Read this in The Manila Times digital edition.
A NEW annual tradition for Filipino seafarers was set during the launching of Seafarer Social Summit last June 22, three days prior to the celebration of the International Day of the Seafarer.
The summit honors the sacrifices and contributions of seafarers by staging a mainstream event that puts them at the center of the festivities.
Held at the Museo del Galeon in Pasay City, Filipino seafarers were welcomed as guests of honor, not bystanders or mere viewers, in a summit that gathered celebrated maritime and mainstream speakers who talked about family, mental health, financial literacy, and emerging technologies.
The summit was televised by GMA Network and hosted by Susan Enriquez, with television host Kim Atienza talking in length about Filipino family values, mental health, and fitness.
“This event was built around one simple idea — to talk with seafarers, not just about them. But the story of seafarers is one that has never truly bridged the gap between the wider public and the workforce that keeps the world moving,” says Carl King, founder of the Seafarer Social and organizer of the Seafarer Social Summit.
King added that while many in the industry understands the significance of seafarers in global economy, people in the mainstream may not.
“The reality is that many people around the world still do not know what a seafarer is. If you say, ‘merchant navy,’ many assume military. Seafarer Social can play a part in bridging that gap by telling the stories, successes, and sacrifices of this incredibly unique and diverse workforce, day after day,” King said in his LinkedIn post.
The event’s speakers include Migrant Workers Secretary Atty. Hans Leo Cacdac; Amosup President Dr. Conrado Oca; PTC’s Senior Adviser for Shipping Cluster Capt. Ronald Enrile; Chief Engineer and Content Creator Mark “Chief Makoi” Laurilla; and 2/O and Content Creator KC Abigal Chin-Sood.
Meanwhile, international maritime leaders also gave talks and panel discussions to include Catherine Logie of One Ocean; Steven Jones, founder of The Mission to Seafarers; Tor Anders Høksås of Inmarsat Maritime; Steven Jones, founder of the Seafarers Happiness Index and Peter Schellenberger, co-founder of Ledgid.