Winning the Top

Winning feels good—but it feels even better when the victory stands for something larger than oneself. When I learned that my abstract had topped this year’s Ocean Centres Philippines (OCP) Call for Abstracts for Capacity Development in Maritime Education, I realized it was more than a personal milestone. It was a reflection of how Filipino maritime educators and researchers are helping chart a more sustainable and innovation-driven future for the maritime world.

The OCP Call invited maritime schools, faculty, and researchers to showcase how they strengthen capacity in maritime education and training. Each entry revealed not only academic rigor but also a shared vision—to ensure that the Philippines continues to be a global leader in seafaring and a growing hub for maritime innovation.

There were three thematic tracks: ocean literacy, formal education, and non-formal education. I joined the third, non-formal education, with my proposal titled Developing a Blue-Green Maritime Workforce: The Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation (MPCF)–Canaman Model for Coastal Industrialization and Resilience.

The idea began with a simple question: How can we empower coastal communities to adapt and thrive amid climate and economic disruptions? The Bicol Region—rich in maritime heritage yet vulnerable to typhoons and rising seas—offered both a challenge and an opportunity. Through the Blue-Green Maritime Workforce Program, MPCF–Canaman is reimagining maritime education not only as a pathway to employment but as a foundation for resilience and community transformation.

At the heart of this initiative is the Maritime Shipyard Skills Development Program (MSSDP)—a TESDA-aligned training effort that equips fisherfolk, out-of-school youth, and displaced workers with hands-on skills in shipbuilding, welding, and green logistics. But what happens after training matters just as much. Graduates are organized into community-based social enterprises engaged in boat repair, eco-rescue, and renewable energy support services. These small cooperatives become engines of local employment, promoting both livelihood and environmental stewardship.

This approach aligns with national frameworks such as the Philippine Blue Economy Development Plan (2022–2030) and the Green Jobs Act (RA 10771), which promote inclusive, sustainable, and innovation-driven growth. In practice, it demonstrates how a regional maritime higher education institution can anchor coastal industrialization while cultivating the values of sustainability and service.

When the OCP judges recognized the project, I was deeply humbled. But beyond pride, what I felt was affirmation—that maritime education today must go beyond classrooms and certifications. It must prepare people to respond to real-world challenges: climate change, digital disruption, and the evolving nature of global work.

What impressed me most about this year’s OCP Call was the collective spirit behind the winning entries. They were not just academic exercises; they were blueprints for transformation. The abstracts showed how research-informed teaching, digital tools, and curriculum innovation can reshape maritime instruction—where simulation, virtual reality, and data-driven assessments enhance both safety and competence. This shift from compliance to creativity marks a powerful evolution in Maritime Education and Training (MET)—one that equips the next generation not only with technical skills but with adaptability and purpose.

Equally remarkable was OCP’s emphasis on the Blue Economy, which underscores the sustainable use of ocean resources for growth, livelihoods, and ecosystem health. By connecting education to ocean stewardship, the Call bridges research and real-world impact. It reminds us that the sea is not merely a route for ships—it is a living system that sustains our economy, culture, and identity.

For me, this recognition is not just about winning the top—it’s about belonging to a larger movement of educators, students, and researchers committed to reimagining what maritime education can achieve. The true reward lies in collaboration and in sharing ideas that strengthen our collective capacity to build a resilient and innovative maritime nation.

The Philippines has long been known for producing world-class seafarers. But today, our mission is expanding: to become a thought leader in maritime innovation, sustainability, and ocean governance. Through the combined efforts of institutions like MPCF, initiatives like OCP, and the unyielding passion of our maritime educators, we are steering the course toward a smarter, greener, and bluer future.

Winning the top is an honor—but the journey that led to it is a reminder of something deeper: that every effort to educate, innovate, and care for the sea brings us one step closer to a future where the Philippines truly leads with both competence and conscience.