Why did I choose this school: They are so famous in this field. My relatives and friends went to this school and now they're all successful, so there's no doubt that this school was really effective in producing world class competent seafarer.

About JBLFMU: Awesome! From the class rooms, facilities and professors. We had a standardized facilities, air-conditioned library and some rooms, swimming pool, complete with computers and navigational equipment.

The library is a good place to study and sometimes rest if you're really full pack from daily stress. We socialized in every school affair, we have a covered gym where all the batch mates come together for an event and we have JBLFMU hall where some social activities were being held.

My current job: I am a Licensed 3rd mate.
I am on-board right now as an OS, but am on promotion to be an officer. We handle the goods that were imported and exported of different countries.

How long did it take to find a job: I am so proud that I was a company scholar. I already had a company even while I was still schooling. So I did not look for job, I was already scheduled for training after graduation. After my training comes my duty to the company base and was deployed on-board for my actual job.

Why did I choose this school: I chose it because it is so famous as a school for seaman.

About JBLFMU: My school is very good in terms of facilities and other equipment. We have many books in our library more of seaman related book. It is air-conditioned too.

Professors are strict especially in the exams. We need to study just to have answers in our paper every exam. But there are some cool teachers too that hangs out with some students just like big brother. They help us especially in plotting.

I can say that the school is very nice and that it have very good facilities. We have study room also even sitting in the chair in the pave walk you can already study. We have swimming pool also.

My current job: I am a deck cadet in Cargo Safeway Inc. and I am on board now.

How long did it take to find a job: It almost 8 months.

Why did I choose this school: A Norwegian Shipowners Association Cadets Program (a scholarship) was offered in this school back then. I was encouraged to take the exam after garnering a high score in the entrance exam. Luckily, I made it to the scholarship so I withdrawn my files in UP Visayas.

About JBLFMU: Every space is so conducive for learning. With Discipline as it out most core values emphasized now and then, JBLFMU - Arevalo is a maritime university, a true home for future seafarers. The instructors talk mostly of what we needed to know and few of things that are "nice-to-know". I'm proud to say that the University has the most advanced facilities in most of the maritime universities in the country. From Simulation classes, practical exercises, and advance training with open opportunities for companies after graduation, JBLFMU - Arevalo has the credentials most companies are seeking.

My current job: Now, I am reviewing for my board exam.
During my apprenticeship, I worked as a Deck Cadet on board an international vessel. I assisted my officers in their daily works. For Deck Works I do painting and other routine works. But for the rest of my stay for 12 months I was mostly assigned in works of an officer. Because that's what I'm trained to be. I earned about 564 dollars a month as an apprentice.

How long did it take to find a job: I was already ensured for a job since when I was in first year college. I was chosen by a company.

Why did I choose this school: No other school have the same standard that can be compared to this school. Here in Iloilo, John B. Lacson is a best school for maritime education. Once your a graduate of this school, you are labeled as a "snappy cadet" because of reputation it holds in the international standards. I also chose this school because It offers scholarship.

About JBLFMU: Being the most famous school in maritime education here in Iloilo, this university offers a high quality education in terms of providing the students with enough knowledge in navigation, provides a good classroom with complete facilities, computers, simulators and navigational equipment, and skills and disciplined that is very essential in the field of this industry.

My school is located in Arevalo Sur, Iloilo city, a place nearby sea and can be reached by riding jeepneys. It is the branch of John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University-Molo (Marine Engineering) which I believed is situated purposely so that Marine Transporation students can be trained and familiar with the exercises that is being done in the open sea.

We have good instructors and teachers that are helping us in our studies. I can say that I trust them because they are real sea officers that have experienced in this field. They give us advises and ideas inn how to be successful in this field.

We have complete facilities. We have swimming pool, library which is air-conditioned, computer room with free internet, some rooms are air-conditioned others are not but we can managed it, Simulator above the Library fourth floor and navigational equipment. I would say that my school is really complete and ready to mold their students to become competitive and qualified mariners.

My current job: I am seafarer. I am a deck cadet.

How long did it take to find a job: 5 months.

Why did I choose this school: Actually, in my city there are lot of Maritime schools, but I chose and I believe that this School is said to be no.1 maritime school in Philippines and No.2 in Asia, who will help young seafarers to compete globally in the shipping industry

About JBLFMU: The school provided complete and advance equipment to the students, training and subjects which can help students for their future as Seafarers. Hired Experienced Instructors (seafarers also) shared ideas, experiences on-board to the students and to know how amazing our life could be when we become an officers. If there's an award for the Worlds Friendliest Staffs, you can see them only in our school.

My current job: Seafarer

How long did it take to find a job: I was accepted in one of the biggest shipping lines in the world before I graduated.

