SWITCHING ROADS

A day after completing and upgrading my SRC, I received an SMS from my the shipping company informing me of a sudden change of schedule , and departure time. Puzzled I sorted it out and found that the schedule for departure in Cape Bari will be the last week of May 2014. No big deal on end and that I could use some spare time in finishing off my pending medical situation.

Thursday went by and my sister urged me to go to the local dental clinic to have my tooth cavities patch up. We went to Dr. Ponti a well-known dentist here in Marikina and upon visiting and a rough estimate on how many teeth exactly I had cavities with (which ended on a total count of 11 tooths, instead of one three). Not surprisingly the cost of all the repair plus cleaning ended up on about 6,700 PHP (Philippine Pesos) , a very costly repair which I only estimated earlier to be just at least 2,500 PHP or less.

Before being put on the dentist chair, I asked my sister seriously if she has enough money for the repairs , she replied I shouldn't worry on it and she'd take care of it. I didn’t asked anymore and was assured that my sister has already figured it all out. The repairs was a long and tedious , but despite the long repair - it was painless and bloodless , didn’t have any trouble with it whatsoever.

My Medical Results, Fit as a horse !

The following day, since my teeth has been fully repaired I decided to drop by to the maritime medical clinic to verify the results of the repair and have me cleared on my medical. It only took less than 30 seconds on the dentist there to check my mouth and sign the paper, after finishing with that I proceeded next to the X-ray room as there was minor problem that showed up on the findings. After successfully sorting it out , I was back again on the road and headed to the career shipping office just to finish off a few paper works needed. Everything was doing fine until I saw the list of my would be co-workers on the computer screen , Much to my disgusts and horror I saw on the list the name AMICAN, ZACARIAS DELA TORRE which brought an infamous sound on my head. This was the notorious BOSUN whom I was having problem with back in Cape Tallin,

Never was happy to see his name on the list and said to myself that I don’t like to endure again another 9 to 10 months with him around on another ship - I just simply had enough on that guy. During the lunch break I was in the nearby McDonalds store thinking of any excuse I could think of just to get rid of him, Then it hit me. I thought why couldn’t I just make an excuse about my dad's present situation and tell captain galang that I'd be transferring of another ship line up. It's not a sure guarantee but on the very least I won't be in Cape Bari with that asshole.

As soon as lunch time was over I did not hesitate to go to Captain Galang's office and ask if I could shift to another line up. Without any further questions he said it's not a problem and said he's going to put me to Conti Greenland , In addition so Captain Galang would not suspect anything about my real intention is that I mention my dad's current condition as an excuse, It was a good cover story and sold well in captain galang's ear, he checked his computer briefly ans saw my profile, I was even surprised to hear from him that the remarks I got on my previous ship was very positive (turns out the remarks says that I was recommended for promotion as A.B.) I easily accomplished my objective without any suspicion at all , he just simply went to Mr. Nidoy to confirm my reassignment to another ship and that's it.

Seriously I have nothing personal against going to Cape Bari ship, However it’s the people whom I'm going inside on that ship that worries me. I just simply can't stand going in back on ship board work and working alongside with my enemies. I already had serious trouble getting rid of Zacarias Amican for the rest of 9 months I was in Cape Tallin and don’t want to go to another gruelling 9 months with him on Cape Bari. He was a real threat on board during my time in cape tallin and I would estimate that he will continue to be a serious threat on my existence if I took the offer in working on cape tallin. As I wrote on my previous entries on my journal , the threat was so serious that even my development of effective tools (and equipment) that I use on work was being threaten.  Its either that he puts us all the excuses he can throw out in forbidding me using those tool (and some extent even taking advantage on his job position as BOSUN)or you see him using a same version of my equipment as if like he's competing me of some sort.

Anyway good riddance !!! Now I'm going to be reassigned in Conti Greenland and him out of the way , I'm sure that working there on the new reassigned ship will have no problems at all (assuming that I don’t encounter a much more sinister crew there) and best estimate is that I'd thrive there, maybe even perhaps get a promotion there as an A.B. , an objective that I couldn't achieve if Zacarias Amican would be around. 

