VADM Santos New Year's Message

We are gathered once again for our traditional New Year's Call on the President. This Tradition, started in 2000 when Class 2003 were still 4CL, is not just paying respects to your respective department heads and the president but also a chance to greet each other and develop closer bonds of fellowship as we start a New Year. (let's greet one another)

Today, we shall also review and reassess the year that was and renew our pledge to do better in the coming year.

So, looking back, 2008, MAAP's 10th Anniversary, was indeed a Banner Year:

*The First Gentleman laid the cornerstone of the new campus, as you can see, it's almost finished.

*The 2nd batch of midshipmen to board Japan's Seiun Maru was increased to 50 - MAAP is the only foreign private school allowed to send its students as a group aboard the Japanese government training ship.

*The helicopter underwater escape trainer arrived for installation.

*The chemical tanker facility - reported the only 1 of its kind in the world, went on ...

*The graduation of Class 2008 brought our total graduates to 776. the class did well in the Board exams, maintaing last year's passing rate of 98%.

*Started talks with IMEC for more MAAP inputs to their Cadet Program - from 30 to 200. Signing of MOA this month.

*Finished the written entrance exams for Class 2013 with a record of 6197 examinees out of over 8000 applicants - this is more than the number taking the PMA exams.

*Conducted the first structured shipboard training for 68 non-MAAP cadets aboard the TSKFO for the INTERNATIONAL CADET TRAINING PROGRAM FOR ASIAN STUDENTS under the auspices of IMMAJ and supported by the JSU-AMOSUP training levy fund. we also signed a MOA for the rehabilitation and classing of the ship to be paid for by IMMAJ/JSU provided that the ship will be operated by MAAP and used by the ICTPAS for six months in a year.

*Last november, the IMTT-sponsored instructor devt program completed its first course where 5 members of our faculty received their PG cert in MET. the 2nd course has started with 10 instructors from MAAP.

*In research, MAAP was awared first place in Best Research practices by PAMI during its 34th National Convention. we also got the 3rd Place in best practices in human rights given by the HRC and we were nomitaed by CHED Regional Officer for best HEI Research and extension services program.

*Organizationally, QAD has been constantly fine-tuning our organizational structure to make it responsive to our expanding mission.

*we also presented 9 parades, conducted 16 arrival honors, and numerous side boys honors for 715 foreign and 2175 local visitors.

In retrospect, my assessment is that in spite of the financial crisis, we did exceedingly well last year. Our 3 major foreign partners, i.e. IMMAJ/PJMCC thru JATF, IMEC thru IMTT and SEALANE/MULTIPLAN and of course, AMOSUP, has come up with novel and avant-garde projects that has doubled our enrollment, doubled our campus, expanded our land area to 5 times its original size and started the rehabilitation of the tskfo so that it will not just be an anchored decoration in manila bay but modernized training ship that will cater not only to filipino non-maap cadets but to foreign students as well. IMEC has stepped into the original campus ensuring sponsorship and employment to our midshipmen. Sealanes Multiplan has enriched the menu of courses at ASTC by enabling the establishemnt of OPIT0-accredited offshore safety, hydrographic and welding courses.

If the passing rate of the PRC Board Exams is our yardstick for academic success, then we have maintained our standard but it is time for us to revisit our course reviews and find out if we are teaching our midshipmen right subjects at the right time in the right manner. This also applies to training activites as well as character building and leadership development.

We have won a lot of awards and recognition in research and extension services almost all of which were don primarily by DRES. If more of our faculty and staff had cooperated and participated, i'm certain that we could have won more awards.

Of course, we did have our share of setbacks last year. We had two major vehicular accidents which caused the death of 3 trainees and one DMA officer. Our safety program must include safe driving and by the way, we have not conducted an academy-wide emergency drill yet.

If we liken/consider our infrastructure and equipment as the Hands of a school and its faculty and curriculum, as the Brains, an institution's ceremonies, customs and traditions are its Soul. we must perpetuate these to animate our grounds, buildings and facilities so that we can inculcate the desired traits and attitudes in the cadets and thus strengthen the character of our graduates.

The Reception ceremonies is not done to make the life of the Probationary Midshipmen difficult. [It] teaches them not to quit.

Testimonial Parades are not for my personal benefits or the Chairman's - [it] shows our sponsor that we know how to show our gratitude and expect to get more [blessing].

