President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Sunday, June 25, lauded the contributions of Filipino seafarers to the country’s economy and in their communities during the commemoration of the Day of the Seafarers. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (Photo from the Presidential Communications Office) The event was first declared in Manila on June 25, 2010. “With great pride and gratitude, I joined the entire Filipino nation to commemorate the day of the Filipino seafarer,” the President said in a video message posted on his Facebook page. “Since time immemorial, our ancestors had long relied on seafaring to sustain their livelihood and forge economic and trade relations with people from other towns and countries,” he added. The Chiet Executive thanked Filipino seafarers, which comprise majority of the seafarers in the world, “who (toil) day and night to support their loved ones and the Filipino nation.” He also commended them for exploring “far horizons to provide food, produce energy, and build the foundation of our nation’s progress.” As Marcos urged Filipino seafarers to celebrate themselves, Marcos also expressed his wish that the “centuries-long tradition” of seafaring “provide a continuing inspiration for you to sustain our excellence in leadership in this important sector.” “The courage and resilience that you demonstrate despite all the adversities and challenges that come your way show that the centuries-long tradition of Filipino seafaring remains strong and still drives each and every one of you today,” he said.