It was my best interest to be reassigned , it better that way and I don’t mind if my deployment will be as far as June rather than suffer yet another grim 9 months on the hands with my enemies. It's better that way , I'm ok with that.

Late at night it was confirmed to me via SMS message that my reassignment to Conti Greenland was accepted.

Name:	Conti Greenland
IMO:	9391397
Flag:	Liberia
MMSI:	636091621
Callsign:	A8QM9

 Vessel type:Oil/chemical TankerGross

 tonnage:23,403 tonsSummer 

DWT:37,606 '

tonsLength:185 

mBeam:28 

mDraught:7.3 m

Home port:	Monrovia
Class society:	Germanischer Lloyd
Build year:	2008
Builder (*):	Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Ulsan, South Korea
Owner:	Nsb Niederelbe Buxtehude, Germany
Manager:	Nsb Niederelbe Buxtehude, Germany

SRC UPGRADE

Total chaos as expected inside POEA, by the time I arrived there literary a hundred people flocking the whole compound to conduct their daily affairs related to overseas employment. 

 

Sadly there are a lot of changes in POEA compared to the last time I had been here a few years ago. The POEA is much more chaotic and disorganized now, worst is that the instant "one stop" shop they brag about a few years ago has been disbanded (booths that process all documents needed like , NSO , DFA, TESDA, PRC, MARINA, NTC, NBI, ). Aside from that they're no longer issuing the quarterly publication on the list of licensed maritime companies.

 

Anyway I'm here to get my SRC card here and according to the application form I got I'm scheduled here at 1pm to apply for that card. While I was waiting in the PAGIBIG waiting area, waiting. The Security guard called out and announced on the mega phone that they prioritize first MAAP graduates and they get to be out on front first in the waiting line (even though they arrived very late), A bit insulting not only me but to other people who arrived earlier.

 

Geez never knew that those pampered bitchy little girls get the special kind of treatment even on this government agency, I don't understand what makes them so different and special than the rest of us grunts standing here ? . Anyway that's the way here in the Philippines (specifically in the maritime industry), It's based on social status - not the law.

 

No big deal on me , just have to live with that part. Anyway The first step in applying for that card is of course get the application form from the security guard on the information area, which I had done a few days ago. Next step is get the requirements, I can't remember exactly the documents needed for first time applicant's and it's been years passed since renewed my SRC card but what I can only tell for now is the documents needed for the "Upgrading and Renewal" of old timers like myself. The documents needed are these only, the rest listed on the back of the said form are none essential.

 

Application Form

Passport size ID picture

Old SRC card

Seaman's Book

50 Philippine pesos

 

I only presented these at the SRC counter located at the mezziene floor and the guy at the counter told me to pay the 50 pesos fee at the fifth floor and then go back here. After paying the fee at that fifth floor , I was told again by another guy on the counter to wait at the PAGIBIG waiting area at around 3pm for the releasing. After waiting an hour the security guard called out queue numbers and I went back again on the mezziene floor and got my card there along with my Seaman's book.

 

When I got the card , I took a good look at it and noticed that there's nothing special on this SRC card, it's appearance didn't even changed at all during these years , It's just a piece of paper indicating a sailors registry number and its new rank. The same paper card I got years ago.

 

Once that I had finished my business in the SRC , I went on the extra mile in settling out my PAGIBIG number (housing loan thing). A year ago I had already registered my tracking number online, and now aside from having an online number , Career now requires me to get an actual card number from PAGIBIG itself.  Anyway I got my PAGIBIG card very easily, I just told the guard in the PAGIBIG office about my tracking number and after a few minutes he presented me a card. 

 

Finished all my agenda's in POEA In a single day and that wraps up my latest business on that place, My next objective will be this

 

Submit SRC card, and other Documents to career shipping

Finish the dental repairs ,and go back to the medical clinic.