Why did I choose this school: It has a good credibility and known for most manning agencies knowing that it provides high quality and competent seafarers.

About JBLFMU: The atmosphere: It is really nice to go in school knowing that harmony is everywhere.

The Professors: They're not just there who will teach you about the said course but also an adviser that you would love to be with.

The facilities: I know for a fact that my school has been accredited Level 4 by the PACUCOA if am not mistaken so I'm proud to say that things are in the trend of modernization.

My current job: Right now I am working as office cadet as part of my on the job training before going onboard.
My designation is mainly on visa applications in different embassies that's why I learned a lot especially when it comes to interpersonal relationships.

How long did it take to find a job: Not more that 5 months.
I have my brother as my backer in our company that is why.

Why did I choose this school: I have chosen this school because of the prominent scholarships they have offered in relation to the shipping industry.

About JBLFMU: The school is offering a close to reality set up for a seafarer. We have been isolated from other schools as to the only nearby schools are elementary and high schools only. This emulates how a seafarer usually is disconnected from the environment of social hubs. The school is also situated in front of a shoreline, making activities on the sea simulated easier.

With regards to teachers, if you are on the higher sections, expect those who are inspiring and a lot more challenging. But if you are not, well there are those teachers who are just coming to school just to read the books in class, literally just reading it.

As to the facilities, well seafaring education requires a lot of investment. The school has bought millions worth of simulation equipment and has provided bearable facilities. Some rooms were air-conditioned but in that area, all you really need is a fan because of the sea breeze playing around. During my time, computers were bearably enough, so they put up a public wifi for the students. Perhaps now a days they may have purchased new computer units. If you need to study, you can stay in the air-conditioned library.

My current job: I am currently an officer trainee.

I have taken the exams for my license as a Officer in charge of a Navigational Watch. I will be learning the job of a 3rd Officer which is the maintenance of safety equipment on board, having a navigational watch and a deck watch (a watch during the loading/ unloading of cargo). If my superiors deem me worthy I will be recommended for a promotion to 3rd Officer.

How long did it take to find a job: Since I was a company sponsored scholar, after graduation, the office helped us financially with the board exams and absorbed us after completion of required documents for a seafarer.

Why did I choose this school: It heard there is a good name for school in the field of maritime studies. Many upcoming college students mostly boys, prefer to choose this school because it is famous. And studying in this school gives a cool status between in our ages because of the military type that is being implemented in this university. I also wanted to earns dollar and travel the world someday.

About JBLFMU: Everything is air-conditioned with proper accommodation. Plenty of seats and the library is beautiful with complete computer sets, and we have machines used for navigation. Free internet also and a swimming pool.

Teachers were good. They are helpful especially in our studies.

My current job: I am a deck cadet and preparing to go on-board.
I am just waiting for the formal line up and schedule so I will be joining the ship.

How long did it take to find a job: 10 months

Why did I choose this school: The testimonies that my friends had told me where they or their family member had been to this school where you are guaranteed to have the standards and molded as a globally competitive seafarer.

About JBLFMU: My School may not be as large as the others, but it has the facilities that will truly help you to train and mold yourself to become a world class Seafarer.

The Professors are sometimes approachable, others are intimidating, but for me they're just doing their job, and that is to teach and give quality education to students who are enrolled at their school. Each subjects are classified and had different grading systems depending if it's technical or professional subjects. In my case, I haven't received any failure marks from them.

In terms of facilities, our school have a world class Ship Simulator where students could practice the way a true mariner handle a ship. Also, our school has a Mock Ship where students could be able to familiarize what's a real ship looks like. And if you want to relax while studying, then our library is well suited for you in addition that it's air conditioned with complete sets of books and computers to study.

My current job: Deck Cadet, a junior apprentice which is on board to practice and become a Future Deck Officer.

How long did it take to find a job: Before we graduate, Shipping companies were already taking cadets from our school to become part of their own, and fortunately I was one of those who had been taken.

Why did I choose this school: This school has high standard when it comes to maritime education. Plus it has rewards and recognition of producing world class seafarers.

About JBLFMU: My school is very good. I enjoyed my days in it. It has good ambiance and enough facilities to accommodate seafaring students. It is located near the sea where we can do practical lessons and practicum regarding about seafaring activities like sailing, swimming, and boat rowing. I enjoyed it a lot when we go sailing class where we ride a boat and we are five students with a guardian maneuvering it. It is so much fun that I don't think of it as a class. The school is also very accessible from my area because it is closer to my home. But I preferred having a dorm so that I can mingle with my fellow students. I believe that socializing and having good relationship is a good key to be successful in this field so I rent dorm.

