Seafarers to Vote from - PSAP-PAROLA.ORG...seafarer be allowed to vote the 2004 national elections. The voting period for seafarers abroad has been set from March 12 to May 10, 2004

Parola no.118 - May - June 2003 - Page 1Parola no.118 - May - June 2003 - Page 1Parola no.118 - May - June 2003 - Page 1Parola no.118 - May - June 2003 - Page 1Parola no.118 - May - June 2003 - Page 1

NO: 118 May - June 2003

Overseas voting for the 2004 elections

Seafarers to Vote from

March 12 to May 10, 2004

Go ashore! Register and Vote!

The dates for the registration and voting of Filipino seafarers have beenset. Seafarers who intend to exercise their right of suffrage abroad willhave to apply for registration/certification as absentee voters from August1 to September 30, 2003. Only after proper registration/certification will aseafarer be allowed to vote the 2004 national elections.

The voting period for seafarers abroad has been set from March 12 toMay 10, 2004. Under Republic Act 9189, the Overseas Absentee VotingAct of 2003, seafarers who are duly registered as absentee voters shallbe allowed to cast their ballots anytime within 60 days before election dayin the Philippines.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Joint CongressionalOversight Committee created under RA 9189 will promulgate the rulesand regulations to secure the special rights of seafarers to participate inthe election process leading to the May 2004 elections.

Calling all sea-based OFWs

According to the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) issued bythe Comelec on 14 May 2003, seafarers are to be given special treatmentas absentee voters. Under the IRR the term “seafarers” includes not onlythe Filipino officers and ratings manning ships everywhere in the worldbut also covers Filipino offshore workers, service providers at sea andfishermen.

In other words, all sea-based OFWs are eligible to apply for registrationand can cast their vote for the May 2004 national elections. Seafarers willbe able to vote for President, Vice President, Senators, and Party-ListRepresentatives in Congress.

cont’d next page

TASK FORCE MARITIME VOTE

LAUNCHED IN ROTTERDAM

A group of Filipino citizens in the

Netherlands has formed the TASK FORCE

MARITIME VOTE. The Task Force will

assist and extend all manner of practical

assistance to seafarers and sea-based

OFWs who intend to register and vote in the

Netherlands for the May 2004 Elections.

The Task Force is a non-partisan and non-

political group. It will not campaign for or

against any candidate or party. The main

objective of Task Force Maritime Vote will

be to help provide proper information,

advice and logistical support to seafarers

during the registration and voting periods

for the 2004 national elections. It will deploy

volunteers in the port of Rotterdam and in

other Dutch ports, including Schiphol

Airport. Atty. Pete Payoyo and Engr. Felix

Pulmano are leading the members of the

Task Force.

Consisting mostly of PSAP-PAROLA

volunteers who are Filipino passport

holders, Task Force Maritime Vote will

embark on the important challenge to

empower their fellow citizens in the

international maritime sector - seafarers

and all sea-based OFWs - to meaningfully

and effectively exercise their suffrage rights

in the May 2004 elections. Task Force

Maritime Vote will work closely with

international NGO networks, including the

Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA) based

in Manila.

Help the Task Force to help you!

TASK FORCE MARITIME VOTE contact

numbers in Rotterdam: Tel: (+31) 010-

240.0932 Mobile: 06-135.567.80 E-mail:

[email protected]

PHILIPPINE SEAFARERS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME, ROTTERDAM


MARITME VOTE, from page 1

Registration requirements for seafarers

A seafarer can apply for registration either in the

Philippines before departure, or from abroad. A seafarer

who registers abroad must personally appear at the

Embassy, consulate or other authorized location in the

foreign country where the seafarer wishes to register.

For a seafarer registering in the Philippines, personal

appearance is also required at the relevant Comelec

office prior to the seafarer’s departure.

To apply for registration, a seafarer must:

1. Present his or her valid passport;

2. Submit a photocopy of the relevant pages of his/her

passport;

3. Submit a photocopy of the relevant pages his/her

Seaman’s Book (or any document to prove that he/she is

a seafarer); and

4. Submit a duly accomplished Registration Form

(illustrated and enclosed in this Parola issue).

