The First Lady of the Philippines, Louise Araneta-Marcos, led the ceremonies inaugurating the UPL-Carnival Team Member Center, a two-level facility established by Florida-based international cruise company Carnival Cruise Line (Carnival) and its local crewing partner United Philippine Lines (UPL).
The event also drew the support of other top government officials including Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, Commission on Higher Education Secretary Prospero de Vera III, and Pasay Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano.
The state-of-the-art hub is Carnival and UPL’s response to the growing global demand for seafarers as the global cruise industry continues to rebound from the pandemic.
The event was dubbed Anchored: From the Philippines to the World. “We chose the word ‘Anchored’ for the event because it perfectly describes the center’s strategic location as well as our firm commitment to help Filipinos achieve their dreams of having a fulfilling career in the global cruise industry,” Carnival Cruise Line Crew and Travel Operations Vice President Richard Brearley said.
“Because the UPL-Carnival TM Center is equipped with top-of-the-line equipment and well-trained staff, Filipinos looking to explore the world as shipboard talents can expect an easy and efficient application and training process. We guarantee smooth sailing from the get-go.”
Carnival chose to locate the training hub inside the campus of STI Pasay-EDSA to have access to STI students taking hospitality, tourism, and culinary programs, as well as marine transportation and marine engineering.
“Our partnership with Carnival is an investment for our country’s future. It gives our students more options for a challenging and incredibly rewarding job that allows them to see the world and meet people from a variety of backgrounds,” STI ESG Vice Chairman Nick Jacob said.
“The cruise industry is continuously growing, which means the number of opportunities for those who’d like to work at sea will also continue to increase. STI will strive to offer these opportunities to Filipinos.”
Over the years, the Philippines has been one of Carnival’s primary sources of shipboard talents. The corporation currently employs approximately 50,000 employees and is looking to increase this number for its more than 90 vessels servicing tens of thousands of travelers worldwide annually.
UPL, in partnership with Carnival, has been helping Carnival meet its enormous manpower requirement by creating a system that’s designed to help potential Filipino seafarers across the country have a seamless employment journey – from the time they graduate from maritime school until they step onboard a Carnival cruise ship.
Brearley said Carnival expects that global demand for Filipino seafarers will continue to grow. United Philippine Lines Executive Director and COO Leo Oscar B. Tanseco noted Filipinos have long been known worldwide for being “friendly, hard-working, and highly adaptable.”
United Philippine Lines President Denny Escobar added, “Together with Carnival, we aim to represent Filipinos across all functions. With the expertise, knowledge, and infectious personality of Filipinos, we’re certain this will soon happen.”
To know more about these roles or to check Carnival’s full job listing, please visit https://shipjobs.carnival.com/.