Get the COP certificate at PNTI school

 

FULLY BOOKED

usual routine medical test , answer honestly the HIV / STD test 

Routine medical examinations in Maritime Medical laboratory clinic proceeded as scheduled and with little problem (only Dental and possibly X-Ray as the main challenge). It took me only half a day to finish all the 5 Medical exam stages ,which included Audio, Optical, Laboratory (blood chemical), X-ray and ECG, Physical, Drug test and Psychological test. I'm glad that my stool sample is no longer needed on the laboratory test , So I just threw my "shit cup" on the trash bin.

Apparently according to the attending dentist that checked my teeth the cost of the entire dental repairs will be as much as 2,400 PHP and that even excludes the dental cleaning that will follow. The cost of the repairs is very high and I'm not exactly sure if having it repaired on the said clinic will persue , For now the only remedy solution I could think of is have my teeth repaired on a local government hospital and get a Medical certificate there.

For the record, the repair form given to me says I need to have dental fillings on three carries and some cleaning. As for the X-ray issue , I was told by the med tech that my current Chest X-ray result will be made in comparison with the previous medical X-ray they have on their database and submitting a previous chest X-ray plate I had will no longer be necessary.

SRC application form in POEA

As of the moment my medical is still pending as of now.

Late at night , I was given by my sister some money to cover up a few expenses that will be needed for the latter.

On the following day. I left the house very early to update my SRC (seafarers registration card ) at POEA office in Ortigas. Arriving early I asked the security guard at the information booth there on where I could  update my card, The security guard prompt just gave me a paper application form and said that I have to go back again on May 5 in the afternoon to have my application form be processed. I took the form before the security guard changes his mind and did ask any further on why the hell why I have to wait for a couple of days more for just a piece of paper. As I read on the back of the form SRC cost only as little as 50 PHP and I only have to present a few original documents which includes my Seaman's Book , Passport and a 1 x 1 picture

Didn't stayed in POEA that long and went to Career Ship management office in Evangelista office located in Makati Edsa to ask if I can borrow my passport from the office (from what I read on the form, a passport is needed to update SRC). The lady on the counter said that my passport is no longer needed and assured me that my seaman's book is enough to update my SRC. I do hope on what she says is true cause I have a nasty impression that most staff in Career are a bunch of big fucking liars who set the wrong expectations on people like what just happened a year ago about the wrong airport terminal (telling us its terminal 1 instead or terminal 3).  Anyway her words will be tested on May 5 and see if its correct,

Just chilling out on the local mall after the POEA visit

SRC requirements for new and "Upgrading" ratings

BACK AGAIN TO ACTION

Things have made a different turn of events, and it seems that things are getting close for me. Currently I'm trying to scrape off every resource money I could get my hands on and things are not going well on that plan of mine, Apparently on the part of the "Human Fallibility" issue on were they're not paying their debts back.

 

For the moment, there's a possibility that my stay here in the Philippines will be prolonged for another month, given that dad's operation is scheduled somewhere on the third week of May (way far too long than initially intended). Worst part is that dad is going to be confined earlier and at least two weeks before his said operation, I'm not exactly sure if we do have both the manpower to maintain daily task here at home and at the hospital.

 

Another problem that resurfaced is the pressure coming in from my current shipping company telling me to report soon and take the medical exam ASAP. I'd report back as soon as I can and will fix the remaining document (SRC card) on POEA along the way. Currently The only thing holding me back on accomplishing this is  my problems with the money. I guess it will be best that I should leave everything behind. As for my planned licensure examination, apparently this is going to be put on hold again for several years, I wasn't planning that it will be put on hold but the circumstances showed that it would be unwise to take the examinations now because of financial constraints - and I never foresaw that this would be my case now. Maybe I'm to be blame on the money management part.

 

In other news ….

 

Due to dog related issues which my sister pet shiatsu is constantly chewing off power cords from my electronic equipment , I had finally decided to move all my equipment downstairs to prevent any further damage from her dogs. I'd had to take this steps to make sure that those dogs stay out of my PC's power cords - PERMANENTLY !

 

Anyway speaking of equipment .