The professors and teachers were good and nice. They were supportive in terms of our academic studies by teaching us proper actions when on-board the vessels, using the correct usage of navigational equipment, calculating distance, time and speed of the ship, proper ETD and ETA of a ship, and familiarizing with the ships' nomenclatures. Some professors were actual sea officers who have wide experience regarding seafaring. They were giving us tips and advises on how to be a successful seaman. They were also educating us about maritime culture so that we can be have good relationship with fellow students. There were some teachers that are also strict and terror. But I understand why they are like that because they wanted us to strive hard to study.

We had good facilities. We have air conditioned library, wide swimming pool, fully equip navigational equipment like radar, and we have a visual room use for practicum when maneuvering the ship's wheel. There's a flat screen tv like a view of vessels. Library is full of books specially maritime related books and we have a room for television viewing inside the library when you want to watch the maritime VCDs that display for student use. Below the library, the library is on the 3rd floor, is the computer area where internet is free as long as you present your library card. I enjoy using that free internet whenever I have vacant time and when we have research. Plus it is air conditioned and I consider that place us a place for nap time. We have benches everywhere so students can study their lessons too.

My current job: I am right now working as office cadet.
This is part of my on the job training before the actual on-board in my company.
I get salary for this as an OJT. And the next month I will be waiting for the companies line up so that I can finally board on ship.

How long did it take to find a job: I actually rested and do the things I like for a year before I looked for the job.
Within 7 months I have already many companies, because I applied for every company that I can find thus giving me many option to chose from. But I was looking for a sure one, that gives a higher pay and great benefits. So finally I got this company.

Why did I choose this school: I've chosen John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University - Arevalo (JBLFMU) as the institution to where I can hone my knowledge and skills because of it's proven track record, great achievements and credible reputation in maritime education, being the pioneer in the Visayas and Mindanao. It became the first maritime university of the Philippines in 2007. It is also the first maritime educational institution to attain international accreditation for it's Quality Assurance System from Det Norske Veritas (DNV), the second in Asia and the third in the world. The university is recipient of Philippine Quality Awards, the highest level of national recognition for exemplary organizational performance and granted level IV accreditation by the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Audit (PACUCOA) and recognized by many international organizations.


About JBLFMU: With the soaring demand for competitive seafarers and the fast growing modern technologies and high tech instrumentation onboard, the university is doing the best so that it can come at par with the prerequisites of the industry by providing students with quality education and training through modern equipment and simulators, hands-on training, quality instructors and up-to-date curriculum and instruction. JBLFMU is a WiFi campus where every students have the accessed to the internet for assignments and enriching their knowledge. It has air-conditioned rooms, a conducive learning environment and offices which has a welcoming atmosphere. The library is spacious, a nice place to study and wisely spend the time. It has old and new publications not only about the maritime profession but as well as literature, science, history and leisure.

New ship and bridge equipment are being utilized to give students the first hand experience of the things that they will see onboard. There are simulators to which students are being trained in handling and maneuvering of the ship in different geographical locations and weather conditions; radio and satellite equipment to which they could learn the necessary protocols in reporting emergencies and mooring equipment to effectively fasten the vessel on the port. Students have also navigational trips onboard domestic sailing vessels to experience the adventure and challenges of the seafaring profession. The maritime museum exhibits the evolution of equipment onboard the ship, from the use of old sextant, radar and large marine radios to modern satellite equipment and handheld radio devices. The university has the training site in Guimaras where fire fighting, abandonship, operation of survival crafts and fast rescue boats are conducted. It has also it's own marine sanctuary where corals, mangroves and seagrass are grown and protected to educate students on the importance of the marine environment.

The instructors are well-trained and knowledgeable of their own field of studies. Most of the professional instructors have served onboard international vessels and have excellent performances in their companies. They undergo yearly seminars and trainings to update their knowledge on the new and effective teaching methodologies applicable to the maritime profession as well as the latest trends on the shipping industry. Many of them has been invited and represented the university and the country in international maritime conferences and have brought pride to the Philippines. Stakeholders, instructors, students and parents are also consulted every year for suggestions on further improving the university and the education it offers.

JBLFMU has linkages that include 165 shipping companies, both international and domestic that makes it a force in the maritime industry as a provider of excellent seafarers worldwide. Every year hundreds of students are chosen to be part of cadet programs in which many of these companies pay for all the school expenses including books, food, dormitory accommodation and even allowances. The university offers scholarships to deserving students who excels in the field of academics, journalism, leadership, sports, music and dance. The alumni association and parents and teachers organization also offers grants to less privileged students who can pass their qualifications. Brothers, sisters and children of employees and alumni are also given discounts. Hardworking students can also avail grant-in-aide scholarships.

