EDITORIAL - Remember the seafarers

Today, September 27, 2020, marks an occasion that isn’t known to many people; the national day of the seafarer.

The sea is a big part of Filipino life, considering that we are an archipelagic nation where ships play a big role in moving people and goods. It is only natural for many to take up the trade of the sea, whether they end up serving locally or abroad.

There isn’t a family without at least one seafarer in it, infusing much-needed money into their coffers.

Like those in other professions, seafarers are also suffering in this pandemic. Some more than others.

Even before the pandemic began, seafarers already faced challenges that were unique to their jobs, the greatest of which is the length of time spent away from family. While OFWs in other lines of work usually have more leeway when it comes to taking vacations, many seafarers serving abroad usually spend 10 months every year at sea.

They are also practically at the mercy of the vessel they are on, so it’s not like they can just up and go whenever they want to.

Then, of course, there are the dangers of their profession. No one can ever really master the sea. We only have to remember what happened earlier this month when the Gulf Livestock 1 sank off Japan --leaving only three known survivors-- to realize that even as seafarers earn more than the decent pay, they also face more than the normal amount of risks.

But now, with this pandemic, seafarers are facing even more challenges.

Many lost their jobs and their means to support their families after businesses closed and trade and shipping ground to a halt in many parts of the world. Seafarers who used to earn a fortune suddenly found the well dry.

Those who have to support their families must find work. But because they studied and trained to perform a specific set of tasks, they cannot easily find work outside their specialty.

Those who didn’t lose their jobs are also still suffering. Many are unable to come home because of quarantine and travel restrictions. The little time they have free to go home to be with family is instead wasted doing nothing on board their ships.

Even as things improve for the rest of us with the gradual lifting of quarantine measures and resumption of economic activities, recovery won’t be as fast for those whose livelihood involves ships.

In the time of this pandemic it becomes easy to praise the frontliners and others who are so visible. However, let us not forget the others who also play an important role in many families all over the country.

On this day of the seafarer let us remember and pray for those who lost their lives trying to make things better for their families, and also those who are still living their lives for this very same purpose.