The makings of a Filipino seafarer

GMA Network’s newest show “One of the Baes” starring Ken Chan and Rita Daniela  portrays the life of a Filipino seafarer. But what does it really take to become one?

According to Cedric Castillo’s story on Brigada on Tuesday, aspiring seafarere are required to undergo basic safety training and water survival training.

Brigada visited a maritime training center in Santa Rosa, Laguna which currently has around 100 students enrolled.

“‘Yung basic safety training kasi, prerequisite ‘yan sa lahat ng seaman. It prepares them to be ready whenever may mga emergency like may sunog sa barko or sakaling lulubog man ang barko, alam po nila ang gagawin at makaka-survive po sila whenever these things happen,” said training manager Paulino Elevado.

Aspiring seafarers are also taught how to conduct search and rescue operations inside a burning vessel and how to douse fires on a boat.

Even Filipinos who want to become a cook or receptionist abroad a ship are required to undergo the training before they can obtain a Seaman’s Book, which is the equivalent of a working visa.

“Challenging po kasi sa’min na mga babae na kailangan brave, kailangan matapang. Nacha-challenge po ako kasi may isa lang po akong pinaka-best na motto in life which is ‘yun po ay, ‘Today I follow, tomorrow I command,’” 3rd officer Cristine Joy Misola said.

Watch the episode here.

—Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News