Filipino sailors worry more about jobs

The mounting threat posed by Somali pirates is causing waves in many seafaring nations, but there has been little effect in the Philippines, which supplies the world up to 40 percent of its sailors.

Late last week, Somali pirates seized a fully laden Saudi supertanker, the biggest vessel ever hijacked, with a cargo of oil worth more than $100 million. Of the 25 crew on board, 18 were Filipinos.

Indeed, Filipinos make up 127 of the 243 sailors being held captive by Somali pirates, but there has been no let-up in recruitment at what has come to be known as Seafarers' Park in Manila, the capital.