 

All of the necessary programs needed on both of my computers have already been loaded up and ready, all of the multimedia files have been loaded and are get to go on both HP and LG PC. I already have enough stored multimedia file here on my laptop to last the whole duration of my trip , As for my working equipment, I had already fitted and finished the spare special coveralls I'd be bringing along for the trip. In addition all of the essential medicines and special equipment have already been put on my check-in luggage's, although it's not 100 percent that all needed equipment's have been bought , I could at least say that I had achieved at least 92 percent objective on the equipment's needed.

 

In other news

 

As predicted the moment I started reporting to Career shipping , the process of being deployed early went on a very fast rate. I reported to career shipping last Friday April 25th and had no problems , and it was convenient that "Mr. Nidoy" was the person who debriefed me and not "Mr Ho" - as he is more friendlier. We just exchanged a few words about the briefing and told me that I should get a recommendation on promotion at least on this voyage and the next to be promoted as an A.B. , After that he dismissed me and said that he's going to put me to Captain Galang's Office

 

Once inside Captain Galang didn't mention anything on me except the part on which medical Clinic I would prefer to go on medical, I mentioned first is physicians clinic but Captain Galang said that it would be more convenient if I should go to maritime medical clinic instead. That was the only thing that captain galang mentioned and "Mr Nidoy" then said that my papers will be forwarded to the medical department and I should wait my name to be called there.

 

Was waiting on the medical counter when unexpectedly I saw Mess man Ferdinand , waiting also on the medical counter as well.  Had a small talk with him and found out that the mess man who replaced him at Cape Tallin met a nasty accident 5 days after we left and was sent home, From what I heard the new mess man fell from the provision crane all the way down to the provision store and suffered a nasty horrible internal bleeding. Aside from that I heard the O.S. Xerxes Hall is back again re-applying in the company office , apparently from what I heard on Ferdi , O.S. Hall met an accident on board and just got out of the hospital. Honestly I don't give a shit on what happened on O.S. Hall , never liked the guy during my time in cape tallin and was definitely a vicious blabber mouth.

 

As for ferdi I heard from him that he's having problems on the medical , I didn't specifically on what it was but I think it's just a minor issue. Left ferdi after the small talk and went to the medical counter to get my slip. The schedule I got was on the 29th of April, Tuesday

OFFICIALLY BROKE

Congratulations  !!! After being here in the Philippines for more than a month, I am now officially broke (though technically I'm not). It may seemed to be all of a sudden that I have spent 70 thousand pesos in just roughly half a month but money goes really fast these days if I'm not careful in spending it wisely - well I did spent it wisely for the most part and that technically I still have at least more than 20 thousand pesos in savings (which unfortunately I couldn't use at the moment given that I lend it to my younger sister). In spite of this , believe it or not I am happy that I am broke compare to the time when I have all the money and working at sea.

 

For the moment , The only thing that is holding me back in being at sea again is the licensure examinations. I'm still very much hell bent committed in taking that exam and getting that piece of plastic card as much as possible, That card for me is vital and is the key to my retirement on this god forsaken , god awful shitty maritime industry. Lest I don't get it soon , lest I can't retire early and have to bear with it.

 

Yes it is true that's my real intention on why I want to get a license, contrary to some people that they get their license to "expand" their career in being a sailor, mine is that I want to get a license to end my career once and for all. I figured that the plastic card is the key to my retirement and my only ticket out of this.  I want to get the license and end my career as a sailor for all the right reasons.

 

They say being an active and practicing sailor is a blessing (and sort of a gift) given that there are so many student Filipino sailors who really want a piece of sea life on board but are never given a chance at all, They say I'm lucky that I made it in becoming a full fledge sailor. - well I beg to disagree on what they say , for me this is a curse - a nightmare, this so called blessing and gift - they can have it back and I want no part of it !

 

In the meantime while I'm still struggling to get a license , I just have to endure more of this enchilada.

 

For the moment this is my objectives for next week , after this holy week

 

*Get SRC card from POEA

*Get TOR records from previous school.

*Get NAC Certificate from PNTI

*Get AMOSUP ID card in intramurous manila

 

Optional objectives

*Get NBI Clearance Certificate

*Get PEME medical certificate

*Pass application form for exam in PRC

IT'S BEEN A WHILE

Finished up my latest business on my seafaring career, and just finally got another copy of my transcript of records that will be released on the 25th of April - No thanks to my beloved School PMI colleges . Wasn't really hard in getting one really just simply have an affidavit of loss and four hundred pesos and that’s it.