Voting requirements for seafarers

A seafarer who has successfully registered as an

absentee voter will be sent a certificate or record of

registration and/or a voter’s ID. These documents will

be sent to the seafarer via his/her forwarding address

which the seafarer has previously indicated in his

registration application form. Successful registration

also means that the name of the seafarer will be

included in certified list of absentee voters in the foreign

country which was also previously indicated by the

seafarer (in the registration form) as the country

address where he intends to vote.

During the voting period (March 12-May 10, 2004) a

seafarer must bring his registration certificate or

passport/voter’s ID to the polling center located at the

Philippine Embassy or consulate in the country where

the seafarer has indicated he will cast his vote.

Upon confirmation of the name of the seafarer in the

country list of absentee voters, and upon verification of

his/her identity documents, the seafarer will be issued a

ballot and allowed to cast a vote.

TIPSOn How to Accomplish the Registration Form

Under Part 1:

Indicate clearly and legibly your Forwarding Address.This is the address where the Comelec will send yourcertificate of registration and voter’s ID. Make sure thatthis is a reliable and trustworthy address which willreceive your postal mail from the Comelec. Uponreceipt of your Comelec mail, your contact/s in thisaddress will then immediately send the pertinentComelec documents to you.

If you are not sure which address to use, just writedown your complete home address or residence in thePhilippines. It will then be your family who will see toit that you receive your Comelec documents on time.Keep yourself updated with your contact/s in your“forwarding address” via text, email or long-distancecalls.

Indicate the country where you intend to vote. If youdo not have an address in this foreign country, just writeyour country of choice and leave the other details blank.For example, if you expect your ship to be in the Portof Rotterdam sometime in April 2004 and you wouldlike to cast your vote during this time, just write down“Netherlands” in the space provided. Thus, if you aresailing during the voting period (March 12 to May 10),this could be any country your ship will be visitingduring your journey, or the country of the port whereyour ship will be docking. Ask your captain forinformation concerning your shore leave possibilitiesduring the election period.

Part 2:If you are not sure whether you have already beenpreviously registered as a voter , just leave this spaceblank.

Part 3:For seafarers, there is no need to sign in this section

Part 4 & Part 5:Be sure to put date, print name, and sign.


APPLICATION FORM

FOR REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION AS OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTER

AND TO VOTE IN ABSENTIA

(SAMPLE COPY of May 2003 release)


PORT -ABLE SEAMEN’S CLUB EQUALS PORT-ABLE FUN & LAUGHTER

We are happy to announce that hundreds of seafarers,

including the maritime welfare community and the missions,

have overwhelmingly welcomed and supported the now-

famous “port-able seamen’s club”. The “Port-able” project in

Rotterdam was launched in Dec. 2002 at the International

Seamen’s Center De Beer.

The cheerful results of the Portable Seaman’s Club can be

summed up in two words: “fun & laughter”. What else can be

expected from the frequent get-together of crews from all over

the world? The regular event has quickly become talk-of-the-

town, and for seafarers, there is the long-lasting impact of

shared joy and well-being onboard and ashore.This port-able

fun& laughter comes out naturally from the combination of

many good things in the port-able package: karaoke singing

and dancing, food fellowship, sports, health information

campaigns, spiritual services, and cultural activities.

Just because seafarers are isolated from the mainstream of

society doesn’t mean that they have lost their sense of

humor. After attending the port-able seamen’s club, many

seafarers say they no longer do their daily heavy routine work

with a long face. And who says that only Filipinos and other

asian seafarers are fond of karaoke music and dancing?.

Port-able seafarers club activities have brought about one

simple but really gratifying and concrete result: Boom! Port-

able fun and laughter! What makes this fun and laughter

different from any other kind of good-time? First, its free and

it doesn’t cost anything to the seafarers: no entrance ticket,

no service charges for anything. Second, it’s not a coerced nor

forced laughter but rather a spontaneous fun. When the

provision of time, place, camaraderie, friendship and

acceptance are met, port-able laughter will come out in the

open in bursts, and it will flow, just like a pop corn spilling out

from the cooker.

Here’s a summary of the port-able fun&laughter according

to seafarers themselves:

1. Ask the crew of the Eagle Virginia, the Bergstahl,

and the Adriatica Graeca. These ships were docked at the

farthest corner of Maasvlucte, and they haven’t been on shore

for the the last 6 months because of SARS and terrorism

threats and strict immigration policy. “It’s clean and fun, it

reduces our health sapping tensions and stress, physically

and psychologically. While we look tired from the outside, the

portable seamen’s club makes us feel relaxed from the inside.

