Official Press Release

Launching the DAUNGAN Online Support System:
Anchoring Seafarers and their Families to Faith and Wellness

Few realize that being a seafarer or the spouse/child of a seafarer mean various personal and relational stress, most of which if left unattended can progress to crisis proportions. UGAT Foundation hopes to increase the resiliency of the Seafarer Family through an accessible supportive resource network.

September 1, 2007--- This September 2007, Jesuit Family Apostolate UGAT Foundation launches “DAUNGAN”, an online psycho-spiritual support system for Filipino seafarers and their families. This program offers free confidential counseling, resource articles on psycho-spiritual enrichment, opportunities for formation and active linkages to other seafarers/family of seafarers and trained counselors.

Access to a listening ear is as easy as sending an sms to or calling mobile number +0915.938.9715. At the other end of the line are trained volunteer counselors---more so, they are mostly fellow seafarers and spouses/children of seafarers as well who knows firsthand what these families are going through. Some of the perceived needs that could benefit from an accessible avenue for emotional ventilation are the loneliness due to temporary separation, the emotional numbing from the endless cycles of “hellos” and “goodbyes”, the stress of responsible financial management and even support while fighting the many different temptations.

It’s not just individualized attention that this program offers but strategic linkages. If personal counseling is needed, for example, UGAT can easily refer the caller to a counselor near their area through its Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao networks of care-providers. The counseling service is free, but standard call and text rates apply.

Through its weblog, http://daungan.blogspot.com, the program also provides for opportunities for seafarers/families of seafarers themselves to give their peers support and advice. Articles, links and forums on a variety of psycho-spiritual topics like Marital/ Family Enrichment and Gospel Reflections are also offered by the site, to be updated by the counselors and the subscribers themselves. If interested, visitors can use the blog to form communities and plan formation programs.

For more information, please contact UGAT Foundation through 02-4265992, 02-4266001 loc 4871 and ugat@admu.edu.ph.