PTC Celebrates 38th Anniversary Philippine Transmarine Carriers (PTC) marked another milestone as it celebrated its 38th anniversary with a mass held last February 20 at the Penthouse of First Maritime Place. During his homily, Fr. Tito Caluag reminded members of the PTC Group to revisit the original spirit that gave life to the company 38 years ago and, through prayer, to keep this founding vision alive in the context of changes and challenges in the industry that have taken place since then.

Speaking after the mass, Ambassador Carlos C. Salinas congratulated his beloved PTC family for almost four decades of hard work and commitment. “We have, indeed, come so far from that one-room office where we started, to becoming one of the biggest organizations of our kind in the Philippines. Our success is measured not only by the fact that we have been able to sustain our business through thick and thin, but also by the fact that we continue to rise above the challenges and keep up with change with grace, integrity, and passion.”

Addressing the employees, he added, “Believe in yourself as I believe in you. With every day that you clock in for work, bring to the task a compelling personal philosophy of life and wellbeing by finding meaning in what you do and knowing always that your job matters. You matter not only as a member of the department you belong to, not only as an employee of this company, but most especially, for being part of an organization that makes a difference in the lives of the millions of Filipinos who are enriched by the work that we do; an organization that endeavors to move the world in more ways than one.”

As part of the celebration, the employees enjoyed an afternoon treat of ensaymada and hot choco.

Project Balanghay Graduates Commence Shipboard Training Graduates of the Maritime Senior High School under Project Balanghay proudly commenced their shipboard training onboard FastCat M6 last February 8, 2017. A total of 62 Balanghay cadets will be traversing the Dumaguete-Dapitan route for two months to acquire hands-on experience on the end-to-end operations of a vessel.

Championing the project, PTC entered into a partnership with Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corp. (APFC) and Archipelago Seafarer’s Training Institute (APSTI) to make the shipboard training possible for this pilot batch of graduates.

At the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) held at First Maritime Place in Makati last February 8, PTC was represented by Ms. Karen R. Avelino, the PTC Group’s Executive Director for Education and Professional Development, while Ms. Mary Ann Pastrana, APFC Executive VP, and Atty. Ricky G. Ty, APSTI VP for Operations and Administration, signified their commitment on behalf of APSTI and APFC. Capt. Elson T. Tayko and Capt. Renie M. Modelo stood as witnesses to the agreement. While the signing was taking place, the Balanghay cadets proceeded to board APSTI’s FastCat M6 at the Dapitan and Dumaguete Ports.

Capt. Elson T. Tayko, Maritime Education Officer of the Philippine Center for Advanced Maritime Simulation and Training (PHILCAMSAT) who oversees Project Balanghay, expressed confidence that the shipboard training would be a fruitful experience for the cadets given the frequency of inter-island voyages and the opportunity for them to be exposed to all aspects of vessel operations from docking to undocking.

Prior to their shipboard training, the cadets underwent a Crowd and Crisis Management (CCM) Training conducted by PHILCAMSAT. The CCM training was very important relative to their boarding a Roll-On Roll-Off (RoRo), which is classified as a passenger vessel.

Project Balanghay is a joint initiative of the Department of Education (DepEd), PTC and Angkla Partylist, to create a Maritime track for Senior High School. The project started in 2014 in view of DepEd’s full implementation of K to 12. The partnership for this project was extended to the participating schools – Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro, Gil Montilla National High School in Sipalay, Negros Occidental, and Muntinlupa National High School in Metro Manila. The initiative was also supported by the schools’ respective Local Government Units.

Quintessentially Now in the PhilippinesPTC Holdings held a contract signing with Quintessentially last February 16 to formally bring the award-winning concierge and lifestyle management company’s services to the Philippines. Signatories for the partnership were PTC Holdings CEO Gerardo Borromeo and Emma Sherrard Matthew, Group CEO - Asia Pacific of Quintessentially.

As the world’s leading premium lifestyle management and concierge service provider, Quintessentially is present in 65 countries and operates 24x7 to meet its members’ requests, from the practical to the aspirational. Its award-winning service is supported by a dedicated team of lifestyle managers and specialists who offer members a prestigious concierge service, exclusive privileges and insider access around the world. Utilizing an unrivalled network and specialist knowledge, Quintessentially grants its members everything from everyday needs to life’s defining moments.

Quintessentially Philippines is located at First Maritime Place in Makati and may be reached via +632 841 5591 and qphilippines@quintessentially.com.

US Embassy NIV Officers Visit PTC & The MASTOfficers of the US Embassy’s Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) Unit headed by NIV Chief Martin Lahm visited First Maritime Place last February 1 to meet with executives of the PTC Group in an effort to further understand the nuances of recruitment and deployment to aid in their vetting of seafarer US visas. The unit, composed of Vice Consul Alisson Miller and Mr. Matthew Mayberry, were also given a tour of PHILCAMSAT, followed by a visit to The MAST Campus in Maragondon, Cavite on February 4.

