FEATURED NEWS

4th batch of Mariners’ Mission Tabang rolls to Tacloban

Volunteer-maritime cadets being briefed by Assistant Task Group Director PCGA LCDR Gereon B. Gregorio (left, back to camera) and MPCF-Legazpi HRD Chief Lydia Cervantes during the simple send-off ceremonies held at the school’s main campus.

Legazpi City, Albay – The fourth batch of Mission Tabang volunteers from the Mariners System left for Tacloban City in the morning of January 30, 2014 for a four-day undertaking to continue the clean-up, clearing operation and distribution of relief goods in which the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) has been designated as center of the activity.

Two groups simultaneously took-off for the mission, one from Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation in Legazpi City and another from MPCF-Camarines Sur. The volunteers are composed of faculty, staff and Officers Training Corps/Coast Guard Auxiliary (OTC-CGA) cadets from both schools in Bicol.


A scene near Tacloban City taken during a previous Mission Tabang trip in which UGOP Waraynon President Judge Freddie Ampuan (left) and a volunteer from the Mariners System are dwarfed by a century-old fallen acacia tree. Note at the background the massive destruction on the coconut trees caused by Typhoon Yolanda which has taken-away the source of livelihood of many farmers in municipalities near the city.

The contingent from Legazpi is led by LCDR Gereon B. Gregorio as Task Group Assistant Director while the party from Camarines Sur is headed by MPCF OTC-CGA Commandant Captain Felix Bautista with President Dante La. Jimenez as Task Group Director of the mission.

The team brings with them additional relief items consisting of foodstuffs, clothing and other supplies which are deemed useful for the victims even two months after the super-storm, in addition to the continuing clean-up and clearing activity at NMP. “This mission is our own little way of helping the typhoon victims return to their normal way of life. While rehabilitation has become the focus both of government and the non-governmental organizations assisting in the ravaged-areas, still we see the need for these basic matters which could hasten their journey back to the life they had before”, said Mission Task Force Director Dante La. Jimenez.

The National Maritime Polytechnic has been made as one of the targets of the mission because of the magnitude of destruction it absorbed which resulted to the miserable condition of the school and the adverse effect it has brought to thousands of students of this institution.


The volunteer-cadets receiving last-minute instruction from Commandant Steven James Diño of the school’s OTC-CGA Unit prior to departure for Tacloban City.

“Under the spirit of Mission Tabang, the volunteers have signified their willingness to go with the task group. With this move, we expect that somehow, the students of NMP and those reached by the relief wares for distribution will experience a breathing spell in their struggle and continue to foster hope among themselves once they feel the concern of people coming from far-away places like the Marineros of Bicol who have come a long way to show they care”, Commodore Jimenez further declared.

Graduates from MPCF-Legazpi hurdle PRC’s Marine Engine Officers board exam

(From left) OIC Magas Joeven, OIC Estuye, Laymer Blamcha, and OIC Domasig, Ronnel Carlos

Legazpi City, Albay – The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) has announced the recent board passers from Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation (MPCF), this city who took the Marine Engine Officers (OIC – Engineering Watch) examination given in the last quarter of 2013.

College Registrar Norma M. Villanueva confirmed the following alumni who took and hurdled said examination: OIC Ronnel Caralos Domasig of Gogon, Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon, OIC Laymer Blamcha Estuye of Bgy. 42, Purok 5, Narra St., Rawis, Legazpi City and Joeven Bonavente Magas of P-1, Boñgabong, Tabaco City.

“The trend in which board passers who are graduates of MPCF continue to be included in the list released by PRC is an indicator of the kind of maritime education the school offers”, said College Registrar Villanueva.

Meanwhile, the lists provided by the Professional Regulation Commission which mentions the names of school alumni as among those who pass the tests continue to provide inspiration to aspiring cadets enrolled now and dream that someday, they will be among the successful seafarers which the school and their parents will be proud of.

“As of today, Mariners has a long list of graduates who are doing good in their careers in which their being seafarers have made an impact in the radical transformation of their respective family’s economic status”, Ms. Villanueva disclosed.

On the side of the school administration, it has vowed to continue the tradition of excellence which the school has started. “What the Mariners school is now has to be sustained. It is the result of the existing teamwork which the parents, students, faculty, staff and administration nurture in order to continue producing quality graduates who are badly needed by the industry not only in the country but in the international maritime arena”, declared Commodore Dante La. Jimenez – President of MPCF Legazpi. ###

Marlow Navigation country chief confirms continuing tie-up with MPCF

Legazpi City, Albay – Marlow Navigation, one of the biggest European shipping companies with offices in the Philippine has renewed its partnership with Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation (MPCF), this province assuring the continuing tie-up of the two institutions in which the former offers scholarship to deserving students taking up maritime courses. Captain Leopoldo C. Tenorio, head of operation of the shipping company in the country paid a visit to the school on the 4th quarter of 2013 and signed the partnership agreement with MPCF President Commodore Dante La. Jimenez in fitting ceremonies held at the school’s annex campus. Top Marlow Navigation country official Captain Leopoldo C. Tenorio (center) and MPCF Legazpi President Dante La. Jimenez sign the agreement on continuing tie-up of the European shipping company with the Mariners school in fitting ceremonies held at the school’s annex campus.

In attendance during the event were the MPCF cadet-scholars of Marlow Navigation, their parents and school officials. In his address to the cadets and parents, Captain Tenorio challenged them to take advantage of opportunities such as the scholarship given by his company and the education which MPCF offers.

