Radyo OFW: Kaylan nyo balak mag ”For Good” na sa Pilipinas?

@HindiKilalangSeaman wrote on his FB post “Honestly if it weren’t for the 48 degrees Celsius and everything is written in Arabic, I could mistake that half of the population of the Philippines is here.” Here he was referring to was in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates wherein a sizable number of Filipinos are working on the oil and maritime related industry.

The job vacancy on the vessel that was assigned to me will be available around the month of October. While waiting for my next employment, I’m starting my preparation for the bachelor’s degree teaching job that was offered. I intend to attend a mentoring session to brush my knowledge on the subject matter. The training director asked me, “Mag for for good ka na ba?” 

Coincidentally, the questions for the day being asked on Radyo OFW last 04 August 2016 were “Ilang taon na kayo sa abroad? Kailan nyo balak mag-“for good” na sa Pilipinas?” The program host was Ms Hannah Seneres and I was invited as a guest.

The answers of our kababayans on how long they were out of the country were varied with two having been out of the country for 23 long years.  The first one replied “Ako, 23 years dito sa abroad for good early 2018 in God’s will.” While the second lady answered, “23 years na ako sa abroad, almost 16 years sa Singapore at mag 8 years na dito sa Spain. Ewan kung uuwi pa ako. Sa awa ng Diyos okay naman ang medical at social security benefits ko dito covered lahat basta legit (legitimate). Due to health problem hindi ko na kakayanin manirahan pa sa Pilipinas, gamot lang tiyak na tigok na ako in one year pag stay doon.” 

Other reasons opined around 5 to 10 years once they save enough capitals for the businesses they plan to do; if their children will graduate in college; built their own house; pay all the debt and bills, etc. One said “10 years pag natupad na ni President Duterte yung lahat ng mga mabuting ipinangako nya sa mamayang Filipino.”

For others it was difficult to plan for their retirement: “only God knows kasi kahit planuhin nating kung may ibang plano si Lord, wala din tayong magagawa.” 

Most of the answers were coming from land based workers. Seafarers due to lack of resources (most ships have no internet connection onboard) and awareness of the radio program cannot take part in this kind of survey. I hope that the voices of seafarers (or even their family) either on vacation or at sea can be heard too. 

Kaylan ba mag-fo-for-good na sa Pinas ang isang Pinoy seafarer?

Kung tayo ay pupunta sa tambayan ng mga marino sa Kalaw sa bandang Luneta, mapapansin natin maraming mga nag aabang ng mga bakanteng posisyon. Ang iba ay nahihirapan ng sumakay at isang malaking factor ay “over age”. Mayroon akong kakilala na isang ultimo (rating), na dahil sa kanyang edad, nahihirapan na siyang makahanap ng kumpanya na tatangap sa kanya. Bumilang ng ilang taon ang kanyang karanasan sa pagbabarko subalit ang kanyang edad ang laging nagiging hadlang. Dalawang buwan siyang gumastos para maghanap ng mapapasukan sa Maynila at nang naubos na ang pera ay umuwi na sa kanilang probinsya. Ang isa naman ay gumastos para mapataas ang ranggo nya bilang opisyal pero unemployed pa rin siya hanggang ngayon dahil sa kanyang edad.

Sa pananaw ng mga shipowners, isang liability ang isang marino na nagkakaedad na dahil sa stressful na trabaho sa barko, mas madaling magkaroon/dapuan ng mga sakit ang mga ito at hindi na kayang makipagsabayan pa sa mga makabagong teknolohiya na mga gamit sa barko.

Hindi isang usapin sa ibang bansa ang “over age” kaya huwag kayong magtaka kung ang mga ibang lahi na nakakasama nyo ay pang Jurassic age na pero sa Pilipinas may diskriminasyon, kaya dapat bago tayo mag edad ng 50, Pinoy seafarers ready ka nang magretire.

Ang Integrated Seafarers of the Philippines (ISP) sa pamamahala ni Captain Jess Morales ay may adbokasiya na tumutulong na paghandaan ng mga Pinoy seafarers ang pag-fo-for-good na sa Pilipinas. Nagkakaroon din ng buwanang meeting (usually done last Saturday of the month) para manghikayat at ipakilala ang ISP.  Ang mga marino na nagbabakasyon o kaya ang kanilang pamilya ay habang may panahon pa ay atupagin na natin ito.

Bilang isang Pinoy seafarer, isa sa paghahanda ko kung sakaling ako ay huminto na sa pagbabarko ay magturo sa kolehiyo para naman ang mga kaalaman ko ay maibahagi ko rin sa mga susunod na henerasyon na mga marino. Ang panggalawa ay dapat mabayaran ko na ang lahat ng mga insurances and other financial instruments na pinaglakagan ko ng aking mga pinaghirapan sa pagbabarko.

 Ang pangatlo ay gusto ko ring maging tagapamahala ng mga lupa at gawaing pangsakahan (Farm manager). Sa ibang bansa tulad ng Australya, ang mga magsasaka ang silang mayayaman na kabaligtaran sa ating bansa. Gusto kong makatulong sa ating mga magsasaka sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay puhunan ng mga alagaing mga baka at sa iba pang mga bagay. 

Kailangan nating magtulunggan para paunlarin ang ating mga kababayan sa mga kanayunan. Sa isang lugar, mapapansin natin ang mga may malalaking mga bahay at mga anak na nakapagtatapos sa pag-aaral ay mas madalas yung mga may mga kamag-anakan sa abroad.

Yung mga kababayan kaya natin sa Fujairah, UAE na nakasalamuha ni @HindiKilalangSeaman, kaylan kaya sila mag fo for good na rin sa Pinas?

#PinoySeafarer

#RadyoOFW

#ISP

Radyo OFW Guesting with DJ Hannah Seneres

Enjoyed airtime with DJ Hannah Seneres of Radyo OFW. Salamat po for having me in your program. Missed the presence of her co-host "Ms. Bhing Gumamela" Comiso who personally invited to guest.

Day of the Seafarer 2016

(source - http://www.imo.org/en/About/Events/dayoftheseafarer/Pages/Day-of-the-Seafarer-2016.aspx)

Two-thirds of the surface of the planet Earth is covered by water. Statistics state that around 90 % of world trade is done by sea. Today, we are honoring this group of men and women who do the hard work in sailing (or running) the global economy.

In 2010, The International Maritime Organization (IMO), through The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), held a conference in The Philippines to update the existing code that will reflect the modern and the technological advancement in the maritime industry. The changes in the STCW were named 2010 Manila Amendments.

In addition, the treaty declared 2010 as “Year of the Seafarer” and nominated 25^th June of each year as the “Day of the Seafarer” through The Attachment 3 to the Final Act of the 2010 STCW Conference Resolution 19 with the heading Day of the Seafarer.

