Few days
went by just playing civilization 5 "brave new world" expansion game
on my PC, just to kill a few days off before reporting back to career shipping
last Wednesday May 14th, 2014 . Due to the limited money I had currently,
originally my only agenda at that day was to attend the accounting briefing and
had the accounting slip be signed by the accountant (which I accomplished
within two hours), But I figured that I still some spare time and I do wanted
to know what's
the deal behind the new "Marina COP" document . I do
know that it’s a replacement document for the TESDA C.O.C. (Certificate of
Competency) , but don’t exactly know the further details on what kind of
documents I'd be needing to get one. I went to the PRC / TESDA booth and asked
on how to get one , Mrs "Teri" wasn't around and the fat lady with
glasses gave me a small paper slip and told me that this is the document I'd be
needing , give it to her first and she'd return it back to me in a few minutes.
 |
| Character I use in Fallout new vegas |
Immediately
took out my Filo fax folder out of my bag that contains my documents ,
Unfortunately when I plucked out my folder some silvery blue colour packet just came out of my back pack and when
I took a closer look and to my embarrassment , it was a pack of condoms that
fell off my bag. Everybody saw it and
just told them that pretend they saw nothing. Anyway the conversation on PRC /
TESDA booth on my company ended up me knowing that I need to get it directly to
MARINA and there's no other alternative to it. Due to the lack of money I had
at that time It would be best I decided to postponed it until I got enough
money. In the meantime while I'm waiting to get the money , I just stayed on
the house and played Fallout New Vegas Videogame on my PC.
 |
| Having lunch with my college friends on the reunion, |
Joenar
Palomas has been successful in his sailing career and relatively has worked
without any problems as a ship officer. Rommer Banal on the other hand seems to
be having difficulties being a sailor, apparently because of his age. We
discussed on what happened to our other classmates during college, which most
of them have already had ship officers license and from the looks, it seems
that I'm a bit backward in progress but no big deal, I just wonder sometimes
that those folks who would cut class often are now successful in their career
as sailors, (makes me think that I should have done the same). I heard from my
friends that one of our classmates Nathan Calunod have proceeded in studying
law (Well from what I heard he became a sailor first then return to study law).
There's also some news that one of our classmates have died on an accident in
work though it's not confirmed if "Pragmac" really died.
We
discussed on what happened to our fellow Yérs as well (The school club we
joined during college). From what I learned on the intrigue is that Mike Cuba
has recently converted to Islam while working in Dubai , which puzzles me a lot
- given that Mike Cuba is a devout religious Christian guy during our college
years. Never occur to my head that he'd be a Muslim one day and if there was a
last person on my list that would convert into a Muslim , Mike Cuba would
definitely fit in on the last person on my list. Anyway I'm not exactly sure
what's the real deal why he converted to a Muslim either it could be for
practical reasons (being a Christian on a Muslim land is big misfit, and better
sign up as a follower of the Koran for the time being to avoid trouble )or
because of influence ( Some smart ass Muslim guy practically brainwashed him
and decided he should sign up for Allah ). Other Yérs like Che Manalo ,
"Arnie" , Jack Delos Reyes - had been happily married to their
respective husbands and had kids.
On our get
together, Joenar mentioned our zany professors like the bald Captain Penera and
Chief Mate Chua (an instructor who has a terrible hearing problem and wears a
hearing aid on class). Our mini reunion was really interesting on the fact that
I was saying things as a sailor in a "Ratings" perception while
Joenar Palomas was saying a lot of stuff that was in a "Ship
Officer's" perspective. I would say things that is very different on
Joenar's look of things such for example on how we ratings treat each other
during on and off work, Somehow he could sense my disgust over Filipino
visayans (ethnic Filipino's living south) though I did not point it
directly. I just kept those opinions to
myself and to this journal.
(public service announcement here !!)Remember
children when the Visayans come there ain't no shame in locking your doors,
barricading your windows and cowering on your cabin beds. When this psycho's
come to play, they have one thing on their minds - making your life as fucking
miserable as humanly possible. Visayans CAN'T BE BARGAINED - OR REASON WITH and
aint no use in surrendering, cause they just maltreat you anyway. So run , hide
or fight if you got the balls or the weapons but for god's sake don't go
waiving the white flag, they just strangle you with it.
Anyway It's
really wonderful that my closest friends in college are still doing well after
all these years. There are is so much surprise among them, maybe who knows
after a few years' time again , there would be more improvements. We bid
farewell to each other, and maybe we'd to have a mini reunion in a couple of
years again.
In other
matters ….
After
nearly two weeks of waiting, I finally got the money I requested from my sister
and hopefully I could now proceed in getting and renewing my MARINA COP
certificate. I'm not exactly sure on how much this piece of paper cost, but I'm sure that my sister gave me enough
resources to cover the cost for this.
