Philippine Merchant Marine Academy

The Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) was originally named "Escuela Nautica de Manila". It was created by virtue of a royal decree issued on January 1, 1820 through the recommendation of the Spanish Consulate of Commerce. It was then inaugurated on April 5, 1820 in its initial location, at Calle Cabildo Intramuros, Manila until 1863. The school was relocated to Calle San Juan de Letran, then to Calle de Palacio, Manila in 1884 and then to Binondo, Manila in 1898.

The school was temporarily closed during the Philippine Revolution. It was reopened after the American Occupation on December 15¸1899 and it was renamed as the Nautical School of the Philippine Islands. It was moved once more into the U.S. Navy Warehouse at Calle Sta. Elena in San Nicolas with Spanish as the medium of instruction.

Later it was converted into the Philippine Nautical School. In 1913, it was reopened upon representations of progressive firms and was placed under the Philippine School for Arts and Trades located at Aroceros St., Manila, then later moved to Roberts St, Pasay City.

During the 2nd world war, classes were suspended but these were reopened by the Japanese. During the liberation, it was placed under Capt. Francisco Castañeda.

In 1963, R.A. 3680 converted the Philippine Nautical School into the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy and changed its course offerings into B.S. degrees. It was relocated at Fort Bonifacio, Makati City in 1968. From then on, it was placed under the Department of Transportation and Communications. In 1996 it was placed directly under the supervision of the Commission on Higher Education.

On February 2, 1998 PMMA was transferred at San Narciso, Zambales.

This old Academy, a pillar among maritime institutions in the country, has developed the Quality Policy Manual in compliance with the requirements of the 1995 International Convention on Seafarers' Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW '95) and the Policies, Standards and Guidelines for Maritime Education 1997 of the Commission on Higher Education.

It is only fitting for PMMA to lay down in printed form the guidelines, policies and procedures that are behind the standards of quality education and training of world famous PMMA cadets. It behooves PMMA likewise, to formally lay down and pass on, its management secrets that have led to the quality of work and service standards among its faculty and staff, which are the very support of its educational system.

PMMA has not lagged behind in its quest of producing competent and qualified merchant marine officers. It is hoped that with this Quality Standards Manual, those who will follow in the footsteps of managing this prestigious institution will be inspired and guided accordingly. This is not only to continue in its famous tradition, but also feel free to improve and build upon this legacy - a world famous merchant marine institution known for quality and good performance with standards of management and training comparable only with the best.

Mission

To educate and train midshipmen/women to become qualified and competent merchant marine officers for shipboard and shore-based positions in response to the global requirements of the expanding international maritime industry, as well as to become competent and capable naval officers who can serve as naval and military auxiliaries in times of war and national emergencies, and to contribute to the improvement of maritime education and the pool of ship business managers through graduate school programs.

Vision

The Philippine Merchant Marine Academy envisions through its academic programs and quasi-military training to produce a balanced personality out of every graduate, i. e. an internationally acceptable officer and gentleman who can function efficiently in his field of endeavor and contribute to the development and progress of the Filipino nation.

Philosophy

The Philippine Merchant Marine Academy is committed to a policy of providing the highest practicable standards of maritime education and training to its Corps of Midshipmen, and to produce merchant marine officers with an assured level of quality, which satisfies all national and international standards.

The PMMA Seal

The seal of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy consists of figures from the sea carefully choosen to identify the Marine profession - the main reason for its existence. It is composed of the seal of the republic superimposed on a crossed anchor background, embellished by laurel leaves inside a gold steering wheel with eight spokes.

Its meaning...

Three Stars

The three stars represent the three main islands of the Philipines - Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. It is a manifestation of one of the mandates of the Academy as a state college which is to provide subsidized education to qualified, deserving and interested applicants who wants to become merchant marine officers all over the country.

Sea Lion

The figure represents the Navy, the branch of service where PMMA graduate is most fitted to join in times of war and national emergencies.

Laurel Leaves

It stands for honor, superior performance, nobleness and greatness of character, the time-honored traditions that every PMMA cadet should uphold.

Kawastuan, Kababang Loob, Kagitingan

These sacred words expresses the ideals of PMMA. These are the principles that are the guiding lights of PMMAers as they strive for excellence in every undertaking they engage into.

Steering Wheel with Eight Spokes

The eight spokes stands for cardinal points of a compass. This signifies that every effort exerted by a PMMA cadet is directed to a comon goal, that is to become efficient and a well trained merchant marine officer who is at par or, even better than marine officers of progressive maritime countries.

