Hardships of seafarers: A glimpse into the difficult life at sea

Brian J. Ochoa 06/25/2024

CEBU CITY, Philippines–The life of a seafarer is often romanticized as one of adventure and exploration, sailing across vast oceans and visiting exotic ports.  But beneath this idyllic image lies a reality composed of challenges and hardships. …

Alcoy accident: Motorcycle crashes into barrier; retired seafarer dead, wife hurt

Mark Bandolon 03/05/2024

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A retired seafarer lost his life while his wife got injured when their motorcycle bumped into a concrete road barrier in Barangay Guiwang, Alcoy, Cebu at around 5:43 p.m. on Monday, March 4,…

Seafarer’s compensable injury while playing basketball under the ‘personal comfort doctrine’

ATTY. DENNIS GORECHO 12/06/2023

A seafarer is entitled total and permanent disability benefits for the injury he suffered while playing basketball on board a ship during his free time. The Supreme Court granted the seafarer’s claims in Arguilles v. Wilhelmsen Smith…

2022 Bar exam question on seafarer’s disability benefits claims

ATTY. DENNIS GORECHO 11/22/2022

Can a seafarer be entitled to compensation for disability benefits if he finished his employment contract? This is one of the questions included in the 2022 Bar Examinations for Labor Law and Social Legislations. Marino, a seafarer,…

Non-deployment as basis for total and permanent disability benefits

ATTY. DENNIS R. GORECHO 10/11/2022

A seafarer, who was no longer deployed back to work, may be entitled to total and permanent disability benefits due to an illness that he suffered while on board the vessel. This was the ruling of the…

Higher CBA benefits even without Accident Report

ATTY. DENNIS R. GORECHO 08/30/2022

It is incumbent upon the employers, not the seafarer, to present the accident report in disability benefits claims since they are in possession of said documentary evidence. This was the ruling of the Supreme Court in the…

A job of a seafarer is not exactly a walk in the park

ATTY. DENNIS GORECHO 06/21/2022

“A job of a seafarer is not exactly a walk in the park.” I usually cite this  quote from the Supreme Court case of Oriental Ship mgt. vs. Bastol (G.R. No. 186289 June 29, 2010) as an opening statement…

Contract termination and medical repatriation in compensation cases

ATTY. DENNIS GORECHO 11/16/2021

A seafarer is entitled to compensation even if he finished his contract as long as he already had medical conditions while onboard during his employment. The issue of repatriation due to contract termination and not on medical…

Seafarer’s diet and kidney cancer

ATTY. DENNIS GORECHO 11/09/2021

A seafarer’s working conditions on board the vessel, including his dietary provisions, can aggravate or increase the risk of contracting ailments like kidney diseases. In Caraan vs Grieg Philippines, Inc. (G.R. No. 252199 May 5, 2021), the…

Spinal conditions  as compensable work-related illnesses

ATTY. DENNIS GORECHO 10/19/2021

A seafarer’s spinal illness  is considered compensable due to strenuous activities on board the vessel that could have led to or at least aggravated his work-related medical conditions. The Supreme Court used this rationale in granting  total permanent…

Music and myths of the mermaids

ATTY. DENNIS GORECHO 10/05/2021

We grew up with legends and myths about creatures, divine beings and gods, including those where water plays an important role. Mysteries and myths of the ocean became interesting topics during an episode of the annual Boses…

The tale of a shotgun wedding, psychological incapacity and annulment

ATTY. DENNIS GORECHO 02/16/2021

Mere refusal to cohabit with one’s spouse will not be automatically considered as a psychological disorder in annulment cases. Like in telenovelas, a seafarer’s story of shotgun wedding or pikot that led to an annulment case became the…

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