Filipino Seafarers: Labor, Longing, and Life at Sea

They move 90% of the world’s goods—but most people never see the lives behind the ships. In this episode, we journey into the demanding world of Filipino seafarers, the backbone of global trade. Their months-long contracts bring higher wages and the promise of a better life for their families back home, fueling an entire industry of marine colleges in the Philippines. But the work comes at a steep cost: dangerous seas, crushing boredom, deep isolation, and missed milestones like the birth of their own children. Through stories of shipboard karaoke, centuries-old superstitions, and the tradition of bolitas, we explore what keeps these men going—and why a new generation is dreaming of lives anchored on land.https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/30/world/asia/philippines-mariners-cargo-ships.html