CHAPTER 1

APTITUDE FOR SERVICE

What is Aptitude?

Aptitude defined as the capabilities you have develop that indicate your readiness to become proficient
in a certain type of activity
this may refer to your capacity to learn a particular type of work or to your potential for the general
training.

Aptitude Service can be defined as the capability of a person sharing his inherent/given/developed
talent/skills either physical or mental for the betterment and welfare of others as well to himself.
Character and discipline onboard ship

Objective

To inculcate an officer like qualities and instill among students a high sense of discipline.

Scope

Must know the importance of discipline and the benefits enjoyed in the seafaring profession

CHARACTER FORMATION FOR FILIPINO SEAFARERS

THE PERSON AND COMMUNITY

1. Orientation

The fortunes and misfortunes of seafaring people and sea industries are inescapably linked with the
great undulating masses of water on our globe, with their perilous and fascinating beauty. It is in this
clear perception, with its underlying and inherent risks andopportunities, which has given rise to and
served as a guiding force on human formation in maritime schools.
2. Deepening Realization

The Call

We believe that on this earth nothing is really accidental.

Everything that happens is in accordance to the plan of God who is the Lord of mankind. He expects us
to cooperate with Him not just today but for our whole life.

Motivation

Rational men and women always have reason for acting. You too have a reason for being in this
program. "You want to become seafarers".

What motivates you to become seafarer?

Was it because it is a short course that would make you earn money as soon as possible?

To have fun and adventure or to escape problems at home?

All these are shallow or poor motives wanting to take seafaring courses.

If you take the course because you are interested in the life of a seafarer and possessed the necessary
aptitude and if you wanted a better life, freedom and responsibility to put your talent at the service to
other, then your motivation could be good.

The center for good motivation is the desire for happiness as well as the happiness of others; peace,
freedom, truth, love and justice are elements of happiness. Therefore, during the time of preparation
for life at sea, it is important to let you think and ask these questions:

What are the deepest motives for taking seafaring course?

How do I see myself in the future?

What will life at sea be like?

In what direction do I see my life going onboard ship?

How do I reach my goal?

How can seafaring make me happy?

"It is of utmost importance tobe sure that your seafarer's goals don't bring you away from your final
dream of happiness"

Responsibility

Since you freely chose to take this course you may also assume the responsibility that goes with it.
Entering into this course with a positive attitude will make the course easier and therefore, more
enjoyable. Above all, you will emerge a better integrated person who is not only able to navigate his
ship, but who can steer his life, along the right path.

Self-determination

Self-determination is the ability become what one would choose to be. It is made possible through the
set of decisions made by a person who carries into action in order to attain goals he himself has set even
inspite of odds or opposition from family or friends.

A self-determined person is one whohas the will to face life and knows where he is going. One who has
inner discipline and acts according to his conviction.

Self-determination is a response to the basic human need to be recognized as responsible,

reliable, trustworthy and believable (maaasahan, mapgkatiwalaan, at
kapanipaniwala) individual.

e. Self-discipline

Filipino seafarer's are known to be religious. We are generally interested in things spiritual. We are rated
as the most capable that is why Filipino seafarers are in demand in the shipping industry worldwide, but
it is also true that most of our seafarer's lacks discipline.

Self-discipline is the ability of a person to intelligently weigh the matters which lie before him. Examine
the alternatives and make responsible choices which lead the goals he set for himself without prejudice
to the welfare and happiness of other people.

Self-discipline rests on basic recognition of self-worth and personal dignity;

Self-knowledge is fostered when one recognizes values and elements that make his character what it is;
A meaningful personal and community life is not possible without having a healthy spiritual Constructive
upbringing; community life based on the recognition of one's personal gifts as well as weaknesses and in
admission.

Adequate understanding of the life of seafarers will help you to prepare yourself better for the life at
sea.

A self-discipline person is just like a true knight which places his honor before all things. An honorable
man can always be trusted. He will never do a dishonorable action such as telling a lie or deceiving his
superiors or employers or those under his order and always commands the respect of fellowmen

A captain stays on the ship up to the last minute. Why? The ship is only a lump of iron and wood, but the
captain's life is valuable as that of any women, men and children onboard. But, the captain makes sure
everybody is safe before he attempts to save himself because the ship is his responsibility and he
considers it would be dishonorable for him to just leave. The captain always puts honor before safety.

e) The ambivalent values of Filipino seafarers

There are obstacles that crop up along Filipino seafarers' path. Values are the goals of purpose that one
chooses to give sense of direction and meaning of one's whole personality in order to help them grow to
be more mature person by way of handling them.

Situations that frustrate the realization of seafarers:

Injustice

"Sipsip" - unjust reports about co-workers so that they are remove from the ship.

"Sulutan"- one's name is already in the line-up but it disappears because someone stronger was able to
get the slot.

