3 outstanding Filipino seamen feted

MANILA, Philippines—Three outstanding Filipino seafarers were conferred The Outstanding Filipino Seafarers Awards (Tofsa) last week at the International Diplomatic Conference of the International Maritime Organization (Imo).

They are: Demosthenes C. Quiñones, and Master Mariners Abelardo M. Pacheco, and Ricardo M. Salunar

Quiñones, who is an Electrician Officer by rank, was feted for greatly “enhancing the image of the Filipino seafarers through his consistent exemplary work performance, proving equal to the challenge of rendering services on board the Frankfurt Exchange Express, a challenging vessel which other engine ratings, officers, engineers and electricians avoided due to the high expectations [expected] from its crew.”

Pacheco, on the other hand, was cited for having “displayed bravery at sea by offering his own life for the sake of his crew during their abduction by Somali pirates in November 2008, [in which] throughout their more than five month’s ordeal, he maintained the morale of his crew and through his professionalism and strong faith in God, [went as far] as earning the trust, compassion, and cooperation of their abductors resulting ultimately in their release from captivity.”

Salunar was cited as a model par exemplar for other Filipino seafarers in “maintaining presence of mind and taking decisive action during a life-threatening calamity, successfully performing emergency un-berthing operations immediately following the Chile earthquake last February, thus safeguarding the lives of his crew, and preventing possible serious damage to his vessel and its cargo, as well as to the onshore facilities.”

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque, who with Imo Secretary General Efthimios Mitropoulos co-opened the Imo’s International Diplomatic Conference to Adopt Amendments to the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) last week, expressed pride and pleasure at the awarding of the three Filipino seafarers.

Roque, citing the significance of the awards amidst the Imo’s global declaration of 2010 as the “Year of the Seafarers,” proudly congratulated the three.

“Filipino seafarers have consistently demonstrated competency and proficiency in the international maritime sector and for this reason, the Philippines has become the largest and most viable source of shipping crew around the world… and the most professional, reputable, adaptable, and capable individuals working in vessels of foreign flags,” he said.

Filipino seafarers account for a fourth of the entire seafarers manning the merchant shipping fleet of the world.

Source: Inquirer