It stated among other:

“Recognizing fully the unique contribution seafarers from all over the world make to international seaborne trade, the world economy and civil society as a whole,

Recognizing equally the considerable risks seafarers shoulder in the execution of their daily tasks and duties in an often hostile environment,

Mindful of the deprivation to which seafarers are subject through spending long periods of their professional life at sea away from their families and friends,

It encourages Governments, shipping organizations, companies, shipowners and all other parties concerned to duly and appropriately promote the Day of the Seafarer and to take action to celebrate it meaningfully.”

On the IMO website, the present Secretary-General Kitack Lim, who is from South Korea, said: “this year, on the June 25^th, the Day of the Seafarer, we are once again asking the people of the world to show their appreciation for the seafarers that quietly, mostly unnoticed, keep the wheels of the world in motion.”

Today’s celebration is on its 6^th anniversary. This year’s campaign theme is “At Sea For All”. This is to let the world know how and why seafarers are indispensable to all. Seafarers serve not just fulfilling their own professional career advancement or being partner of the shipping industry. The services they render and those products that gets delivered worldwide definitely affect everybody.

Mabuhay ang mga 

Pinoy Seafarers !!!

#AtSeaForAll #DayOfTheSeafarer #HappySeafarersDay #25June #PinoySeafarer

A Life That Matters

Picture taken in Constantza, Romania last 08 June 2015

When your age is numerically equal to the size of your waistline, it surely does need a serious deep reflection and ACTION! I’m going to celebrate my birthday onboard with my crew today. I will do my deep reflection later. Meanwhile, I would like to share a poem by Michael Josephson that I read way back in 2014. Tell me your thought about it. May God bless us all.

A LIFE THAT MATTERS

Michael Josephson

Live a life that matters

Ready or not, some day it will come to an end

There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days,

All things that you collected, whether treasured or forgotten,

Will pass to someone else.

Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.

It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.

Your grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will finally disappear.

So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans, to-do-list will expire.

The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.

It won’t matter where you came from,

Or on what side of the tracks you lived at the end.

It won’t matter whether you are beautiful or brilliant.

Even your gender or skin color will be irrelevant.

So what will matter?

How will be the value of your days will be measured?

What will matter is not what you bought,

BUT HOW YOU BUILT,

Not what you got,

BUT WHAT YOU GAVE

What will matter is not your success, but YOUR SIGNIFICANCE.

What will matter is not what you learned, but what YOU TAUGHT.

What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage, 

Or sacrifice that enriched, empowered, or encouraged others

To emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competence, but YOUR CHARACTER.

What will matter is not how many people you knew

But how many will feel a LASTING LOSS WHEN YOU’RE GONE.

What will matter is not your memories,

But the memories that live in those who loved you.

What will matter is

HOW LONG YOU WILL BE REMEMBERED

BY WHOM AND FOR WHAT.

Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident.

It’s not a matter of circumstance, but BY CHOICE.

Choose to live a life that matters.

2nd National Forum on the Philippine Maritime Heritage

Greetings!

The Museo Maritimo of the Asian Institute of Maritime Studies will hold a national forum on the Philippine Maritime Heritage with the theme “Akulturasyon, Tradisyon at Bagong Nasyon: Forming the Filipino Nation through and Tide” on September 29 to October 1, 2016 at the AIMS Tower, Roxas Blvd cor. Libertad, Pasay City.

Last year, Museo Maritimo took the initiative to organize the 1st National Forum on the Philippine Maritime Heritage wherein the participants were exposed only to a part of our maritime past. However, such an event is like a jigsaw puzzle, and in order to uncover more information, this second forum is being organized.

In this regard, we would like to invite your school’s history/social science faculty members and other interested faculty members and students from other departments to attend this forum.

The forum aims to serve as a driving force in promoting our maritime history and take part in nation-building through heritage awareness and cultural appreciation. It will feature series of lectures and paper presentations to be delivered by known historians and academicians.

Registration fee for professionals is Php 3,500.00 (Php 3,000.00 early bird rate until 15 September 2016). A discounted fee for students is Php 3,500.00 (Php 3,000.00 early bird rate until 15 September 2016). The whole package covers lunch (2), snacks (5), seminar kit, and Certificate of Participation. A special rate for group participants is likewise available.

Attached for your ready reference are the tentative program, poster, CHED Endorsement and registration form. You may contact us through 831-2467 loc. 310/331, 0943 -6078 -314, 0975 -8918 -858 or at museomaritimo@aims.ph

Kindly consider this our advance invitation.

Respectfully yours,

Ronel M. Gillesania

Executive Director

For Seafarers: It’s A Small World After All!

What is the probability that you will meet somebody you know like a Filipino former classmates/batchmates, friends, relatives or acquaintances in foreign places that your ship would visit?

In my previous ship, the third engineer met his kabaranggay which he hadn’t seen for a long time. The brand new vessel was still then in the shipyard in Imabari, Japan wherein his kababayan work as a welder.

My engine cadet was also very lucky. Our first trip then was going to California, USA. He met his distant relatives there when he went to go for shore leave. He even visited his relatives’ house.

I met my co-masteral student, Nelson Aplasca, in Veracruz, Mexico last April 2016. I visited his ship a few hours after berthing. Unluckily, their ship was damaged during the berthing operation. There was no rubber on the fender that ship’s hull hit. The tug instead of pulling, push it towards the fender. The damaged was repaired before it sailed to New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

I had a quick tour on the ship and met some of his crewmates. The Ordinary Seaman (OS) I met on the gangway was a Chinese. Then on the ship’s mess hall I met their electrician who was from Ghana. The Chinese chief officer was in the ship’s office doing his calculation while the Pinoy captain was then busy doing the damage report. 

The next day, it was his turn to visit my ship. I invited him for lunch. Sunday’s lunch was vegetable salad, mushroom soup and steak with corn. He also checked the ship to see the navigational equipment and the cargo operation onboard.

However, not all coincidence meetings are happy ones, there are cases of uncomfortable and sad serendipitous encounter. 

May isang naikwento sa akin, nagkita ang magbayaw sa isang bahay aliwan sa Santos, Brazil. Nagkahiyaan pa ng unang magkita pero pagkatapos ng ilang minuto nagtawanan din sila. Nasabi kong naikwento lang sa akin kasi hindi ito first-hand account, meaning wala ako sa lugar na ginaganapan ng mga pangyayari. 

Another story wherein the seafarer met his sister in Singapore. They met in the anchorage. Ang alam ng seaman, DW (Domestic Worker) ang trabaho ng kapatid nya doon. Pag day-off suma-sideline pala ang sister as an AB (Akyat Barko). Nagalit ang seaman at sa kakahiyan niya sa mga kasamahan sa barko, binigay nya ang ipong pera para may pamasahe pauwi ng Pilipinas ng kapatid.

Some folks say that nothing is accidental or just plain coincidence.  So if you unintentionally meet somebody you know while you are abroad, whether it is a happy unforgettable encounter or an embarrassing (if-memory-could-be-erased) one, it must be a sign. What sign? That it is a small world after all, especially for us seafarers!

P.S. – I believe someone higher up is watching over us. There must be a purpose for these kind of chance meetings.

