HOW does one survive and succeed in an industry without the one thing that could launch actual prospects of employment — a backer?
The “backer system” is a colloquial term in the employment sector referring to a legitimized practice where applicants seek a patron to recommend them to an employer.
This has been a predominant practice in the maritime industry that broke the spirits of thousands of aspiring seafarers, especially those who are qualified and determined more than their colleagues but were unfortunate not to have a backer.
Such is the story of Jo-Mari Hieras, a third engineer for international vessels.
There were no seafarers in his family to guide him through the process. He had never seen or boarded a ship in his life. He even embarked on an education without exactly knowing what it was all about. Hieras’ story began with a completely blank slate.
The only thing that fascinated Hierras in maritime was the summer white uniform that hung immaculately in a long line of gray office barongs.
“I never dreamt of becoming a seafarer; it was not even a part of my childhood dreams. But I remember when I was asked which of the engineering courses I would take after receiving the second-highest scholarship with the Technological Institute of the Philippines. It was when I first saw the summer white uniform hanging just behind the person asking me,” Hieras recalled.
The impeccable uniform, symbolic of the profession’s discipline and integrity, set off the young man’s career.
Thereon, Hieras poured his entire being into mastering his craft and learning the ropes with a steel resolve to make it to sea, backer or no backer.
Come 2011, he boarded the Training Ship (TS) Kapitan Felilx Oca as an engine cadet as part of the scholarship of the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (Maap) and the International Mariners Management Association of Japan through the Philippine-Japan Manning Consultative Council (PJMCC).
It was his first time boarding a ship, being part of dry docking, working with a watchkeeping team, and visiting major tourist destinations in the Philippines.
By the following year, he was on to his second vessel, a Handymax general cargo ship delivering nickel ore from the mining ports of the Philippines to Indonesia.
Hieras, a young man who used to be devoid of any knowledge and aspirations in the maritime industry, with no family or connections to recommend him around manning agencies, found himself thriving in a profession he grew to love.
From cargo to cruise
Five years into seafaring, however, in 2023, he suddenly found himself floating in a sea of career uncertainty.
An unfortunate incident onboard pushed him to look for another company, still with no backer to recommend him.
What carried him through such a phase was a decade of proving his mettle and grit as a seafarer. His reputation as a hard-working and competitive young mariner took him to the doors of MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately-held cruise company and is part of Swiss-based MSC Group.
“I have learned that they have an opening for third engineers. I readily took the opportunity and tested the waters because cruise ships are an entirely different world. Whereas cargo ships are run by only seven to eight technical staff, cruise ships have about 61 in a 1,400 crew complement.
“The company also has a fair procedure for career progression; everyone has a chance if they work hard for it. For people like me who don’t have ‘old seafarer blood’ in the family, who don’t have connections in the industry, it is encouraging to have that kind of motivation that if I work hard, I can progress. I don’t need to worry about unfair advantages that others have,” Hieras reflected.
Rearing the future generation of seafarers
Some of the biggest dilemmas in seafaring can be best answered by seafarers themselves. For Hieras, one of the greatest challenges of the sector is the neophytes who venture out into the sea with a misplaced picture of what to expect.
“Seeing the world and traveling for free is a good motivation. But we should also set their (neophytes) expectations and prepare them for the worst. It is not all calm seas, rainbows and dolphins out there. The majority of the time, seafaring entails hard labor, time constraints, regulatory requirements, stringent international protocols, and a dangerous workplace,” he said.
Hieras added that setting expectations for the younger generation will keep them from blaming their future misfortunes and struggles on the government or their companies.
“One good motivation is to keep reminding yourself why you are doing this. A time may come when you have to make an unpopular decision, and that is alright; just make sure that it is guided by your moral compass. Always be ready for challenges, do not lie, and lastly, believe in destiny. Things happen for a reason, even those that are unfavorable to you at the moment. Just trust and don’t rush the process; this is not a race,” he concluded.
Hieras is a graduate of the MAAP Class of 2014. He is a recipient of multiple recognitions, including Philippine Navy Reserve Midshipman Officer of the Year 2014, Naval Reserve Command Midshipman Officer of the Year 2013, Principal Nominee, Armed Forces of the Philippines Reserved Officer of the Year 2013, and Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOMSP) 2013.
He is also part of the first set of elected board members of the National Association of Unesco Clubs in the Philippines. In 2019-2024, he became part of the board as the organization shifted to the now National Coordinating Body of Clubs for Unesco in the Philippines.
During his vacation, he serves as the assistant marine engineering program facilitator at the TS Kapitan Felix Oca, head of the operations of the MAAP Satellite Office, and guest facilitator for in house courses at Far East Maritime Foundation Inc.
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