PTC GMPs Lauded for Role in Rescue of Sunken Cargo Ship Crew M/V Norstream, a RoRo vessel of Finnish shipping company Bore, rescued the seven crew of M/V Fluvius Tamar which sank off the English Channel during the evening of January 14, 2017. The rescue operation was conducted after M/V Norstream received a Mayday call from the sinking vessel, as well as, a request from Dover Coastguard to proceed towards the scene of the disaster. A helicopter later assisted the effort, taking all the rescued crew to the hospital.

Bore CEO Håkan Modig said, “I’m proud to say that our crew performed very well in the stressful situation and in fairly bad weather conditions. It is always sad to hear about Mayday distress at sea but we are pleased that all crew were safely rescued.”

John Garner, P&O Fleet Director, added, “The primary duty of any Master and seafarer is to assist mariners in distress who have declared Mayday. The Master and crew of Norstream have discharged this obligation in an excellent manner by rescuing the entire crew from M/V Fluvius Tamar which sank. Well done to all onboard.”

The rescue effort was headed by Captain Patrik Norrgard and assisted by the entire crew of M/V Norstream which included PTC GMPs 2nd Officer Kenneth Hervoso, 3rd Officer Gerfil Sobreno, 3rd Engineer Antonio Casamorin, AB Clemente Bejasa, AB Gregorio Ganancial, OS Abarico Raymundo, Cook Regis Baylon and Galley Assistant Eddiemar Umoquit.

PHILCAMSAT Introduces New Accommodation Ladder Facility

Holland America Group Conducts Cherry Picker Training at The MAST

Gerardo Borromeo Presents Blue Philippines Road Map

Joseph McCormack, Occupational Safety Advisor of the Holland America Group, held a “Train the Trainers” program for instructors of the Philippine Center for Advanced Maritime Simulation and Training, Inc. (PHILCAMSAT) last February 7 at The MAST in Maragondon, Cavite. Using state-of-the-art mobile elevated work platform (MEWP) equipment, the instructors were trained on the effective conduct of one of PHILCAMSAT’s latest offerings: the Cherry Picker Training Course. The 1-day course covers provisions of the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seaman, underscoring the importance of safety when working at height. Interested enrollees may visit www.philcamsat.com.ph for more details.

The Philippine Center for Advanced Maritime Simulation and Training, Inc. (PHILCAMSAT) has announced the opening of its accommodation ladder training facility at The MAST in Maragondon, Cavite. With the new facility, PHILCAMSAT now offers training on pilot boarding arrangements including combination ladder use, working overside, gangway operations, and gangway safety and maintenance.

The training program aims to increase the safety awareness of crew members involved in ladder operations thereby ensuring secure and efficient use of the accommodation/combination ladder onboard at all times. The courses can be adjusted to fit company specific requirements and procedures. Interested parties may contact PHILCAMSAT for inquiries via telephone number (632) 7981111 local 3006 to 3008 or email at salesteam@philcamsat.com.ph and enrollment@philcamsat.com.ph.

Karen Avelino at IMO’s HTW 4The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW 4) convened for its fourth session last January 30 to February 3 at the IMO Headquarters in Lambeth Road, London. Karen Avelino, PTC Executive Director for Education and Professional Development, attended the session as part of the Philippine delegation. Among the important issues highlighted at HTW 4 were the validation of model courses that provide guidance to enhance seafarers’ training programs; the development of a framework for a new STCW-related GISIS module to reduce administrative burdens; and the development of relevant guidance for the effective implementation of the 2010 Manila Amendments.

University of Asia & the Pacific Research Team Visits PTCA research team from the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) conducting a study on the Philippine maritime industry visited PTC on February 1 to meet with PTC CEO Gerardo Borromeo, PTC Senior Executive Director for Government Affairs Ronald SJ Enrile and other resource persons from the organization. The research team, comprised of UA&P professors of different disciplines, aims to gain a deeper understanding of the maritime industry intended for their research. The results of this collaboration will serve as the basis for relevant policy formulation necessary in the realization of the Blue Philippines Framework.

Following an initial meeting held last September 2016, key stakeholders of the Philippine Maritime Industry once again converged on February 2 at the Makati Diamond Residences to discuss the framework to be developed by the industry as an input to the current administration’s national socio-economic agenda. During the meeting, PTC CEO Grerardo Borromeo presented the final draft of the Blue Philippines framework to the group’s Drafting Committee. Blue Philippines highlights the use of the country’s marine resources to aid in the sustainable development of the maritime sector.

CTI at the Travel Tour Expo 2017Travel enthusiasts flocked to the booth of Constellation Travels, Inc. (CTI) to grab one-of-a-kind deals to exciting domestic and international destinations at the 24th Philippine Travel Agencies Association Travel Tour Expo 2017 last February 10 to 12 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. Aside from exciting travel packages and competitive prices in domestic and international airline tickets, CTI offered its host of customized travel services during the annual 3-day event.