A Young Pinoy Seafarer’s Challenge: Love life or Career?

Most of the cadets I have worked with have inspirations before leaving the Philippines. And it is not just once that a cadet confides to me that his girlfriend (GF) want to get married once he comes back to the Philippines. Napapailing lang ako. Unang sakay pa lang ng barko, kasal na agad ang habol ni GF.

Ang pagmamarino ay parang showbiz yan. Pag inuna mo ang love life, pwedeng mag suffer ang career mo. Pag inuna naman ang career, makapaghihintay naman kaya ang irog mo? Eh kung pagsabayin na lang kaya?

Many did that to find out that it is an uphill struggle bearing the weight of starting a family with starting a career. A Pinoy seafarer before he becomes a full pledge certificated officer will have to finish many training courses. Sometimes he stops his training because the financial resources are already limited. This is especially true if he has to personally pay for his trainings and in single income family. Stop muna ang schooling, sakay ng barko tapos manghihinayang kung may opportunity na promotion na hindi nakuha kasi hindi naman kumpleto ang mga papeles nya.

Some ratings will save money for a grand wedding celebration instead of career development. Sabi ng kasama ko, “Kung gumastos ka ng half million pesos para sa kasal mo na isang araw na okasyon pwede ng i-pang down ng house and lot yun. Hindi ka na sana nangu-ngupahan ngayon.” Pero huwag ka, sya rin naman, nag iipon kasi beach wedding sa Boracay ang gusto ng fiancée nya.

A Pinoy seafarer should allocate at least 100,000 pesos for review, exam and training. Posfil Shipmanagement has a very good cadetship program because the cadets are limited to have an onboard allowance of 50 US dollars only and the rest of their money goes to their self-allotment  to be used only for their career advancement. The cadets are forced to save. Kaya pagnakatapos ang kadete ng isang taong apprenticeship nya, may pera na pang tustos sa kanyang review, exam and training.  

A seaman’s GF asked me if her boyfriend should change company since he cannot use his license in the company where they are both presently affiliated with. My answer is a big YES! Many ratings with officers’ licenses are stuck in their present companies that promise promotion. Since there are other senior ratings ahead of them with licenses too, their chances of being promoted are slim or it will take 3 recommendations from department heads or 3 more contracts to finish before they will be considered for promotion. This usually happens in established companies. Yung iba 5 years na ang license hindi pa nagamit. Tapos may balak na panukala ang Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) noon na pag hindi mo nagamit ang lisensya ng 5-years ay kailangan mo ulit mag re-training ka or worst mag-re take ng exam. (Yung re-take ng exam, hindi natuloy, eh yung re-training, tuloy ba? Guys, please update me. Thanks.) 

Kung gusto mong magamit ang lisensya mo, sacrifice your present well-paying job as a rating and venture to a pi-pitsuging kumpanya (Pinoy seafarers’ lingo which mean lightweight/low caliber). Mas mababa kasi magpasahod kaya mahirap kumuha ng mga opisyales pero mabilis naman ang promotion. Yung isang nakausap ko, sa domestic trade nya nagamit ang license nya. I just told her that her boyfriend should tell his intention to his crewing manager before leaving the company. Mag-paalam ng maayos. para kung gusto nya ulit bumalik sa company, welcome pa rin siya.

In our society, it is expected that the older siblings are the one supporting the studies of the younger ones. Iba pa nga, hindi lang mga kapatid ang pinagpapa-aral pati mga pinsan o pamangkin ginagastusan. Hindi tuloy makapag exam ang seaman para mapataas ang ranggo nya.

Yung iba naman pag nasa barko, may planong mag exam, pero nakakita ng sexy car sales representative kaya ayun naengganyo at nakabibili ng bagong sasakyan. Dahil monthly amortization, hindi makapagbakasyon ng matagal para makapag review, exam at training. Kailangan sumakay agad ng barko para may pang hulog. Ang bago nyang sasakyan? Iba ang gumagamit, hehehe.

Dr. Luz Dasmariñas, department head of AIMS Graduate School’s (GS) Masters’ in Custom Administration (MCA), meets the Officer-In-Charge (OIC) of Navigational Watch of the ro-ro (roll on-roll off) ferry that the AIMS GS graduate students chooses for their ship’s bridge familiarization. He was not able to use his OIC license in the overseas trade but lucky enough to practice it in the domestic trade.

Love life or career? 

It depends on what is your goal. Some Pinoy seafarers like to become master mariner or chief engineer before the age of 30, Maaga silang maka-akto, maaga rin mag reretiro; while others want to start a family early.

Hint, pag tumambay ka sa Kalaw, (Pambansang Umpukan ng mga Seaman) sa may Luneta Park, ano ba ang laging in-demand na mga posisyon na hiring?

Start young, start right.

For a young starting Pinoy seafarer, are you going to concentrate on career advancement or padadala ka sa bugso ng puson.. este damdamin mo? The choice is yours. 

(Addendum: Here are the officers and crew comments after reading this article.)

Sabi ni deck cadet Earl De la Cruz, ”If you choose your career, love can definitely wait. If you choose love, opportunity comes once in a lifetime, your career will be…bulilyaso) J ”  

Second Mate William Gole added, “Some seafarers speak they have plan to take examination when they sign off. But even after 3 contracts they were still not able to take the exam because the budget is not enough. When you are married, your first priority will be the budget for the family’s expenses while on vacation. Some seafarers look for their fellow seafarers “dating kasamahan sa barko” with good hearts to borrow money for their examination. If they passed, they will look again for other persons to borrow money for training purposes. And if they were not able to borrow, they do Plan B. PLAN B is to report to the crewing agency office and ask to be lined-up. Hopefully, on his next contract, he will be able get extra money for next vacation to finance all training requirements for filling of Certificate of Competency (COC).”

hobolmaster: “If you choose your career, love can definitely wait.” A very concrete phrase and I always hear it especially on cadets. Now, I heard it again. I witness or let’s say I’ve worked with a cadet (earlier on his contract) that his dedication to his career is very strong and promising. But in a single moment, love starts growing strong than his dedication. Maybe because of too much promises they made together while on video call, hahaha, or he can’t control the feelings. Then when love problem struck like “the right one comes along”, career is affected (loco de amor) hahaha.. 

And there’s another love, love for families. We’re not asking this but you can’t avoid it, EMERGENCIES. Due to small allowance as a cadet or let’s say you’re a breadwinner, sometimes you don’t have a choice. You have to choose love over career to save your loved ones.(Nakaipit na pera pang exam hihiramin muna) In the eyes of God that is the right choice. So what would be the right thing to say when you start a career? 

For me, ang masasabi ko, It is God’s will. Diyos ang may-ari ng lahat ng bagay. Kaya sa awa at tulong Niya at sa Kalooban Niya maabot mo ang bagay na gusto mo. Of course work without faith and faith without work is dead. So work with faith. (sa lagi ko naririnig sa public address system sa barko “ I say again” ang sa akin lang.) WORK WITH FAITH!

