Captain Crisando Blas: Leading with Care and Humility
If there’s one quality that defines Captain Crisando Blas, it’s humility. Despite more than a decade of service at 88 Aces, an accomplished seafaring background with over 21 years of sea-going experience, including seven years as Master Mariner, and leadership roles that many aspire to, ‘Captain Cris’ remains grounded, steady, and profoundly aware of the value of staying true to oneself. Success, he believes, means little without gratitude, integrity, and the willingness to learn from both victories and missteps.
Cris grew up in Manila, though his family’s roots are a bit farther north in Pangasinan. When he started school, a maritime career wasn’t something he had even considered; but life had other plans for him. While in college, financial challenges forced him to consider a different path, one that led him to a maritime school. “The rest, they say, was history,” he shares. Opportunities came his way, doors opened, and over time, he discovered not just a career, but a deep love and appreciation for an industry that shaped him both as a man, and a leader.
It was the role of Port Captain that brought him to Scorpio in 2015, where his career progressed to Operations Manager, and then in 2019, he stepped into his current role of President of 88 Aces. Today, he oversees the operations of dozens of vessels, managing issues that span crewing, HR, and administration. What he loves most about his job are the daily challenges that keep him on his toes, adding: “the job is not monotonous.” Solving problems, supporting seafarers, and providing service to principals bring him genuine fulfilment each day.
Among the many meaningful experiences along his journey, two moments stand out: his happiest memory is attending the 2023 Technical Managers’ Meeting in Monaco for the first time. Meeting colleagues from across the world, experiencing the company’s global culture firsthand, and learning alongside his peers made it a milestone that stays with him warmly. “To personally see and experience the diversity of the organization and learn from the meeting was such a great and happy experience for me.”
His proudest moment was only a few months earlier, when he completed his Master’s degree in Shipping, an achievement he never imagined to reaching. Ask Captain Cris about the most important lesson his career has taught him, and he answers instantly: humility. He openly acknowledges that his path includes mistakes, failures, and a few decisions he would reconsider, but staying grounded is what allowed him to rise above them. With humility, he says, success becomes meaningful, challenges become manageable, and it has helped him “become a better person and a better manager.”
Staying active is important, and the key to him staying a good manager. Each morning, Capt. Cris gets outside for outdoor sports like biking, jogging, or just a nice walk. “The early morning breeze and quietness helps me clear my mind and make plans for the day,” he reveals.
As for his hidden talents? With all that he has accomplished and all his accolades, he considers cooking one of his “good skills.” For sure, this skill makes him as appreciated at home as he is in the office!
Captain’s Q&A
What career advice would you give to younger professionals?
Stay humble… This will be my advice to the younger generation. In these times of advanced technologies, digital age, information at your fingertips, gender equality and fast paced life, it will be very easy to succeed and get caught up with everything so if one stays grounded and stays with their values and integrity, I believe they will never go wrong in their life.
This article featured in Beacon 30, Scorpio seafarers can access and download all issues of the Beacon from DocMap while onboard.
