Manila’s maritime sector is in a tizzy. An IMO Diplomatic Conference will take place in the Philippine capital from 21st to 25th June to adopt proposed amendments to the STCW Convention and Code. Expect the fiesta-loving and hospitable Filipinos to try to go overboard in giving their foreign guests, led by Secretary General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, a nice time. We just hope that the red-carpet treatment doesn’t include a foot spa or pedicure for the ladies. That would be a bit too much.
But the occasion does matter a lot to the locals. Never mind if many Filipino crewing executives still don’t know what the amendments are all about, or that one manning personage thinks erroneously that IMO is a regulatory and standards-setting agency of the United Nations. The world’s ship crewing capital must put its best foot forward. The problem is, there seem to be too many feet. We understand that there has been a scramble of sorts for who gets to host which dinner. A manning bigwig announced that he would host one, then promptly asked the other bigwigs invited to chip in.
For some individuals in Manila’s crewing community, it’s not only about treating foreign guests well. It’s also about hogging the limelight, upstaging others and grabbing the credit for any success. That’s why the signing of a multilateral onboard training cooperation agreement, a private sector sidelight of the IMO event, has been the subject of bickering. Some insist on holding it at the Philippine Coast Guard headquarters, about 10 minutes drive from the Philippine International Convention Center, the venue of the diplomatic meeting. Others want it done at the PICC, which, of course, makes sense as Mr Mitropoulos wouldn’t have to be transported to another place just to witness the signing.
For sure, the IMO delegates will enjoy the local hospitality. Some, however, may be puzzled by all the flap. In their home countries, they also play gracious host to visitors. But they do so without much fuss, almost matter-of-factly. They should know that it’s different in Manila. Filipinos are not only friendly by nature. They also tend to be obsequious when dealing with foreigners. It’s a legacy from the Spanish colonial times to which crewing executives and coffeeshop waiters alike are bound. One would think that being the world’s top crew-supplier would make the Indios proud and not slavish. It hasn’t. ~Barista Uno