PEME, Ready ka na ba?

Sample of a Medical Certificate

It does sounds like pabebe but there is nothing pabebe with PEME (Pre-Employment Medical Examination). You might have the skills and the voluminous training certificates tuck under your belt but if you are not going to pass PEME, then forget going abroad. Both aspiring and seasoned seafarers undergo PEME. For the first timers, it is the last hurdle to pass that can make or break your dreams: that of earning dollars and traveling to different parts of the world. And of course, you still have to pass through a bullet free Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) but that’s another story.

So what preparations should you do to pass PEME?

Fresh maritime graduates are mostly young and healthy people, thus, they do not have much of medical issues yet. I just hope you were checked for Ishihara Test for color-blindness before you started your maritime academic schooling because it will save you money, heartaches and depression. A very good friend of mine when we started as cadets carried lots of coins “barya” on his pockets before stepping on the weighing scale. It adds more kilos to his weight. He was underweight then. If you are underweight and you will have your medical exam soon… that is an option, hehehe.


Suggestion: If you are wearing eyeglasses, you need to bring at least 2 pairs onboard, masira o mahulog man sa dagat yung isa, may reserba ka pa.

Para sa mga datihan nang sumasakay, kung plano mong magbakasyon ng tatlong buwan, may 2 o 3 tatlong linggo ka na kumain at uminom ng gusto mo. Pagkatapos nun, maghigpit ka na ng sinturon. Dahil baka kapusin ka na sa budget, mag dieta ka na rin. Isama mo na rin buong pamilya mo. Tama na ang painom at fiestang kainan.  It is time to get medically fit once again.

Actually according to what I’ve read, which I can no longer remember where and when, you need at least 2 months to prepare to be PEME-ready. (Three-month vacation then 2 months preparation for PEME?! ) Kill joy (KJ) ko naman, alam kong hihirit ka kaya, sige 2 weeks prep(aration) na lang. Hopefully by that time, no more birthdays, fiestas and tambay sa kanto that will call you for a shot or two that will end up inumang magdamagan.

Give your liver a break! Isama mo na rin mga baga mo at buong katawan sa masasamang bisyo.

Sure it is your money (kung ikaw ang taya sa inuman, yung iba kasi malakas sa inuman at pulutan pero sagot lang ay pagiging bangka sa kwentuhan) that you are spending for those vices but that money and time spent with your katomas should be better well spent with your family. Ilang buwan ka na nga lang nagbakasyon barkada pa uunahin mo. Tubig at tsaa inumin mo bro.

Bawas-bawasin din ang yosi kung hindi mo kayang mag totally quit. Let your lungs heal faster by lessening your sunog baga habit. Mahirap sumabit sa X-ray, ikaw rin.

Eat natural and healthy food

Avoid junk and processed food. Instead of eating potato chips eat sweet potato instead. Huwag naman yung camote que na sobrang daming asukal. Nilagang kamote ang ipalit mo sa puting kanin na kinakain mo.  If you can’t live without rice, switch to brown rice instead of camote or white rice. Samahan mo na rin ng prutas at gulay para panlinis sa bituka. If you are too bloody lazy to chew your food, put it in a blender and gulp it! Wala ka ng rason para hindi kumain, este lumunok ng gulay at prutas. Parang Reboot ba ni Joe Cross (Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead).

Dahil thuma-thunderbolts na ang lolo (getting older) ka na, hinay hinay sa fatty and salty foods. Go for lean meat. Isaw, kwek-kwek, one day old chick, PAL, Adidas at iba pang street food na hindi kasama sa lean meat category kahit na sabihin mo pang pagkanipis nipis ng hiwa ng karne ng baboy na tinuhog for barbeque.  Iwas parekoy sa Hepatitis B, ikaw na lang gumawa ng sarili mong sawsawan kung hindi mo maiwasan bumili at kumain ng mga yun.

Sabi rin ng nabasa ko, taba ang nagbibigay ng lasa sa karne kaya pag lean meat ang kakainin mo lagyan mo ng herbs and spices para magkaroon ng lasa. Hindi naman kailangang magpagutom ka para lang makapasa sa PEME. There are many cookbooks that you can use as references for different healthy recipes or you can ask a nutritionist or if you can afford… hire a chef!

If you have weight issue, don’t worry you are not alone. You need cardio and strength training. Get your ass off that chair and start moving. Pag sinabing weight issues, bakit ang unang papasok sa utak ay overweight? Weight issue rin naman ang pagiging patpatin, hindi po ba? Nakakapagod at nakakagutom ang mag exercise ba kamo. Natural!!!

If you reach a certain age, you will need to pass stress-test which mean you need to spend at least 10 minutes on the treadmill. If you can do brisk walking, jumping jack and a little bit of jogging 20 minutes daily for two weeks before your PEME, that will suffice but if you need to lose weight, sad to say, you need to give more effort. Add strength training to burn more calories. Start with the basic, use your body weight. You can do plank, push up, chin up, tricep dip and squat then you can start adding bench press and other exercises with free weights. Don’t procrastinate on exercise kasi if you cannot find 20 minutes today, how sure are you that makakabawi ka at mag e-exercise ka ng 40 minutes kinabukasan?

Push Up Level of Fitness

  Age     Excellent     Average     Poor
20-29      54              35-44         20
30-39      44              25-34         15
40-49      39              20-29         12
50-59      34              15-24           8

I’m not an exercise expert. Just find physical activities that you enjoy like swimming, biking, hiking, mountain climbing or even working in your vegetable garden. Pwede ka ring maglampaso ng sahig gamit ang bunot at maglaba ng mga damit, mag plantsa, magbuhat ng timba na may lamang tubig para magdilig ng mga halaman at iba pang gawaing bahay. Otherwise if you have the budget enroll in a gym or invest in some gym equipments, pwede rin.

Have your prophylaxis done

Ano raw? Ibig kong sabihin, pumunta ka sa dentista at magpalinis ka ng ngipin. Pa pasta mo na rin yung mga dapat pastahan o pabunot ang dapat pabunot. Ask for a dental certificate before you leave your family dental office, you will need it to show to the medical clinic dentist. I suggest do your dental treatment a day before your PEME (at least a week or two kung may bunot para healed na at least).

Go and Donate Blood

Kumain ka na kamo ng kilo-kilong bawang.  One of the best ways to lower your blood cholesterol level and to renew the blood in your circulatory system is to donate blood. Nabawasan na ang cholesterol mo sa dugo, nakatulong ka pa sa nangngangailangan ng dugo. That is if you forego eating cholesterol rich foods from the previous weeks. Wa effect kung ang huling hapunan mo bago ka mag PEME ay bulalo at pinakbet na maraming sahog na bagnet (chicaron ng Ilocos)! Sigurado akong sasabit ka sa PEME. Nangyari na sa akin yun eh. So go pa-member na at maging donor sa Red Cross.


