20/07/2025
Very inspiring story . pra sa mga nahihirapan mag apply wag kayo sumuko.
My name is Lito, and this is my journey — a story of patience, rejection, small victories, and finally, hope.
I arrived in Manila in June 2021, full of energy and dreams. I had just graduated, full of excitement, thinking that my hard work during school would be enough to get me onboard. Like many other cadets, I brought with me a bag full of documents, some savings, and a heart full of courage. I told myself, “Kaya ko ’to.”
But reality hit hard.
It’s now been almost 4 years since I started walking around Kalaw, UN Avenue, and Intramuros — from one manning agency to another. I applied to nearly every agency I could find. Some accepted my resume, most didn’t even take a second look. Some gave me a smile and a “We’ll call you,” while others simply ignored me like I was invisible. And it hurt.
Meanwhile, I would scroll through Facebook and see my classmates already onboard. Some of them had already earned their licenses, promoted to 3rd Mate or AB. Some posted pictures from SHIP — happy and smiling in cover all and uniform, while I was still in Manila, submitting resumes/cvs under the sun and walking home tired and unsure if my efforts would ever lead to anything.
Many nights I wanted to give up. I even questioned myself: “Am I not good enough? Was my effort during college wasted? Should I have chosen another path?” But every time I felt like giving up, I would think about my family. I would think about my mother who told everyone in our barangay that her son would soon be a seafarer. I would remember my father’s sacrifices to help me finish school, and I would remember my dream to one day wear my uniform and proudly send my first allotment home.
There were also challenges people rarely talk about — like how expensive everything is for an unemployed applicant. Daily transport, food, and even boarding house. There were days I skipped meals just to save a few pesos for another application tomorrow. It’s not easy when you don’t have a backer. It’s not easy when your only weapon is prayer and persistence.
I kept a notebook with a list of all the agencies I visited, with checkmarks for those who entertained me and sad faces for those who didn’t. I filled three notebooks in one year.
But I didn’t stop.
One day, while staying at a boarding house near Nakpil,Malate, I met a chief engineer. At first, I didn’t know he was a Seaman — he was simple, quiet, and just like us applicants. But one night over dinner, he asked me my story. I shared everything — the struggles, the rejections, the pain, and the hope that still burned in me. He listened quietly, then smiled and said, “I’ll help you. I’ll endorse you to our company.”
I almost cried.
True to his word, he submitted my name. Days later, I received a text from the agency asking me to report for an interview. I couldn’t believe it. The following days moved fast — company briefing, interviews, and finally, a contract offer. I was speechless. I just sat outside the building, holding the contract, and cried silently.
I couldn’t believe it. After almost 4 years of rejection, one recommendation changed everything.
Now I’m scheduled to board in the coming weeks. JULY 29,2025
And to be honest, it still feels like a dream. Every night I look at my packed bag and smile. Finally, I can start. Finally, I can prove to myself and my family that all the sacrifice was not for nothing.
To those reading this — especially fellow cadets and seafarers who are still waiting — I want you to know this:
Your time will come.
I know you might feel tired. I know the journey feels unfair. It hurts when you see others move ahead while you're stuck in place. But don’t lose faith. Just because it’s taking longer for you doesn’t mean it's not going to happen. There’s something in store for you. Maybe God is preparing you not just for a job, but for something bigger. Maybe you’re being built for something greater — patience, character, resilience.
And remember, success is not about who boards first. It’s about staying committed to your dream even when it seems like nothing is happening. It’s about showing up every day, even when you’re discouraged. It’s about believing in yourself when no one else does.
To all applicants who, like me, don’t have a backer, don’t have connections, and are just relying on hope and hard work — I see you. I know your pain. But I also want to tell you that miracles happen. Not instantly, not always loudly, but they do.
Just keep applying. Keep going. Keep praying. One day, the right person will hear your story. One day, one recommendation can change your life. One day, your “someday” will become “today.”
To the chief engineer who helped me, thank you. You didn’t just help me — you restored my faith in this journey. You reminded me that there are still people in this world who lift others up without asking for anything in return.
To my family, thank you for not pressuring me when I had nothing. Thank you for believing in me even when I doubted myself. This next chapter is for you.
To MARINO PH, thank you for this platform. I’ve been reading stories like this for years, and today, I finally get to share my own.
If you’re reading this and still waiting, please don’t give up.
Not today. Not yet.
Because your story is not over.
You’re still being written.
And soon, you’ll be the one sharing your “finally, I made it” story too.
__________
LOVE,
LITO... your Deck Cadet
