FEATURED NEWS

17 Examinees from Mariners' schools pass the recent Customs Brokers Licensure Examination

Congratulatory Tarp for Customs Brokers Licensure Exam Passers from MPCF Legazpi City

Metro Manila - The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) has announced the names of successful examinees who took the recent Customs Brokers Licensure examination given in Manila, Cebu and Davao by the Board for Customs Brokers in the month of October 2013.

The successful examinees include graduates from the Mariners schools in Legazpi City, Camarines Sur and Naga City.

Below are the names of those who hurdled the test from the schools under the Mariners System:

• From Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation (MPCF) – Legazpi City (8)
  1. Salvador Seletaria Jr. of Polangui, Albay (batch 2001)
  2. Milan Jude Agitan of Northern Samar (batch 2013)
  3. Jeffrey Del Rosario of Bulan, Sorsogon (batch 2013)
  4. Jeffrey Sinang of Polangui, Albay (batch 2013)
  5. Richelle Millena of Polangui, Albay (batch 2013)
  6. Maryjane Palmiano of Camalig, Albay (batch 2012)
  7. Renato Locre Jr. of Polangui, Albay (batch 2012)
  8. Rocel Perez of Sorsogon City (batch 2009)
     
     
• From Mariners Polytechnic Colleges (MPC) – Naga City (2)
  1. Jacklord A. Ajero of Naga City (batch 2013)
  2. Alvin Jay Q. Medina of Naga City (batch 2013)
     
     
• From Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation (MPCF) –Camarines Sur (7)
  1. Maricel Colasito of Camarines Sur (batch 2013)
  2. Mark Ivan Rabe of Camarines Sur (batch 2013)
  3. Ryan Edward Rull of Camarines Sur (batch 2013)
  4. Rommel Saculo of Camarines Sur (batch 2013)
  5. Rosal San Buenaventura of Camarines Sur (batch 2013)
  6. Charmie de los Santos of Camarines Sur (batch 2013)
  7. Dianne Atienza of Camarines Sur (batch 2013)

As per report from PRC, included in the Customs Brokers Board of Examiners are Atty. Ferdinand A. Nague as Chairman and Felipe A. Bartolome & Silverio F. Montalbo as members. The results were released two days after the last day of examination.

Meanwhile, the administration has sent a congratulatory message to the board passers

“This passing record made by the alumni of the Mariners schools is another feat achieved not only by the graduates but by the Administration and the proud parents of the passers who will now start to harvest the fruits of their labor. For and in behalf of the Board of Trustees, I congratulate all of them who made it”, declared Commodore Dante La. Jimenez, President of MPCF Legazpi and Camarines Sur.

Graduates of MPCF start work in US-based shipping companies

MPCF President Dante La. Jimenez of MPCF (center) poses with Cadets Bobby Belbes (left)
and Jovito Estinor (right) before departing for their new job at the Gulf of Mexico

Metro Manila, Philippines – UNLAD Ship Manning and Management Corporation, a company of the Mariners System based in the metropolis has confirmed the hiring of two graduates from Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation (MPCF) in Legazpi City, Albay in maritime companies based in the Gulf of Mexico in the United States of America.

Cadet Jovito C. Estinor of Monreal, Masbate is a 2009 graduate while Cadet Bobby M. Belbes of Legazpi City belongs to BSMT batch 2011.

The effort to help graduates find the right work for what they have prepared for in their college years is a continuing endeavor for the Mariners System. In line with the slogan ‘SARONG MARINERO SA CADA PAMILYANG BICOLANO’ (One Seafarer in every Bicolano Family), the Mariners schools do not stop at giving quality maritime education to its students but it goes as far as guiding them where to work after graduation.

It can be recalled that one of the biggest problems of students after commencement day is how to find work after they have finished college. At Mariners, graduates are encouraged and guided to find their workplace especially those who excelled and those who show their interest and passion as seafarers whether in domestic routes or in the international shipping arena.

UNLAD Ship Manning and Management Corporation of Mariners System sees to it that it is able to maintain linkages with shipping companies worldwide so it will be convenient for the graduates to find work after they have finished schooling. Cadets Belbes and Estinor started work in these US-based shipping companies in July of this year.

U.S. based members of Mariners-Legazpi batch 2005 touch-base with alma mater, exhorts undergrads to persevere

At the bridge of an American cargo ship as it sails to its destination

Legazpi City - Members of batch 2005 of Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation (MPCF), this city who now work with U.S. based maritime companies recently made contact with the school’s Alumni Coordinating Office (ACO).

“Since the creation of this office, graduates of MPCF now find a home where to send information about their whereabouts from their respective workplaces wherever they may be in any part of the globe”, said Ms. Frisian Silva of ACO of MPCF-Legazpi.

Two graduates who finished B.S. Marine Transportation course said they now work productively with U.S. based maritime companies and are thankful to the academic preparation they received from their alma mater and the rigid training they had while in school which prepared them to the kind of job they are engaged now.

