When WG&A was formed it was ostensibly to combat the entry of foreign shipping companies on local inter-island routes. That was the time of many so-called “deregulation” initiatives of Fidel V. Ramos. But even then I had doubts about this as an anti-cabotage law was in effect in the Philippines. Anti-cabotage effectively prevents foreign shipping companies from plying local routes. And to repeal it an act of Congress is needed and I heavily doubted then that the Philippine Congress will go along with that.

Intermodal is the use of more than one form of transport in a trip or journey. In the Philippines that usually means island-hopping using a vehicle (public like a bus or private) and a RORO. Intermodal could be for business like shipping a container van or cargo truck; it could also be for personal pleasure like bringing one’s own vehicle for touring or visiting relatives in the provinces.

35 years ago the intermodal as we know it today barely existed. There were only a few LCTs that connected some nearby islands especially in the Visayas. The connections between Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao were not yet in existence. In fact the highways we take for granted today were still being built. The completion of that, the construction of connecting ports and the emergence of the RORO ships were the set conditions for the intermodal system to fully arise.

RORO means Roll-on, Roll-off. As distinguished to LOLO (Load-on, Load-off or Lift-on, Lift-off), RORO has cargo ramps and car decks and cargo is not lifted but loaded through vehicles that have wheels. Unlike cruisers that have cruiser sterns ROROs generally have transom sterns.

True ROROs started arriving in the Philippines in the 70s. This does not include the LCTs which are also ROROs in their own right. The very first RORO could have been the “Millennium Uno” of Millennium Shipping. Japan database shows she arrived in the country in 1973. She is still sailing the Liloan-Lipata route.

Forward

After the May 2011 meet in Cebu which I was not able to join due to work matters, I invited Sir Mike to visit me in my place in Isabel, Leyte. I’m glad that he accepted my invitation and went there.

The Plot

Sir Mike arrived in Isabel via Palompon onboard MV Filipinas Surigao of Cokaliong Shipping Lines. After setting his things in the PASAR Guesthouse, we immediately proceeded in ship spotting. Our plan was to go to the Ports of Isabel, Pingag, Merida and Ormoc. But for space purposes, I would like to include the port of Palompon in this article. We used my friend’s motorbike in ship spotting and it was a rough ride for us.

The MV Logos Hope is one of the ships that are operated by GBA (Good Books for All). The aim of this foundation is to bring books with over 5000 titles from country to country and sell them at a very low price. Another irresistible and interesting thing about this ship is the crews who came from 50 different countries and they are not paid nor compensated. Furthermore, MV Logos Hope is the biggest ship operated by GBA and was acquired in 2009.

The first stop of the ship in the year 2012 is in Cebu. They arrived during the first or second week of January of the same year after a two-week travel from Singapore. I was so curious of what the ship is really all about because it has been one of the topics when me and my friends talked. To get rid of my curiosity, I decided to go there last January 13, 2012 with co-ship spotter, Vincent Paul Sanchez.

There is an entrance fee of P20.00 per person. We were welcomed by some of the crews of unknown nationality. We scanned some books and we Vince bought an ice cream twirl on the International Café. I was salivating to see a Piano beside the Café. We got off the ship with our aim unaccomplished (we really planned to visit the bridge but we were both hesitant to approach some of the crews).

Some of my closest friends are so eager to go there but they won’t not unless I’ll come with them, so we went there a week after my first visit. Unfortunately, the line of people who also want to go inside the ship was so long that we decided to stay instead at the seawall and talk about college matters. Seeing that the line was still long, we decided to get inside some other time.

After a week, we decided to pursue their hope of getting inside her so we went to pier 1 once again but the line was still long. I suggested again that we stay at the bay walk for awhile since the sunset is fast approaching and wait for the line to perish. After an hour and a half, the line was out of sight so we went in.

I was so eager to test my “Press Relations Powers” and I thought that that would be a very good time for it to be tested. So I told my friends that I am planning to ask for a tour all around the ship including the bridge. Before getting inside, I asked a crew who was in-charge of the entrance if we can have a bridge tour; he told me that I can ask another crew in the International Café.

We toured the deck 4 where the book fair was located. We took some pictures on the “Life X-perience” part of the book fair and we finally got into the International Café. I saw some of the crew (a Chinese and German woman) playing some Christian songs on the piano. I watched them and they asked me if I know the song, I told them I don’t know it. My friends suddenly approached the Chinese lady who was playing the piano and told her that I am a professional pianist. Without any hesitations, the crew asked me to play. I played for once and for all.

I played some of the all-time-favorite songs like “On The Wings Of Love”, “Just Once” and “Maybe This Time”. The overwhelming thing is I heard some of the visitors singing along with my accompaniment. One of my friends even heard a visitor asking his companion “Crew na siya dinhi? Maayoha niya ni Piano ui!” (Is he a crew here? He plays the piano well!”

After I played the last song, I asked the Chinese lady if I and my friends can go inside the bridge. She approached another crew and asked if we can go there. Jackpot! We were permitted to have a guided tour from Deck 3-Deck 7!

We were hosted first at the receiving area (lobby) at the Deck 5 of the ship where we were given a visitor’s ID. The cabins of the volunteer crews are located in this deck too. We then proceeded to Deck 6 where the Main dining hall of the ship was located and wow! It was so spacious! After which, we were guided to the Deck 3 of the ship where the Hope Theatre was located.

We went up to Deck 7 where most of the offices are located. We went out and to my surprise; it was already the open deck (Boat Deck). We took some pictures and we went inside the bridge and it was my first time to see what was inside a European-made ship. The equipments and gadgets are much better than what I saw in Superferry 20!

We bid goodbye to our new found Chinese friend. She accompanied us up to the gate of Malacañan sa Sugbo and she gave us a short yet a very touching prayer. We asked for her cell number and she gave it. Many thanks to her for making our simple request a reality!

Here is a promotional video about MV Logos Hope. I made this one, hope you'll all like it!

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