My current job: I am a seafarer with an Officer-in-Charge of Navigational Watch (OIC-NW) license which I have recently passed. On the previous years, I have worked as a Deck Cadet. As the first step towards becoming a ship officer, a deck cadet trains in the fields of navigation, ship-handling and cargo handling and maritime law as well as oceanography, meteorology and marine engineering.

Currently, I am taking all my trainings to complete my Certificate of Competency (COC) which is a prerequisite to act as a Third Officer onboard the ship. The Third Officer, aside from conducting the ship safely at sea and cargo operations at port during his 0800H - 1200H / 2000H - 2400H watch, is also designated as the Safety Officer and is responsible for the periodical maintenance of all life saving and fire fighting equipment. He is also sometimes given the tasks in updating statutory documents of the ship required by authorities of different countries. The third officer has special responsibilities to keep the ship, the people on board and the environment safe. This includes keeping the ship seaworthy during fire and loss of stability, and providing aid and maintaining safety during man overboard, abandoning ship, and medical emergencies. Understanding ship's stability, trim, stress, and the basics of ship's construction is a key to keeping a ship seaworthy.

The third officer must know what to do in cases of flooding and loss of buoyancy and must be expert in the use of survival craft and rescue boats, their launching appliances and arrangements, and their equipment including radio life-saving appliances, satellite Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRBs), Search and Rescue Radar Transponder (SARTs), immersion suits and thermal protective aids. In case it is necessary to abandon ship, it is important to be expert in the techniques for survival at sea techniques. He is also trained to perform medical tasks and to follow instructions given by Radio Medical Advice Center ashore or obtained from guides which includes what to do in case of common shipboard accidents and illnesses.

How long did it take to find a job: It did not took me a difficult time finding an employment after graduation. With the strong linkages and outstanding performance of JBLFMU and increasing demand of maritime manpower, many shipping companies and organizations select their cadets before the start of freshmen classes. Taking a series of written and computer-based examinations and interviews, armed with robust commitment to enter the seafaring profession, I became a part of Norwegian Shipowners Association - Philippines Cadet Program with a 2-1-1 scheme (two years academic studies, one year cadetship onboard the ship and another year for academic studies).

I did not spend even a single centavo for my tuition and miscellaneous fees during my two years at the university, I was able to board a worldwide seagoing vessel during my third year to where I have saved enough for my senior year. After graduation, I've taken the examination for my license and the company continued to offer me employment.

For cadets who were not part of company programs, many of them were easily hired by companies after graduation. JBLFMU has linkages that include 165 shipping companies, both international and domestic that makes it a force in the maritime industry as a provider of excellent seafarers worldwide. With the growing demand of seafarers from foreign companies which prefers Filipinos for the quality and excellence in performing their duties and responsibilities, it is not really hard to obtain a job. They key is to invest well in learning their lessons, both theoretically and practical.

Why did I choose this school: The best maritime school in the Visayans region. Where in fact it was the 3rd in the world that achieved Maritime University status.

About JBLFMU: Above subjects mentioned were internationally competent especially the facilities where we have what we call the SIMULATOR. These rquipment were vital that's why some schools were forced to close eventhough they were already pioneer in maritime industry like PMI

My current job: Currently my rank is third mate. I do paper works most of the time. When on open sea, I carry out navigational watch, ensuring the safety of life at sea. I'm also in charge in the maintenance of life saving and fire fighting equipment. And being secretay of the captain, expect plenty paper works/reports daily, weekly, monthly. When in port I assist chief officer in cargo operation and maintaining stability and safety of the ship

How long did it take to find a job: Before I even graduated, I already had a company. I wad second year in college when I applied for the scholarship from the company

Why did I choose this school: Competitive, convenience near the area.

About JBLFMU: Pleasant atmosphere, cool professors.

My current job: Third Officer - In-charge of Navigation and Cargo watches as determined by the company and Master of the vessel.

How long did it take to find a job: 3 days

Why did I choose this school: I chose this school because I know that this school is a standardized school that promote quality education among seafarers.

About JBLFMU: JBLFMU has a good quality of education who teach maritime profession. The instructors in the school are competent enough to teach students very well. And the facilities are completely available to the students who wants to take of the course.

My current job: In this time I am waiting for the company call.
It takes time for me because I don't have a shipping company after graduation.

Why did I choose this school: It's a good school. It provides qualified and competent seafarers. And it is the best school for maritime education in our province. They also offer scholarships, which I have benefited while studying in there.

About JBLFMU: The best. It have good facilities and computers. The teachers are also good. They taught our lessons properly. I studied in the Library. It is air-conditioned. We have computers in the library.

My current job: I am done with my cadet-ship, so I am preparing for the board exam for Officer In Charge. Once I pass the board exam, I will be an OIC and will have a greater salary.