Quite
recently I had a small chat with an acquaintance of mine during my early
sailing years, The chat we had in Face book was the difference between his
company (Blue Manila) and my current company (Career Ship management ).
According to what we had discussed the salary offered to an ordinary seaman
rank is 1250 USD - 300 US Dollars more than the salary rate here in Career,
plus the overtime work pay is open compared to career's fixed overtime
pay. Overall the discussion lead me on
the conclusion that the benefit's and pay of blue manila outmatch career's in
some extent, the only difference that Career has is that the ships here are way
larger than and comfortable compared to blue manila's. 6,000 GRT is no match for
42,000 GRT.
Aside from
that, me and Glemz Juanitas discussed on
what happened on why both of us changed companies. Glemz told me he switched
because Seacap has serious problem on the rotation schedules , while I on the
other hand told Juanitas that I was kicked out. I guess both me and Juanitas
was dissatisfied in Seacap in a variety of ways and what I can say on my end
why I left , is on how the way I was treated there - not to mention how rude
the kind of people and crew they have.
Overall I'm
not saying seacap was a bad company - just a disappointing one.
In other
news,
Still got a
few remaining minor objectives to take care of and these are.
1.Go back to Maritime Medical and see if the Physical Examination form
has been forwarded to Career Shipping.
2.Verifiy to Career shipping if the Physical Examination form has been
forwarded and check if there is no problems.
3.Attend BSD seminar of Career shipping.
4.Signup for PDOS seminar.
5.Go to Taguig and get the CAV cert from TESDA.
Overall I
only got 2 minor objective left and whether or not I finish this, The general
outcome will still be the same and that I'd still will be boarding on Career's
ship. Either way , win or lose , I will
still benefit from it.
First off
before I proceeded on these objective's , I need financial aid in accomplishing
this and for the moment I could say that I'm terribly suffering a lot of
shortages in financial funding and that I could not relay alone on my sister
for it since also her resources are stretched to the limit as well. I only
stored enough supplies for two months and beyond that , It's obvious that I'm
going to have some serious problems. I already drawn up two plans to get some
fresh financial help and hopefully at least these plans will pump more juicy on
my agenda, enough to finish the job.
Going back,
On Monday I
had to drop off the idea of attending the BSD seminar , for numerous reasons ,
Overall the bottom line is that BSD seminar is not that strategically important
compared to attending PDOS (Pre Departure Orientation Seminar). If I read it
correctly PDOS is a MANDATORY
seminar needed compared to BSD, Aside from that I recall correctly that a few
weeks ago Captain Ledesma said that if ever that I will be deployed early and
will not be able to finish the said seminar then I'd just simply inform him of
the situation, indicating that this seminar is not that really much of an
importance.
 |
| Old Street map of Manila i use for travelling and walking |
Immediately
when I arrived, I proceeded to the reporting counter to submit the photocopies
of the BPI account numbers of my mom and sister. "Lucita" to wait a
few minutes for my name to be called back, while she searched for my records. A
few minutes later she asked for the photocopies and told me if I also submitted
a copy of my NBI certificate other essential documents like Social Security,
Tax Identification Number and other stuff. I replied back that everything is in
order and I submitted it a month ago. Since everything is all cleared out ,
"Lucita" signed my checklist slip which meant I'm all cleared on that
counter. Next stop on my agenda was paying a visit to the License counter , the
reason was because I could not remember at all if I signed up for the physical
examination form. Fortunately "NIDA" is friendly enough top search
the medical records, It only took her a minute or two and said to me that I
don’t have to worry about it and that indeed I had signed the Physical Medical
Form.
Next
counter I went is the accounting counter to inquire about a cash advance. The
lady said that I need first to attend PDOS then be given a cash advance 2 to 3
days before leaving the country. Was really dismayed when I heard it and had to
wait that long for the said money. For the moment that was my only agenda in
visiting career shipping and I still have one more agenda left. Late at night I
received a phone call coming "Gilda" from the visa counter of career,
she informed me that I had to report back to career at 11am to be informed
about my Dutch visa.
The
Following day, I went back to career to find out the real score on why
"Gilda" called, As expected when I reached the VISA counter.
