The graduation ceremony of the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP), was held 19 June 2010 at the academy’s campus located at Mariveles, Bataan. MAAP graduated its eighth batch of 141 students out of the original 201 Probationary Midshipmen/women entrants in 2006. It was graced by Hon. Arturo Brion, Associate Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court as the Guest of Honor and Speaker with his wife Antonietta, an accomplished attorney-at-law herself.
The ceremony was attended by sponsoring company representatives who are responsible for funding the education of their respective cadets. Cadet sponsorship is undertaken different companies through their respective employers’/shipowners’ associations led by the International Maritime Employers Committee (IMEC) and the International Maritime Managers of Japan (IMMAJ). IMEC is headed by its Secretary General Mr. Giles Heimman who was represented by Mr. Job Espares while IMMAJ’s Chairman, Capt. Takao Manji attended the event.
The welcome remarks was given by Dr. Conrad F. Oca, Executive Vice President of the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) where he acknowledged all the guests, including delegates from the International Federation of Shipmasters’ Associations (IFSMA) which held a conference in Manila, preparatory to the IMO Diplomatic Conference. MAAP’s Dean of Academics, C/E Rodolfo Palso presented the members of the graduating class of 2010 to the President, VAdm. Eduardo Ma. R. Santos, AFP (Ret), for the Declaration of Graduates and Conferment of Bachelor’s Degrees. VAdm. Santos also introduced the Guest of Honor, the Supreme Court Associate Justice.
The fleet’s commandant read the commission orders. [Incidentally, before graduation the Class of 2010 received the basic training in the Armed Forces of the Philippines to be commissioned officers in the Philippines Navy Reserve Command with the rank of Ensign.] The oath of office was given by RAdm Danilo M. Cortez AFP, the acting Flag Officer-In-Command of the Philippine Navy.
On the same day, the blessing and inauguration of the Liquefied Natural Gas Membrane Type Liquid Cargo Handling Simulator were also held followed by the tour of facilities by guests and visitors.