Crossed-Fouled Anchor

The crossed anchor symbolizes the main course offered by PMMA - a bachelor's degree in Marine Transportation major in Marine Engineering and Nautical Studies. The fouled anchor on the otherhand, signifies that a cadet spends a minimum of four long years in the Academy to learn and master the arts and techniques of "unfouling the anchor" and secure the ship from the ravages of the sea until she is finally settled and safe.

Aladdin's Lamp

It symbolizes that the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy is an educational institution tasked to provide knowledge, skills, arts and techniques of the noble profession of sea-faring.

Mama - Ang butihin ina na nagbigay buhay sa akin.

Five years old pa lang ako when my parents got separated. I remember, although I chose to stay with my mother but later on walang nagawa ang mother ko kundi ipaubaya ang pagpapalaki sa akin at sa kapatid kong sumunod sa akin sa aming ama. Madalang pa sa patak ng ulan na magkasama kami ng mother ko.

It was only during my college days na nagkasama ulit kami ng mother ko sa iisang bubungan. Kaso naman dumating naman ang chance na magabroad kaya hayun nagkahiwalay na naman kami.

Pinagsisisihan ko na napaiyak ko ng ilang beses ang aking ina. Yes, I broke her heart several times and I wish I never have done it. Dala lang siguro ng immaturity ko noon kaya nagawa ko iyon sa mother ko. Pero it will never happen again. I vow to make her happy now that I know na kokonti na lang ang mga araw na pinapahiram ng Diyos para makapiling pa namin siya.

Matagal din akong di nakauwi sa bansa natin kaya ng magkita ulit kami ng mother ko noong January 21 ay di niya napigilan ang lumuha. Ang sabi niya sa akin, "narito ka na si JC wala pa". Ah si JC... well, i will dedicate a separate post for JC. Sa mother muna tayo ngayon. To continue... syempre di ko mapigilan na di rin maiyak. Alam ko kasi mahal na mahal ako ng mother ko bilang panganay. At mahal na mahal naman niya si JC bilang bunso.

Inabot ko sa akong mother ang pabango na request niya na Nina Ricci. Nag-glow ang kanyang mga mata at nakita ko ang nadama niyang ligaya.

Namimiss ko na ang luto ni mother. Pero higit sa lahat namiss ko siya. For the first time sa ilang beses ko na paglabas-labas sa bansa ay naghatid siya sa akin sa Airport noong February 9. Nakita ko ang lungkot sa kanyang mga mata. Pero alam ko masaya siya kasi sa pagalis kong iyon kasama ko ang apo nya at aking asawa.

Sana nababasa ito ni mother. Nais ko sabihin sa kanya at iparating na I LOVE HER SO MUCH. Kaya nga siya ang unang-unang featured dito sa blog ko kasi siya ang pinakaimportanteng tao sa buhay ko. Utang ko sa kanya ang aking buhay at habang buhay ako ay tatanawin kong malaking utang na loob iyon sa kanya.

Dalangin ko lang na bumalik ang dati nyang lakas at pahabain pa ng Diyos ang kanyang buhay upang mabigyan kami ng chance na makasama pa namin siya ng matagal at maipadama sa kanya ang aming pagmamahal sa aming mga ginagawa at ibinibigay sa kanya. Pero ang hirap suklian kasi sa gitng ng kanyang katandaan at nanghihinang katawan ay siya pa rin ang nagbibigay sa amin ng atensiyon at pagaasikasa araw-araw. Higit sa lahat nasabi nya na gabi-gabi ay pinagdarasal nya at ako at si JC at siyempre ang iba ko pang mga kapatid.

Sana ingatan ni Mama ang sarili niya. Wag gaanong magpapagod. Matulog ng tama sa oras. Iwasan ang mga bawal na pagkain. Miss na miss na namin siya lalo na ni GoYe at Yeira. Paguwi namin ipapasyal ko labas ng bansa promise ko yan.

Wag sana siya magalala ng labis kay JC. Uuwi din iyon. Mahal na mahal siya ni JC alam ko, kahit na malayo sa piling niya ang kapatid namin na ito.

Salamat nga pala sa Diyos  kasi  magkamukha ni Mama!

God bless my mother! I love her so much! mwah!

Mrs. Julita Mercado Olaguer ang name niya. Birthday niya ay September 4. Siya ang aming mahal na mahal na Ina... wala ng iba!  Siya ang instrumento ng Diyos para kami ay maranasan ang mabuhay sa mundong ito!

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Thanks and regards,
Jeck