Ring-hop: Crossing the seven seas

At past noon today, parents and guests had the honor of witnessing five hundred graduating students in gleaming white gala uniforms at the Mariners Canaman Multipurpose Complex, a testament to their hard work and dedication. They made a simulated crossing of the Seven Seas while entering the big wooden ring on stage and receiving their certificates of completion, a significant milestone in their journey toward their future onboard Training.

Earlier, the Board of Trustees, guests, and school officials participated in a ceremonial pouring of seven glassfuls of colorful ‘sea’ water into a bowl. This act symbolized the Mariners’ journey and exploration of the seven continents across the seas, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the graduates’ lives.

The pre-events of the commencement exercises at Mariners for Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation (BSMT) and Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) began with a Baccalaureate Mass that the Archdiocese Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon celebrated at the Peñafrancia Basilica, on the outskirts of Naga City. What a beautiful sight! The Archbishop noticed how the pure white gala uniform blended well with the church.

I wore my white gala uniform proudly, and for a moment, I stuck to an old tradition. I was a child of the former Captain Jaime, who, years before his assignment with the Philippine Navy, was a skilled deep-sea diver who would come back to the Philippines each time after his Training in a US naval seafront facility with a walking doll or an American cartoon book in tow as pasalubong.

As a tradition, the ‘Send-off Completion and Ring-hop Ceremony’ occurs the day before the Commencement Exercises. This event, rich in maritime tradition, signifies the end of four or two years of maritime education as students embark on a journey through marine traditions. The ring-hop ceremony, a key part of the event, unlocks core memories of seaman life and marks the transition from students to professionals in the field of education.

At Mariners, the cadet and loved one perform the ritual by going through a giant replica of the class ring mounted on the stage.  They dip the ring tied in a colored ribbon into the bowl, representing the seven seas. After the rings and passing through the giant ring, they greet the guests onstage to complete the ceremony. It is the culmination of their academic journey and marks the transition from students to professionals in the field of education. A parent or a loved one accompanying the graduating student enters the giant ring, a symbol of continued togetherness towards a new state as future citizens of the world, when the cadet goes onboard ships to sail across continents. The ring-hop promotes a sense of unity and camaraderie, shared experiences, challenges, and aspirations. It strengthens their bond, network, collaboration, and support system to continue learning and helping their communities.  

Crossing the seven seas, on the other hand, is a distinct rite of passage, memorable and symbolic, that continues to this day since the late Commodore Jaime Jimenez, who founded the Mariners schools, introduced it before every commencement exercise.  The “Seven Seas” is a figurative term for all the world’s seas. It is an ancient phrase referring to sailors and pirates in the arts and popular culture. It is associated with the Mediterranean Sea, the Arabian Seven Seas east of Africa, and the Indian subcontinent (as told with Sinbad’s seven journeys and Captain Kidd).

As a child of a Marinero and a skilled seafarer, a captain, and a maritime educator who told stories to entertain us, kids of wonderland, I remember reading Sinbad’s Seven Journeys in a book by Rudyard Kipling titled “The Seven Seas.” Today, the seven seas are the Arctic Ocean, the North Atlantic Ocean, the South Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the North Pacific Ocean, the South Pacific Ocean, and the Southern (or Antarctic) Ocean.  Whoever wants to go to China must cross seven seas, each with its color, particular breeze, and winds.

In the present era, crossing the seven seas is a way of scaling up towards internationalization and raising young people’s search for meaning and success to a higher level.  The Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation, known for its strong focus on practical Training and hands-on experience, is committed to preparing students for the challenges of the maritime industry. This mission of allowing students to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world scenarios ensures they are well-equipped for their future careers.

Midshipman Joselito Grialbo, President of Batch 2025, led the recital of their class Pledge of Loyalty. Capt Danilo Arevalo, president of the Board of Marine Deck Officers of the Maritime Industry Authority or MARINA as guest speaker, congratulated the students and parents. All aboard!