Smart, Sun fete Filipino seafarers at 17th Nat’l Seafarers Day

WIRELESS leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) and sister mobile brand Sun Cellular recently joined more than 3,000 participants at the 17th National Seafarers’ Day. The event was held at the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) gym in the City of Manila.

The Apostleship of the Sea (AOS), a global ecumenical organization assisting seafarers, organized the event to honor Filipino seafarers worldwide, now numbering close to 350,000—or about a quarter of the world’s sailors.

The celebration, according to guest speaker Vice President Jejomar Binay, also highlighted the government’s initiatives in protecting the rights and welfare of Filipino seafarers.

The Philippines benefits largely from the remittance of seafaring Filipinos. In total, they sent to their loved-ones back home more than USD 4.34 billion in 2011, and over USD 2.34 billion just within the first half of 2012, according to the latest figures from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Smart has been serving seafaring Filipinos since it launched its pioneering Smart Link service back in 2001. It joined the AOS-led event “as part of our commitment to help promote the well-being of Filipino seafarers, by providing the best wireless services that answer their particular communication needs,” according to Tina Mariano, head of Smart’s Global Access and International Services Group.

Smart Link, deployed across 7,437 maritime vessels all over the world, provides coverage to seafarers sailing within Asia-Pacific, Indian Ocean, Middle East, Africa, and some parts of Europe and the Mediterranean.

Aside from Smart Link, Filipino seafarers deployed on merchant and cruise ships around the world enjoy other international services from Smart.

With close to two million active Smart SIMs worldwide—the largest community of roaming users—overseas Filipinos benefit from Smart’s partnerships with over 400 network operators in close to 200 countries. This worldwide network coverage gives Filipinos, wherever they are in the world, a direct line to their families in the Philippines.

For its part, Sun Cellular representatives shared they are “happy to partner with Smart International Services group and together we will connect Filipino seafarers to their loved ones back home”.

“Sun Cellular celebrates the success of our Filipino seafarers and it is a privilege to be part of this monumental event. We are committed to provide more engaging communication services to our seafarers and their families,” according to Edith Gomez, assistant vice president for International Services of Sun Cellular.