Fasting

May kadete akong kasama, tinanong siya ng nurse kung nag fasting ba siya bago pumunta sa medical clinic. Sumagot siya ng alanganing “Oo”.  Tinanong siya ng nurse, “Alam mo ba ang ibig sabihin ng fasting?” Sagot si cadet, “Hindi”. Nagalit daw ang nurse sa kanya, hahaha.

Ano nga ba ang fasting?

Yung iba nag a-after 6 diet. Hindi na sila kumakain pag nag 6 pm na. The logic is that physical activities after 6 pm don’t need further food sustenance. (Sampol: Pagkatapos mong makipagbalyahan para makasakay, na traffic ka, so nakaupo ka lang o kaya pag minalas-malas ka nakatayo ka sa MRT o bus).  Ewan ko kung effective ba ang after 6 diet kasi pag sa nagreport ka lalo na kung ang office ng crewing agency mo ay sa bandang Makati, mga after 8 pm ka na makakarating pauwi ng bahay. Sa PEME naman pagsinabihan ka na No Oral after 7 pm, hindi ka dapat kumain o uminom pag 7 pm hanggang kinabukasan ng umaga na makunan ka ng blood sample. Fasting ang tawag dun. Hindi po yun pag mamadali na maka-pumunta sa medical clinic, hindi fast-ing yun, hurrying yun (corny ko.)

Stool sample (Pasintabi po – NSWE – not safe when eating)

Merong nabibili sa mga drugstores na stool sample bottle (or container). Ang stool sample na ipapasa mo sa medical clinic ay pea size lang dapat. Ibig sabihin kasing laki lang ng monggo. Hindi dapat punuin yung lagayan. Yucky yung iba, sobrang dami ang dalang sample.  Meron akong kakilala, para makatipid sa lagayan pinaghalo nya ang ang stool at urine sample nya. (Don’t do that or else your sample will be rejected).

Sleep

Get enough sleep. One medical clinic prescribed to take 3 tablets of laxative the night before PEME. The purpose is to clean the digestive system. Dahil masunurin ako at first time ko sa medical clinic na ito, sinunod ko naman. First and last ko na yung gagawin. Why? I lose precious nap time because I keep going back and forth to the toilet. Hindi tuloy ako nakatulog ng maayos. (Note: Lack of sleep can raise your Blood Pressure). Sino kayang henyo ang nakapag-isip nun? Na-try nya kaya yung prescribe nya?

Be Ready for Psych Test

First thing they going to ask you when you will go for a Psych Test is if you ate already. Magtataka ka tuloy kung ano ang relasyon ng isasagot mo sa Psych Test sa pagkalam ng sikmura mo? Aba pag gutom ka, magmamadali kang sagutin ang mga tanong, pero kapag busog ka eh makapag iisip ka ng maayos. Ayus- ayusin mo rin ang pagsagot sa test at pag-drawing mo, bawal ang stickman at yung kulang kulang ang mga daliri sa mga kamay, walang tenga, etc.  Dapat kumpleto ang external body parts. Kwento ni Third Mate Richard Enriquez, noong nag pa PEME siya, Psych Test lang ang naipasa nya. Sagot naman ng isang kasama namin dito sa barko, “Mas mabuti na yun kaysa naipasa mo lahat tapos sa Psych Test ka bumagsak!” May tama ka!

There are some (unscrupulous) medical clinics that will say you have high blood pressure (BP). But everything will be okay after buying a month supply of medicines from them. So, you just need to show the receipt that you already bought those medications from their own pharmacy, okey na blood pressure mo (sana lang hindi ka na high blood sa inis sa kanilang panloloko).

Yung iba namang clinics, hahanapan ka talaga ng sakit. So tendency mo magpapa-second opinion ka sa ibang doctor. Pero no bearing at di nila accepted yun kung ang result ay taliwas sa kanilang diagnosis, ang rason nila hindi naman daw approved ng association at medical clinic nila yung doctor na pinuntahan mo. Mapapakamot ulo ka na lang at tatanunggin ang sarili mo, “Hindi ba lahat ng certified doctors ay members ng Philippine Medical Association (PMA)?“

Marami pang ibang diskarte para kumita sila sa mga mandaragat pero ayokong tumaas ang BP mo sa pagbasa ng sinulat ko, kaya, relax and enjoy your PEME. Go through the experience. Pero sana lang tignan ito ng ating mga mambabatas at mga nakaupo sa DOH. Kung yung mga nagpapamedical na mga OFWs papunta ng Saudi at Middle East napatigil ng pamahalaan ang monopolyo at decking system ng mga clinic ng Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Approved Medical Centers Association  (GAMCA), sana lang tignan din ang hindi magandang kalakaran at pang-aabuso na ginagawa ng nga medical clinics sa aming mga seafarers.


Sample of  PEME Package offered by clinics and required by some manning agencies:

1. Complete Physical Examination
2. Psychological Examination/Test
3. Optical test and Visual acuity
4. Dental Examination
5. Urinalysis
6. Chest x-ray
7. Fecalysis
8. Complete blood count (CBC)
9. Blood typing
10.Color vision (Ishihara Test for color-blindness)
11. Audiometry
12. Electrocardiogram (ECG)
13. Fasting blood sugar
14. Hepatitis B Antigen
15. VDRL
16. Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)
17. Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
18. Blood Chemistry (SGOT(AST) / SGPT(ALT) / Alkaine phosphatase / Bilirubin / Total Protein BUN / Creatinine Cholesterol / Tryglycerides / Uric acid)

Other Additional Tests:
1. HIV
2. Malaria Test
3. Drug & Alcohol Test
4. Stool Culture


List of Accredited Medical Facilities for Overseas Workers and Seafarers

Department of Health (as of May 20, 2015, check POEA website for new/updated list)
http://poea.gov.ph/ofw/ofw_clinic_may202015.pdf


Dagdag kaalaman.

Check your Medical Certificate for Service At Sea. It should contain information as per Standard of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Code, Section A-I/9 Medical Standards

7.3 Declaration of the recognized medical practitioner
7.3.1 Confirmation that the identification documents where checked at the point of examination: Y/N
7.3.2 Hearing meets the standards in section A-I/9? Y/N
7.3.3 Unaided hearing satisfactory? Y/N
7.3.4 Visual acuity meets standards in section A-I/9? Y/N
7.3.5 Colour vision meets standards in section A-I/9? Y/N
          7.3.5.1 Date of last colour vision test
7.3.6 Fitness for lookout duties? Y/N
7.3.7 No limitations or restrictions on fitness? Y/N (If ‘N” specify limitations or restrictions.)
7.3.8 Is the seafarer free from any medical condition likely to be aggravated by service at sea or to render the seafarer unfit for such service or to endanger the health of other persons on board? Y/N
7.3.9 Date of examination: (day/month/year)
7.3.10 Expiry date of certificate : (day/month/year)

4. Details of the issuing authority
4.1 Official stamp (including name) of the issuing authority
4.2 Signature of the authorized person

5. Seafarer’s signature- confirming that the seafarer has been informed of the content of the certificate and of the right to a review in accordance with paragraph 6 of section A-I/9.

