Bataan

Last Thursday I was privileged enough to accompany our company president to Mariveles, Bataan. We attended a groundbreaking ceremony at the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP), a maritime academy funded by different seamen's union. I was impressed at the modern, high-tech training facilities in the academy. I was even fortunate to try their simulator, the only one in the country and three in the world (the others are in Australia and Canada). I was also honored to have met the key players in the industry especially Capt. Oca, known to be the patriarch of the seafarer's union as well as Mr. Cramlin, the present International Transport Federation (ITF) president, one of the biggest union in the world. It was a 6-hour road trip all in all but the opportunity and experience of rubbing elbows with these people was well worth it. In addition, the chance to go to another place in the country and catch a glimpse of the Corregidor Island were truly rich blessings.