The tales about seafarers from the Philippines, the country that sends out the highest number of seafarers to the global fleet, are often equated to a life with deep pockets. But their profession is not for the faint-hearted thanks to long periods of sailing… away from home.
Jimma Nicolas, a seaman’s wives, witnessed it firsthand when she was given the chance to visit her husband Rey, 44, while he’s on board their ship to Singapore in July.
Her husband’s company gave the seafarers the privilege of ‘free sailing’ with their wives for three days.
In an online interview with Jimma, she told The Filipino Times that seeing Rey extremely tired at work made her realize and appreciate all his sacrifices for their family.
“Mahirap kasi sa engine room po ako tumatambay. Mukha silang taong grasa. Pumapasok kasi sila sa makina ng barko para maglinis. Basta daig pa ang kalabaw walang excuse,” she said.
“For a seaman’s wife like me, I think our partners deserve extra care and love when they are not on board, instead of nagging and telling them ‘You go now. Call the office because we need money’,” she wrote on Facebook.
Her husband entered this profession in 1999 and from then on Rey goes home every five months and stays for only two weeks with them.
She recalls an instance when one of their children got sick and Rey could not be with them. “Noong nalaman nya sa barko grabe po iyak nya kasi na na-ICU po anak namin ang laki ng ginastos po,” she added.
He and Jimma have been married for 14 years and have three children. They were able to invest in some properties like farm and fulfilled their dream of having their own home.
Despite the hardships in this profession, Rey is determined to keep his job until their three children finish their studies.
This means he will have to spend another decade of constantly sailing away from home.