I went there at about 1pm on Monday and immediately proceeded on the registrar room now relocated at the new building of PMI campus and prepared my affidavit of loss along with my old seaman's book as an I.D. , I didn't wait too long on the line in the registrar and when I came up I was asked by the staff on which date did I made my TOR (transcript of records) a BS. I said I couldn’t remember the exact date but only the year which is 2012. It only took her a couple of minutes to check on the school records before calling me back and giving me instructions to fill out the form and go to the accounting office for payment.

Went to the accounting office in the above floor and payed 380 PHP for the recopy of my TOR, then went back to the registrar and gave the receipt, the staff told me that my TOR will be released by 25th of this march and gave me an office number and said to call up this number if I'm in doubt of the release date.

ITS BEEN A WHILE

2012 was my last visit with this school, and back then , I recall that my school was in trouble over some licensing issues with the education department and to make it worse. One of the three buildings on my campus literary burned down, and it was the main building (the largest of the three) that caught fire. The two things that happened was a big blow on the school and sent a thousand students fleeing and enrolling on nearby maritime school.

During that time if I remember the school even inaugurated the newly built simulator room a month before the fire broke out. Sadly all that remains now of the room is just dust and ash 

Two years later, There isn't much change going on in PMI - But I think little by little it's starting to recover. The Main building is still burned out and abandon but maybe someday it might be rebuilt.

THE GREEN LOGO

      Haven't you noticed how star bucks has taken the place of megamalls , theme parks and fast food chains ? .today star bucks spells gimmick .Suddenly everyone is mad about coffee and is willing to spend a whoing hundered bucks for one tall mocha frappe or one Grande iced coffee , everyone claims its different, its something to die for .Instead of catching a nice flick at the cinema, the Filipinos new idea of fun is to voluntarily park their buns at the cafe shop and gulp all the caffeine they can muster. No one knows exactly why star bucks has become the hot spot , when what they serve is just a foamed version of cheap coffee you buy over a typical grocery store for crying out loud .Oh try pointing this out to star bucks fanatics here and you can expect getting lambasted-to-

death on how little you know about coffee .get ready with the answers like "duh! star bucks isnt just coffee ! they're ground beans and processed chocolate and skimmed milk !what do you know about that?"

    

 They have a point there , though because even in the united states ,when you talk about coffee ,star bucks comes first ,their ingredients are never questionable and if I'm not mistaken star bucks is an established -since-year-brand. In short star bucks is the authority .But it ends there .Star bucks is coffee PERIOD. Certainly not the gimmick place to hangout with of some sort , not convincing enough as an alternative for the mall .this I repeat is the case in the united states.

      But star bucks invades manila and here it becomes an obsession. As you may have already seen, The interiors of star bucks cafes are all designed to create a distinct ambience .Notice the Italian-tiled flooring, to the cowboy-motif wall covering , to fancy shmancy lamps, tables and chairs crafted like those only seen in home magazines .of course who would have missed the complicated bar counter , behind which all the grinders and blenders are displayed as if to remind you they really do process your cappucino .

Me and Starbucks

    

 I mean who can resist frequenting a posh place like this ? Instead of worrying about other important things , The typical Fashionista wannabe teenage Filipino puts on her best dress , and with her fashionista friends goes straight to star bucks where she orders "one tall caramel frappe please!" This takes time to prepare , which is fine to her , she feels rewarded by the fact that the ethical barista would shout her name all across the room by the time her frappe is ready.After she claims it,she heads for the self-service corner where she takes excessive packets of extra sugar ,extra cream, an inch thick of starbucks tissue paper for her souvenir. Then she sits by the front window ,hoping someone she knows would pass by and see her drinking expensive coffee .She takes remarkably small sips in order to prolong her stay , like a real smart-ass

    

 During the entire process there is the obligatory flipping and flaunting of her nokia cellphone ,the constant eruptions of "YEAH" and "sure" here and there .You get the impression everyone in the room, is from the elite society Sector. Pathetic as it is , the Starbucks atmosphere is so contagious that it simply brings out the social climber and hypocrite in one .

