M/V Doulos returns to Cebu

Cebuanos must make it a point to visit M/V Doulos, which dropped anchor at Pier 1, Berth 28 yesterday, as the coordinator for the ship's visit here said this may be the ship's last visit to Cebu.

The 92-year-old M/V Doulos, considered as the world's oldest active ocean-going passenger ship and the world's largest floating book fair is set to retire in 2010 after sailing and sowing the seeds of "spiritual knowledge, unity amid cultural diversity, help and hope," according to Jiamin Choo, project coordinator of the Cebu visit.

"Things are not final yet, but yes she is scheduled to retire three years from now," she said.

Doulos, which means "servant or slave" in Greek, visited Cebu five years ago, and now it is back with 6,000 book titles covering subjects such as Science, Education, Sports, Culinary, History, Technology, Photography, Christian Living and a wide range of children's literature.

The ship's skipper, Captain Ashley McDonald of Australia opened yesterday's briefing for the local media.

"M/V Doulos is two years younger than Titanic. We all know what happened to what was thought unsinkable. Today, the lifespan for ships are from 20 to 25 years, then they get decommissioned. But Doulos is already 92 years old and if you notice it is very much in good shape. While it was said that not even God could sink Titanic, we 350 volunteers from 47 nations across the globe would want it known that only God has kept Doulos afloat this long," McDonald said.

During her lengthy career, she has sailed under three other distinct names - Medina, Roma and Franca C - for freighting goods, transporting emigrants, and for cruises, respectively. She was acquired in 1977 by Gute Bucher fur Alle e.V. (Good Books for All), a non-profit, charity organization registered in Mosbach, Germany. Currently, she is run by Operation Mobilization Philippines. She is here to get to know people who might be interested in the Doulos volunteer program, Doulos programs and conferences, ministry partnership with Doulos, publicity and sponsorship opportunities, and to broaden and deepen the mission of promoting international understanding and worldwide education.

"Volunteers onboard Doulos seek to serve God and the nations they visit," McDonald said. " The Doulos experience encourages all who come aboard to expand their horizons and embark on a voyage of discovery through cultural exchange programs, community service initiatives, and a floating book fair," he added.

M/V Doulos is open to the public beginning yesterday until February 19. Afterwhich, she will be seen at the port of Batangas. Before Doulos headed for Cebu, she docked at the ports of Manila and Iloilo. She has visited over 100 countries, has welcomed more than 19 million visitors onboard, and has undertaken port programs in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and many island nations of the world.

Tourism Undersecretary Phineas Alburo, who was among those invited to go onboard the Doulos yesterday said that not only is the ship an ambassador of goodwill, of knowledge, help and hope, it should be emphasized that she too is a proponent of tourism.

"Tourism should be added to the catchphrase after knowledge, help and hope because the primary objective of tourism is to promote understanding of cultures and preserving peace. The very reason why there is a ship at the end of friendship is that we people of the world are sailing in just one boat, our goals set in one direction," Alburo said.

Admission fee for adults is P10. Doors are open for free to children under 16. Book fair opening hours are from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesdays and 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays. For security purposes, children must be accompanied always by an adult and that an identification card is required upon entry. Also, no backpacks are allowed onboard the ship. - Maria Eleanor Elape Valeros