Philippines In Crisis

If you have ever been on a cruise then chances are at some point you have been served by a smiling Filipino crew member. Many of the cruise lines employ them for their smiling cheerfulness and commitment to hard work.

Many of the Filipinos work at sea in order to try and carve a better life for themselves and their family and they tend to leave older family members at home to take care of their children whilst they are away. As they are away for up to ten months at a time they miss out on many of the milestones for their children.

I cannot begin to imagine how they must be feeling at the moment knowing that they are so far away and not knowing if their loved ones are injured or worse, and with this in mind it has been great to see many of the big cruise companies stand up and support their crew after Typhoon Haiyan caused absolute devastation.

Carnival Corp which includes Carnival, Princess, P & O, Cunard and Holland America have donated $1 million towards a relief fund and is also providing free access to Internet and phones Afro crew members on board as well as logistical support within the Philippines.

Royal Caribbean International has also pledged $1 million. RCCL said that Filipinos are the largest single nationality represented on its cruise lines, which together employ more than 41,000 people at sea.  Together with its local manning agency, Philippine Transmarine Carriers Inc., it is sending an emergency team to the hardest hit areas in the island nation.

Norwegian Cruise Line said it has been in contact with its partners in Manila, who are actively reaching out to contact crew members and their families located around Manila and outlying provinces. “Crew members on board are being supported to help make contact with their families, and we are making arrangements for those who need to return home to do so,” a Norwegian statement said.

Costa Cruises said it has set up a $100,000 fund to help support employees and families.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is taking urgent action to support those of its Filipino crew members who have been affected by the terrible impacts of ‘Super Typhoon Haiyan’ upon their homes and families. Fred. Olsen is facilitating the return home of a number of staff from the most devastated areas in the Philippines, and is sending a sizeable donation to its crewing agent in the region – Bahia Shipping – to distribute to families in urgent need of help. Mike Rodwell, Managing Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “This is a very worrying time for many of our crew, with families in the Philippines, and we are offering them as much support as we can at this extremely difficult time. ”

What is also heart-warming is that on board the ships, other crew members are coming together to raise money for their comrades. As an ex crew member I can vouch for the close knit relationships you quickly form with one another and I for one have already made my donation via The Disaster Emergency Committee. If you have not yet made a donation please try and spare a couple of pounds for this hard working proud nation by clicking on the following link.

www.dec.org.uk/phillippines

Thanks

Molly