Bago ka pumirma nakasulat doon

I have read and understood and was informed of the contents of the certificate and of the right to review in accordance with paragraph 6 of section A-I/9 of the STCW Code.

Ano ba yung paragraph 6 of section A-I/9 of the STCW Code? Standard of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Code, Section A- I/9 Medical Standards

Paragraph 6. Each Party shall establish processes and procedures to enable seafarers who, after examination, do not meet the medical fitness standards or have had a limitation imposed on their ability to work, in particular with respect to time, field of work or trading area, to have their case reviewed in line with the Party’s provisions for appeal.

source -http://www.evergreenmdc.com/images/peme.png

Ayon naman pala, pwede kang umapela kung may sabit ka sa medical. Pagkailangan ng gamutan pero kailangan mo ng sumampa, papaprimahan ka ng waiver.

Balitaan mo ako kung pumasa ka na sa medical exam mo, ha.


Disclaimer: The author of the article is an active seafarer and has no formal qualification in the medical profession. Views expressed are based on his own experience and that of others. The author shall not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information provided herein. He may be reached through his email at pinoyseafarerako@gmail.com. You can also join the discussion by leaving your comments below.

Session 3 11 - abesamis jb - comparison between the nma..nma ncmm presentation from Norwegian Centre for Maritime Medicine

 

A.O. No. 2013 – 0006 “Guidelines to Rule XI: Role of DOH in the Omnibus Rules and Regulations Implementing the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act.

View more presentations from Neil Hunt

Quo Vadis Maritime Graduates?

(Image source - http://www.maap.edu.ph/News%20pics/grad2012.jpg)

It is graduation time again. It is both an exciting and stressful time for Philippine maritime graduating cadets. Exciting because finally after 3 years of academic studies you are looking forward to a one year sea experience to be able to get your baccalaureate degree, but it is also a stressing one in case your prospect of apprenticeship is still vague. For those who are assured of company’s scholarship, congratulations! For the others, well…. Good luck!

So many cadets were enticed to take maritime courses due to various reasons (top dollar earner, neighbor’s or distant family members who are in the profession, travel abroad, girl in every port stories) but reality bites … ended up with broken dreams.

So what will be your options?

Hold your horses! I mean the Red Horse beers. Before you start celebrating your well-deserved graduation, I would like to remind you that there are so many training courses that will drain your (parents or whoever is supporting your schooling) resources. Some schools are tied up with training centers for the basic courses that you will need. Depending on what kind of vessels you will embark, bulk carrier, ro-ro (roll on-roll off),  passenger ships and tanker vessels have different requirements. Most are encouraged (?) to take as many training courses so that you will qualify for vacancy on any of those type of vessels. 

Documentary Requirements

You will also need to get a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance (specify: For Visa Seaman) before you can apply for a seaman’s book. You will also need to get your passport and Social Security System (SSS) number if you haven’t had one yet. You will also need to go to Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) for your Seafarer’s Registration Certificate when you already have your Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB)/seaman’s book.

Medical

Before you take a maritime course, you should have been tested for Ishira Test for color-blindness. Stories still abound of cadets finishing their 3 years academic studies but only later learn that they cannot go onboard for their respective position because they are color-blind! Those schools who accept color-blind maritime students are giving false hope. Yung iba nga kasing mga schools hindi rin legitimate na mag offer ng Bachelor of Science (BS) courses ay tumatangap pa rin ng mga student applicants. Maawa naman po kayo. Parents and future maritime students should check if the schools offering maritime courses are approved by Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and recognized by  Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA). Forewarned is forearmed. 

Since you are already graduating student, I believed you already know these things. That you are graduating from CHED-approved maritime school and you are not color-blind.

Now is the time to cram those 3 years of academic studies to pass entrance tests of different companies that train future officers. Some companies are directly going to maritime schools to give the exams or the schools they have tie-up with. The more entrance tests you will take the more chances of passing. It will also hone your test taking skills. Basta may narinig ka na nag offer ng entrance test for cadets, go lang ng go. 

What are covered in the test? The subjects of your 3 years education lang naman. Eh paano kung nag school bukol ka noong college days mo? Malaking problema yan…

Sadly, the palakasan system is so ingrained in our culture that the ships’ crewing industry is not spared. Companies will not entertain you since you have no experience. Kay Manong Guard pa lang bagsak ka na. Or Manong Guard will ask you, “Sinong backer mo?” Pagwala kang maisagot, sasabihan ka nya, “Kailangan namin ng may ganitong lisensya, baka may kakilala ka, balik ka na lang pagkasama mo na siya.”

Your application papers will be rejected several times, skip meals to avoid missing your name to be called, wait for hours at the waiting area for calls that will never come. You are not the first and you are not alone. 

Are you going to give up?

In other countries, maritime administrations are encouraging their young people to take a career at sea. Where as in our country, there are thousands of graduates and will be graduating cadets but only few hundreds will be able to get onboard. This problem existed 20 years ago when I was a cadet and the same problem is still persisting now! What an irony!

Yung ibang mga may backer abusado naman. Dahil ang backer ay si kapitan o kaya ay si chief engineer, feeling nila kapitan or chief engineer din sila. Hello, gusto mong itapak sa lupa ang mga paa mo? Hindi nila alam na panggalan ng backer nila ang nakataya. Pag ma anggas ka, pasaway at tatamad-tamad ka, dahil pinag mamayabang mo ang backer mo o pag nag jump ship (yung iba na may kasintahan or pamilya sa abroad susugsugan na tumalon ang seaman); si backer ang malalagot sa opisina. Magsumikap para bigyan ng karanggalan at hindi kahihiyan ang backer mo! Kayod marino ka rin tulad ng mga kasamahan mo. Hindi ka naman siguro taga-Tanauan o Tayuman? (Yung bang, pa tinggin-tinggin at patayo-tayo lang habang ang mga kasamahan ay nagtra-trabaho).

Utility Post 

Other maritime graduates are taking this route. They will serve as utility personnel in the crewing companies to gain future employment. Some not only work in the company offices to do errands but also served as personal domestic servants at the houses of the company staff.  Long time ago, I even heard a story of a utility cadet that was bitten by a snake. Sa opisina sa Manila?! Nope, nandun sya sa farm ni sir sa probinsya, nag-aalaga ng pang sabong na mga manok. Some are known to stay six months to more than a year for the coveted vacancy. Tapos masusulot pa sila sa sakayan ng may backer. Ouch!

Inter-island

It is common to hear and use inter-island but the proper term should be domestic trade. There are companies plying the domestic routes and they do offer berths for those interested. There are varying terms and conditions. Some companies give 500 pesos per month stipend to the cadet plus free three meals. Some are like hospitals for newly passed nurses, if you like to work for them and get experience, you pay! Most cadets are not keen to work on domestic trade. Ang gusto ay overseas experience kaagad. In my opinion, it is better to get a domestic trade experience, take the board exam, practice it there until you have enough experience and developed skills to venture for overseas work. 