"none payment, or delayed remittances of salaries"

2. Lack of peace and order

"Presence of bullies on board ship who are untouchable because of Connections"

"Disorders because of drunkenness"

"Quarrels due to over sensitivity as a result of (kantiyawan), bragging winners or poor losers"

3. Poverty

"Unemployment"

"Very high cost of living"

4. Disunity

"Regionalism / the tayo-tayo mentality"

"lack of concern for others"

"Un-reconciled differences"

5. Lack of Happiness

"Loneliness foe the love ones at home"

"Unhappiness due to misunderstanding"

"Guilt and hang-over due to misuse of time in port"

"Unhappy news from home"

"Health Problem of self or of a love ones"

6. Lack of love

"Lack of communication with love ones"

"Unfaithfulness"

"Unkind remarks about absent companions"

f) The roots of the situation

The situation does not just happen. They were not so in the beginning. Sometimes something happened
and the structure that stunts growth and frustrate positive development of people, individual and
communities, began. What are their roots?

Roots in the Philippine situation: Filipino seafarers should look for roots in the home situation because
most likely they will discover their origins there.

Injustices, violation of human rights and violence against the human persons and properties, immorality
and dishonesty in public and private life tell us that the situation of evil involving the life of seafarers are
reflection of situation at home.

Here is what lies at the root of the evils in our society:

1. The disintegration of family life - this used to be a closely-knit and well-discipline child, but now
because both parents are busy making a living, they have very little time for one another and for their
child.

2. Poor educational system - the education system has become very technical. Teachers lack the
necessary updating. They are overworked and
underpaid, thus education suffers.
3.Th spirit of materialism- everyone tries to live life in terms of work for more pay. people living being
under means Consumerism.

4. Disparity between the rich and poor - where the rich grow richer and poor gets poorer because the
rich and the powerful dictate the rules of the game and pay less for more, while the poor receive the
weight of every price increase.

5. Poor religious foundation and cultural elements like the "compadre system" , "tayotayo system",
"palakasan", and "bahala na" which facilitate graft and corruption in public office and lack of initiative in
families.
6. Economic and political situation has much to do about the Poverty and peace and order situation
which lie at the root of human rights violations and violence.

All the above six (6) point to social structures which hinder human growth. Underneath these structures
which lie at the root of human ri ghts violations and violence.

7. HUMAN RELATIONS

Human relation is defined as the development of a productive, satisfying group effort. It is the art of
getting Favorably with one another.

Valuable information can be gained through experience one has in his day-to-day living. The relationship
with close friends, one's family, etc ., gives us an insight into handling human relation problems in the
workplace.

There are four Masters Keys to good human relations:

1. Treat people as individuals- an individual is the sum total of his traits, characteristics, habits, beliefs,
interests, experiences, strength, weaknesses, good qualities, and short-comings. You are motivated by
these traits and

characteristics.

2. Make best use of each worker's abilities every good worker possesses a proper balance of three
elements: skills ; knowledge ; and proper attitudes.

These three elements are required in varying proportions on every job. A captain, for instance, must
have knowledge on seamanship and navigation skills in ship handling and the proper attitude toward his
job and his crew.

3. Provide for job satisfaction - an individual is dependent upon

Three principal factors, such as:

What the worker can do;
How well he can get along with his fellow workers;
His motivation
4. Plan and work together - no manager or supervisor is brilliant enough to get maximum results solely
through his own energy and intelligence. A manager or supervisor can get maximum results by being
able to get other people to work with him or her.

To be successful in social relationships, a person needs to study and put into practice several techniques
of human relations. To get along with others, it is necessary to take into considerations a number of
basic features of human nature. We must always remember that every person wants to feel important
and dislikes being made to feel so small because all ofliked usand arestriving thought for of as place
well.in the sun. We want to like and be

We can only be successful in dealing with people if we givethem satisfaction for their desire for
importance, but if we deny them of these chances, failures are inevitable for us.

Techniques in winning friends and influencing people:

Be genuinely interested in other people;

Show sincere appreciation

Let them feel the feeling of importance

Eliminate criticisms and disapp roval;

Talk in terms of other man's interest;

Begin in friendly way;

be tolerance;

Cultivate the habit of sympathy and charity;

Act with pleasure and call people with their first name; and

Smile and speak to people in a very cheerful way.

Social responsibility - These new values generally go by the name, is recognition that organizations have
significant influence on social system and that this influence must be properly considered and balanced
in all organizational actions. It simply means that organizations must function as part of a larger social
system because they are, in fact, a part of the system.
8. ATTITUDE / CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY

Attitude according to Encyclopedia Britannica is a predisposition to respond in a certain way a person,

object, and situation in a certain way to a person.

Attitude is more enduring than a mood or whim and because it produces a consistent response, Attitude
is closely related to opinions, A distinction can be made, however, wherein a person can state his
opinions in words but may not be able to express his attitude in the same way, He will reveal his attitude
by his actions and only indirectly by the content of his statement,

An attitude becomes an opinion when the predisposition is so strong that no attention is paid to the
evidence that might call for a change reaction. Such as; "If a man says that all government employees
accept graft, he is showing attitude, but if he refuses to accept proofs that many government employees
are honest, he has developed and opinion".

Character implies an evaluation of behavior according to moralistic or ethical standards, A person is said
to have a strong or weak character by the attitude he displays.

Character and personality are products of heredity, environment, training and personal determination.

A person can correct some flaws in his character which may have been inherited ifhe tries perseveringly
in applying corrective measures because he is determined to remove them and replace them with a
better trait. If a man is self determined to change, he can rise from his old self to become a new man.