PMMA Class 1993

14/08/2026

A SALUTE TO A FELLOW PMMA ALUMNUS

Yesterday is the retirement ceremony of one of SANGLIPI member, PCOL Glenn Earvin Provido PNP-Maritime, as he hung-up his uniform after more than 27 years of dedicated service to the nation.

The ceremony was presided over by BGEN Crizaleo R. Tolentino, Acting director of the PNP Maritime Group, and grace by PMMAAAI President Engr. Vera Christine Navarette-Dadula, PMMAAAI VP for External Affairs Commodore Enrico Federico PCG and Capt. Jeff Collado PCG, President of the PMMAAAI-PCG Chapter.

Their presence was a meaningful representation of the PMMA Alumni community's gratitude and pride for one of the very few PMMA graduates who chose to serve the Filipino people through the PNP Maritime Group.

Retirment is always a moment of mixed emotions, pride for a career well served, and sadness in finally taking off the uniform that has been part of one's identity for so many years.

What made PCOL Provido farewell especially inspiring was his message about Polaris - The North Star, which navigators use as a constant reference to determine their position and maintain their direction, especially during uncertain or uncomfortable situation.

He reminded his colleague that, in life and in service, we must always have a constant point of reference, seeking wisdom and guidance from the almighty and remaining anchored to the right principles.

BIG Congratulations, Bunkmate Glenn, on 27 years plus of honorable service. May God continue to be your Polaris as you navigate the next chapter of your journey.

Fairwinds and following seas!

17/07/2026

Congratulations to the proud father and top notcher of PMMA CLASS 1993 - Capt Soc Trilles.

23/06/2026

12/01/2026

Two Galleonaires. Two Professions. One Legacy of Service.

The PMMA Class of 1993 proudly celebrates two of their memberships whose careers reflect excellence, integrity, and unwavering service. . . on shore and at sea.

We congratulate PCOL Ervin Glenn U. Provido, recipient of the Exceptional Leadership and Achievement Award, for his distinguished service in law enforcement through the PNP-Maritime Group. As a senior leader safeguarding our maritime domain, his work has had a meaningful impact on maritime security, the welfare of seafarers, and the protection of our coastal and territorial waters. His leadership exemplifies public service at its finest.

We likewise congratulate Capt. Abner A. Torres Jr., MM, recipient of the Maritime Corporate Award, for his outstanding contribution to the merchant marine profession. Through his leadership in the private maritime sector, he continues to influence safety, professionalism, and operational excellence - strengthening not only his organization but the broader maritime industry and future generations of maritime professionals.

Different uniforms. Different mandates.

Yet both careers are anchored on the same values they learned as cadets - Kawastuan, Kababaang-loob and Kagitingan.

Their achievements honor the entire PMMA community. Reminding us that true leadership transcends rank, sector, or institution. . .it is measured by impact and integrity.

Congratulations, Galleonaires.

You carry the seal of Class 1993 with pride.

Once a Galleonaire, always a Galleonaire

pics : marre torres, marino ph

12/01/2026

05/01/2026

Fellow Galleonaires,

As we participate in the PMMAAI and PMMAAFI elections, we respectfully encourage all of us to reflect on what truly strengthens our alumni community.

We are a proud and diverse body of mariners who may hold differing views on important national and institutional issues…including the proposed renaming of our Academy. These differences are natural and, when handled with maturity, healthy. What must remain constant, however, is our shared responsibility to preserve Professionalism, Unity, and Brotherhood within the alumni.

An alumni election should not be reduced to a single issue or used to exclude fellow alumni based on where they stand on matters that are ultimately decided, but to ensure that those we elect are capable of advancing alumni welfare, upholding good governance, and strengthening PMMA’s standing…regardless of individual policy positions.

History teaches us that names change through time, but legacy is preserved by people. PMMA’s heritage was built not only by what it is called, but by the competence, professionalism, and solidarity of its graduates. That legacy will endure only if we remain united and focused on service to the alumni and future generations of mariners.

Let us therefore vote with discernment…based on leadership, integrity, competence, and a genuine commitment to alumni welfare. Let us choose leaders who can listen, bridge differences, and represent the entire alumni community, not just one position or one issue.

We may disagree on some matters, but we are united by our oath, our service, and our shared responsibility to PMMA and it’s alumni.

