Words by Mdpn. Hans Ibert David.
Photos by Mdpn. Joeven Dolendo Jr.

This is only one of the few sentences rendered to the outstanding efforts of Capt. Juan Bautista Lacson to lift the maritime industry when he founded the Iloilo Maritime Academy (IMA) in 1948, currently known as John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University, as marked in the records of the student handbook.

Once a year, on the 9th of May, the institution that Capt. Lacson built celebrates his life and legacy—a testament filled with trials, but paired with discipline and perseverance, bore fruit into how the three academic units' significant role in the present century hones the very movement of vessels across the oceans.

Tracing the humble beginnings from 78 years ago, there were only 40 students studying in the IMA. Now, the very same institution has seen hundreds of them walk out of the halls to become the world-class seafarers that they are today; this was all because of a vision that Capt. Juan Bautista Lacson wanted to realize through his persistent drive for excellence. With John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (Arevalo), Inc. alone, over 600 students are set to graduate this academic year. From them marches forward the new generation of the Lacsonian legacy.

To pay respects to the founder, JBLFMU-A held a morning celebratory mass, followed by a solemn tribute. The unit administrator, Mr. Robert O. Parcia, MSMM, along with the Dean of the College of Maritime Education, Capt. Nestor L. Baluya, MSMM, and LtJG. John Inri C. Malicse PN, Operations Officer of the 802nd NROTCU, led the solemn ceremony, with a wreath laying at the university's statue of the founder yesterday, May 8.

This was followed by another tribute held at the American cemetery led by 18 representatives of the university comprised of both employees and students.

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