PMMA Class 1993

Two Galleonaires. Two Professions. One Legacy of Service.

The PMMA Class of 1993 proudly celebrates two of their memberships whose careers reflect excellence, integrity, and unwavering service. . . on shore and at sea.

We congratulate PCOL Ervin Glenn U. Provido, recipient of the Exceptional Leadership and Achievement Award, for his distinguished service in law enforcement through the PNP-Maritime Group. As a senior leader safeguarding our maritime domain, his work has had a meaningful impact on maritime security, the welfare of seafarers, and the protection of our coastal and territorial waters. His leadership exemplifies public service at its finest.

We likewise congratulate Capt. Abner A. Torres Jr., MM, recipient of the Maritime Corporate Award, for his outstanding contribution to the merchant marine profession. Through his leadership in the private maritime sector, he continues to influence safety, professionalism, and operational excellence - strengthening not only his organization but the broader maritime industry and future generations of maritime professionals.

Different uniforms. Different mandates.

Yet both careers are anchored on the same values they learned as cadets - Kawastuan, Kababaang-loob and Kagitingan.

Their achievements honor the entire PMMA community. Reminding us that true leadership transcends rank, sector, or institution. . .it is measured by impact and integrity.

Congratulations, Galleonaires.

You carry the seal of Class 1993 with pride.

Once a Galleonaire, always a Galleonaire

pics : marre torres, marino ph

Fellow Galleonaires,

As we participate in the PMMAAI and PMMAAFI elections, we respectfully encourage all of us to reflect on what truly strengthens our alumni community.

We are a proud and diverse body of mariners who may hold differing views on important national and institutional issues…including the proposed renaming of our Academy. These differences are natural and, when handled with maturity, healthy. What must remain constant, however, is our shared responsibility to preserve Professionalism, Unity, and Brotherhood within the alumni.

An alumni election should not be reduced to a single issue or used to exclude fellow alumni based on where they stand on matters that are ultimately decided, but to ensure that those we elect are capable of advancing alumni welfare, upholding good governance, and strengthening PMMA’s standing…regardless of individual policy positions.

History teaches us that names change through time, but legacy is preserved by people. PMMA’s heritage was built not only by what it is called, but by the competence, professionalism, and solidarity of its graduates. That legacy will endure only if we remain united and focused on service to the alumni and future generations of mariners.

Let us therefore vote with discernment…based on leadership, integrity, competence, and a genuine commitment to alumni welfare. Let us choose leaders who can listen, bridge differences, and represent the entire alumni community, not just one position or one issue.

We may disagree on some matters, but we are united by our oath, our service, and our shared responsibility to PMMA and it’s alumni.

A Trillion-Peso Workforce Deserves more Than Lip Service

Filipino seafarers quietly power the global shipping industry and in the process, help keep the Philippine economy afloat. A recent study by maritime labor experts estimates that Filipino seafarers generated Php1.06 trillion in 2024, flowing into local communities through salaries, remittances, and the business sustained by their spending.

Yet behind this impressive figure lies an uncomfortable truth: the very sytem that produces this trillion-peso workforce is under strain.

For years, maritime education in the Philippines has struggled with a persistent and damaging bottleneck...the lack of shipboard training opportunities for students. Thousands of maritime cadets complete their academic requirments only to find themselves stalled, unable to graduate or qualify for licensure because they cannot secure the required sea service. The result is wasted potential, delayed careers, and mounting frustration among young Filipinos who chose the martitime path in good faith.

This is not a failure of ambition or talent. it is a failure of policy.

The Philippines proudly claims its status as the world's leading supplier of seafarers. But leadership brings responsibility. Other maritime nations treat shipboard training as a strategic national investment, backed by state-supported training vessels, firm industry partnerships, and clear deplyoment pathways for cadets. In contrast, Filipino students are often left to navigate a fragemented system where a shipboard placement depends more on personal connections than national planning.

The irony is stark. While Filipino seafarers contribute over a trillion pesos annualy to the economy, the country reinvest only a fraction of that value into ensuring a sustainable pipeline of well-trained officers. Maritme schools continue to enroll students without guarantee training berths. Domestic shipping companies are rarely incentivized to carry cadets, and goverment corrdination among regulators, schools, and industry remains limited.

This gap has long-term consequence. Without decisive intervention, the Philippines risks losing its competetive edge as fleets modernize, automation increases, and shipwners demand higher technical competence. Talent that cannot be trained will eventually be replaced.

What is needed now is not another study, but action. The goverment must treat maritime education and shipboard training as matters of national economic security. This means incetivizing shipowners to accept cadets, strengthening regulation of maritime schools, investing in modern training infrastructure, and exploring the acquisition of a national training vessel through public-private partnership. It also means protecting cadets from exploitation and recognizing them as future professionals, not disposable labor.

A trillion-peso contribution should buy more than applause during Seafarer's Day celebration. It should earn Filipino seafrers and those aspiring to join their ranks a system that works.

If the Philippines truly values its maritime workforce, then the message must be clear...we will not allow the foundation of this global success story to erode through neglect. The future of Filipino seafaring depends on what "policymakers" choose to do now.

Disclaimer:
This article does not reflect the positions of any affiliated organizations or institutions. The accompanying image is reproduces from the "Marine Insights" page for educational and informational purposes. Copyright remains with the original source.

PMMA SANGLIPI CLASS OF 1993 EXTENDS SUPPORT

The PMMA Class 1993 once again demonstrated its unwavering spirit of service and unity as it launched a fund-raising initiative dedicated to uplifting the morale of PCG personel under the leadership of RADM Agapito Bibat PCG.