It lifts our mood and revitalizes our spirit. It vents our home-

sickness and releases the pressure of staying too long

onboard.” As the good book says, a joyful heart is a good

medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

A report by Engr. Felix Pulmano

continued next page


Port-able Laughter, contd.

2. The Filipino crews of the Pride of Rotterdam and Stena Transfer developed very close brotherly relations when they

met at the club. They play basketball and do the barbecue together, and in the club, they eat, they sing and they dance

together. They even found out that they have the same manning agency in the Philippines. Now their portable port-able

laughter has given them a common ground for deeper camaraderie and friendship.

3. Part of the port-able fun is discovering the “other side” (both inner and outer sides) of your shipmates. The British

captain of the Anna Meryl was branded as strict and work-oriented, until the crew discovered that their captain can join the

singing and blend his voice with them in karaoke and dancing. Port able laughter dissolved the barrier and created a “we”

feeling between the officers and the crew.

4. Yes, its really portable. The fun and laughter were brought on board the HMS Goodwill, with a 3-nation crew

commanded by a German captain. In this case, the captain proved to everyone that he is “cool”: not only is he a good singer;

he also has a repertoire of old and the new songs which he memorized, from Frank Sinatra to the latest of Bon Jovi. He’s

really a knock-out that breaks the ice, initiating laughter on board by rounding up his crew after work for karaoke fun.The

laughter that was created on board was so contagious that even ship visitors feel the high spirits behind the HMS Goodwill

experience.

Port-able fun continues to enhance the commitment of the people behind the club. The laughter gives them the motivation

and encouragement to reach out to the seafarers even in the most remote parts of the port. To them, the sight of seafarers

laughing and smiling is enough reward.

PSAP Mananger Peter Payoyo

marches with University of the

Philippines president Dr. Francis-

co Nemenzo during graduation

ceremonies. Atty. Payoyo deliv-

ered the commencement address

at UP Baguio last April, on the

theme of “Excellence and Serv-

ice”.


Illegal OFWs qualified to vote

Undocumented or illegal overseasFilipino workers are qualified to registerfor and vote in next year’s presidentialelections, Sen. Aquilino “Nene” PimentelJr. said.

“The right to vote of OFWs under theAbsentee Voting Law does not dependon the legality or illegality of their stayin their host countries. It depends ontheir being Filipino citizens,” he said.

Pimentel was disputing the statement ofChairman Benjamin Abalos of theComelec that undocumented Filipinosabroad should not be allowed to registerand vote.

The Comelec is now drafting the rulesand regulations to implement theAbsentee Voting Law as part ofpreparations for the May 2004presidential elections.

Meanwhile, Pimentel urged the SupremeCourt to rule within this month on theconstitutionality of allowing Filipinoimmigrants and permanent residents ofother countries to vote in nationalelections here. (PhilStar, 4 July 2003)

OFW remittances lower

BOP deficit anew

With the continued inflow of dollarremittances from overseas workers, thecountry’s balance of payments (BOP)deficit for the month of May dropped to$15 million from $17 million in April.

The BOP is what remains in governmentcoffers after it has settled all itsinternational obligations. A surplusmeans it earned more than it spent, adeficit, on the other hand, means it spentmore than it earned.

In April, OFW remittances grew by 5.4percent to $699 million from $640.76

million in March. For the month of May,authorities expected OFW remittances toimprove further because of the financialrequirements of OFW beneficiaries,particularly for payment of tuition as theJune school opening approached.(Philippine Star, 19 June 2003)

AIDS rise in Cebu City alarming

Health officials have described asalarming the AIDS (AcquiredImmunodeficiency Syndrome) situationin this city after noting that it has 50 ofthe 57 known cases in Central Visayas.

City epidemiologist Ilya Abellanosa Tac-an said in a forum that while the cityaverages four new AIDS cases each year,this year the number has risen to six.“We can say that the situation is, indeed,alarming,” Tac-an said.

Debbie Catulong of the BidlisiwFoundation, a non-governmentorganization, attributed the increase tothe corresponding rise in the number ofcommercial sex workers.