    

 You have to admit that the philippine franchiser of starbucks-whoever he is- deserves credit. He's certainly not stupid and sees through us filipinos and definitely knows how to flatter us .Mr Starbucks is aware of the average filipino desire to be associated and considered among the elite because well, in reality , the average filipino is far being that .The average filipino home is less attractive that a place like starbucks, the average filipino meal is without garnishes. The average filipino environment is less comforting and convenient than the service of starbucks. But when inside Starbucks , the average Filipino is instantly made to feel hes in new York , or las Vegas or Paris or anywhere else but in manila - one probable reason why we Filipinos buy this flick .we are total suckers for anything that is western in concept .but Starbucks has gone beyond colonial mentality ;It has become a pure escapism It helps us forget about the harsh realities in life like poverty and chaos , anything that offers oblivion and temporary indulgence sells fast no matter how costly it is.

   

  With their little creativity in repackaging. The Starbucks concept is no longer just coffee , its already a religion in which we Filipinos practically worship that green logo .It is from us The promise of Starbucks very payday 

DOWN TO 5K AND STILL DROPPING

As for the moment things are not going pretty well on my vacation, and within a short span of a month I am having now difficulties in managing my remaining money left. What's worse is that I'm not exactly sure if I can keep the commitment of taking a licensure exam.  Can't really imagine that I had blown off 70k of my leave pay within only less than a month but despite that I had no regrets in spending that money since I used it for the greater good like buying much needed equipment for my next work onboard a ship and repairing some things on the house.

Marina Requirements for COP

Anyway Shortly after my BTU / BTR seminar, I came afterwards on my next objective "The SDSD" seminar. Which I took on march 31st , the SDSD seminar was a totally big joke and I even wonder why this is required at all in the first place. Anyway the good thing that came up during the seminar was that I found out some info on which medical centre I would take the basic PEME for the COP and that getting a COP itself was not that difficult in acquiring compared to the old days ( has no "Assessment" at all) ,simply just file up the documents needed and submit it either on MARINA or on any respective maritime training centre and pay the fee - that's all.

For me , I don't want to go to the trouble of waking up early in the morning and go to marina - so I opt instead to file my COP documents to PNTI, Unfortunately for me PNTI takes about roughly 30 to 40 working days of processing my COP before I could get it (equivalent to our calendar to about two months) , Fortunately I'm not in the hurry nor rushing things .

I guess everything has its downside on those two options available for the COP, I could process it the hard way in MARINA and have it done within 15 days or Process it in PNTI the easy way but sacrifice waiting for almost two months.

In the meantime while I'm waiting for my COP to be released , My latest assignment for now is doing these three objectives.

A.Get a copy of my academic records in my school (for future enrolment in marine engineering course in college, scheduled somewhere on 2015)

B.Renew my SRC card from POEA Office (required and imperative, will be visiting on the latter)

C.Take the Licensure Examination (requires NBI clearance certificate and medical clearance certificate)

COP NAC Room of PNTI

In the meantime while I was busy accomplishing this objective I was preoccupied on other matters on my house, such as my dad was recently hospitalized over breaking his leg bone when he fell off a bike. It was our best decision to put him in the hospital to see what have happened to him since he was already having a nasty fever and chill on the third day after his accident. At first our rough estimate that it was just a dislocated socket , but apparently the x-ray showed a different story and it was much worse. From the looks on the X-ray my dad's bone was totally broken off , (closed facture in medical terms) just a few centimetres off from the hip socket .

Aside from that I was also downloading a lot of entertainment media and storing it on my new HP computer, most of my downloads are documentary videos coming from the history channel and nation geographic channel. I downloaded  those videos using the YouTube downloader program I installed on my LG pc, Aside from that I'm doing modifications on some equipment that I will bring along during my next trip. I have already repaired the safety helmet I will use plus  I'm nearly close in finishing the modified spare coveralls that would be needed.

