4,000 students support seafarers

TAGBILARAN CITY—A human “angkla (anchor)” composed of 4,000 students from the Philippine Maritime Institute (PMI) was formed on Dec. 10 to show support for the Filipino seafarers and Angkla party-list.

Ronie Orillosa, PMI student government president, said it took them almost a month to prepare for the formation, which was organized by Angkla party-list and the student government.

By taking part in the event, the students are able to show their support for the Filipino seafarers, he added.

Orillosa said he was glad that Angkla party-list exists, which would give a voice to the country’s seafarers and in turn, benefit maritime students since they would become the next generation of seafarers.

Cyril Jumawid, a second-year marine transportation student, said he was happy that many students cooperated in the formation, which showed unity in their school.

Jesulito Manalo, chair of Angkla party-list said the human anchor formed at the PMI school campus in Barangay Taloto, Bohol, surpassed that formed by the 2,500 maritime members at Rizal Park.

“The Philippine anchor is not made out of metal. It is made of human beings,” Manalo said in an e-mailed press statement.

Manalo and Angkla party-list executive director Galo Librea were present when the human anchor was formed.