Triumphs and challenges enliven Mariners-Legazpi’s 30th Foundation Anniversary

Legazpi City, Albay – The Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation (MPCF) this province celebrated its Pearl Foundation Anniversary on August 4, 2015 amidst rejoicing on achievements attained and the acceptance to face the challenges that lie ahead as Bicol Region’s premiere Maritime school.


MPCF-Legazpi’s President and CEO Commodore Dante La. Jimenez (3rd from left, standing) during the longevity in service and outstanding personnel awards rites at the Traditional Lunch of the Pearl Anniversary celebration. (Standing Left to Right) Board of Trustees members Dr. Gabriel L. Jimenez, Ms. Merle J. San Pedro and Dr. Marilissa J. Ampuan. Seated at the head table are Mayor Noel Rosal and Mariners Systems’ Chairperson Emeritus Eliza Lazaro Jimenez.

With the theme ‘Mariners Braver at 30; Facing New Frontiers and Seizing Opportunities’, the institution aptly expresses its present estate and enthusiasm to face new dimensions as required by the maritime industry in the country and globally.

As it added a year to its existence, the academic community recalls the humble beginnings of the institution. The sheer determination of the Founder, the late Commodore Jaime C. Jimenez, Sr. in which the commemoration was held in his honor has led to what Mariners is now.

Colorful activities were lined-up which included the ‘Traditional Lunch’ featuring the giving of awards to personnel for longevity in service and exemplary performance in their respective spheres of responsibilities in the institution.


The streamers that dangled in the school campus on Foundation Day Anniversary tell it all. Incidentally, the event coincided with the birthday of President and CEO Dante La. Jimenez.

Included in the focus of the school today is its relentless drive towards the realization of being the center of excellence in maritime education in Bicol and in Southern Luzon.

Mariners Legazpi is proud of its unending list of board passers in the licensure examinations given every year by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), with Mariners able to produce board topnotchers.

An ‘Employees Night’ was held where the personnel had an opportunity to interact, unwind and enjoy camaraderie with the members of the academic community. It was an occasion which strengthened the bonds of Marineros. The event had reinforced their spirit to be stronger in facing the challenges as the school moves forward to greater heights in the years to come.

Now, it can be told that with the roster of Seafarer-alumni that we have today, the contribution the school has made to families and to the economy of the country cannot be ignored. The seafaring profession has made a positive impact on the living condition of thousands of individual families and to the economy of the country, with the dollar remittances made by our graduates.


(Left picture) The members of the Board of Trustees and Mayor Noel Rosal of Legazpi City (2nd from right, standing) pose for a souvenir picture with the alumni-supporters of the ‘Path of Honor’ scholarship program which will finance poor but deserving students to become Seafarers. (Right picture) The etching in concrete mold of the footsteps of the donors as part of the Foundation Anniversary activity.

The ‘Path of Honor’ scholarship project was launched at the campus in which the footsteps of successful school alumni were etched in a concrete mold and enshrined beside the Training Swimming Pool at the Mariners school annex. The participants donate a substantial contribution to finance the studies of poor but deserving maritime cadets to help them in their dream to become future Seafarers.

“MPCF has gone this far. There is no other way for us but to move forward. The school has reached modest achievements especially in the field of being given accreditation by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). Our school has been adjudged as one of the top 23 Higher Maritime Education Institutions (HMEI) in the country. We have to maintain this level and this is the challenge we have to sustain”, declared Mariners’ President and CEO Dante La. Jimenez as the school observes its Pearl Foundation Anniversary.

Mariners hosts Federalism forum; BAM bats for democracy towards regional identity

The speakers at the Federalism Forum organized by the Bicol Autonomy Movement (BAM) and Centrist Democracy Political Institute (CDPI) in Legazpi City. (Left to right) Albay Provincial Convenor Benjie Santiago, BAM Regional Convenor Dante Jimenez and Centrist Democratic Party of the Philippines (CDP) President and Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez.

Legazpi City – The Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation (MPCF), this city hosted the forum on Federalism, a project of the Bicol Autonomy Movement (BAM) in partnership with the Centrist Democracy Political Institute (CDPI). It was held on March 19, 2015 at the annex campus of Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation.

BAM Regional Convenor Dante La. Jimenez who is President of MPCF-Legazpi and together with Congressman Rufus. B. Rodriguez, Representative of Second District of Cagayan de Oro City and President of the Centrist Democratic Party of the Philippines (CDP) and CDPI President Lito Monico Lorenzana were the leading Forum speakers and resource persons.

CDPI is a non-government organization providing centrist democratic concepts and skills on good governance, promotes human dignity as the core value while it facilitates fundamental discussions towards the realization of Federalism in the Philippines.

With the theme ‘Democracy towards Regional Identity,’ the event ensued topics on ‘Charter Change and Electoral Reforms’ and ‘BAM’s Initiatives on Federalism’ which includes the promotion of the Bicol Autonomous Region Charter


(Left picture) Congressman Rufus Rodriguez expounds on the concept of Federalism as espoused by CDPI before the forum attendees. (Right picture, left to right) CDPI President Lito Monico Lorenzana, former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Alfredo Garbin, Dante Jimenez, Rep. Rodriguez and BAM Albay Provincial Convenor Santiago.

All the speakers were one in supporting the Federalism issue now being raised by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in his nationwide sorties promoting this advocacy.

Representative Rodriguez in his address, made reference to the need for the next President of the country who is supportive of Federalism as an alternative to the present unitary Presidential form of government and the creation of a system which is less centralized in nature and empowered to embrace a more localized form of governance. He also expounded on the setting of Centrist democratic solutions for the problems of the country and gaining political power on national and local levels come elections in 2016.

BAM Regional Convenor Jimenez gave emphasis on how Bicol can be benefited by the creation of a Regional Autonomous Government which is in line with the concept of Federalism.

CDPI President Lorenzana on the other hand introduced the Centrist Democracy principles and the rationale of Centrist Democratic Alliance. He shed light to a ‘Centrist Democratic Alliance’ (CDA) in Bicol, a new alliance recently forged by Centrist oriented movements and groups all over the Philippines with primary objectives of promoting the Centrist Democratic orientation in the Philippine society. This new alliance recently forged by Centrist oriented movements and groups all over the Philippines has the primary objectives of promoting the Centrist Democratic orientation in the Philippine society.

CDA is a growing alternative to traditional alliances and coalitions as it is thematic in approach designed to cater issues and interests of specific target-groups involved. BAM among others, was invited as the first local core group in the region. It covers the Bicol provinces of Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Catanduanes, Sorsogon and Masbate.

In this forum, BAM, CDPI and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte have found new allies when Bicolanos who attended the Forum manifested their overwhelming positive response to rally behind the spirit towards the creation of a Federal Form of Government in the Philippines.