 For the moment I could say that 90% of the equipment that I will be needing is already completed and I'm already set for the go, the only thing I would worry about now is the weight limitation of 20 kilograms each on both my luggage. Probably my next shipboard work will be the heaviest luggage I'd be bringing along for my onsigning.

PROPOSED EQUIPMENT LINE UP

For the general information on the public , I would be carrying two check in luggage bags and one hand carried back pack. One bag will carry all the equipment I need for ship work , while the other will be carrying all my civilian clothes plus some reserve *support* equipment for the first bag. The back pack that will carry is exclusively limited only for documents and electronic stuff like computers , tablets , cell phone and the like, plus an extra t-shirt, underwear, socks and shorts.

My Dads Injuries (both Internal and external ), X-Ray shows broken bones , eternal is shown above

BASIC TRAINING GALORE

Taken during our fire fighting exercise on the seminar, Im on the far right side in the picture

Updating my documents have already started , I hope I accomplish it soon. First off i found out that BTR / BTU seminar is just only good for two years and will only serve as a remedy to the near obsolete SOLAS / BST certificate that i had. In other words i will unfortunately will take another full course seminar of BT (basic training and successor name of SOLAS / BST) within two years time after this. Now the big question is i should have taken the full course instead rather than op on this.

The BTU seminar started at around 27th Thursday march, The first day was mostly lectures , not that thing that should be taken seriously. I nearly got late though given that i overslept on downloading too many PC games in torrents.

During i was at the training centre in PNTI when i accidentally saw one of my enemies onboard cape tallin , it was "Bull Frog" . It was no big deal though and just snobbed him, were not friends and there's no reason why i should greet him - i can be as bad as i want here on land and I'm not holding back, Anyway going back the first day was very quick nothing more than just plain old school lectures.

The following day of BTU training as this is the actual field training, I arrived early in the morning as the training facility is located in Dasmarinias, cavite and they had a bus waiting in the intramurous campus to take us there. When we arrived the training lectures proceeded very poorly and slowly given that there are at least 300 plus trainees cramming on the training facility, It only picked up the pace at around 10am when we were divided into two groups. One group would go on the swimming pool and received the basic swimming training while the other group would get to have the fire fighting training first.

Before we went to the pool first , my team mates were on some sort of activity called "Smoke Diving" which i understood that we would be going on a small pitch dark room filled with smoke and that we have to make our way out of it. For short we looked more like rats in a maze on that activity. During that activity one of the other teams ahead of us screwed up and thought that were going to "climb" out of the said maze, now the instructor outside the maze , apparently noticed that were taking a while to get out , he went inside and was surprised to saw one of my teams mates actually climbing out of the maze. The instructor shouted "What the hell are you doing over there !! , you're not going to climb out of the maze and this is the exit" . Embarrassed the trainee got down and went to the direction of the exit.

The rest of us ended up giggling when we exited the maze , thinking why the hell would be our teams be climbing the wall

Shorty after I was put on to the first group that would be taking a dip on the swimming pool, wasn't a big deal in jumping on a platform two stories high and landing on the pool, my biggest problem was after the jump ( apparently I'm not a good swimmer ) and some of the life jackets of the training centre are badly worn out which make me wonder if they're reliable on the water.

Made a quick jump and just have to remember to keep my eyes closed so that any fear of heights would be in check. Some of my co-trainee's had problems with this and was very nervous, The next phase as the basic swimming - despite having difficulty in swimming , i never had any problems completing the task - Good thing i had a life jacket on.

Next after the pool was the fire fighting training..

Training was completed the same day at around 1 to 2pm the same day.

The following day was back again to the old school lecture class, The lectures wasn't really that serious and was pointless , since we already knew from the start on what the instructor is lecturing about.

On Saturday , I enrolled for the SDSD lecture seminar for Monday and scouted some areas in kalaw street area to find a training centre that offers a much cheaper cost on seminars, and found a few note worthy candidates , one is MARITAS Training center.

