Ask for the official nomination forms from the UFS, Room 303 Plaza Towers Building, L. Guerrero St., Ermita, Manila. For inquiries call phone nos. 5260668/ 5244888 and 5255806 or fax 5242336.

A WEB page enabling workers to gain rapid access to essential information about their health and safety rights and responsibilities has been set up by the Health and Safety Executive.

The "workers’ webpage" http://www.hse.gov.uk/ workers
- covers the roles and responsibilities of employers and employees, as well as issues such as ‘whistle-blowing’ and reporting accidents.

The grace of humility
 

HAVING experienced the art and technique of negotiating repair bills, which is the most crucial part of a superintendent’s job, marks another milestone in my newfound career. That was in my recent assignment at Sembawang Shipyard in Singapore when I was assigned there for dry docking supervision on one of Patt Manfield’s vessels. When I was in Tsakos Shipyard (Montevideo, Uruguay) last April – June 2003, I did not take part in the negotiation as I was mainly concentrating on the repair of the rudder system.

After that “tension-filled” and “nerve-wracking” bargaining with shipyard’s commercial staff, a colleague commented that I am now a full-fledged marine superintendent.  But for me, what was more significant during my three-week stint in Singapore was being able to experience the grace of humility.

I was assigned to work with Mr. Li, the most senior superintendent in Patt Manfield, Hongkong. Prior to my mission to the Lion City, I was told that he is a man of few words, and not as sociable as Mr. Leung, my first teammate as superintendent. I was assured though that I should not take his reticence as a sign of indifference. He is generally a nice person but it’s just that he seems to have that air of aloofness about him.

The tip-off was indeed true. The first time I met him for dinner at the hotel with our GM, Mr. Yung, I found Mr. Li truly tight-lipped. I seemed to be on tenterhooks as I braced myself for his authoritative look. I wished I could figure out his thoughts and feelings as the GM and I did most of the talking. 

In our first few days of encounter, I could not help but feel all the respect and reverence for Mr. Li. At almost 70 years of age, he is still very healthy, in tip-top shape to be exact. He has a good posture unlike other people his age. He walks briskly.  I observed too that he did not catch his breath in going up and down during our cargo hold and ballast tank inspections. 

He could eat any food, without any restrictions at all. Seeing him savor prawns and pork almost every meal every day left me in awe. While poor me could only feast on fish, chicken, and vegetables in Manila for fear that the monster gout would be awakened after many years of hiber-nation. 

Mr. Li always insisted that I partake of the prawn dishes and suggested gravy or sauce that went well with them. I was touched because under that seemingly unfriendly bearing is a caring person. How could I refuse such fatherly gesture? So I relished on the delicious seafood which I tried to avoid before.

My worst fear happened. I felt my elbow aching. Oh no, I panicked, thinking of those days years ago when just a passing wisp of air on the affected joint would leave me in excruciating pain. When Mr. Li learned about it, he did not allow me to carry out my inspection that day. He immediately ordered medicines for gout from the ship chandler. 

Gladly, the pain was gone the following day. I also tried to avoid the shrimps, but as always, the paternal concern in him that I enjoy my meal gave way to my diet plan. I just saw to it that I prayed first to ask God to bless the food and melt the uric acid if there were any. Miraculously, the pain was gone until I came back to Manila. 

It was a humbling experience. Here I am, very much younger than Mr. Li, but is very conscious of what I eat, especially those very rich in calories and cholesterol. 

In our three weeks of working together, we had good rapport. I gave him due respect in decision-making. I was able to make him laugh. Before long, we were sharing ideas about our job and the plans of the Company. He confided that his blood pressure and complete blood che-mistry are all normal.  I also learned that he jogs for one hour in the morning and swims for another hour in the evening. No wonder.

He would rather work than talk. His vast knowledge and experience show in his technical expertise and his way of dealing with people in the shipyard and on board.

When I was much younger, I was a proud person. I bragged about my potentials and achievements. I did not allow anybody to upstage me in terms of discussion on any topic under the sun.  I would not allow anybody to curtail my pride. But as the years went by, I am glad that I have learned my lessons well, espe-cially on the grace of humility. I think the formation seminars that I have attended in our parish helped a lot, too.  Like, in one of St. Peter’s epistles to the Christian communities in Asia Minor, he wrote, “Clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for God opposes the proud but bestows favor on the humble.”  So now, I’d rather concentrate on developing my craft than basking in the limelight of vainglory.

I’m now sharing this experience to our millions of Tinig ng Marino readers, not to extol self-glorification but rather to impart some values in life which I’ve gained as I walk down the road of change.

Anyway, back to Mr. Li. When it was parting time, I don’t know but I felt a tinge of sadness. He was flying back to Hongkong and me to the “land of more than the usual.” At any rate, it won’t be long before I’d be seeing him again. I am looking forward to our next dry docking supervision on or about ultimo-October.

EDITORIAL
Seafarers’ patriotic duties

SOUNDING LEAD
Seafarers have spoken
Capt. Reynold M. Sabay

UGONG NG MAKINA 
AT IKOT NG ELISE
Sobra sa training kulang sa galing
Engr. Nelson P. Ramirez

SPIRITUAL VOYAGE
Thanks, the most forgotten word
David B. Toring Jr., AOS-Cebu 

VAST HORIZON
The grace of humility
C/Engr. Rodolfo B. Virtudazo

THE LAW OF SEAFARERS
The meaning of due process
Atty. LeonardoVinz O. Ignacio

COMMENT
The POEA mess, 
a deadly trap
Capt. Leuel P. Oseña

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