Close Encounters in Maritime Manila

Close Encounters in Maritime Manila is a book written by Barista Uno.

This book is a collection of vignettes about one man’s interactions with various real life characters in Manila’s shipping community. It delves into human nature, society and culture. Sometimes tragic and sometimes comic, the stories are told with candour and a sense of humanity.

A short excerpt from the book

Chapter 1: The Great Money Chase

A German national once made a remark about Filipinos involved in manning and crew training that has stuck in my mind . "They all seem driven by money," he said. He did not elaborate. Perhaps he assumed that I would take his statement at face value. More likely, he was being diplomatic. In any case, the few words that he let loose were like German lager poured into a beer stein, rising to the top to make a mound of white froth, the way an ocean wave would whip up an enormous foam as it rushes to the shore.

What could I say in response? The man was stating a fact. Rather, he was understating it. Those who run the crewing agencies and training centres do not only seem but are thoroughly driven by money. They bustle about, always scurrying and sniffing out new opportunities to put more cash in the till. In this line of business, making a pile, legitimately or otherwise, can be a breeze because of the sheer number of Filipino mariners.

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