Floating book fair returns to Manila

MANILA, Philippines - MV Doulos, the world’s oldest ocean-going passenger ship still sailing, is returning to Manila this time bearing more books for the literature-loving Filipinos.

With the return, the staff and crew of MV Doulos looks back with nostalgia on a long lasting relationship with the Philippines.

“We can actually call Manila our home port in the region,” former ship Captain Ashley McDonald said during the previous visit in December of 2007 citing the fact that MV Doulos has spent more times in the Philippines then any country in East Asia.

Even though its was announced in December 2007 that it will be the famous ship’s last visit to the Philippines, it was decided, after serious discussions and considerations, that Doulos will extend her time in Asia instead of crossing oceans to other continents.

The Doulos is the platform for an international exchange program that includes educational and cultural events on board for schools, community groups and the general public. One of the high points of this program is the “International Night”, a colorful and enjoyable evening of music, cultural dance and song from some of the countries represented by the Doulos crew and staff.

Doulos, a Greek word meaning “servant” describes the whole purpose of the vessel. Staffed by 330 unpaid volunteers coming from 50 countries they seek to serve their international community as well as the ports they visit around the world. The purpose of the vessel is to Bring Knowledge, Help and Hope to the people of the world.

On board the ship is a Book Fair. Thousands of titles covering a wide range of subjects, such as Science, Sports, Hobbies, Cookery, Christian Living, Arts, Philosophy, Children’s books, etc., are on display for sale. The floating book fair is open to the public.

The DOULOS crew and staff are also involved in providing short term humanitarian relief in areas of great need or tragedy. From time to time, this has included providing food, material aid, primary health care and education, rebuilding and re-equipping of medical and educational facilities. However, in every port, and in some way, a practical concern is expressed for those in need.

In another sense the ship is a training vessel, a floating “world school”. Twice a year there is an intake of new recruits who join the ship for two years.

International recruits fly to the port where the ship is berth, leaving countries and families behind to embark on this new journey around the world. Teaching about international relations, communications, resource management, organizational behavior among other subjects is strongly linked with the opportunities to translate the theory into first hand experience.

The ship is now in Bacolod and will be staying there up to March 3. It will It will dock at Manila South Harbor on March 6 up to March 30.

For more information, contact Trizenia September, project coordinator (MV Doulos), at 0920-6071026 or 6553753, send queries through e-mail at [email protected] or visit www.mvdlous.org.