Cadetship or Rating Route

A cadetship route will need a year onboard experience as cadet or apprentice mate, while as rating (Ordinary Seaman (OS), Abled-Bodied Seaman (AB), Wiper or Oiler) will need 36 months onboard experience before one can take the board exam. There used to be an issue regarding those with Deck Trainee and Engine Trainee ranks because the positions are not the same as above. Ano ba ang pinagkaiba ng OS at Deck Trainee o ng Wiper at Engine Trainee? Sahod lang naman para makatipid ang may-ari ng barko. Mas mababa ang sahod pag trainee kaysa sa regular position. Tapos hindi ka pa papayagan dati ng Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC)  na makapag exam pag wala kang katibayan galing sa kompanya na parehas lang ang trabaho (job description) ng OS at ng Trainee o Wiper at Engine Trainee. I’m not yet updated if this is still an issue with the new maritime exam giving body ng MARINA.

OIC-NW Nielsen Aplasca as guest speaker

I once attended a meeting, where the young officer and guest speaker was a graduate of the maritime institution where he also worked as a part-time instructor and presently taking his masteral studies. He talked about his onboard experience when he was a cadet and as rating. He emphasized that one should learn to follow orders of his superiors; to develop self-discipline; nurture self-study habit while onboard; to save money for future board exam and trainings; to know how to have good relations with the officers and crew onboard. His audience was able to relate well with him because most of them are of his age. 

The future of the Philippine seafaring industry lies on like of officers’ Nielsen Aplasca, Rian Claro and other young officers and engineers I met who opt to work in schools, training centers and in some cases, in The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA). They worked as officers onboard and when on vacation, shared their knowledge to the cadets by working as instructors and squeezing their free time to take up masteral studies. With the introduction of modern technologies onboard, I believe schools should encourage more practicing officers and engineers to share their up-to-date working knowledge to maritime students.

Graduating maritime cadets and those who are already graduated but still not yet able to gain employment should really strive hard since as more cadets are graduating, more people will compete for a single berth. There are many ways and stepping stones for you to choose. If you are bright, you can take the qualification exams; you can work as cadet in the domestic trade and if you know somebody, you can use them as referral. 

May dati akong kasamahan, iba naman ang istilo nya. Ginawa nyang girlfriend (GF) (actually binuntis nya) yung anak ni kapitan. O alanggan naman na hindi tulungan ni Kapitan ang mamanugangin kung hindi magugutom ang unica hija nya. Yung isa naman nakasama ko, kasambahay ng may-ari ng barko ginawa nyang GF para mapakilala siya sa may-ari ng barko at makasakay. Kung tatanungin nyo kung nagkatuluyan ba yung nakasama ko (huling balita ko chief mate na siya ngayon) at yung kasambahay, naku ibang usapan na yan. Mahaba na itong kwento ko eh. Kaniya-kaniya tayo ng diskarte sa buhay. Do what you think will work for you best and make that decision that you will cherish until you retire. Your personal story of struggle and success that you will relate with fond memories to others and your family.

Happy Graduation and Good luck to all maritime cadets!!!

Yeosu, So Near and Yet so Far

(image from the net)

(image from the net)

Finally, our vessel is now here in Yeosu, South Korea. A culmination of a voyage is a chance for a shore leave. Most of us, seafarers, look forward to it.  A respite from the routinary  life onboard.  So everyone would be so excited. Plans are made where to go, what to buy, who will go with whom and how to experience the local culture or just see a places and make tapak sa lupa. But sometimes, all these planning would  come to naught.

I requested for internet modem to the local agent but the place where the vessel is discharging Marine Solar Salt is located in an industrialized area which has no internet signal. I requested for Tourist Guide Map which the agent brought but the places of interests are so far from the port. Just for a taxi ride it would cost 68 US dollars one way from  the gate of the port to the city's center. The local establishments would only accept local currency. He told me that the  cost of a lost shore pass is 500 US dollars. And so on, and so forth. 

I expected that discharging operation will be around 5 days using ship’s cranes and grabs but with the  port’s new gantry crane and gigantic grab which can work 2,000 Metric Tons per hour, discharging  operation is reduced to only 2.5 days. Tomorrow, the deck department will start with holds cleaning  preparation. Sailing and discharging is estimated to complete on 05 March 2016 at 0400 Hours Local Time. 

With the cold weather and the busy schedule onboard for fixing and preparation for vessel’s next  voyage, I think it is a wishful thinking for me to go out. Sa next port na lang ulit mangarap makalabas!

Yeosu,  you(’re)-so near and yet so far.

(image from the net)

Pahabol na tanong: 

Ikaw kabayan, ano ang ginagawa mo pag hindi ka makalabas ng barko pag nasa pwerto kayo?

Reasons to Celebrate Valentine's Day at Sea

14 February 2016 Sunday – At Sea

I promised to the crew that we are going to have a party today, 14 February 2016, Valentine’s Day. So what are the reasons for it?

First, it is Sunday – It is time for the officers and crew to have a Get together event. Sunday is the most appropriate day since the work load is light.


Welcome Party

New crew came on-board last 11 January 2016 in Fangcheng, China and after a month of stay onboard, (ang bilis, naka isang buwan na pala sila), it is time for them to experience a party.

(Happy) Birthday (to you!) Party (he,he,he).

Birthday celebrator for February was feted. Yes Mrs Alma Fornaliza, I’m referring to your hubby, which by the way is going home very soon. His the lone person to celebrate birthday for the month and of course he helped in the food preparation. He is looking forward to be with his girls. (O ayan ha, baka ma- mis interpret na naman, dapat kasi wife and children na lang eh).

Farewell Party

This is for the officers and crew who will disembark in Singapore around 21 February 2016. To my dear officers, Chief Engineer Ruben Cugal and Third Officer Libe Miole - for the great service they have rendered onboard. That even when he has pressing problem at home and was not able to disembark last January, 3rd Mate Miole remain as he is, a quiet and responsible officer. 

Able-Bodied Seaman Leicester Cu - the baking and cooking skills that was unselfishly shared, for the free cappuccino (sa kanya yung mga ingredients and equipment) and demonstration how it was made. 

Even when he was not promoted as Able-Bodied Seaman, Ordinary Seaman Omar Pecajas still works and showed that he is a dependable deck crew.  

The remaining officers and crew will also say good-bye to Oiler Frances Degones, who I hope will find next employment as soon as possible (ASAP) after his vacation. 

Messman Dennis Fornaliza, will celebrate his birthday few days from now. I worked with him in my previous ship and I hope that he will gain more experience and certification so that he can work as chief cook someday. 

From left to right Bosun Arnold Pañe, Engine Cadet Jayson Sanchez, Deck Cadet Neil Ian Maghanoy,
Oiler Ferdinand Sapad, Ordinary Seaman Omar Pecajas and Able-bodied Seaman Leicester Cu.

Lastly, to our cadets, Deck Cadet Neil Ian Maghanoy and Engine Cadet Jayson Sanchez, they remind me of myself many years ago when I left my first ship as an apprentice. I can sense that they have grown familiar to the officers and crew’s idiosyncrasies and they seems to be experiencing separation anxiety. 

