Cebu now launching high-tech naval vessels!

Last Saturday noon, we rode to the town of Balamban, Cebu via the Transcentral Highway for the formal launching of the brand-new Boat No. 1021, a Sea Slice vessel named Lider, the most highly sophisticated high-tech vessel ever built in Asia by the FBMA Marine Inc. (an Aboitiz company) since it has been building fastcraft like the SuperCat ferry serving Cebu City and Ormoc City or the 50-knot TriCat ferry that plies Hong Kong and Macau.

Because it was being launched from the FBMA shipyard, therefore, we saw this vessel when it was still on its cradle before it slid into the water. One can immediately see the technology that Lockheed Martin (America’s biggest defense contractor, which built the World War II P-38 Lighting twin-engine fighter and the venerable C-130 Hercules that the Philippine Air Force still uses) designed into this vessel.

Underneath the Sea Slice’s twin hull are four "Torpedo-like hulls," which look more like mini-submarines, attached to its belly. It has been a known fact that submarines are impervious to big waves because waves affect only the surface of the ocean. Therefore, Lockheed Martin designed a vessel whose underwater structure resembles that of a submarine; hence, the Sea Slice can travel in comfort even in 10 feet swells!

To complete its high technology, the propellers are in the front part of the vessel (call it the front-wheel drive for ships) and it doesn’t have a traditional rudder to steer the vessel. What it has are small wings or vanes that not only steer the vessel, but also keep it steady in the roughest of weather. This is perhaps why this vessel doesn’t turn like a traditional ship, but more like an airplane making a turn. Originally, the Sea Slice was designed as fastcraft for the US Navy and Coast Guard.

Lockheed Martin designed Boat No. 1021 for commercial application for Hoteleria y Servicios Petroleros that operates a ferry service for the giant Pemex Corp., Mexico’s state oil company, and it’s the first commercial craft of its kind and it was built in Cebu! The Lider will serve as a "crewboat" to ferry workers from shore to the oilrigs in the rough seas of the Gulf of Mexico. It will replace helicopter ferries, which are more expensive and cannot fly in bad weather. It’s not a large vessel, only 28.5 meters long with a service speed of 22 knots.

Every time we in the media get invited to the launching of vessels in Balamban, we always get emotional because, as Mayor Alex Binghay of Balamban said in his speech,"These high-tech, world-class vessels are made in Balamban, Cebu… which means Filipinos do not really have to leave their country to find better jobs." We should inform our politicians about this!

On hand to grace the launching of Lider were Roberto Aboitiz and Ernesto Aboitiz of FBMA Marine and its CEO, Doug Border. Angel Morales represented the Lockheed Martin Company, while Jesus Cruz represented the Hoteleria y Servicios Petroleros. No launching could start without a blessing from God, which was done by Balamban parish priest Fr. Manuel Tan… complete with Sinulog offerings.

Ernie Aboitiz reminded me that this project rekindles the Galleon Trade that we once had with Mexico, which virtually put a stop to the Great Silk Road of Marco Polo’s days… because a ship could go from point to point smoothly, unlike on land routes, where often traders got robbed or killed en route.

Indeed, it was a rare sight, seeing the flags of the United States, Mexico and the Philippines on the mast of the Lider — three nations working with each other to help develop each other’s economies. Someday, I hope to see the day when the Philippine Navy would purchase a number of twin-hull vessels for the future of the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard, because we Filipinos can build our very own vessels on our own, right in our own backyard!

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I had a hunch that Proclamation 1017 would be lifted in a week’s time… so when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) lifted or withdrew the State of Emergency, at least it was what the whole nation really wanted… that things go back to normalcy. That means, the case that the opposition brought to the Supreme Court about the legality of Proclamation 1017 would now be considered moot and academic. But knowing how hard-headed some of those people in the opposition are, they might still press on with this case and I’m sure that the Supreme Court justices would give them a piece of their legal minds.

But while the State of Emergency has been lifted, the reasons for its declaration still remain in the hearts of those who still want to grab political power. Our message to them is… give this country a break! We’ve had enough of your antics… it is time for you to show some restraint or discipline and face the facts that you can no longer duplicate what happened at EDSA simply because changing presidents at this time isn’t healthy for this country.

Meanwhile, it’s back to fixing this country and mopping out unfinished business that led to that coup attempt. For instance, former Rep. Jose "Peping" Cojuangco was reported by no less than Time Magazine to have been involved together with Boy Saycon in plotting to overthrow the Arroyo administration… how come no one has been arrested for this crime? Of course, we’ve heard all the denials about this… but shouldn’t this case warrant a full-blown investigation? I think so.

Again, it is back to the question of whether we Filipinos get to learn the lessons of our past. If coups have sprouted like mushrooms in the past years, it is only because no one gets arrested for plotting to overthrow the government. In other countries, coup plotters are even shot on sight! This is why no one went to EDSA anymore because the Filipino is sick and tired of too much ugly and unproductive politics aimed at restoring the opposition back to political power… and when they get back into power, I guarantee you that nothing much will change… they may look like different dogs, but they will still wear the same collar!

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For e-mail responses to this article, write to [email protected]. Bobit Avila’s columns can also be accessed through www.thefreeman.com. He also hosts a weekly talkshow, "Straight from the Sky," shown every Monday, at 8 p.m., only in Metro Cebu on Channel 15 of SkyCable.