It is a great privilege to address some words of gratitude to The Nippon Foundation. This 2019-2020 academic year has been the most challenging year of my life. This year I had the privilege to live the unique experience of studying at an Institute with such prestige which allowed me to deepen my knowledge of maritime affairs. Indeed, IMLI allowed me not only to learn more in the area that I am passionate about, but it also allowed me to meet different cultures and wonderful people who made this experience unforgettable. None of this would have been possible without the generosity of The Nippon Foundation that helped me achieve my dreams of pursuing my studies at IMLI. It fills me with great joy to be the eighth Peruvian who has had the privilege of undertaking the program, which allows me to contribute to my country with everything I have learned at the Institute. My country, my family and I are forever grateful for this unique opportunity. I am convinced that The Nippon Foundation is and will always be a key actor in making this world a better place to live. I am confident that I can only repay the invaluable support of The Nippon Foundation and its trust on me through a lot of work and effort, as well as, reiterating my promise to serve the rule of international maritime law as best as possible, demonstrating high standards of integrity in a responsible manner for the benefit of my country, the maritime industry and the academic environment of maritime affairs.

Six years post IMLI and I can say for sure, the professors and staff who so generously helped me make the most of my stay by sharing with me techniques, tactics and strategies for approaching, analyzing, handling maritime concerns and issues have empowered me to take on commitments and challenges at work which I would have otherwise shied away from.  Like taking on the challenge to work in the Coast Guard District Offices for instance in order to deal first hand with such concerns as poaching, salvage operations and claims, detention of foreign vessels, handling of abandoned vessels and even issues in the West Philippine Sea.  A new undertaking in Palawan is the application for the PSSA designation of the Tubbataha Reef National Park, possibly the first PSSA in Southeast Asia. More important to me, however, is the commitment I made and have kept since 2008 to teach maritime law to students of marine transportation and marine engineering as well as to seafarers in order to help them do their jobs better and thereby elevate the quality of service that Filipino seafarers deliver to the world.  It is my little way of expressing my gratitude and sharing the gift of education that was given to me by the Nippon Foundation.  Mabuhay to the Nippon Foundation-IMLI partnership!

Studying at IMLI has been a unique opportunity to improve my knowledge and skills as an international lawyer. Every morning I wake up thinking how fortunate I am because the Nippon Foundation elected me. This also means a big obligation with the Foundation, IMLI and my country. Everyday I enjoy classes, culture, friendship and knowledge. In other words, I am enjoying doing my best. The support of the Nippon Foundation has given me a unique opportunity, not only to help me achieve professional success, but with this effort, to deepen the knowledge of maritime law for the benefit of my country. There are no maritime law schools in Mexico and just a few persons have experience in this field. So, I have a lot of work here to strengthen maritime law in my country and law enforcement by Mexican Navy. I want to thank you to let me take this important responsibility I will achieve. I remain at your service.

Thanks to the generous support of The Nippon Foundation, I was elected to study at the IMO-International Maritime Law Institute in Malta and complete my LLM in school year 2018/19. The remarkable experience of being trained at IMLI for eight months has made me forever grateful to the Foundation. IMLI changed my life completely - personally, professionally and even philosophically. Living and studying in a completely international environment consisting of people from "all the oceans" taught me how to think outside-the-box, understand different mindsets and cultures and to fall in love with countries I never visited. Beautiful friendships with my colleagues and valuable international contacts are treasures of a special kind which will be indispensable in my future life and career. The education of outstanding quality provided by the Institute and conducted throughout professional, dedicated and passionate lecturers, made me highly qualified in the various aspects of maritime law. Above all, it raised my awareness on the significance of international law and its impact on each country, including Montenegro which has always suffered from lack of qualified cadre in the area. Upon completion of the IMLI studies, I returned home as a better person and versed lawyer capable to contribute to my country's best interest in field of maritime law, implementing international maritime conventions into domestic legislation as a starting point of my mission. That is why I have been given the opportunity to advise the Ministry of Traffic and Maritime Affairs of Montenegro in the field of Maritime Law and to help its development and implementation at the national level. My main professional engagement continues to be with the Montenegrin judiciary where I help judges of the Commercial Court of Montenegro assigned with maritime cases. Wherever my professional path leads me in the future, I will always proudly handle the responsibility that accompanies the title of IMLI and Nippon Alumna and will do my best to contribute to the global vision of safe and sustainable use of oceans.