SWEET TALK

For the moment , I'm very much occupied in ironing out paper works for
my upcoming license application and up to now I'm still fixing out some
needed documents. To be specific the number 07 requirement called
"Comprehensive Medical Certificate" , apparently most of the medical
clinics I inquired about this don't have the slightest idea what's it
all about and what kinds of specific medical screening would I take.

I do have one clue which the receptionist at manila doctors hospital
clinic gave me, he said that I should go to the main hospital located in
U.N. avenue , ermita manila. Based on the info I should look for resty
on the "industrial medical services department" of the mentioned
hospital and inquire further about the cost. Fair enough and I think
that was the best answer I got for today and quite frankly this person
knows exactly what I'm taking about.

Just to add some info on Why the hell am I pursuing to have a
comprehensive medical checkup in the first place ?! The main reason is
that I need to know the general status of my health and I'm just using
the guise of "for licensure examination purposes" as a cover up for my
personal agenda's.

As for the other requirements needed aside from the medical , I could
say that I had no problems with them whatsoever and it's fairly easy.
One such instance is the said so called "Notarized Document form" which
I easily handled in just a few minutes on a local notary lawyer. I also
made copies of the said Notarized form, at first I was having trouble
finding a colored Xerox . Fortunately I stopped at national bookstore
before going home and saw that they had colored Xerox machine, I never
wasted the opportunity to make copies of that document.

The following day

I went to manila doctors hospital and ended up in Dr. Hayden Kho's
clinic (7th floor Room 711). Which I talked to his secretary and she
said (the secretary) that I don't exactly need a comprehensive medical
exam , all that I needed is just a basic Physical medical exam and
that's about it. She also added that the service cost 1800 PHP. The
price is reasonable and considering the credibility of manila doctors
hospital , it is highly impossible that PRC would not accept it.

After the said inquiry at the hospital , I managed to have the spare
time to visit the PRC office near Far Eastern University to clarify a
few checklist parts. Based on what the rude female staff at window 16,
She said that id doesn't matter which clinic (or hospital) the medical
certificate would from, as long as it's department of health accredited
, then its good enough.

By the way it was only I few days ago that I had finally managed to
figure out were in the hell was PRC actually located. I had no idea that
it was located just in between two well known universities here in metro
manila, to be specific it was in between FEU University -UST University.

Ha ! How could I ever known all this time that PRC was to be found there
- I've been walking to that street during my college years and not once
have I noticed that PRC was there. Anyway it was not my fault that I
didn't know its exact location , given the fact that PRC office building
is so small and what made it more unnoticeable was it's been "sandwich"
by two gigantic universities .

In other matters

Looking back I decided that I should try to consult another well known
medical establishment. Medical City S.M. Marikina ( just a branch ) ,
Upon inquiry the receptionist mentioned that the cost of the medical
service was just only 600 PHP and comes along with a package of CBC . So
I guess medical city offers a much cheaper version . Well as long as its
recognized by PRC and DOH then I think its practical wise that I go for
Medical city (though personally I opt at Manila Doctors hospital).

In other news

Had a chat with a former classmate of mine during college years in Face
book and got an idea that perhaps I could search the social network and
see our former classmates there. Well not that it matter's but I'd just
like to see how is everybody doing after 10 years and see how they are
in life , after all I haven't been in touch with them in a decade. I
wonder how are they doing right now?

Last Saturday mom and dad saw a television show dedicated to Filipino
sailors, at the end of the television show there was a message saying
that "Filipino sailor's show be proud of this profession and sailing is
a noble job" . Upon seeing the portion I could only look down with
disdain on what's the TV host is saying and mumble "does this bastard
knew exactly what he is saying?" , As far as I know most Filipino's
sailors go thru as far as having a professional license and then end up
doing work similar to a constructions job. The typical public have
exactly had no idea that this profession is one of the worst jobs in the
Philippines , too many people and not enough job vacancies to go around
with, the maritime industry in the Philippines is overcrowded and over
standardized .


Thanks but I'm not fooled on sweet talking

INTRODUCTION

One good thing about writing a blog is that you get your way. A friend of mine told me once that I should record my knowledge for future generations . Bah ! What knowledge they need is to be found with sweat and blood, not some letters on a page. But the future is a great unknown, he may have a point. So I guess this is the reason why I'm starting out a blog, I've written down what I feel important . (The important words being "what I feel important.")

My friend wants me to write my memoirs . Fine I'd do it. But as the song goes , I'd do it my way. And I'm  old enough to get it my way.

THE START

I know little how sailing profession began in the Philippines but it doesn't really matter. A lot of Filipino's went out during the Marcos era (and up to now) to find greener pasture's because there are not enough jobs here in the Philippines.