In early
preparation, I had these documents photocopied in two sets. Record pages of my
seaman's book , My sea service certificate from my previous company and current
one, My old Certificate of competency from TESDA, NAC certificate of PSCRB
(Personal Survival Craft and Rescue Boat certificate). I Had it photocopied a
day before I set off and went to MARINA.
As
anticipation that MARINA will provide a horrendous treatment to C.O.P.
applicants, I left home as early as 3:30 Am in the morning and reached MARINA
office in TM Kalaw street at 4:45 AM. (only stopping briefly during transit at
cubao area to take breakfast in a nearby 7-11 store). When I arrived it was not
a surprise to me that the line was already a long one this early in the
morning, just as what I saw in the local TV news months ago. I estimate that it
will take me awhile to accomplish my objectives.
MARINA
Office started letting people in at about 7am. It was gruesome applying for a
COP certificate and was never easy as the office was terribly overcrowded and I
literary have to wait 11 plus hours on the line just to get a chance on the
Booth and submit my documents, not to mention I was given a wrong application
form. I fell asleep a couple of times and woke up with still waiting for my
turn. The annoying fact was that I had spent more time waiting rather than the
actual submission and compiling of documents to the evaluator (which by the way
only took less than 30 minutes all in all). It was very noticeable that MARINA
is giving crappy public service to everyone, and I bet they're not going to
change (or even slightly improve) their shitty service anytime soon.  |
| The Agony of Waiting in MARINA |
Finished
the task at about 2:45pm. Since I figured that I still have some spare time , I
decided to drop by and check out Maritime Medical Laboratory for my Liberian
Medical certificate (to be used for Liberian seaman's book). It was only a 15
minute walk from MARINA , So it's very near. Unfortunately it wasn't a very
good experienced when I visited the place as the staff had me kept waiting
again for an hour and a half. I'm already tired , hungry and cranky at that
time and decided that I'd just call it a day and be heading home and let them
forward the med certificate to my agency , just as what like they did on my
Marshal Islands Med Certificate a year before. The staff says that’s its ok and
I dumped my med form there and let them finish the rest.
 |
| claim stub for the marina COP |
at about
4:30PM while I was walking my way to the nearest public transport waiting area
, all of a sudden it rained and lasted for about thirty minutes. Well I Don’t
have any issues with the rain but for some reason whenever it rains here in
Metro manila, shit happens after it and its followed by a heavy traffic jam. By
the time I rode a public transport, the traffic jam was so congested that it
will took another 30 minutes just to cross a 100 metre distance away from the
public transport stop. In other words it would be practical to walk rather than
ride a jeepney. Which resulted in me walking from SM Manila all the way to
Recto LRTA train station. Had no idea why here in the Philippines, a little
rain would always cause a serious traffic jam afterwards - GO FIGURE !!! Even
when I rode the LRTA train there was a serious congestion on the passengers as
well.
 |
| The picture i took during the aftermath of the short rain, Traffic congestion as expected |
In other
news
Financial
trouble keeps popping up every now and then and causes me to skip progress for
almost more than 2 weeks now. Without any delays and financial setbacks I could
have been ready in just a week or so on my documents and deployment on work. To
make it more complicated is that people who owe me money didn’t pay up, and I
became too trustful to their words. For the record the total money that has to
be returned to me amounts to almost as close 20,000 PHP. Anyway since there is
no possible way (nor assurance) to recover that amount of money I lend, I have
to consider that this money is totally lost and will definitely be stern when
it comes to money lending - In other words I
WON'T BE LENDING MONEY TO PEOPLE EVER.
Anyway
going back my progress have been very slow, and up to now I still have to
finish this task.
1.Recovery
of BTU / BTR COP
2.Recovery
of Marina COP (TESDA C.O.C.)
3.Acquire
Certified True Copy of Marina COP in M.A.R.I.N.A
4.Return to
Career the documents I had borrowed (Medical, SIRB, SRC)
5.Finish
Liberian Seaman's Book Requirement.
Hopefully
if there will be no more unnecessary delays, I could in the least finish this
by first week of June and that I had already secured getting a MARINA COP
(Primary objective) everything should be straight forward at that time. If all
goes well maybe I'd be deployed by this June.
( By the way just to keep the public informed. The
MARINA COP specifically called II-4 and II-5 document for deck ratings, III-4
and III-5 document for engine ratings cost about 225 PHP each. So if you're
planning to get both of these documents expect there going to chunk 450 PHP on
your wallet in a snap, in addition this excludes the charges of another
sub-document called "certified true copy" which is just basically a
photocopy with a colour stamp and some "renting" charges on some
sailor's uniform a person will be going to wear for the ID picture. To be on
the safe side prepare about 1,000 PHP to cover all charges cause MARINA is
going to bleed you dry on the money )