23/12/2025

A Trillion-Peso Workforce Deserves more Than Lip Service

Filipino seafarers quietly power the global shipping industry and in the process, help keep the Philippine economy afloat. A recent study by maritime labor experts estimates that Filipino seafarers generated Php1.06 trillion in 2024, flowing into local communities through salaries, remittances, and the business sustained by their spending.

Yet behind this impressive figure lies an uncomfortable truth: the very sytem that produces this trillion-peso workforce is under strain.

For years, maritime education in the Philippines has struggled with a persistent and damaging bottleneck...the lack of shipboard training opportunities for students. Thousands of maritime cadets complete their academic requirments only to find themselves stalled, unable to graduate or qualify for licensure because they cannot secure the required sea service. The result is wasted potential, delayed careers, and mounting frustration among young Filipinos who chose the martitime path in good faith.

This is not a failure of ambition or talent. it is a failure of policy.

The Philippines proudly claims its status as the world's leading supplier of seafarers. But leadership brings responsibility. Other maritime nations treat shipboard training as a strategic national investment, backed by state-supported training vessels, firm industry partnerships, and clear deplyoment pathways for cadets. In contrast, Filipino students are often left to navigate a fragemented system where a shipboard placement depends more on personal connections than national planning.

The irony is stark. While Filipino seafarers contribute over a trillion pesos annualy to the economy, the country reinvest only a fraction of that value into ensuring a sustainable pipeline of well-trained officers. Maritme schools continue to enroll students without guarantee training berths. Domestic shipping companies are rarely incentivized to carry cadets, and goverment corrdination among regulators, schools, and industry remains limited.

This gap has long-term consequence. Without decisive intervention, the Philippines risks losing its competetive edge as fleets modernize, automation increases, and shipwners demand higher technical competence. Talent that cannot be trained will eventually be replaced.

What is needed now is not another study, but action. The goverment must treat maritime education and shipboard training as matters of national economic security. This means incetivizing shipowners to accept cadets, strengthening regulation of maritime schools, investing in modern training infrastructure, and exploring the acquisition of a national training vessel through public-private partnership. It also means protecting cadets from exploitation and recognizing them as future professionals, not disposable labor.

A trillion-peso contribution should buy more than applause during Seafarer's Day celebration. It should earn Filipino seafrers and those aspiring to join their ranks a system that works.

If the Philippines truly values its maritime workforce, then the message must be clear...we will not allow the foundation of this global success story to erode through neglect. The future of Filipino seafaring depends on what "policymakers" choose to do now.

Disclaimer:
This article does not reflect the positions of any affiliated organizations or institutions. The accompanying image is reproduces from the "Marine Insights" page for educational and informational purposes. Copyright remains with the original source.

04/12/2025

PMMA SANGLIPI CLASS OF 1993 EXTENDS SUPPORT

The PMMA Class 1993 once again demonstrated its unwavering spirit of service and unity as it launched a fund-raising initiative dedicated to uplifting the morale of PCG personel under the leadership of RADM Agapito Bibat PCG.

The effort was driven by the remarkable performance of the Deployable Response Group(DRG) teams from PCG districts in Region 6,7,8, the Negros Island Region and Region 9 - frontliners who bravely responded during the onslaught of Typhoon Tino in Cebu express their heartflet gratitude for the vitamins and support provided to them during operations in Cebu.

Beyond supporting the PCG personnel, the class also donated relief goods to affected families in Brgy. Mabuli, Tabogon, Cebu. where families displaced by the typhoon received essential food packs and basic necessities.

Through compassion, unity and quick response reflect the enduring reputation of service of PMMA Class 1993.

21/11/2025

A vessel with massive open water cages, industrial aquaculture system, and 80,000 cubic meters of farming space doesn't fit neatly into any traditional category. Does the flag treat it as a ship, an offshore platform, or something entirely new? and if exemptions or equivalencies were issued, what standards were used to ensure safety, pollution control, and crew competence?

Zhanjiang Bay 1, the world's first floating, dynamically positioned cage-type aquaculture vessel, was delivered for use on Wednesday in Zhanjiang, a coastal city in western Guangdong province.

12/11/2025

This is a strong signal that the Philippines wants to reclaim its place in global shipbuilding. With Denmark's tech and ARTA's ease-of-business drive, this could finally cut the red tape that's been sinking our industry. But the real test is still the IMPLEMENTATION, unless Customs, DTI, and LGUs move in scync and unless we build our own steel and supply base we will stay dependent and delayed.