Kumusta, Kabaro? Kumusta, Kaibigan? #22

A new visual series by Seafarer Asia, Kumusta, Kabaro? Kumusta, Kaibigan? gives viewers gritty glimpses into the lives of Filipino seafarers and their kin. True tales of love, pride, sacrifice, failure and success weave a living tapestry and an oral history of life at sea. The subjects are given free rein on what to share and how they wish to be photographed. The series is inspired by the popular photoblog, Humans of New York.

Lex Eslita, 32, Chief Engineer

My priorities changed when I had a family. Most seamen want longer and higher-paying stays at sea. I want shorter ones so I can see my wife and daughter more often.  

Life onboard started for me in 2007, when I was a cadet at a Japanese company called NYK, a requirement before being issued an engineer’s license. I graduated the following year and joined the company as an apprentice engineer for four months. After that, I became a full-fledged OIC or third-engineer and worked up the ranks year-on-year.

I’ve been working on various Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tankers since 2009 and have since become a first-engineer. To see my wife Jan and daughter Xig more, I used to work only six months per year at sea. After a decade of good memories with NYK, I transferred to another company which allows its engineers do two month shifts. Two months at sea and another two months on land. I’m also on the lookout for shore-based posts like being a facility superintendent or service engineer, either here or abroad. It doesn’t matter where, so long as I can be with my family.

Before I became a father, I just wanted to be the best engineer possible. Now I know that my life’s purpose is to be with my wife and daughter. And hopefully, we’ll have a son soon too.​

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