On March 29, 2014, seafarers’ wives and mothers attended the seminar sponsored by Ventis Welfare Section dubbed as “I Am The Woman Behind a Successful Ventis Seafarer” in celebration of National Women’s Month.

The seminar was held at “K” Line Large Lecture Room. Ms. Lilet La Vina, Programs Director of the Gregorio Oca Leadership and Development (GOLD) Foundation, Inc. facilitated the event which commenced with a prayer led by Ms. Josephine A. Po, welfare staff. The topics discussed were:

• The Essential Attitudes – Be positive. Be open to change. Be committed.

• Getting To Know YOU (Self– mastery) – Have genuine self- awareness, integrity, true core values, embrace reality, and have clarity of purpose. Self-mastery is an awareness of the level of your competenceand what you still need to achieve. It is the ability to recognize your limitations and the ability to ask others for help when needed. It is an awareness of the fact that you need to be a lifelong learner.

• Core Values – What makes you feel good and what makes you uncomfortable? What motivates you to get up in the morning?

• The Three P’s of Excellence – Have a positive attitude, passion for excellence, and have a positive role model. Live in the present and have a grateful mindset; view difficulties as opportunities and not obstacles; and hang out with the right people.

• The Excellent Mind Set – Believe in yourself; motivate yourself from the inside and not just by external rewards. Set goals that constantly challenge you.

• Deterrents to Excellence – Mentalities such as “Pwede Na”, “Pag Nahuli Lang”, and “Okay na with the Status Quo”.

• Live in the Present–The past is past; the future is yet to come; it’s the present that counts.

Ms. La Vina ended the discussion with a quote, “Worry does not empty the past or the future of their sorrows, it empties today of its strength.”