Catulong identified poverty as a mainreason for the rise in the flesh trade.(Philippine Star, 27 June 2003)

OFWs hit corruption in NAIA

For some overseas Filipino workers(OFWs) and their families, a simple visitto Abu Dhabi or the United ArabEmirates (UAE) would not be completewithout a bundle of money in theirpockets.

The money, however, is not forshopping or airfare. It’s for immigrationpersonnel at the Ninoy AquinoInternational Airport (NAIA) whoallegedly extort as much as P10,000 fromdeparting OFWs.

A new group of OFWs called Bagong

Bayani Lakas ng Bayan (Bayanikasan)alleged that several Bureau ofImmigration employees stationed at theNAIA milk OFWs for “supportingpesos” in the guise of asking for more“supporting papers” even though theyalready have the proper documents.

Bayanikasan officials said they havedocumented a number of complaintsfrom OFWs victimized by the newracket.

As a result of the expose, Bureau ofImmigration officials left for the UnitedArab Emirates to investigate allegedextortion activities of immigrationofficials. They will interview 42 OFWs,who filed complaints againstimmigration personnel for allegedlydemanding $200 to $500 in exchange forclearing them for departure at NAIA.(Philippine Star, 14 & 30 June 2003)

30,000 jobs threatened by

new OFW recruitment rule?

At least 30,000 jobs overseas are said tobe in peril after more than 600recruitment agencies were suspended fornot being able to comply with a new ruleof the POEA.

POEA prohibited the 616 agencies fromprocessing job orders until they havecomplied with the requirement toincrease their capitalization by P250,000and add P175,000 to their escrowdeposit.

Meanwhile a court issued a restrainingorder in response to the complaint filedby the Philippine Association of ServiceExporters Inc. (PASEI).But acting LaborSecretary Manuel Imson expressedconfidence that the government wouldprevail in the end. Imson stressed thatthe implementation of the new POEAregulations is necessary to ensure thewelfare and safety of Filipino overseasworkers. (PhilStar, 14 June 2003)


Filipino seamen die

in oil tanker explosion

Four Filipino seamen were killed ina tanker explosion off the coast ofthe United Arab Emirates on June18.

They were killed after an electricalmalfunction triggered the explosionthat set fire to the forecastle of theMaltese-flagged tanker Efxinos.

The tanker was docked at the port ofFujairah in the UAE and its crewwas in the process of transferringpetroleum to a Panamanian vesselwhen the accident happened.

President Arroyo in an officialstatement condoled with families ofseamen killed in tanker blast.“Filipinos all over are vulnerable tosuch tragedies because more than20 percent of the world’s ocean-going fleet are manned by ournationals”, she said

Inter-Orient Shipping said thefamilies of the victims will receive$51,000 in burial and death benefits.According to OWWA, besides thebenefits the families of the tankermishap victims will receive from theshipping line, they will also receiveP200,000 in insurance benefits.(Philippine Star, 21 June & 1 July 2003)

St Vincent and Grenadines

caught in licence scandal

A new seafarers’ licensing scandalis brewing in the Caribbean, with USCoast Guard officials in Puerto Ricoand the US Virgin Islands detainingeight ships over the past two weeksafter discovering officers on boardwith licences improperly issued bySt Vincent and the Grenadines.(Lloydslist.com, 30 June 2003)

Identity cards for all

the world’s seafarers

Every seafarer in the world is toreceive a fingerprint-basedinternational identity documentfollowing a compromise agreementstruck at the International LabourOrganisation. But sources close tothe talks warned that it could takeyears for the development to cometo fruition and some predicted apolitical backlash in countrieswhere immigration is a sensitiveissue. The sheer scale of thedecision — involving an estimated1.2m seafarers across the globe —will also have massive costimplications for the industry, eventhough the technology required ischeap. (Lloydslist.com, 23 June 2003)

4 Pinoys killed in Florida blast -

US court to decide whether

to dismiss Pinoy seaman’s suit

A United States court is likely todismiss the $1-billion punitive andcompensatory suit filed by a Filipinocrewmember of the SS Norway forlack of jurisdiction, said DorisMagsaysay-Ho, chairwoman ofMagsaysay Maritime Corp..

Local manning agencies said theUS court hearing the case of FilipinoAbdi Comedia might rule to transferthe complaint to a court in thePhilippines.

Magsaysay-Ho said other foreignshipping companies hiring Filipinoseafarers are closely watching theoutcome of the case and such couldadversely affect the deployment ofFilipino seamen.

However, Magsaysay-Ho said theNorwegian Cruise Lines assuredthat they will continue to hire Filipino

seafarers despite the suit filed byComedia.

Last May 25, seven Filipinoseafarers were killed and sevenothers injured when the boiler roomof the Norway exploded and caughtfire while docked at Miami, Florida.The incident was ruled to be anaccident and not a terrorist attack. Atotal of 17 crewmen of theNorwegian Cruise Line’s SSNorway were reported hurt in theblast, which also caused a fire onthe ship. The ship had a total of 911crew members on board, mostlyFilipinos.

Shortly after the accident, Comedia’slawyer, Bill Huggett filed a suit for $1billion punitive damages and $1million compensatory damagesagainst the Norwegian CruiseLines, owner of the Norway, beforethe 11th Judicial Circuit Court ofMiami, Florida. The lawyer allegedthat Comedia was injured due to the“sea unworthiness” of the SSNorway.

Labor and Employment SecretaryPatricia Sto. Tomas cautioned theFilipino seafarers and their relativesagainst filing a damage suit as itcould hamper the hiring of Filipinoseafarers abroad. (Philippine Star, 27

May & 25 June 2003)

Collision inquiry finds

both vessels liable

Both the MV San Nicolas and theSuperFerry 12 were at fault in thesea tragedy off Corregidor last May25 that left more than 40 peopledead and an undetermined numbermissing, the Philippine CoastGuard’s Board of Marine Inquiry(BMI) announced. (PhilStar, 6 June

2003)


D/Boy Rommel Manalo/ Verena Bay

EWAN KUNG BAKIT

Ako’y isang marinerong sa Batangas ay nagmula

Sa GMS ay nag apply, sahod ay mababa

Di ko yon alintana, pagkat ako’y isang dukha

Pamilya ko’y mabigyan lang, kahit karampot na ginhawa

Sa Rotterdam ay dumating, ang Verena ay nasakyan

Ang pagkain ay di husto, opisyal pa ay magnanakaw

Sila na itong tamad, sila pa ang palasigaw

Duty nila’y natutulog, sa crew’y walang pakialam

Ang lashing ay walang bayad, ang reefer ay ganoon din

Pagtakbo nitong barko, ang reading ay iyo pa rin

Sumasakit ang loob mo , pagka’t Euro’y sapin sapin

Sa kamay ng opisyal mo , sa Norfolk line ay nanggaling

Ikaw din yaong line man, pagbitaw nyo nitong puerto

Pagtanggal nitong lubid, takbo doon , takbo dito

Pag akyat mo nitong barko, sisigaw pa si segundo

Tanong mo lagi sa sarili’y, bakit ga sila’y ganito?

Hanggang dito na lang bayan at maliit ang espasyo

Dahil kung hahabaan pa’y sasakit lang ang loob nyo

Hindi ito isang drama, lalong hindi kathang kwento

Kundi ito’y nagaganap, Verena Bay kilala nyo!


Ipinadala ni : BOYET – Electrician – Spykstal Rotterdam

This is an OFW making a long distance phone call....

Operator: AT&T, How may I help you?

Pinoy: Heyloow. Ay wud like to long distans da Pilipins, plis.

Operator: Name of the party you’re calling?

Pinoy: Aybegurpardon? Can you repit agen plis?

Operator: What is the name of the person you are calling?

Pinoy: Ah, yes, tenkyu and sori. Da name of my calling is Elpidio

Abanquel. Sori and tenkyu.

Operator: Please spell out the name of the person you’re calling

phonetically.

Pinoy: Yes, tenkyu. What is foneticali?

Operator: Please spell out the letters comprising the name a letter

at a time and citing a word for each letter.

Pinoy: Ah, yes, tenkyu. Da name of Elpidio Abanquel is Elpidio Abanquel.

I will spell his name foneticali, Elpidio: E as in Elpidio,

L as in lpidio, p as in pidio, i as in idio, d as in dio, i as in io, and o as in o.

Operator: Sir, can you please use English words.

Pinoy: Ah, yes, tenkyu. Abanquel: A as in Airport agen, B as in Because,

A as in airport agen, N as in enemy, Q as in Cuba, U as in Europe,

E as in important, and L as in elephant.

Napanood nyo ba yoong pelikulang Con – Air starring Nicolas Cage?Well, mayroon namang version: Con – Sea!

Isang sintensyadong bilanggo dadalhin na sa kanyang sintensyanglugar na para bang Al catraz, imbes na eroplano siya’y isinakay sabarko, pero nasa kulungan parin at siya’y sinamahan ng pari. Isanggabi ng paglalayag, naisipan ng pari na bisitahin siya. “ O anak,kamusta ka na? Mayroon ka bang kahilingan at lalakarin kong maibigayito?” Tugon ng bilanggo, “ Salamat father, pero mayroon sana akongitatanong sa inyo, kayo bang mga pari ay mapagkakatiwalaan?, nakapag may sinabi sa inyo ay irerespeto nyo at hindi malalaman ngiba?”. Sagot naman ng Pari, “ Anak, kaming mga Pari ay maysinumpaang tungkulin sa mata ng Diyos at sa mata ng tao, kayamakakaasa ka na lahat ng sasabihin mo ay mananatiling ligtas saakin.” Tugon naman ng bilanggo, “ Salamat naman kung gayon Father,ngayon ay mapapalagay na ako. Alam nyo father ayoko na sanangdumating doon sa pupuntahan natin dahil tiyak patay ang aabutin kokaya ang ginawa ko minsan pinayagan akong magpahangin sakubyerta ng mga security, ang ginawa ko bumaba ako sa cargo holds atbinutas ko yoong barko kaya ngayon dahan- dahan ng lumulubog tayo.”Biglang napahigop ng maraming hangin sa bibig ng Pari at sinabing,“Diyos ko!” at sabay takbong pasigaw, “Kapt.! Kapt.! Ang ating bilanggo,binutas ang barko!”.

Galing sa: Koleksyon Marino, Rotterdam


Life in the Spirit

Dear Seafarers,

It was more than 2000 years ago, as recorded in the pages of

the bible, when the “Son of Man”, was born. He was a

carpenter who built a bridge. A spiritual bridge. A bridge

between God and man. He’s the carpenter of all time. Why not

try to get to know him? (Isaiah 53, 1Timothy 2:5). Here is a

story to share.

Once upon a time, two brothers who lived on adjoining farms

fell into conflict. It was their first serious rift in 40 years of

farming side by side, sharing machinery and trading labor and

goods as needed without a hitch.

Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small

understanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it

exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by a week

long silence.

One morning, there was a knock on the door. He opened it to

find a man with a carpenter’s tool box. “ I’m looking for a few

days’ work,” he said.” Perhaps you would have a few small

jobs here and there I could help with”? Could I help you?.

Yes!, said the older brother. I do have a job for you. Look

across the creek at that farm, that’s my neighbor, in fact, that’s

my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us

and he took his bulldozer, and dozed the land up to the river

level and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have

done this to spite me, but I’ll go him one better. See that pile of

lumber by the barn?, I want you to build a fence,…an 8 ft. fence,

So I won’t need to see his place or his face anymore.

The carpenter said, “I think I understand the situation. Show

me the nails and the post-hole digger and I’ll be able to do a job

that pleases you”.

The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter

to get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The

carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing.

About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just

finished his job.

The farmer’s eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was nofence there at all.

It was a bridge – a bridge stretching form one side of the creekto the other!

A fine piece of work handrails and all, and the neighbor, hisyounger brother, was coming across, his hand outstretched.

“You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I’ve said anddone! The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, andthen they met in the middle, taking each other’s hand.

They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on hisshoulder.

“No, wait! Stay a few days. I’ve a lot of other project for you”,said the older brother.

“I’d love to stay on”, the carpenter said, “but I have manymore bridges to build”.

My Brother’s Bridge

C. Gayoso / Amsterdam

Port Accident ReportThe Ship M/V Smit Hunter caught by fire on a floating shipyard at Niehuis and Vandenberg Pernis in Rotterdam on

June 29. While the crew rested in their cabin, a huge explosion was heard. Fire and heavy smoke immediately filled

the engine room, which was consumed in flames in a few minutes. The fire soon reached the accommodation

spaces. The crew, caught by surprise, was unable to extinguish the fire whose ferocity prevented the engineer and the

crew from going to the CO2 room. Fire-extinguishers were no match to fight the flames. The general service pump

could not be operated because the vessel was still suspended on the dock. The Dutch Captain and the Chief

Engineer decided to evacuate the ship. The 12-man crew onboard with 8 Filipinos evacuated the ship unharmed.

Lesson: Even with adequate crew training on fire fighting, it is hard to predict whether the crew can cope under such

unexpected circumstances. The Captain should conduct a safety meeting with the crew prior to entering the shipyard.


Greetings to all our loved ones.

3/e Rommel Senga

BSN Ruben Llana

Fitter Arnulpo De Leon

A/B Joe Escanda

A/B Edmond Albano

O/S Remegio Lampong Jr.

M/V Donax Crew

Greetings to officers & crew of the M/V Bison Express.Have a safe sailing.

Henry Gayoso

Thanks and Mabuhay to the Port-able

Seafarers Club

in Rotterdam, 28 June 2003

Greek and Filipino crew of Alpha Future Piraeus

Indian and Filipino crews of Alshuhada and Arthur N

British and Filipino crew of P&O Nedloyd Drake

Norwegian, Latvian and Filipino crew of NCC Jizan Bergen

Latvian crew of Faneromini

Greek and Filipino crew of Formosabulk

German and Filipino crew of Hanne

British and Filipino crew of Sigas Govenor

Greek, Croatian and Filipino crew of Spear Flower

Japanese and Thai crew of Suchada Naree

Chinese and Filipino crew of Surenes

British, Polish and Filipino crew of Stena TransferLondon

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PH

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See page 12, please...

PHILIPPINE SEAFARERS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME, ROTTERDAM

PSAP was founded in 1981 in

Rotterdam with the aim to support

Filipino seafarers in their struggle for

better working and living conditions.

PSAP's Objectives

To contribute to seafarers awareness

about their workers and human rights.

To provide support and services to

seafarers

To promote seafarers awareness on

HIV/AIDS and other health related

issues

To enhance better cooperation among

seafarers of various nationalities

through better understanding of each

other culture.

Addresses:

PSAP Rotterdam

Oostbroekweg 4,

3089 KL Rotterdam

The Netherlands

Tel. 010-2400930

Fax. 010-2400932

E-mail. [email protected]

Website: psaponline.net

Centro Filipino-Seamen's Desk

Calle Riera Vaja 6-4 0881

Barcelona, Spain

Kasapi Seafarers' Assistance

Program Labor Center of Piraeus

Skylitsi 19, Piraeus, Greece

International Christian Maritime

Association(ICMA)

2/3 Orchard Place, Southampton

S01 1BR England

Center for Seafarers' Rights

241 Water Street, New York, NY

10038 Tel. 212-3499090

Fax. 212-3498342

Printed by: Drukkerij Dizayn

ISSN: 1389-9465

Editorial StaffJosie Pulmano

Nonoy Ty

Peter Payoyo

Parola is published bi-monthly by the

Philippine Seafarers Assistance

Programme(PSAP). PSAP is a non-

stock, non-profit foundation registered

in the Chamber of Commerce

no. S127664, Rotterdam,

The Netherlands.


ITF Seafarers’ Trust logo

LIFE AT SEA

In the middle of the ocean

Where joy is only part of the gloom

Freezing, thinking

Looking for nothing but waves

“I want to be there!”, but what can I do?

I have to wait for the time

What day is it now?

I don’t know…. I forgot

I wanted to be with my family

But I can’t.

Reading newspaper

Watching television

And talking with colleagues … ha!

That’s not enough!

At night, I couldn’t sleep

Because I am afraid

And frightened of the weather

That’s life at sea!

I’m in the middle of nowhere.

Darius Gabriel Bugarin

Pride of Rotterdam

Parola's publication is madepossible with the help of the

ITF Seafarers' Trust.

YES, I would like to receive a copy ofParola regularly. Please send my copy tothe name and address below.

Name:

Address:

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ILIP

PIN

E S

EA

FAR

ER

S A

SSIS

TAN

CE

PR

OG

RA

MM

E,

RO

TT

ER

DA

M

See page 23, please...

Documents

Seafarers to Vote from - PSAP-PAROLA.ORG...seafarer be allowed to vote the 2004 national elections. The voting period for seafarers abroad has been set from March 12 to May 10, 2004