I have no idea why some of my co-trainees have a bad feeling on jumping from a platform and landing on to a swimming pool , Well on my part I'm not scared - just tired on doing the same old shit

HUMOUR OF LIFE AND ALL ITS IRONY

Been here for two weeks now and yet , i still haven't fully adjusted to my surroundings - worse I'm more restless than ever knowing that my deployment back at sea would be much sooner than i actually expect. I was thinking in mind that my vacation would be at least 4 months minimum here and i could easily rebuild and pick up some agenda's that i left behind before going back again. Seriously I find it strange that CSM is giving less priorities to people who are very anxious in going back to work at sea than sailors who are unwilling and plan to stay longer on land. I cant really enjoy my vacation if CSM keeps pressuring me to back to work when in fact i should be staying home for a vacation.

In the meantime i went early in the morning to Career Ship management to get the pay check for my leave pay since I'm going to use the money on a lot of things, well mostly for the remaining supplies that I'd be needing and to cover the cost of the remaining seminar lectures that I'd be needing for the latter.

For some reason i find it doubtful why i even have to take this seminars at all in the first place. However who am i to question such a policy and for all i know - all Filipino sailors will be expecting this kind of make over on 2017 , and their training certificates that dated 2013 and below will be nothing more than just toilet paper to wipe off asses.

I woke up very early to prepare but i left the house late given that i was stalled by my mom's mental health condition for a few hours. I just simple wouldn't leave the house without assuring that mom will be ok and wont go "Beserk" while I'm gone. When i reached Career I quickly went to the accounting booth and pulled out my the check list "Teri" gave me along with my seaman's book I'd. The counter said there's no need to pull it out , she only need's the serial number of my passport document.

While i was searching if i do have at least a passport photocopy left on my bag, I was approached by an O.S. Who happens to previously worked on "Dale" ship. He saw my application form and was surprise to see  it that i came from Cape Tallin, He introduced himself that he said was supposedly be assigned on that ship but on the last minute was put up on "Dale" , replied and said that I'm also assigned on "dale" but was later changed to cape tallin on the last minutes. I had a few small talk with him, not the friendly conversation but simple professional kind.

Few minutes later , the accountant handed me a cheque and it was written that my leave pay amounts to 70 thousand pesos . The cash out of the cheques is in a bank in ermita manila called PhilTrust bank. Figuring out that cheques cannot be encashed without proper identification documents , i decided to go to the reporting to borrow my seaman's book from the company before proceeding to the bank.

At first i plan to go back to my house and call it a day , but i figured its still about 10am and i got a whole lot of time to finish en cashing those cheque. However I saw that the only money left on my wallet at that time is just 20 PHP, if i plan to en cash this cheque and failed m it would be a very very long walk from home (walking from Ermita manila to marikina ain't no joke). In the end i decided it as worth the risk, and this isnt the first time that i had walked on long distance before. To save money i walked southward until i reached LRT taft station then boarded a jeep and dropped off at NBI building in ermita.

Had a difficult time locating Philtrust Bank and the only thing i was sure of is that this bank is located somewhere in maria orosa street, and had to check google maps o where exactly it was located (good thing i had my android tablet with me and my pocket wifi device) . When i browsed the Google map i found it was near Kalaw street and quite a walk from my location,

The Google maps was very useful and that  it gave me at least a hint on where the hell it was located.

Never had a serious trouble encashing the 70 thousand pesos on my leave pay though the bank teller did scolded me for only bringing only a single valid ID document. I hurriedly went to go back home given that carrying 70 thousand pesos in my backpack and walking the streets of quiapo recto is a very bad idea (the place is crawling with pick picketers' , thugs and robbers).

The next few days , i spent some of the money buying equipment needed such as toiletries and "specialized" equipment. It took me some time to locate all the items i needed but it was worth it.  Oh yeah i bought along a "Phablet" as well , since its already scheduled that my corby phone will be retiring.

For the moment most of the money i got will be spent on my retraining and have already enrolled the BTU / BTR seminar at PNTI,. ( A seminar in which has only a life span of only to years) aside from that if i still have enough money , I'm going to pursue taking in an exam on this vacation. Cant miss that opportunity.

Enrollment and registration lobby of PNTI