COLLEGE YEARS

Like a majority of Filipino Sailors , they came from maritime colleges. In the Philippines  there are so many of these schools ,which numbered to thousands of students per school. Some of them are located in the city and some far away. As people may guess I came to one of these , PMI Colleges to be specific

For generations , Filipino sailors are educated on these institutions. As best as they could figure , it was there best chance of getting out.  They read , studied , cut classes , had girlfriends. I was educated on one of this institutions. After three years I got out of college , another four years went by and was still unemployed.

During those empty years I came across a cat, who adopted me and was my faithful friend from there on. I miss "Egoy" to this day

REALITY OF LIFE

Disillusioned I turned my attention on necessity rather than ambition , I stumble across finding work in a call center , It was a far cry from my objective's but nevertheless it was a good life, but all good things come to an end. Sooner or later I had to finish college, Something had to be done.

I stumbled on one of Dad's old friend who happens to be a sailor, who would be later my sponsor to a certain shipping company . I was reluctant at first and was planning to settling down on the call center , still I went to proceed though with much regret . looking back , I realized it was a costly decision. (Otherwise it wouldn't be a story if I stayed in the call center.)

During the long wait , I found "Egoy" dead one day it's head crush. Rumors say "Egoy" was a victim of road kill ,other said someone murdered my cat - I can never know for sure. The passage of time is no proof against the memory of grinned flesh and sinew

LIFE ONBOARD AS A SAILOR

My memories of SEACAP shipping company are tainted, and I feel no remorse for my actions in that place.  It was here that I learned the most important rule of all: " doing a good thing sometimes means being a very bad person" . I found many enemies, and a few friends in Sea cap. I had to be sinister and manipulative whenever necessary and learned more about the nature of my true foes.

The first ship to be working at was harrowing to say the least. I had trouble getting along with the full  Filipino crew who are more interested in Maltreating me than focusing on their jobs, my life there was a living hell and If it were not for the protection of the new captain that arrived in Argentina,  I would have totally gave up and went home.

It was a mistake to tell everyone there about my background, but I was still innocent at that time and do not know the ills of being a sailor in the Philippines, the knowledge that I was a call center agent before did not help and worsen my situation. Without the protection of anonymity, Inadvertently I had pointed myself into harms way

I made friends with Reagan Dillo who also was a deck cadet at that time (same as me), He helped me and I helped him. Understanding that survival requires that you work together, even with people you may not trust. I did earned the trust.

The first ship was sold after six months and left me going back to the Philippines and reassigned. It was my best interest to accept and go back one more time at sea since my job is still not finished.

This time, I never had a serious problem with the second ship since I learned a lot on how to survive from the previous one. It was smooth sailing from that and on, though a few troublemakers arrived later , it did not deter me to finish my job. I came across some of my enemies on the previous ship. None could stand in my way. I had a mission. I had a goal. I had a really large Rambo knife in my sidearm

ENEMIES OF THE STATE

When I went back to the Philippines, I remembered a lot of people told me at the first ship that I won't last there for a month and much to their surprise they saw me alive and well in the shipping office finishing the said job, Much more surprise to them was that I not only survived but was successful .

Although I was successful despite having a bad start, a new policy came up by the company that they won't accept me without getting proof of a B.S. Diploma. Had no idea why this company imposed this, So I was off In a new quest. This time, it was easier on my heart, thinking that it was short and easy. Looking back now, I realize it was also the first time I should have seen the true hearts of those superintendents.

Timely enough the school which I came from was experiencing problems and was shut down by the government. Fortunately I made it in time to get my diploma.

MY RETURN TO THE COMPANY

I was not treated a "family" welcome when I returned to SEACAP. Both the Korean and Filipino superintendent said to me point blank. That while I was successful in accomplishing the task given along with the recommendation letter that I'd be promoted to O/S , A.B. and diploma as proof, The evaluation report I got from the Chief mate was low. They said something along the lines that I could no longer be accepted and must now leave.

BASTARDS !!!

So, I left.

The weeks and months that followed were hard on me. Knowing what hardship I went through. Now, the company whom I considered a family had kicked me out and said that I could never return. I was frustrated and slowly came to realize that the Superintendents may have been correct. I had changed. Life onboard was different, and now I, too, was different. But I have never forgiven them for doing what they did to me.

I wandered for months, searching for another company but never moved far from the area where the company was located. Perhaps I wanted to return, and force my way in, or plead for them to take me back. Fortunately, it did not come to that.

Slowly I moved away from SEACAP , away from that old life. I started over . Given what experience's has taught me and I learned to thrive.

I often wonder what became of SEACAP, but I never had the time to go exploring again and I was no longer headed in that direction.

This journal is the legacy I'd be leaving, not only for the young generations of Filipino sailors but to everyone. That is my story, and I am sticking to it.