PTC Turns Over Donation to PCPIPTC’s Human Resources Department has successfully turned over the proceeds of the PTC ChariTree Project to Ms. Preciosa Diane D. Deluria, Executive Director of the Philippine Cerebral Palsy Incorporated (PCPI). The substantial donation was raised through the generosity of the PTC Group employees who participated in the Christmas ChariTree Project held last December 2016. The PCPI is a non-profit foundation dedicated to the treatment and alleviation of cerebral palsy (CP) and related motor disorders. PCPI runs a rehabilitation center, located just around the corner from the PTC Office, offering free care and therapy to CP patients.

FCR Holds Thanksgiving Lunch In gratitude for the constant support extended by GMPs and allottees over the years, PTC’s Family and Crew Relations (FCR) organized an exclusive Bollywood-inspired Thanksgiving Lunch last January 28 at the Kashmir Restaurant in Makati. Sporting colorful bindi ornaments, the allottees worked up a sweat during a very fun BollyZumba session which combined energetic Zumba moves with graceful Indian dance steps. Over lunch of authentic Indian cuisine, FCR Manager Normie Hernandez thanked the attendees for always taking part in FCR’s events and projects. She also enjoined them to encourage and invite their fellow GMP wives to likewise participate in PTC’s crew and family initiatives. The affair ended with a toast in honor of the allottees who committed their continued support for PTC.

WIMAPHIL Holds Assessment and Planning WorkshopWomen in Maritime Philippines (WIMAPHIL) held a successful assessment and planning workshop last February 11 at the First Maritime Place in Makati. Also discussed during the session was the organization’s significant achievements since its establishment, as well as, upcoming plans and projects for WIMAPHIL’s 10th year anniversary this coming July 2017.

CTI Recognized by Asiana Airlines 2nd Year in a Row

Constellation Travels, Inc. (CTI) was honored by Asiana Airlines for the second year in a row as one of its top producing agencies for 2016. In a simple awarding ceremony held last February 22, Asiana Airlines Regional Manager Yong Han Cho awarded the plaque of recognition to CTI President Joey S. Sison. The 2016 Top Agent Award is yet another testament to CTI’s sustained excellence in sales performance as acknowledged by one of its many trusted partners.

Photo shows (from L-R) CTI Head of Operations Marnic Adriano, Asiana Airlines Regional Manager Yong Han Cho, CTI President Joey S. Sison and Asiana Airlines General Manager Gisela Tibia during the awarding ceremony.

PHILCAMSAT Formally Recertified for HELMKaren Avelino, PTC Executive Director for Education and Professional Development, has formally received PHILCAMSAT’s full certification for its Human Element Leadership and Management (HELM) course from the Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB). The certificate was awarded by MNTB Director Glenys Jackson last February 3 at the MNTB Headquarters in London. Guy Platten, CEO of the UK Chamber of Shipping, who conducted the recertification audit on PHILCAMSAT last October 2016, was present to witness the ceremony. The full certification is valid from January 2016 to December 2018.

Gerardo Borromeo at the ICS Board MeetingPTC CEO Gerardo Borromeo was in London last February 7 to attend the board meeting of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) where he serves as Vice Chairman. Among the critical issues discussed at the meeting was how the industry can best contribute to the development of the IMO Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction roadmap for shipping. Prior to this, Mr. Borromeo met with World Maritime University (WMU) President Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry at the WMU campus in Malmo, Sweden. Mr. Borromeo is currently a member of the WMU Executive Board.

PHILCAMSAT-MAST Wins PTC Group Basketball Tournament Championship Congratulations to Team PHILCAMSAT-MAST for winning the PTC Group and Partners Basketball Tournament Championship held last February 7, 2017 at The City Club, Alphaland, Makati City. Participating teams for the tournament included PTC Group, CTI/HMI, ACM Homes, FMSS MSC, FMSS GSC, ProGear and Abojeb.

PTC Celebrates 5s Day Employees of the PTC Group had an exciting day learning more about the 5S workplace organization method last February 28 at the Penthouse of First Maritime Place. Organized by the Business Process Control and Compliance (BPCC) department, the whole day event demonstrated how simple and beneficial it is to employ 5S practices at work through a host of fun games and other activities. Creative employees showcased their interpretation of “Modeling the 5S Way” through their entries to the poster making competition. Making the event more enjoyable were prizes and giveaways courtesy of CTI, NSE, HMI, FMCC and BPCC.

On February 20, individuals and departments who faithfully adhered to the 5s policies for the past year were recognized at the Annual 5S Awards. Named as the Most Improved Department was Purchasing while Ma. Luisa Beltran of Accounting was recognized as the Best 5S Coordinator. Taking home the top honors of Best in 5S were the Claims Department, First Maritime Credit Corp. and PHILCAMSAT.