Pres. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. serves as guest of honor during PMMA’s grad rites
Pres. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. serves as guest of honor during PMMA’s grad rites
Transcript
00:00 Attempting to avert an impending crisis that will affect the country's seafarers
00:04 during the infancy of his administration,
00:06 the President has shown his intent to help the sector
00:09 which serves as our best labor export.
00:12 That's why it's not a surprise that he was guest of honor
00:14 of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy graduation rites today.
00:18 Alan Francisco tells us more.
00:20 Who would have thought that a person like me
00:26 who came from a place they call "squatter" or informal settler
00:31 would be given the chance to see and greet the President of the Philippines
00:36 before he gets his diploma.
00:38 Because of you, I learned that not all people succeed because they are rich,
00:48 but because they help.
00:50 He is Alan J. Humamuy, the class valedictorian of this year's graduating class
00:56 of more than 200 seniors at the PMMA or Philippine Merchant Marine Academy
01:01 in San Narciso, Zambales.
01:03 Getting the family out of poverty and helping his sick father
01:07 was his inspiration in studying hard.
01:09 We are just living in a squatter, sir.
01:12 They say we are squatter, sir.
01:13 Then there are rumors, sir, that our place will be demolished, sir.
01:18 With that, I work hard, sir.
01:20 I studied, studied hard to achieve the success I dream of, sir.
01:26 That's why you did it, sir. You did it. You did not go astray.
01:30 I was happy because he was able to fulfill all his dreams.
01:35 I always tell them that there is a saying that says
01:39 that you can achieve whatever you want.
01:42 President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., himself, witnessed the graduation
01:47 as its premier guest of honor in this morning's graduation.
01:51 President Marcos calls to all those who have graduated
01:54 to help in maintaining the global stature of the Philippines in the maritime industry.
01:59 Because the Philippines is known all over the world
02:01 as a premier supplier of world-class seafarers
02:04 and to even improve the training of the Filipino Marines,
02:08 President Marcos instructed government agencies
02:11 to help the PMMA develop maritime education in the country.
02:15 As your partner in improving the skills and capabilities
02:18 of our people in the maritime industry,
02:21 I call on all the concerned agencies to coordinate closely with the PMMA,
02:26 facilitate what will make our maritime education even more responsive
02:31 to the needs of the nation,
02:34 while ensuring that whatever steps that we take
02:37 will be in compliance with laws and regulations.
02:40 The PMMA is a pioneer institution for maritime education in the Philippines,
02:45 supported by government funding and also with help from the shipping industry.
02:50 This academy is known for producing master mariners,
02:53 chief engineers, shipping executives, naval and coast guard officers.
02:58 The president also thanked the private shipping industry for supporting the PMMA.
03:03 The government welcomes the private sector support
03:06 in promoting quality maritime education and training
03:09 that allows this industry to be more innovative,
03:13 more resilient, and adaptive to the ever-changing world.
03:17 Alan Francisco for the nation, San Francisco, Zambales.