"GILDA" mentioned that I had to get my SCHENGEN Visa (Dutch) to the
Netherlands Embassy in Paseo Roxas Street, Makati and while I'm at it -I'd try
also to retrieve 12 other passports that have a SCHENGEN VISA.
Since I
lack the money to get to that place I decided to walk from Evangelista Makati
all the way to Paseo De Roxas Makati. Good thing though that I had already
anticipated this scenario yesterday and had already prepared 3 spare t-shirts
and 2 litres of water on my bag along with a Street map of Metro Manila, so
walking wont be a problem. I headed north until I reached Dusit Hotel inside
makati and headed northward again till I reach Makati Shangrila hotel and
Manila Peninsula Hotel, It was a landmark and it indicated I was walking on the
right direction on the map I had. Unfortunately the underpass has no direct
walkway going to Paseo De Roxas Street, So I had to turn left (Westward) to
ayala avenue and walk my way there till I reach the west end of Paseo de Roxas
Street. Good thing that Ayala avenue underpass has a direct walkway there, When
I reached Paseo De Roxas Street I asked the security guard on McDonalds for
directions, I stopped there for a few minutes and changed some dry clothes in
the comfort room and took a quick snack. Afterwards I headed north east of the
street till I reached (or saw ) equiptable PCI tower were the Dutch embassy was
located on its 26th floor. Once there I gave the claim letter "Glida"
gave me earlier to the security guard and the guard told me to wait.
During my
wait, I could describe that the Dutch embassy isn't "Flashy" and
large as that of the US embassy. It was just simply a small office on the 26th
floor of a building with a few people working in it. After two hours , My name
was called by the receptionist and was asked if I had any other I'D with me. I
replied I only had my old Seaman's Book and my passport is part of the batch
that I'm going to retrieve. She said if that was the case then that wont be a
problem. Minutes later she put all the 13 passports on the security box and it
opened for me to get it. Didn't knew that the 13 passports aren't exactly 13 at
all and I was surprised to see that this was a ton of document passports I had
to carry back. I put them all in my backpack bag and took the elevator headed
for the ground floor then got outside and headed back to Career Shipping
Office. Didn’t had any problems walking my way back and it was no longer time
pressure, just re traced my step earlier and at 3pm I was already the shipping
office. There I changed clothes again to
something dry, and the went ahead to the VISA counter. I gave "GILDA"
the passports and see said if I knew the details about my SCHENGEN, I replied
that I didn't paid any attention to it. She took a look on my passport and said
that the VISA I got from SCHENGEN is good for 5 years this time and it's a
multiple entry visa which meant that my Visa is not only limited to Netherlands
entry but can be used also to other countries in the European union, She said
that if I'm going to join or disembark anywhere on European Union Member
countries like France, Italy , Spain , Portugal etc. SCHENGEN visa is valid and
recognized.
 |
| My actual U.S. Transit Visa CD-1 |
In other
words "Gilda" said that my visa is upgraded and can be used
(European) Continent Wide. Deep inside I was relieved and happy that
Career Shipping gave me this opportunity.
Before I
left Career office and call it a day, "Gilda" said to me that I
should be on stand by and that next time career will call back , They will gave
me a direct order to pack up and get ready to work onboard.
 |
| My newly upgraded Multiple entry schengen Visa (dutch / european union visa) courtesy of career shipping office . Good for 5 years |
THE UPGRADE AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Career
has been very generous and kind on me, Not only did they promoted me from Deck
Cadet to Ordinary Seaman but they did a lot of tinkering and upgrading on my
documents. I had a lot to thank for them for giving me a US Visa and upgrading
my SCHENGEN Visa as well, In addition they gave me also a Marshal Islands
Seaman's Book and on top of that they put me into a lot of benefits by signing
me up into AMOSUP TCCC rate. I only asked for career to take me in, but they
gave me so much more.
Looking
back I can't help but sometimes compare my Old life in Seacap and My new life
in Career.
To
be honest despite Seacap telling me that they treat their employee's like a
family, I was never once treated like one, I originally came from seacap
however due tp unfortunate events that I wrote . Funny right ?! Which family
will I consider the one who turned me
down or the one who took me in.
