The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP), the only government maritime training and research center, with principal location at Brgy. Cabalawan, Tacloban City, joined the international maritime community in celebration of the Day of the Seafarer with the theme “Seafarers Matter”.

The celebration is held every 25 June each year. However, since the date falls on a Sunday, the activities this year were held on 23 June 2017 to ensure the attendance of its honorees – the NMP trainee-seafarers.

The celebration started with a Holy Mass and was followed immediately with the Blessing of the NMP Firefighting Mock House and Fast Rescue Boat.

During the Floral Offering Rites, NMP trainees, guests and employees offered prayers and paid homage to the departed seafarers as flowers and lighted candles were laid at the open sea along the San Juanico Strait.

The best part of the celebration was the Recognition Program for Seafarers. The simple but meaningful ceremony put emphasis on the extraordinary service Filipino seafarers render everyday of their professional lives and the impact of their unique contributions to national economy.

A total of ninety-two (92) seafarer-trainees, employees, guest trainers and seafarers’ families were recognized and humble tokens were awarded to them.

The Press Briefing concluded the morning’s activities that centered on the stories of sacrifice, endurance and achievement of NMP trainee-seafarers, qualifications and competitiveness of Filipino seafarers, the NMP’s development programs as well as other government programs for seafarers.

In the afternoon, Lectures on Financial Literacy; Seafarer’s Upgrading Program of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA); Social Security System (SSS) and Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) programs were conducted with resource persons coming from these government agencies.

By: Ma. Jasmin J. Andrade
Date & Time Posted: 2017-07-05 13:50:49