The effort was driven by the remarkable performance of the Deployable Response Group(DRG) teams from PCG districts in Region 6,7,8, the Negros Island Region and Region 9 - frontliners who bravely responded during the onslaught of Typhoon Tino in Cebu express their heartflet gratitude for the vitamins and support provided to them during operations in Cebu.

Beyond supporting the PCG personnel, the class also donated relief goods to affected families in Brgy. Mabuli, Tabogon, Cebu. where families displaced by the typhoon received essential food packs and basic necessities.

Through compassion, unity and quick response reflect the enduring reputation of service of PMMA Class 1993.

A vessel with massive open water cages, industrial aquaculture system, and 80,000 cubic meters of farming space doesn't fit neatly into any traditional category. Does the flag treat it as a ship, an offshore platform, or something entirely new? and if exemptions or equivalencies were issued, what standards were used to ensure safety, pollution control, and crew competence?

Innovative vessel set to transform fisheries Zhanjiang Bay 1, the world's first floating, dynamically positioned cage-type aquaculture vessel, was delivered for use on Wednesday in Zhanjiang, a coastal city in western Guangdong province.

This is a strong signal that the Philippines wants to reclaim its place in global shipbuilding. With Denmark's tech and ARTA's ease-of-business drive, this could finally cut the red tape that's been sinking our industry. But the real test is still the IMPLEMENTATION, unless Customs, DTI, and LGUs move in scync and unless we build our own steel and supply base we will stay dependent and delayed.

The PMMA, as the country's premier maritime institution, stands at a pivotal point in national development. Today, as the nation strengthens its maritime policies and programs, PMMA's role must evolve beyond education. The academy can be a vital partner in policy development, maritime governance, and national resilience initiatives. it is time to grant PMMA a full mandate, not only as institution of learning but as a state maritime authority for leadership, research and nation building...one that commands both respect and capability on the global stage.

MAKING THE NEW STCW COUNT

Starting 1 Jan 2025, all seafarers must undergo updated STCW Basic Safety / PSSR training, now including mandatory modules on preventing and respond to violence and harassment - sexual harassment, bullying, and assault.

This is landmark amendment form the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC108). But let us be clear, implementation must not be treated as another box to tick, if the Philippines approaches this change merely for the sake of compliance, we will fail our seafarers.

Goverment agencies like MARINA and DMW must go beyond issuing circulars. They should ensure training centers teach this module meaningfully, with proper accreditation, monitoring, and refresher pathways for existing seafarers. Financial support mechanisms should also be considered so training does not become an added burden.

LMAs for their part, must not wait for 2026. They should already be updating crew checklists, advising seafarers, and confirming readiness with training providers. More importantly, they must communicate to principals abroad that Filipino crews are prepared, not just on paper, but in culture and practice.

At this heart, this reform is about dignity and safety. Harassment and abuse at sea are real,, silenced too often, and dismissed as "part of the job". The new STCW standard challenges us to break that silence.

Compliance will get us certificate. But only commitment will protect our crew.

Regulatory focus: New STCW requirements effective from 2026 In May 2024, the IMO approved amendments to the Seafarers’ Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) Code aimed at combating and reducing violence and harassment within the maritime industry. These amendments, which will enter into force on 1 January 2026, are set out in Table A-VI/1-4, whi...

RA 11782 is Expanding Opportunity while Preserving Prestige.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan recently sounded the alarm on the country's higher education crisis, only 34.8% of Filiponos are enrolled in college, far below the ASEAN average of 41.1%. In BARMM, participation plunges to just 18%. Worse, nearly 4 out of 10 students nationwide drop out before completing their courses.

These are not mere statistics. They are dreams deferred...teachers, engineers, health workers, and seafarers we may never have because opportunity is too far, too costly, or too limited.

It is in this context that the proposal for a PMMA branch in Cagayan De Oro should be seen. Many alumni are uneasy, fearing loss of prestige, budget dilution, and lack of consultation. These concerns are real and must be addressed...but they are not reason to reject expansion outright. Done right, PMMA CDO can be the Academy's proudest legacy.

For decades, young people from Mindanao and Visayas who dream of becoming mariners had to shoulder the heavy costs of relocating to Luzon. Many never even try. A PMMA campus in CDO answers this gap, bringing world-class maritime education closer to those who need it most.

Local universities in the south often offer only education or business courses. PMMA CDO can fill the void with maritime engineering, shipbuilding, port logistics, and cybersecurity programs, fields critical to both industry and national security.

The Philippines has only 172 researchers per million people, far behind other middle-income nations. A regional PMMA hub can focus on Mindanao's maritime challenge - piracy, climate risk, fisheries, and shipyard development. Far from diluting PMMA's prestige, this would expand its relevance to national growth.

Alumni fears deserve respect. The answer is not dismissal but safeguards.
1. Maintain prestige by same admission standards, faculty training, and discipline as in Zambales. Excellence must travel with the PMMA name.
2. Expansion should be funded by incremental allocations and partnership, not by slicing the main campus' resources.
3.Stakeholder, especially alumni, must be part of shaping CDO's roadmap.
4. Strong oversight and transparent management must ensure the campus honors PMMA's values.

The true measure of PMMA is not in "exclusively" but in impact. If goverment can train more competent officers, researchers, and leaders by meeting students where they are, then we strengthen not weaken the Academy.

As Sen. Pangilinan reminded us, the budget is not just a line item. It is a promise to young Filipinos who dream of a better future. PMMA CDO can be one of the boldest answers to that call...if we choose vision over fear, and inclusion over exclusivity.

Pangilinan flags gaps in 2026 higher education budget MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Francis Pangilinan on Saturday raised concerns over the proposed 2026 budget for higher education, pointing to low participation rates, high attrition, and inadequate subsidies that continue to limit opportunities for Filipino students.