A Cebuano maritime executive has been named one of the world’s most influential leaders in the global port and shipping industry.
Capt. Rodien E. Paca, a former international ship captain and now CEO of eight port and logistics firms, ranked third on the 2025 Who’s Who in Global Maritime Leadership list, a rare international honor for a Filipino.
Paca, who hails from Naga City, Cebu, was recognized for his pioneering contributions in ship management, floating ship repair operations, port manpower strategy, and the integration of artificial intelligence in logistics systems.
Industry experts cited his ability to combine cutting-edge technology with training, ethics, and faith-based leadership as a key differentiator in Southeast Asia’s evolving maritime sector.
The recognition highlights Paca’s growing global influence. As a United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)-certified port lecturer, he has represented the Philippines in knowledge-sharing missions across Europe, Africa, and Asia over the last 17 years.
His international lectures have focused on port strategy, logistics innovation, and sustainable practices, helping to raise the profile of Filipino expertise in maritime education and operations.
Before transitioning to land-based leadership roles, Paca served as a ship captain on international vessels for 13 years.
He decided to leave the seafaring life to devote more time to his family and focus on building a maritime enterprise that now includes trucking, domestic and international forwarding, warehouse management, and logistics technology development.
His companies employ hundreds and are known not only for operational excellence but also for promoting values-based leadership among employees.
Paca is also actively involved in the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP), where he advocates the integration of faith in everyday business practices. His leadership style has reportedly led many of his employees to embrace ethical and purpose-driven work cultures.
Raised in a humble household, Paca worked his way through school with the help of scholarship grants. He started as a deck cadet performing menial shipboard tasks before earning his captain’s stripes.
Determined to further his education, he pursued and obtained an MBA in Logistics and Port Strategy and later a PhD in Port Strategy and Shipping Management from top European universities.
In his statement following the announcement, Paca said he hoped the recognition would inspire a new generation of Filipino maritime professionals to pursue excellence and global leadership roles.
He emphasized the need for continued investment in maritime education and called on younger seafarers to aim beyond traditional roles and become knowledge contributors to the global shipping and port management industries.
The honor not only brings personal pride but also serves as a national milestone, reinforcing the Philippines’ role as a leading supplier of maritime professionals. It also underlines the potential of Filipino expertise in shaping future maritime strategies in Asia and beyond.
Capt. Paca’s inclusion in the Who’s Who in Global Maritime Leadership underscores how Filipino talent, resilience, and innovation are being acknowledged on the world stage — and signals that the country’s maritime leadership potential is just beginning to be fully realized.
CebuLifestyleChannel.ph