Seafarer's Benefit

 The proposed 100% increase to the compulsory contribution of OFW for Philhealth becomes viral on social media as of today. The increase also affects local employees who are member to the said medical insurance.

I have never been to any lectures or seminars with regards to the policy of Philhealth. My knowledge is limited to the fact that I am a member and that my company is paying for that.

Photo courtesy of Facebook OFWVOICE page

I was obliged to visit the Philhealth office in Iloilo for my company urged me to get my lifetime membership card and number so they can send the contribution directly to Philhealth and not on the SSS number as being done currently.

I live far from the city all-in-all about 2.5-3 hrs driving (commuting) so I woke up early. I brought my wife with me for she knew the city well than I do.

The waiting time to get my transaction number was easy, but the time I was called for business bugs me. The early preparation going to the city made me sleepy.

My number was finally flashed in the monitors finally after countless yawns. I gave the form which my company gave me from the office and I told her that I didn’t have my card yet. I also asked her if I could include my mom as a beneficiary. She said it’s possible if she is a senior citizen and if I have her ID with me which I didn’t have.

She reminded me however to pay my dues in times when I am on vacation for the company is not paying when I’m on leave, failure to do so may cause forfeiture of my benefits from the insurance given three months max of non payment.

Three months, I suddenly remember my AMOSUP membership benefits. Like Philhealth I am not entitled of their coverage after three months of leave. Does this mean I have to schedule when will I or my beneficiaries get sick?

Maybe for some OFW this is not a problem given the fact that their vacation leave does not extend up to three months. In our case (seafarers) it sometimes reaches far beyond three months. We are at the mercy of our manning agencies.

It’s good that the clerk advised me to pay in behalf of my employer in times when I am on leave. For the AMOSUP no chance, unless you have friends working inside. Another difference is in PHILHEALTH P2400 for the entire year and for the AMOSUP its 23USD per month. In fairness to the latter they cover more privileges.

Recently one House Representative withdrew her authored bill proposing an increase to OWWA contribution after a successful facebook campaign. I also shared the photo as my agreement to the sentiment.

And now another campaign is flooding my facebook wall with regards to this 100% increase on the Philhealth contribution. This time I did not share because for me it was a fair proposal. A roughly P7.00 a day for medical insurance is reasonable enough.

I put my hands down in regards to medical issue. I understand how expensive this days to be hospitalized. As what the famous tag line of a multi vitamins brand “bawal magkasakit”. I believe that it is our individual responsibility to update our medical insurance due. That amount contributed could not even cover a day stay in the hospital, but the Philhealth in returns covers more than our annual contribution.

Photo courtesy of Facebook OFWVOICE page

Most of the proponents of the campaign cited the inutile management of the Philhealth, that up to now about 10000 back log of records. Paying members was not afforded by their rights for the name of their beneficiary was not on the system. I raged with them on this. I also despise the long queue upon processing, the unwelcoming aura of some employees working under the Philhealth umbrella and the long list of requirements prior availing of the insurance.

But all that was nothing compared to the aid this insurance company is covering, a little sacrifice to say. And by the way this is the type of benefits I would be happy if not used. Means my family and myself is healthy. Health is wealth though.

To the people working on this insurance company be prompt in attending to the needs of your members, we deserved it, it is your duty.

 To fellow members lets pay early and declare our dependents accurately, it is our duty.

LITAW

Litaw, it’s the first time that I heard this word and it’s from a colleague of mine in this night watch of ours. Actually I am not quite sure if my guess was right at first, from the context of our conversation, I concluded it refers to unseen creatures/ spirits living in our very same world.

We just left Ecuador and bound to Korea, less than three weeks voyage, hopefully without delay I will sign off in one of the ports there.

Our topic for tonight was about the unseen, the other creatures living among us not in our likeness.

It started when he told me about the coffee tree (is it really a tree..?), he had not seen it personally, only in a TV show ‘Ating Alamin’. He was astonished when he first saw it, he thought that its somewhat related to a vine like that of grapes.