Sabi ni Deck Cadet, ”Ang bigat sa dibdib!” Drama naman ni Engine Cadet ‘”Ang sakit-sakit! Ayoko pang umuwi!” ng nalaman nila na papauwiin na sila. Today is a bittersweet celebration for the two young apprentice. They have done 7 months on-board and I hope they acquired the necessary experience and skills to become future officers.

I also hope that I can work with them as officers and crew again in the future because I find them reliable and very supportive in all operations.

Tall, dark, handsome, single and available – Deck Cadet Neil Ian Maghanoy
is in search of future ka-puso.

Thanksgiving Party

Receiving email messages about shipboard accidents and incident reports made me more conscious of how dangerous seafaring is. I always remind everybody to observe safety first. Referring to my previous blog post on Crane Wire Greasing, as shown in the pictures, the deck crews were wearing safety harness as they worked aloft to connect the crane hooks to the grab buckets. The grabs were slippery due to the early morning mist. With just one faulty slip, one can say goodbye to his career if one is not careful and observant of safety measures.

In my early years as a seaman, we had a crew who fell from the grab rest when the vessel was in Indonesia. It was his first time to work on a ship plying the overseas trade.  Before the accident, he told me about his plans of getting married, how he love and misses his young son, his fiancée, and mother. He told me about the safety shoes that he planned to wear on his wedding day. He was tall, good looking and full of promises but it only took one slip and his dreams fell down with him and eventually cost his dear life.

So with the dangerous life at sea, extra precaution and safety should always be observed. 

Valentine’s Day Celebration 2016

Yes, I have many things to be thankful for. Celebration is beyond food and merry-making. It is about the bond that ties men that work and live in their second home, a place called a ship. Strengthening that bond towards common goal of safe operation on-board is my duty.

Safe sailing to all seafarers! Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone!!! May God Bless Us All!

Hair Cut Day - Kwentong Barbero sa Barko

Bosun Arnold Pañe, the ship’s Designated Barber Onboard (DBO) and
off-signer Oiler Frances Degones.

WARNING/Babala: Totoo at pawang katotohan po ang mga kwentong barberong ito.

Hair Cut Day, pili na ng gupit na Pang-Shore Leave, Pang-Stay Onboard or Pang-Flight

Saturday is supposed to be half-day, right? Half day regular work in the morning, then in the afternoon- Drill Time! In our case, we must do at least 3 per Saturday to complete the allocated drills for the month.

On the lighter side of the day, Saturday is a Hair-Cut Day. It is a busy time for the Designated Barber Onboard (DBO). He is in charge of making the officers and crew looks presentable. And in return he earns extra money which comes from the Crew Welfare Fund. The budget for hair cut depends from ship to ship, in some it is even pro-bono. In our ship it is around 15 US $. There is a plan to raise it but we bought table tennis balls, table tennis racquets, chessboard, darts and dartboard, and 1 Terra byte portable hard drive to store movies. The chunk of the budget goes to these items so for the meantime DBO’s honorarium will stay as it is... Paging officers and crew who are reading this, customers, you can give a tip. It is voluntary but very much encourage.

Through the years, I have encountered different DBOs’ with varying skills and temperaments. Some learned the trade onboard. Walang marunong mag-gupit sa barko kaya sila-sila nag gugupitan hanggang maging bihasa na. Others learned it before they came onboard. Yung bang sanay na ginugupitan ng mga tambay at mga barkada habang sila ay tambay din at wala pang sakay.

When I was an Ordinary Seaman (OS), my Filipino Fitter was the ship’s DBO, his service was good among the Filipinos that was why the Japanese First Engineer was tempted to try it. It was the Fitter’s first experience to cut a foreigners hair and that with one of the vessel’s high ranking officials. He got nervous and nipped part of the 1st Engineer’s left ear. The poor victim still paid him one case of beer but never had his hair cut again until he disembarked. 

Noong naging Segundo Opisyal naman ako, may nakasama akong Griego (Greek) na kapitan na ginugupitan nya ang sarili kasi mahal daw gupit sa Greece kaya nasanay na siya lang ang gumugupit ng buhok nya. Parang Banaue Rice Terraces ang gupit nya. Siguro doon nauso ang layered na gupit!

Meron din akong nakasama na barbero sa barko na iisa lang ang alam nya na istilo ng gupit kaya pare parehas kami ng tabas ng buhok.

I have one Ordinary Seaman (OS), he would offer his service to cut one’s hair, pay the brave volunteer plus the OS will cook a snack of pancit canton. Do you think somebody will dare to volunteer? You bet no taker. 

Meron naman kwento si Mayor (Chief Cook) yung kasama nyang Segundo Makinista ay nagtanong kung sino marunong mag-gupit, nag prisinta naman itong si Wiper, ang kinalabasan - bao ang hugis ng buhok ni Segundo Makinista. Pang stay onboard pala na gupit ang alam ni Wiper!

Pang shore leave na hair cut? Well, dati yun, ngayon puro mabilisan na operation sa barko, bibihira na ang nakaka shore leave. Kung makaka shore leave ka, mabilis na ligo na at konting wisik ng pabango, kasi hindi pwedeng maghintay ng matagal ang seaman’s club na service bus sa pantalan sa mga lalabas. If there are seafarers’ wives or girlfriends reading this article, pag sinabing club- naku po, iba na naman ang pagkaka-intindi. Legitimate na club po ang mga seaman’s clubs, they are being run by Christian (Flying Angels, etc.) and Catholic (like Stella Maris) organizations. They are being run by volunteers too. Thanks to them, they make our port stay less stressful because they are the one bringing internet cards, phone cards, reading materials, pre-owned clothes and gifts during Christmas and some special occasions. Hope this clarifies the matter about our seaman’s club. So klaro na po ba?

Back to hair cut tayo, the most important hair cut onboard is the pang-flight na haircut. It is done several days before disembarkation so that in case the DBO got it wrong, there is still time for the hair to grow and for the DBO to fix it. For those with graying hair, hair coloring is also done to let the hair color settle to look more natural. Vanidoso rin po ang ibang mga nagbabarko, gumagamit ng Likas Papaya Whitening Soap at gusto maputi na uuwi ng Pinas para mukha daw galing abroad.  

Kayo magkano ang budget sa gupit sa barko? Ano ang hindi mo makakalimutang kwentong barbero sa barko? Share mo naman.

Wish ko lang, sana hindi ito masilip ng Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) baka ang Designated Barber Onboard (DBO) ay kailanganin na rin ng certification! Ahoy Mate! Kim Henares is that you?

Prelude for tomorrow’s blog post

Preparing for tomorrow’s Valentine’s Day celebration- Yesterday he was the Spiderman greasing the ship’s crane wires. Today he baked cakes and prepared cappuccino for everybody. A/B Leicester Cu is a multi-talented person. And ladies, he is still single.

How are you going to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Drop a line or two to let me know.