Top 10 outstanding maritime students named

MANILA, Philippines - The top 10 outstanding maritime students for 2011 were identified in a nationwide search by Western Union, a global leader in money transfers, in support of upholding the Philippines as one of the largest contributors of seafarers globally.

The top 10 students identified will be presented to Vice President Jejomar Binay on National Seafarers’ Day this year in recognition of their achievements as model citizens of the seafaring population.

The nationwide pool of nominees includes undergraduates recognized by their respective schools for being academically excellent, highly competent in practice, in good moral standing and active in their respective communities. The finalists also mirror Western Union’s five important corporate values - integrity, passion, assertiveness, dependability and camaraderie.

“Congratulations to the 10 outstanding students who have exhibited great passion and dedication in honing their seafaring skills to become part of our country’s growing force of global heroes,” said Patricia Riingen, senior vice president, Pacific & Indochina, Western Union. 

“Congratulations also to their teachers and mentors who have greatly contributed to the advancement of the Philippine maritime industry.

“Through recognizing the accomplishments of the maritime student community, we hope to instil a lifelong love for learning for the next generation of seafarers as they begin their journey to make a difference to their loved ones, and to make a difference to the world.”

Earlier this year, Western Union handed over a welfare and development learning centre to deliver orientation, education, livelihood and social development programs for both seafarers and their families to the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines’ (AMOSUP). 

In November 2010, Western Union also funded the refurbishment of the audio-visual system for the auditorium of the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP), which has advanced the teaching aids used for training seafarers seeking employers in the global maritime industry. 

As part of the company’s ongoing efforts in preparing OFWs for working overseas, Western Union also produces Pinoy Care Handbooks for seafarers which provide them guidance on how to adjust in a new country and succeed in their new work environment. These handbooks are distributed at the training centre at AMOSUP and are available at other pre-departure orientation sessions hosted by the Philippines Overseas Employment Agency (POEA).

The top 10 outstanding maritime students are:

Allyson Agustin, Technological Institute of the Philippines, Manila; Bryan Segovia and Jan Asley Valenzuela, John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation-Bacolod; Daryll Dadole, Asian Institute of Maritime Studies, Pasay; Florence Peter Virtucio, Lyceum International Maritime Academy, Batangas; Luis Nico Enciso, Mariners’ Polytechnic Colleges Foundation, Camarines Sur; Mark Anthony Gascon, John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University-Molo, Iloilo; Marville Cullen Espago, Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific-Kamaya Point, Mariveles, Bataan; Rizaldie Zambra Jr. and Steven Ryan P. Arillo, John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University-Arevalo, Iloilo.