The Seafarer Social Summit

A free celebration of Filipino seafarers and Philippine maritime history. Three days before IMO Day of the Seafarer, 750 active Filipino crew gather inside a galleon museum to honour where they come from, and where they are going.

When
Mon 22 Jun 2026
Where
Museo del Galéón, Manila
Entry
Free · All Ranks
Register Your Place → View the Agenda
750
Filipino Seafarers
6
Fireside Panels
3
Eras of Heritage
Free
For All Crew
01 — About the Summit

This is not a maritime conference. It is a homecoming.

On 22 June 2026, 750 active Filipino seafarers will gather inside the Museo del Galeón in Manila for a free, non commercial celebration of Filipino maritime heritage. The afternoon moves through three eras of Philippine seafaring, woven between fireside panels on the topics that seafarers themselves asked to hear about.

The agenda has been shaped directly by a survey of over 1,000 active Filipino seafarers. This is not a recruitment fair. There are no commercial booths. Every seafarer should leave more inspired, better informed, and better connected to the people and systems that support their career.

At a glance

  • ◆
    Date
    Monday 22 June 2026
  • ◆
    Programme
    Doors 11:30 · 12:00 to 16:50 · Networking to 17:20
  • ◆
    Venue
    Museo del Galeón, Manila
  • ◆
    Audience
    750 Filipino seafarers, all ranks, all companies
  • ◆
    In partnership with
    PTC
02 — The Journey

Past, Present and Future

An immersive three act story of Filipino seafaring, brought to life inside the museum with lighting, live music, the galleon vessel and screens.

Act One · The Past

From Balangay to Galleon

By the 8th century, balangay vessels carried people, goods and culture across the archipelago. From 1565, Manila became a vital hub in one of the first truly global trade routes.

8th century — 1815
Act Two · The Present

The Filipino Seafarer Today

More than 500,000 Filipino seafarers deployed internationally in 2024. From the balangay, to the galleon, to the modern bulk carrier and LNG tanker, the relationship with the sea has never broken.

500,000+ Strong
Act Three · The Future

Where We Go Next

A working master’s view on the next chapter for Filipino crew, leading directly into a forward looking panel on recruitment, wages and what employers truly value.

The Next Voyage
03 — Voices on Stage

Speakers & Contributors

A line up led by Filipino seafarers, broadcasters, masters and union leaders, joined by voices from across the global maritime industry. More speakers being added.

Carl King
Host & Founder

Carl King

Founder, Seafarer Social

CL
Platinum Keynote

Catherine Logie

One Ocean, Lloyd's Register

Atty. Hans Leo J. Cacdac Secretary

Atty. Hans Leo J. Cacdac Secretary

Department of Migrant Workers

Susan Enriquez
Panel 1 Host

Susan Enriquez

GMA Network, Pera Paraan

DO
AMOSUP Address

Dr Conrado F. Oca

President, AMOSUP

Capt. Ronald Enrile
The Present

Capt. Ronald Enrile

Working Master

Chief Makoi
Panel 4

Chief Makoi

Seafarer & Creator

JF
Panel 1

Joseph Jerome T. Francia

FVP, GMA Network International

Lala Tolentino
Panel 2 Host

Lala Tolentino

Moderator

Capt. Pol Winston G. Haboc
Panel 6

Capt. Pol Winston G. Haboc

Working Master

Capt. Marlon Cataquis
Panel 1

Capt. Marlon Cataquis

Master & Entrepreneur

Capt. Ernest Panganiban
Panel 1

Capt. Ernest Panganiban

Master & Entrepreneur

JN
Panel 1

Jimmy Narne

Seafarer & Entrepreneur

2P
Panel 2

2/M Charlotte Pelaez

Second Mate

3A
Panel 2

3/E Marianne Camille Alpuerto

Former Seafarer & Seafarer's Wife

Dr Christian Lubaton
Panel 2

Dr Christian Lubaton

Nordic Medical Clinic

Carmelle Faye Montalbo (RPsy, RPm)
Panel 2

Carmelle Faye Montalbo (RPsy, RPm)

Psychologist, Mission to Seafarers

CQ
Panel 4

C/M Isidoro Quidem

Chief Mate

Yrhen Bernard
Panel 5

Yrhen Bernard

Lloyd's Register Foundation

JB
Panel 5

Jay Babera

Head of Crewing Ops, OSM Thome

Mike Esplago
Panel 6

Mike Esplago

AI & Technology Panel

KC Abigail Chin-Sood
Panel 5

KC Abigail Chin-Sood

Active seafarer and content creator

Carmelle Faye Montalbo (RPsy, RPm)
Panel 2

Carmelle Faye Montalbo (RPsy, RPm)

Registered Psychologist, The Mission to Seafarers

Kuya Kim (Kim Atienza)
Special talk: family, mind & body

Kuya Kim (Kim Atienza)

Television Host, GMA Network

SF
Panel 3

Steven Jones (MNM FRSA FNI)

Founder, Seafarers Happiness Index (The Mission to Seafarers)

Tor Anders Høksås
Panel 2

Tor Anders Høksås

Business Development, Inmarsat Maritime

IB
Panel 2

Irnacelle Beltran-Binucal

CQ
Panel 4

C/O Isidro Quidem

CB
Panel 6

Capt. Ace Binucal

Capt. Yves Vandenborn (FNI)
Panel 4

Capt. Yves Vandenborn (FNI)

