In Deep Waters, God is With You!

A Sharing of a Seafarer:

In the book of Romans, chapter 8: verse 28, it says and I quote:

“In all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

My name is Charlemagne Jumalon Alvarado, 3rd child of 5 siblings. My mother, Lilia Almadin Jumalon Alvarado is a retired public school teacher and just joined our Creator last May 25, 2022, at the age of 82. My father, the late Bernardino Cubin Alvarado, a true blooded Bohol-Anon, a fisherman and a retired fireman.

When I was young, my father used to bring us to Bohol during summer vacation. As I watched the ship’s crew, I admired them and started to have interest of becoming like them in the future. True enough, it became my career for 32 years, from Apprentice Mate until I reached the ultimate position of a Master Mariner or Ship’s Captain of a Foreign Cargo Vessel.

In my teenage and college years, I was so active in many activities. Aside from Academics and school activities, I also played basketball. On the spiritual side, I attended Life in the Spirit Seminar at San Pedro Cathedral and joined regular Charismatic Prayer Meetings. I was also then a member of the San Pedro Cathedral Youth Choir.

After graduating from College, I was very much enjoying all my activities in the Church, being in a Charismatic group, I learned so much especially during the Bible Sharing. It was also the moment in my life, that I became more prayerful and always put my trust in the Lord all of my endeavors. I was then one of the guitarists in our Charismatic prayer group and visited different Chapels in the City to conduct Prayer meetings and Bible Sharing. It was in one of these Chapels where I met the forever love of my life, the one beside me now.

In 1986, I decided to start my career as a seaman. With so much love and inspiration, I was driven to endure and bear all the challenges of applying a job in Manila even though I don’t have somebody to back me up, which is the common practice in most of the Shipping Agencies. But I have a great God who is always there who watches over me, guides, protects, and provides all my needs. Indeed, God is so good. He has blessed all my efforts and answered my prayers and I was able to start my seafaring job on May of 1986 as an apprentice mate.

Being a Seafarer is never an easy job. If family problems arise, a seafarer can’t just easily go home and leave behind his responsibilities onboard ship. Just like when my father and older sister passed away, I was not around with the family to console them during those grievous moments. Often times, I come home after the burial because I have to wait for a reliever before I was allowed to disembark.

Despite the challenges and dangers I had encountered at sea, with no hesitation and doubts, I had to be strong and balance personal and professional life. I had to endure and continue my goals for my family and the people I serve and most of all the country I represent.

In Isaiah 43:2 it says and I quote, “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you”. My recent and last vessel assignment in 2018, was one of the most memorable experiences I had encountered. In every voyage we had, we were always faced with near catastrophic accidents (Near Miss, as we called it). During those times, I fervently prayed “Almighty Father, help me and save the ship.” Without my knowledge, my prayers were always immediately answered. God is really good! I really don’t have the right words to express my gratitude to the Lord on how He saved us. In those situations, our vessel always managed to evade those imminent dangers which could cause so much trouble to the vessel, the company, myself, the ship’s crew, the charterers, and the consequences of possible oil pollution. That’s why before I leave my cabin, I always pray to God for protection and safety of all crew and the vessel that we may be able to reach our destination safely and true enough such events are now part of history.

As I remember during those near miss events, my officers and crew, who were with me in the navigating bridge, just couldn’t believe how we were able to escape those situations and would say, “Sir, ang galing nyo naman! You’re just too good to deal with the situation calmly.” My response was always “No, it is by God’s grace and protection that we were saved! God has delivered us from imminent danger.”

Truly, God’s power is above all creations on earth. There may be times that it was really difficult and frightening working at sea onboard ship, but God is my strength and my Salvation. He gives me courage and strength.

In the year 2018, after I completed my contract, I decided to lay down my Seaman’s Book and ask God for wisdom and prayed to find a job near my family, so I applied for a vacant position in General Santos City as a Harbor Pilot. I offered and prayed to God about my plan as I consider this as the most difficult and ultimate job application I had ever undergone. But in God’s providence and mercy, He sent his platoon of angels to help me and assist me through the challenging process to be able to get this job which my heart desires.

At present, I am now a retired Seafarer, but an active Harbor Pilot of General Santos City including its neighboring municipalities or the whole district of SOCCSARGEN South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City. God is indeed really good. He answered my prayer in His time and when I needed it the most.

Before, I had to work onboard vessel with a minimum of 8 hours a day, 16 hours on stand by, open overtime, on a contract of minimum 6 to 8 months. This time, I work on a basis of 2 weeks on-duty and 2 weeks off-duty and is just 3 hours away drive from home. At last, I have now more precious time with my family and I am able to attend and participate in more BCBP activities such as Saturday Breakfast Meetings, Action Group Meetings, First Friday Mass, Prayer Assembly, Daily Rosary and Teaching Nights. The BCBP community has been our constant prayer partner and we are always indebted to share our blessings through regular giving of tithes and serve back in any way we can, now as members of the Music Ministry in our BCBP Davao East Chapter. All I can say is that, God Almighty has given me a great opportunity to work that is far better than the previous one I have, being an OFW.

Let me end my sharing with this verse taken from the 2nd letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 9:13-14:

“Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you, their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.”

(Charlemagne Jumalon Alvarado)