“Getting what you want is simple but it won’t be easy” -Mel Robbins
They say success is not just one click away and I’m one of the persons who can attest to that. Being a marine engineer is not easy but with the right foundation that I got from the Lyceum of the Philippines University Batangas I made it and now I’m one step away from reaching my goal; to be a Chief engineer. But the path I took before becoming a Second engineer or in our case in a Japanese fleet, becoming a First assistant engineer (1AE) was not that easy. There were times that I wanna give up and change careers especially during my cadet times and when I was still a rating. But with the help of colleagues and loved ones I was able to pick up the pieces and focus on my goal, to reach the top and change the old ways of seamanship traits of us Filipinos, for the better.
“My belief is that luck favors those who have the passion to win. If you don’t have the passion to win then in all directions, there are only excuses, only excuses.” – Arunima Sinha
Our passion to succeed is one of our means to devour all the challenges life has given us. I can still remember the conversation i had with our training head in our company. I was newly disembarked and so when i reported to him he asked me “Oh iho anung natutunan mo duon sa barko” so ako bilang 4th engineer that time I simply answered him “Sir madami po akong natutunan merong tama at merong mali pero iniipon ko po lahat yun para in the future alam ko kung ano ang dapat kong gawin” and he said “Pano mo naman gagawin at babaguhin ang lahat ng iyon? iho” so i told him “simple lng sir mag eexam ako at kapag andun na ako sa rurok i can change their ways na naaayon sa regulations at kung anong tama”
We, seafarers, are perfectionists when it comes to our job simply because the room for failure does not exist in our vocabulary because one failure will cost money or life, cause accidents and damage to property, or even pose a threat to the environment so there is no room for errors. That is why I salute all the seafarers in the world and, I want to thank Lyceum of the Philipines University Batangas, all the instructors who are sharing their knowledge and experiences, all those retired seafarers, and our senior seafarers who paved this path for us, without your hard work and dedication we won’t be getting the same opportunities that we are having right now. #ButiNalangNagLyceumAko
2E Henry M. Cuenca, BS Marine Engineering 2008
Maine Marine Philippines Inc.
