable for having been caused by an illness duly established to have been contracted in the course of his employment.

https://www.projectjurisprudence.com/2018/06/case-digest-inter-orient-maritime-v.html

Law, jurisprudence, government and politics in the Philippines.

03/02/2022

The Philippines: Supreme Court decides that a seafarer's heirs are entitled to death benefits

https://www.ukpandi.com/news-and-resources/legal-content/legal-updates/the-philippines-supreme-court-decides-that-a-seafarers-heirs-are-entitled-to-death-benefits/

The Supreme Court considers the POEA-SEC and rules that a seafarer’s heirs are entitled to death benefits for work related illness even if death occurs after the term of his employment contract. Learn more.

12/11/2021

𝗠𝗔𝗚-𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗔𝗧 𝗦𝗔 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗡𝗔 𝗕𝗔𝗬𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗡!

**May nag report po sa akin na ating myembro na may training center po along Kalaw na nag ooffer ng BT Refresher na di na dumaraan sa practicum.

**Mag ingat po tayo dahil ang inyong certificate ay hindi valid. Ang MARINA po ay may mandate na ang lahat ng training center ay daraan sa pareparehong pagtuturo.

Ano ang epekto nito?

MALAKI... eto ung bulok na sistema ng lipunan na nagpapabayad o binabayaran na lang natin ang ating certificate upang dumaan tayo sa shortcut. Dumarami ang corrupt na tao ng dahil dito. Tignan nyo na lang ang passport or seamansbook bakit maraming fixer or agent na sila na bahalang mag proseso ng expedite, bigyan kayo ng appointment ng mas maaga na di na dumaraan sa pila. Paano ung mga taong nag aantay ng kanilang schedule at dumaan naman sa tamang proseso. Nagbayad sila upang maka singit? Hindi uunlad ang bansang Pilipinas kung ang lahat ng kaisipan na mali ay itotolerate at ang mali ay ginagawang tama ng dahil lamang sa pera.

Ang BT Refresher ay may tatlong araw na training
First day online
2nd day face to face sa training center
3rd day practicum sa site

**Dumaan tayo sa tamang proseso ng di tayo mapahamak👍

Isang paala-ala mula sa Buhay Sa Cruise Ship

𝗥𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮
𝗕𝗦𝗖𝗦 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿|𝗩𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿

29/04/2020

The situation of Filipinos abroad remain overlooked

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has infected several Overseas Filipinos (OFs) since its outbreak. Here are the latest figures of COVID-19-infected Filipinos abroad.

https://dfa.gov.ph/covid-19-advisories

22/03/2020

21/03/2020

Live statistics and coronavirus news tracking the number of confirmed cases, recovered patients, and death toll by country due to the COVID 19 coronavirus from Wuhan, China. Coronavirus counter with new cases, historical data, and info. Daily charts, graphs, news and updates

09/02/2020

Ingat Mate.

09/01/2020

(www.MaritimeCyprus.com) On 17 August 2019, Stolt Groenland, a Cayman Islands registered chemical/ products tanker operated by Stolt Tankers B.V. sailed from Houston, USA for passage to Kobe, Japan…