“We build this to help our Filipino seafarers, most especially the Boholanos – to make them closer to their families – so that they don’t need any more to go to Manila or Cebu for trainings and they will no longer spend money and time away from their loved ones. Para ni sa atoa mga Bol-anon, makatabang ta sa mga seaman dinhi. Di ba mao ni gusto nato nga duol ta sa atong mga pamilya?”

To this question posed by Capt. Jinsen Mante, a resounding “yes” was heard from the attendees during the program last Monday, September 18, 2017, for the soft opening of GLOBAL MARITIME PERFORMANCE AND SOLUTIONS, INC or GMPSI, including the blessing and inauguration of its office and training rooms located along CPG North Avenue (just across KIA Motors) in Taloto District, Tagbilaran City.

In his message representing Governor Edgar Chatto, former Board Member Billy Tongco also congratulated the partners who put up the company, acknowledging how the endeavor would be greatly beneficial to Bohol, in general; and specifically, the Boholano families of seafarers.

“This soft opening is the beginning. In this building, we conduct the lectures, computer-based trainings, and classroom instruction. We will be expanding for the practical site and hopefully, our other partners   will also be opening branches in other places outside Bohol,” revealed Capt. Juanito B. Tampon.

NOT ONLY FOR BOHOLANOS BUT LED BY BOHOLANOS

GMPSI, the country’s newest maritime training and assessment center offering excellent and fully integrated performance management and solutions to the clients in the maritime industry is a trailblazing endeavor led by Boholanos.

“We are pioneers in the province of Bohol and our company is built on Growth, Mentorship, Professionalism, Service and Integrity; that’s GMPSI.”

Capt. Jinsen Mante, who is GMPSI Vice President for Administration, is from Tubigon, Bohol. “This company started sa tampohanay sa among nahibal-an, sulod sa mga 20 ka tuig panakayan namo barko mao ni fruit of our labor,” he added.

From the start, a seaman’s life is already full of challenges. Capt. Juanito Tampon shared how hard it was at the beginning of his career and he had to walk everyday going to agencies in Manila to apply, to follow-up papers, and later, to take trainings and exams – all with a very meager budget. “Dako kaayo ikatabang ni karon if ani ra tanan sa Bohol, di na sila mo rent, mo gasto plete, kaon, ug uban pa nga lisod kung breadwinner ka sa pamilya.” Capt. Tampon, who hails from Calape, Bohol, has been a seafarer for almost twenty years and is now the Vice President for Operations of GMPSI.

FROM BOHOL TO THE WORLD

The inauguration of GMPSI in Tagbilaran City, Bohol is also an opening salvo for future endeavors to branch out in the entire Philippines’ strategic maritime hubs.