PH celebrates "National Maritime Week"

Manila, Philippines – Filipino seafarers and their families mark the ‘National Maritime Week’ (NMW) as several groups held different activities for the celebration. One of the major activities was organized by the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) in Intramuros, Manila during the last week of September.

NMW 2019 celebrations were also held in Cebu, Davao. Iloilo, Aklan, Roxas City and Antique, Bicolandia, Aparri, Cagayan, Pangasinan, and Southern Tagalog particularly Batangas and Mindoro.

In Surigao del Norte a community of Badjaos were given free food and free haircuts to mark the event. Tribe elder Dahilah Ahmad said that her fellow Badjaos were surprised since it is not every day that people make an effort to visit them as a community and recognize them as a group or tribe.

"It's usually only during election campaigns or the holiday season that they actually get to have things or food given to them," Ahmad added.

Commonly found at harbor waters of most major seaports in the country, the Badjao's nautical, itinerant lifestyle has earned them the nickname ‘sea nomads’ or ‘sea gypsies.’

The goodwill project is a joint effort of the Philippine Ports Authority Port Management Office in Surigao, the Philippine Coast Guard Surigao del Norte Station, Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Philippine Navy 72nd Naval Group Reserved.

Other activities nationwide include the grand parade participated in by stakeholders, memorial at sea, novenas, as well as oratorical, art, photo and singing contest.

The NSD coincides with the National Maritime Week celebrated every last week of September spearheaded alternatively by the government agencies Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

 

Source: Manila Bulletin, PIA, Cebu Daily News