Head of Loss Prevention, NorthStandard

Capt. Siddharth Mahajan
Panel 4

Capt. Siddharth Mahajan

Loss Prevention, Gard AS

Steven Jones (MNM FRSA FNI)
Panel 3

Steven Jones (MNM FRSA FNI)

Founder, Seafarers Happiness Index (The Mission to Seafarers)

Ben Bailey
Panel 3

Ben Bailey

Director of Programme, The Mission to Seafarers

Sean Yang
Panel 1

Sean Yang

Senior Strategist, Circle Digital Ventures

Meei Wong
Panel 5

Meei Wong

Founder, Circle Digital Ventures

Peter Schellenberger
Panel 6 (Host)

Peter Schellenberger

Co-Founder, LEDGID

Mark Sundrum
Panel 6

Mark Sundrum

Director of Business Development, 90 POE

Alexander Held
Panel 5 (Host)

Alexander Held

Head of Commercial, TURTLE

Capt. Akshat Arora (AFNI)
Panel 4

Capt. Akshat Arora (AFNI)

Regional Loss Prevention, UK P&I Club

Plus Siddharth Mahajan (GARD), Akshat Arora (UK P&I Club), Alexander Held (TURTLE), Tor Hoksas (Inmarsat Maritime), Mark Sundrum (90 POE), and more to be announced.

By Invitation Only - Closed Door

VIP Balangay Morning Cruise

Presented by GMA Network & Seafarer Social

The day begins on the water. Before the doors open at the Museo, an intimate gathering of 25 selected guests sets sail across Manila Bay aboard a traditional balangay, the vessel that first carried Filipinos to sea more than a thousand years ago.

Time
9:00 to 10:00
Guests
25 Selected VIPs
Departs & Returns
Manila Yacht Club
Access
Invitation Only

A closed door experience. Places are extended by personal invitation ahead of the main programme.

04 — The Run of Show

Programme

All times in Manila local time. The day is plotted in short, high energy bursts to keep the room engaged throughout.

Stage anchor
Heritage act
Fireside panel
Special moment
11:30

Doors Open

Arrival music. Guests welcomed and seated in the Galleon Hall.

12:00

Welcome Address

Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac Department of Migrant Workers

12:15

Keynote: The Philippines on the Global Maritime Stage

Catherine Logie, One Ocean, Lloyd's Register

12:25

Air France KLM Welcome & Flying Blue

75 years of flying from Manila. Loyalty sign up opens for the prize draw.

12:30

The Story of Museo del Galeon

A seafarer's view of why the museum matters.

12:40

Choir Performance

A Filipino musical opening to set the tone of the day.

12:50

MARINA Welcome

The Philippine maritime authority on the day.

13:00

The Past: From the Balangay to the Galleon

The maritime communities of Butuan and the Manila Acapulco Galleon Trade.

13:15

Panel 1: Financial Literacy for Seafarers

Hosted by Susan Enriquez, GMA Network

13:45

A Talk on Family, Mind and Body

Kim Atienza, Kuya Kim

13:55

The Present: The Filipino Seafarer Today

Capt. Ronald Enrile

14:05

Panel 2: Family, Relationships and Life Between Contracts

Hosted by Lala Tolentino

In partnership with Inmarsat Maritime.

14:35

AMOSUP Address

Dr Conrado F. Oca, AMOSUP

14:45

Panel 3: The Seafarer Happiness Index, Q1 2026

Steven Jones & Ben Bailey, Mission to Seafarers.

15:00

Panel 4: Success as a Seafarer. What Do We Measure?

GARD, North Standard and UK P&I with working Filipino voices.

15:30

The Future: Where Filipino Seafaring Goes Next

A working master's view on the next chapter for Filipino crew.

15:40

Panel 5: The Future of the Filipino Seafarer

Led by Alexander Held, TURTLE

16:10

Panel 6: AI, Technology and the Changing Ship

Hosted by Peter Schellenberger.

16:40

Air France KLM Prize Draw

Two return tickets, Manila to Amsterdam.

16:45

Closing Remarks

Carl King, Founder, Seafarer Social

16:50

Networking Reception

Refreshments served around the galleon vessel until 17:20.

05 — Made Possible By

Our Partners & Sponsors

This is not a commercial venture. It is a celebration made possible by partners who put Filipino seafarers at their core.

Host
Museo del Galeón
Pinoy eSim
Seafarer Social Summit
Title Sponsor
Inmarsat Maritime
Platinum Sponsor
Lloyds Register
OneOcean
Gold Sponsor
Air France
Circle Digital Ventures
KLM
OSM Thome
CFARER
Silver Sponsor
90 POE
GARD AD
LEDGID
NorthStandard
Bronze Sponsor
Ship Money
The Nautical Institute
Strategic Partner
ITF Seafarers' Trust
PHILCAMSAT
PTC
Media Partner
GMA
Welfare Partner
The Mission to Seafarers
Media, Charity & Local Partners
AMOSUP
Department of Migrant Workers
MARINA
06 — Reserve Your Place

Register Free

The Summit is free for all Filipino seafarers of every rank and every shipping company. Places are limited to 750. Register now to secure your seat.

  • ◆ Free entry for all seafarers, all ranks
  • ◆ Six fireside panels and an immersive heritage experience
  • ◆ Chance to win return flights, Manila to Amsterdam
  • ◆ MARINA on site for National ID and documentation support
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