24/04/2026
𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒏𝒐 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈.
For Clariss Allyza Marie, life was never easy. As a working student and an independent woman, her biggest struggle was financial. There were days when she had nothing left and no one to turn to. Even asking for help was not easy, especially when help sometimes came with hurtful words.
She heard people say things like,
“Hindi ’yan makakatapos.”
“Mabubuntis lang ’yan.”
“Wala kang backer, mahirap makapasok diyan.”
But instead of letting those words break her, she used them as fuel.
Clariss worked multiple jobs just to continue her studies. She became a convenience store supervisor, a cashier, a sales assistant, and a student assistant at DMMA College of Southern Philippines. There were days she was exhausted, lacking sleep, and even going to school hungry. Still, she showed up. She kept going because she had a dream she refused to give up.
There were moments when she wanted to stop. But she kept reminding herself why she started. Giving up was not an option. Proving them wrong became part of her purpose.
Choosing maritime as a woman made the journey even harder. It is a field dominated by men, and she had no connections to rely on. But what she had was stronger. Determination.
Today, Clariss is working under Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM). She has traveled to places she once only dreamed of, including Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and China. What used to feel impossible is now her reality. While others pay to travel, she gets to see the world through her work.
Life at sea is not easy. The work is physically demanding and requires discipline every day. But because she grew up independent, she learned how to adapt. She learned how to stand on her own.
Still, being a woman in this field means she sometimes has to prove herself more. But she takes it as a challenge, not a burden. A chance to grow stronger and show what she is capable of.
She reminds herself of where she came from and everything she went through. She does not want to go back to that life, so she keeps moving forward.