“It’s a matter of giving value to the ambition which every cadet wants to reach. What is important here is that every future seafarer has undergone a thorough preparation before he finishes the course and Marlow Navigation thrusts Mariners as an institution which delivers quality graduates”, said Captain Tenorio.


MPCF Cadet-scholars (Back row in uniform) together with their parents and school officials as they pose with Captain Tenorio and MPCF President Jimenez for a souvenir picture.

“The job for seafarers awaits those who will graduate from this school. I can see the endeavor being done by this institution to give quality education to its students and that is why Marlow Navigation continues to involve itself in a joint venture with Mariners”, Captain Tenorio added.

Meanwhile the school leadership has acknowledged the trust and confidence expressed by the top honcho of the shipping company in the country.

“Inasmuch as the players in the maritime industry both in the Philippines and in the international arena have placed their belief in what our school can do, we accept the challenge to continue to produce seafarers of world-class caliber. After all, all our efforts now are geared towards what the concept of ‘globalization’ calls for on what the neo-seafarers of the world should be”, MPCF President Dante La. Jimenez concluded.

Culinary Arts competition awards Mariners-Legazpi with major honors

The mentors of the MPCF Lagazpi Culinary Arts Team who brought home the awards in cooking competition among HRM schools in Albay (left to right Venerfe Delancos, Maria Jane Chan & Jason Napile.

Legazpi City, Albay – The organizing group of the culinary arts contest held during the Karangahan Celebration of the Province of Albay awarded the team from Mariners’ Polytechnic Colleges Foundation (MPCF), this city the over-all championship prize after the school’s delegation vanquished participants from six other schools in the province in the competition held at Embarkadero de Legazpi on December 19, 2013.

This was disclosed by MPCF’s Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM) department head Floribel Villacorta who said that the cooking competition was sponsored by the local government of Albay and was participated in by seven (7) schools offering HRM course namely, Tanchuling College, Divine Word College, Info-Tech Development School of Ligao City, Bicol College, Apicius Culinary School and Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation.

The event included contest in Table Skirting and Centerpiece, Cup Cake decorating, Latte Art, Fruit and Vegetable Carving, Desert Plating, Cooking Showdown, and Bartending competitions.

In this challenge, MPCF got the First Place in Table Skirting and Centerpiece, Bartending and the Fruit and Vegetable Carving contests, First Runner-up in the Cup Cake Decorating contest, and Second Runner-up in the Latte Art, Coffee with Foam and Food and Beverage contests.

The events in which MPCF got the championship were mentored by the following coaches: Mr. Jason Napile for the Table Skirting and Centerpiece, Ms. Maria Jane Chan for Bartending and Ms. Venerfe Rebancos for the Cup Cake Decorating contests.

“With the dominance displayed by the Mariners contingent in the contest, the school has made a statement in the field of culinary arts in the locality when it comes to the quality of education the institution offers to its students in this particular field”, MPCF’s HRM Department Chief Floribel Villacorta declared.

Meanwhile, the school administration headed by President Dante La. Jimenez has expressed delight in the victories attained by the MPCF Team in this competition as this confirms the penchant for excellence which the institution has been advocating for the students, faculty and staff to attain. ###

Mariners Legazpi holds 2013 Christmas gathering; foregoes pompous celebration in favor of typhoon Yolanda victims

Board of Trustees Member Evita L. Jimenez addresses the faculty and staff of Mariners-Legazpi during the Christmas get-together

Legazpi City, Albay – The Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation (MPCF), this city has conducted a simple Christmas get-together on December 20, 2013 for its personnel.

Instead of a lavish party like the ones done in previews years, the administration, faculty and staff decided to have instead, a holy mass and a plain gathering to commemorate the event before the start of the school vacation during the holiday season.

During the occasion, a video presentation was shown on the situation prevailing in areas ravaged by Typhoon Yolanda and the several relief and medical missions which the Mariners System had involved itself in cooperation with other institutions.

In a message conveyed to the school employees, Board of Trustees Member Evita L. Jimenez said, “It is best to share our resources at this time to the victims of the super-storm who need most our help so they can rebuild their lives the soonest”.

On the other hand, MPCF President Dante La. Jimenez in his address, exhorted the school personnel to continue the level of excellence which the late founder, Commodore Jaime C. Jimenez started.

“We have no alternative but to continue what has been started. The quality of education that we offer to future seafarers has to be improved and sustained as this is the kind of service expected from us not only by the students and the parents but by the maritime industry, as well which has put its trust in the capability of Mariners to produce quality graduates”, Commodore Jimenez declared.

MPCF President Dante La. Jimenez delivering his exhortation to the school personnel

It can be recalled that with the observance of an austere Christmas get-together, the Mariners System was able to muster the ‘Tabang Mission: Eastern Samar’, a combined relief and medical mission and the Mission Tabang: Tacloban conducted in cooperation with other organizations which continued the relief and the clean-up operation at the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) in Tacloban City, with volunteers from the Mariners schools in Bicol.

Just like other caring institutions, the Mariners System has done its share in endeavors to help alleviate the suffering of the typhoon victims in Eastern Visayas.

“A fourth relief operation mission to be spearheaded by Mariners has been scheduled to leave for Tacloban City and neighboring areas on January 16, 2014”, confirmed Commodore Dante La. Jimenez, President of Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation.