MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday urged the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) graduates to help maintain the country’s standing in the global maritime industry.
The PMMA is a maritime higher education institution that is run by the government which produces merchant marine officers. During the graduation of the 200th Commencement Exercises of the PMMA Madasiklan Class 2023 in Zambales, Marcos served as the keynote speaker.
“Whatever challenges you may face, be open to how you can live up to your class name: magigiting na may dangal at simbolo ng kawal ng karagatan. As you do so, help the Philippines maintain its name as a global figure in the maritime industry and an asset to the entire world,” said Marcos during the keynote address.
The class, composed of 224 cadets, was the batch that faced COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. Marcos said that “madasiklan” means “magigiting na may dangal, at simbolo ng kawal ng karagatan (brave with honor and a symbol for soldiers of the sea)”.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. attends the graduation ceremony of the “Magigiting na may Dangal at Simbolo ng Kawal ng Karagatan” or MADASIKLAN Class of 2023 of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy. Photo from the Presidential Communications Office.
The President praised the cadets for overcoming the pandemic.
“Ang klase ng 2023 may karagdagang sakripisyo ang dinaanan dahil natapat ang inyong klase sa pandemiya at hindi kayo masyadong nakauwi dahil nga nag-lockdown tayo, kaya’t ito nga ay talagang napakahirap ang inyong pinagdaanan, kaya’t naman napakalaking pasasalamat ang Pilipino sa inyong lahat, sa inyong naging serbisyo, sa inyong naging sakripisyo, sa inyong magiging katungkulan sa darating na panahon,” said Marcos.
(The class of 2023 has gone through more sacrifices because your style coincided with the pandemic, and you were not able to go home much because of the lockdown, that is why you have gone through a hard time, which is why the Filipino people give you their gratitude to you all, for your services, for your duties in the coming time.)
“As your partner in improving the skills and capabilities of our people in the maritime industry, I call on all the concerned agencies to coordinate closely with the PMMA, facilitate what will make our maritime education even more responsive to the needs of the nation while ensuring that whatever steps that we take will be in compliance with laws and regulations,” Marcos told the graduates.
While he did not specify which government agencies these are, the Academy’s graduates also have the option to go to agencies like the Philippine Navy or the Philippine Coast Guard.
In December 2022, Marcos promised to improve the quality of the country’s maritime education after 50,000 Filipino seafarers risked losing their livelihoods after their training failed to meet the standards of the European Union vessels.