Funerals [we attend to show the strength of our organization].

All ceremonies/customs/traditions has a purpose.

My friends, 2008 is now history. Let's leave it there. Leave the heartaches, animosities, frustrations, pet peeves, bad vibes and hatred so that you will have no heavy luggage as you enter the New Year. Leave also your triumphs, victories and outstanding successes so that you will not have a chip on your shoulder. Let's Learn from the past but turn a new page and face the future.

The coming year will be full of challenges starting with our OPITO audit for the offshore courses at ASTC. This month, the inauguration by GMA of the new campus. Next month, the repair and rehabilitation of TSKFO. The reception of class 2013 in April, the management and conduct of academics at two campuses and the operation of the modernized TSKFO to name just a few.

These tasks cannot be done by one man or one department alone. Everybody, the whole MAAP family has to pitch in. Each one must DO MORE as you did in 2004, MORE DRIVE as in 2005, GET THINGS FIXED as we did in 2006 - and the more we have to this now, LISTEN as you did in 2007, COORDINATE, COLLABORATE AND COOPERATE as we tried in 2008 - which we must continue so that our projects will succeed.

On my part, I shall always be here to lead you, to guide you and support you so that each one's effort is aligned towards the success of every endeavor. I assure you that this year will be another glorious year for MAAP.

Our slogan for this year is: ALIGN AND SHINE IN 2009

Yes!....
Align and Shine

Thanks for sharing admin, im looking forward for the upcoming events...

Inspired na naman ako sa message ni bosing!!!

thanks admin

INSPIRING and CHALLENGING as ALWAYS!

Long Live MAAP!

Lets align and shine 2009! More Power Vice Admiral Eduardo Ma. Santos Afp Ret. and my MAAP Family.

More Power to MAAP and to our president VADM Santos Mabuhay tayong Lahat

More power to MAAP and evryone behind it. and ofcors to the long blue line of MAAP Alumni. Mabuhay!

galing......

by the looks... ay forum pala ito online... kaya dapat by the notes or by the words...

ahmmmm... A-okay ang mga nangyayari sa maap... outside of it...
pero reading between the lines... there's still something missing inside of maap...
ewan ko lang... un lang napansin ko eh...

kahit wa tayo dun... we can sense ang mga dilemma at issues..
like... siguro naging isyu ung ceremonies... kung kelangan ba un...

kaya lininaw ni pres ang importance ng mga parades...

pati sa reception siguro may nag raise din kung may benefits ba dun ang mga midn...
kaya sinabi ni pres.. it teaches us not to quit...

tapos may article din sa KP about the habit of complaining... siguro dami nang nagtatanong or marami na ang naiimpluwensyahan para to change things as they or someone thinks...
pero di naman dapat ganun lagi... bago mag complain.. mag isip muna... try u muna...
pag ayaw talaga... mag isip ka ng solusyon... hindi ung puro complain...

hay...
kaya hopefully talaga eh maayos na lahat ng gap, mawala na lahat ng issues at magkaisa na lahat... ang mga employees.. ang mga departments... ang mga alumni mahanap na kung saan.... may we all be united in one common goal.. hindi iba-iba... kasi ang ganda ganda na sa labas eh...

hopefully marealize ng lahat na lahat ng ginagawa nila ay di lang para sa kanila... kundi we are representing MAAP... un dapat dala natin lagi... hindi lang ung name natin.. hindi lang ung department natin...hindi lang ung company.. dapat pang lahat di ba.

well... well... ito lang naman... just reading between the lines...
un lang naman interpretation ko...

o sya... have to end this for now...

JCL

Yup Maam Jasmin.

Mahirap po kc 'pag turf wars ang nangyayari. Eventually po mafix natin ito.

MAAP awaits the return of the Long Blue Line.

All in all, after having a successful career at sea (as Capts and CEs) and on land (manning)(may i also say a successful married life) the Alumni will hopefully come back as one to guide and continue the progress of our Cradle, our Academy.

This is our common Destiny.

Thus our motto UNITY-GUIDANCE-PROGRESS.

MAAP awaits our return.

align and shine 2009!

Hindi ko naintindihan!!! Inglis kasi! Hi!3x

Tama isang word sa hula kong slogan!

Sabi ko kasi sa 2009, Time to shine in 2009! Sayang!

Viva MAAP!!!!