Seafarers still hang around Manila’s Rizal Park, more popularly known as Luneta. But the festive atmosphere is gone following the closure last month of the recruitment booths seen in this photo. Crewing agencies were ordered to vacate the booths and dismantle their corporate signboards because they were recruiting outside their office premises, an illegal act. It’s a thankworthy move by the labour authorities. The area had practically been turned into a marketplace, giving the impression that Filipino seafarers are to be haggled over and signed on for export like cattle. Ironically, the 109 booths were being leased to manning firms by a private foundation said to be supported by the ITF-affiliated Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP). ~Barista Uno
