YOUNG FILIPINO CHIEF MATE, AN ICON OF A GOOD LEADER

A young Filipino Chief Mate is making a name in the field of seafaring. Like other mariners who had imprinted their names in the hierarchy of greatness and unquestioned characters in the performance of their duty as mariners, his is a cut above the rest. The trailblazing officer is much of a leader personified. He rose to the top of success in style through perseverance and dedication while the others took the opposite.

Chief Mate Alejandro Bersaluna, the amiable, low profile and down-to-earth Filipino Ship Officer possess the quality of a good leader. He is serious-minded yet pleasant in character. He brings to the fore his being kind and selfless without the imprimatur of an ego. His leadership style is bereft of medieval domineering temperament.

He is a teacher to those who are lacking in knowledge in seamanship. He shares his vast learning experience in cargo handling operation, navigation, security, safety, mooring operation, deck tasks and others. C/M Bersaluna confined his position not to berate or shame his junior officers and ratings.

The officer was never involved in any heated discussion or argument because he is too patient in everything he does. Likewise, patience served as his tools in teaching deck cadets and ratings in everything about ship operation. Unlike most of the officers who are keeping knowledge to themselves, C/M Bersaluna is open in sharing his ideas.

Chief Mate Alejandro Bersaluna, who hails from Bohol Province, south of the Philippines, is best described as an icon of a good leader for being true to himself, for being broadminded and for having a unique character worth of emulation. To the officers and crew who are now with C/M Bersaluna, CHEERS for having him in your ship.
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CIGARETTE ADDICTION IS HIGH AMONG SEAFARERS

“Vice-inflicted” seafarers are high in numbers maybe because of their line of work or the peer pressure that goes with it. In most cases audacity, whim or urge is the culprit why a good number of them are into vices, a trait that identify them as mariners. Uncle Sam’s DOLLARS made them so. The green bucks is pretty much cool to have especially so when the mariner is on shore leave.

On board ship vices continue to bring relief to mariners and cigarette tops the rest and, more often than not mariners smoke to death. Only a few are restrained by their being health conscious and stay away from smoking cigar. Heavy smokers are insensitive to non-smokers because of obscure or ambiguous ship’s company policy on the designated smoking area.

Cigarette addicts smoke their way inside crew mess at any given time, unmindful of their fellow crew having meal or just sitting during break time. Others who are hard headed smokers do their thing inside their cabin which is strictly prohibited under the ship’s SAFETY rules and regulations. In an LPG Tanker ship, a “NO SMOKING” warning signs are prominently displayed all over the ship, but still smokers lit their cigars carelessly.

Smoking mariners aboard ship also contributes damage to the already unhealthy environment of tanker vessels. Dangerous gases like nitrogen, butane, propane, methane, hydrocarbon and hydrogen sulfide are found onboard which are harmful to the human body. Working on board tanker vessel requires not only about competency but a healthy body.

This is a reality in seafaring more so on tanker vessel even though dangerous gases are present, compounded by cigarette smoke, mariners remains steadfast in their resolve to gain seafaring employment. To mariners seafaring is a journey of a lifetime – no ifs or buts. Smoking mariners outnumber non-smokers, which is why they are greeted with scorn and rebuke if complaint is put on the table.

To non-smokers, harmful gases on board tanker ship are already part of the danger that the seafarers face in their chosen field of work but not with smoke coming from cigarette addict mariners who puff their lungs out.


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ANCHORS AWEIGH!!!

Anchors aweigh! This is what usually heard during anchor operation when the ship’s anchor had already cleared the seabed and after which the vessel start to move away after staying for a certain period of time in a place where it was safely anchored. Normally, anchor operation is a task initiated by a deck officer assisted by ratings on duty with proper coordination in the bridge headed by the Captain.
As the word implies “Anchors Aweigh” means not only about to sail away but it connotes different meanings or understanding. Bad and good impressions go with the word. First, precedence of good impression is when the Captain himself is true to himself and broadminded. He takes full control of himself and his subordinates with kindness and respect.
And that’s what Captain Jessie Juanico did during the time when I was one of his ratings who witnessed and approved his leadership aboard LPG Tanker Minorca. He put in high regard the interests of his men and the ship itself. Thus the men anchored their trust and confidence to Captain Juanico and together they hollered “Anchors Aweigh” and sailed in unison.
Like in any other story, good times come and go, and so with seafaring. The Captain signed-off after his contract ended. Showing the quality of an officer and a gentleman, Captain Jessie Juanico turned-over his command to the incoming Captain, also from the Philippines.
At first the situation remained normal until suddenly, at the snap of a finger the ship’s aura turned dark. The precedence of bad impression ultimately filled the ship’s atmosphere. The new Captain intentionally has shown his arrogance and egotistic behavior of exaggerated sense of importance and superiority to all his subordinates. Worse, he made it hard for all crews to suffer without fresh water and letting them to use yellowish/rusty water for their daily needs. And shore leave was rare, prompting subordinates to express disapproval.
The Captain’s brand of leadership and doctrine lacks propriety but then seafaring is like any other military establishment where the chain of command always being followed, even if wrongs are part of it. And when everybody hears “Anchors Aweigh” all are up and about to sail with the Master and no questions ask.
The photo shows Captain Jessie Juanico supervises fire drill at the poop deck.

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