IN an effort to honor and encourage the hard work and dedication of the country’s future mariners, Western Union, a global leader in payment services, conducted its annual nationwide search for the top 10 outstanding maritime students who created a positive impact in their communities and whose stories serve as an inspiration to others.
This year the best and brightest young, promising graduating maritime students were involved in the search. Thirty of the country’s 56 maritime schools nominated students who have shown academic excellence, competence in practice, good moral standing and active engagement in serving the community. Students were evaluated and given points according to their expertise in theoretical and practical application of Western Union’s and Filipino’s core values, and the four pillars of maritime law. The students’ schools were not revealed to the judgment panel.
Among those who entered the search, the chosen top 10 outstanding students who had exemplified the virtues of the ideal seafarer, exhibiting integrity, trustworthiness, honor, passion and courage, all came from the maritime schools in rural areas.
“We have always believed in the Filipino seafarers. It is incredibly inspiring to see these young men and women, both from cities and rural areas, sharing their passion and excellence in their craft. Even going beyond themselves by serving their country and supporting their families,” said Patricia Riingen, senior vice president of South and East Asia, and Oceania, Western Union. “It’s reassuring to know that we produce quality mariners here in the Philippines. Students are confident in presenting themselves and are driven to work their way up, leveraging on the skills they have acquired in school.”
The awarding ceremony for the top outstanding maritime students was held in the Manila Hotel on September 28 and attended by the 2015 top outstanding students, National Seafarer’s Day steering committee, and the Western Union leadership team.
The Commission of Filipinos Overseas stated that, with over 400,000 Filipino seafarers employed worldwide, the Philippines is considered the primary source of seamen in the global shipping and transport market. Filipino seafarers account for a large portion of remittances to the Philippines and serve a vital role in the economic growth of the country. It is estimated that Filipino seafarers sent home $5.6 billion in remittances last year. Each year, this number grows as an estimated 280,000 students graduate from maritime schools nationwide.
The top 10 maritime students for 2015 are Alvin M. Acuido, BS Marine Engineering, Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP); Archie V. Artizona, BS Marine Transportation, MAAP; Angelo P. Decena, BS Marine Transportation, Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA); Florencio S. Deypalubos, BS Marine Transportation, University of Cebu; Rey Phillip J. Gallos, John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation (JBLCF); Mark P. Pagdato, BS Marine Transportation, The John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (JBLMU); Shiela R. Rosales, BS Marine Transportation, MAAP; Christian J. Santiago, BS Marine Engineering, JBLMU; Bernard M. Sorbito, BS Marine Engineering, JBLCF; and Val Ralph S. Velasquez, BS Marine Engineering, PMMA.
The Western Union Co. (NYSE: WU) is a leader in global payment services. Together with its Vigo, Orlandi Valuta, Pago Facil and Western Union Business Solutions branded payment services, Western Union provides consumers and businesses with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send and receive money around the world to send payments and to purchase money orders.
As of June 30, 2015, the Western Union, Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a combined network of over 500,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories and over 100,000 ATMs and kiosks, and included the capability to send money to millions of bank accounts. In 2014, The Western Union Company completed 255 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $85 billion of principal between consumers, and 484 million business payments.