One of the stalwarts of batch 2005 is Eric C. Balana of Bacacay, Albay who is now with an American-based shipping company which he got employed thru Michaelmar, Inc. He observed the changes that happened in his family after he started being connected with this maritime firm. He said that admittedly, his family’s finances have greatly improved, henceforth.

Another member of batch 2005 is Benjie T. Barquilla of Daraga, Albay. He is connected with a U.S. based shipping enterprise, the Hammer Maritime shipping company.

“Being with this company has brought countless blessings not only to myself but to my loved-ones, as well”, Barquilla disclosed.

He elaborated that significantly, the standard of living of his family has leveled-up and this he attributes to the stable job he has landed as a seafarer.

Both alumni of batch 2005 encourage the maritime cadets at Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation to study hard and persevere in the pursuit of their chosen field.

Typical standard recreation and physical fitness amenities including a pool used by crew members found in cargo ships

“There is no substitute for a student who is focused to the goal he wants to reach and with this goes a little sacrifice which one has to endure if he wants to succeed”, said U.S. based Eric Balana, a B.S. Marine Transportation graduate of MPCF belonging to batch 2005. ###

MPCF joins Maritime Week featuring the Water Safety and Rescue exercises

A helicopter of the Philippine Air Force lifts a survivor of a sea tragedy in simulations conducted at the WASAR drill

Legazpi City –Water Safety And Rescue (WASAR) exercises were made as one of the highlights in the celebration of Maritime Week observed on the last week of September this year.

Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation (MPCF) in Legazpi joined the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Philippine Air Force (PAF) all based in the Bicol region in the WASAR exercise held at the Albay Gulf.

A survivor is brought to a waiting ambulance after being rescued by a helicopter out of the sea for treatment in a hospital

According to PCGA Captain Steven James Diño, Commandant of the 901st Coast Guard Auxiliary- Officer Training Corps (CGA-OTC) Unit at MPCF Legazpi who directed the drill, the activity underscored how rescue is conducted and this is in line with the concept of ‘safety at sea’ when an unexpected mishap occurs.

MPCF-Legazpi’s PCGA Captain Steven James Diño (with handheld radio) while directing the WASAR simulated exercises

The exercise involved a simulation of a disaster in which a drill to save the lives of passengers and crew was conducted. A sinking vessel in the middle of the sea had people floating in the waters in which a helicopter of the Philippine Air Force was utilized. As it hovered above the survivors who were swimming for safety, a ladder was lowered for them to cling to so they could be brought to dry land.

The boodle fight that ensued after the simulated ‘fight for life’ at sea

The celebration also highlighted the themes on the protection of maritime environment, disaster preparedness, first aid and basic safety in which the Mariners school provided for the speakers as it has in its personnel pool the experts on the subject matters. ###

Mariners joins Running priest Father Robert Reyes in Legazpi’s
‘Walk & Run for Good Governance and Anti-Pork Barrel’

Running priest Fr. Robert Reyes (2nd from left in dark shirt)
in a meeting with MPCF President Dante La. Jimenez (3rd from left) and friends before the ‘walk & run’ event

Legazpi City, Albay – The Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation (MPCF) in the city joined Father Robert Reyes, OFM also known as ‘The Running Priest’ as he led the fun walk and run on the fifth day of this month to further highlight the people’s clamor for good governance and their disgust on the corruption happening in government more especially on the abuse on the use of pork barrel funds.

In a statement released by MPCF President Commodore Dante La. Jimenez, Father Reyes invited in the province of Albay those from the multi-sectoral cluster, the schools, religious and other well-meaning organizations and individuals who joined the crusade dubbed as ‘WALK AND RUN FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE AND ANTI-PORK BARREL’, with a purpose to let the politicians know of the people’s awareness and outrage on what goes on in the mishandling of government funds.

When Father Reyes was asked on why he prefers to drumbeat his advocacies by running, he said, “this is one way in which those who participate are able to express their sentiments in a unique way while those who line-up along the streets and watch the activity become curious on why people are running and so the message of the cause is spread. In addition, running is good for the health”. Meanwhile, this fun walk and run is a sequel to the ‘million people march’ in Metro Manila to denounce corruption happening in the government.

A day before this event in Legazpi City, a follow-up to the ‘Million People March’ was held in the Makati Business District area where the organizers targeted the businessmen to join the protest and be one in showing the people’s outrage in the mishandling by officials of pork barrel funds and other resources of government.

The bustle in Legazpi City was held on October 5, 2013 – Saturday where the participants assembled at 7 o’clock in the morning at Embarcadero de Legazpi while the walk and run was formally started at 7:30 a.m. which ended at the campus of Aquinas University in Rawis.

This advocacy by Father Reyes is being done in different parts of the country. In Naga City, just like what happened in Legazpi, the event was a success. It was held on September 20, 2013, which coincided with the celebration of the Peñafrancia Festival, the feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, the patroness of Bicolandia.

The running priest is encouraging everyone to continue to support this cause and clamor for reforms. ###