We admired the sweet aroma of freshly brewed coffee from Batangas and we conclude it’s the best coffee in the whole world. Trivia: he doesn’t drink coffee, me on the other hand can’t get enough of it. From the aroma of the coffee he then mentioned about the different smell in one of their streets which only came out at a particular season, it smelled like patis (fish sauce).

Rumor said that, it was a poultry area before which caused the noxious smell. Some old folks believed that there was something in it. Plenty rains and low flood could totally cleaned the area thus vanishing the old foul smell but seasonally the smell came out.

Then I told him my maling-akala version. When I was a child I believed that a nice scent from nowhere is a sign of Mama Mary’s presence. There was this time when I smelled that lovely scent, prompted me to go out of the house to check where it came from. To my dismay I didn’t see Mama Mary but a lovely flower blossomed from a BITA tree. Later on I used the white juice extracted when you pick its leave to cure the small lump above my right foot brought by playing kick using coin.

That Bita tree standing across the street had stories. My folks would warn not to piss on that tree or else creatures living in it would curse me. One time, to clear the branches which touching the line of electricity the barangay administration in coordination with BArangay Power Association hired somebody to cut clear those  unwanted branches. After doing so, the guy got sick and according to Albularyo he did not ask permission from the creatures living inside that tree. From then on before clearing whoever assigned to cut asked permission first and the curse was broken.

Both of us is neither afraid of the dark nor believed there is someone/thing in the dark which could harm us. We believed that we should be afraid on the things/person we see rather on things we can not see. We only see what we wanted to see, said he. I nod in agreement.

He told me about what happened to his wife’s sister. One time like any other first Friday of the month they woke up early to catch a first mass in Quiapo sort of Panata which they believed, blessed them their coveted child (they were married long before they have their child and Gapan, Nueva Ecija is 2-3.5 hrs of driving away from Quiapo).

It’s a no secret that for the past years that they never missed a single first Friday to attend a mass. That day when the dawn is breaking the wife’s sister saw my colleague’s wife in their yard area. To her curiosity she texted and inquired why she didn’t go to Quiapo.

She replied that currently they were in AMOSUP hospital for regular medical check up for they had attended the mass already. The reply sent goosebumps to my colleague’s wife sister. She advised them to take extra careful for it might mean something. And they did (wife’s) believing that it might be a warning of harm on their way.

Then I rebutted him about my own encounter. I decided to go home from neighbor’s house where we do “padpad mais” or manually removing the grain of corn from its body using bare hands with the assistance of improvised gadget “kudkuran”- where we rubbed the corn, the friction it caused plus the contour (spike) of the rubber usually from old bicycle or tricycle tire separated grains from its body.

On my way home I saw this overly huge stray dog about 15-20 meters away from where I was standing. I rubbed my eyes to ensure that I am not hallucinating, there it was the same overly huge dog standing still, none of us move for a minute or so. Humming a song composed by my imagination instantly, I took the first step to make a move, as I go nearer and nearer the dog vanished in thin air. I told no one about that encounter until I heard from a neighbor that he saw that same dog that night in that same place. I was the third person who saw it.

Yes it’s true that even up to now I am still skeptical about this so-called other living creatures’ dwelling around us but it doesn’t mean that my mind is closed about it. I have high regards for those who were able to open their third eye, and high respect for paranormal experts.

I still practice this thing where you say “panabi-tabi” in respect to other creatures when I am new to a place or whenever I am in a place where had that history. In fact, before we formally open the “binayle” back my SK Chairperson days, I would dedicate two songs for our unseen friend. Nobody was allowed inside the dance floor, it’s for them.

PACIFIC CONFERENCE 2012

Tianjin, China

da cast

maalala ko lang. isang parti ng palatuntunan nung haiskul ako

ang para sa akin ay masyadong eksaherado.

Medyo malayu ang aking pwesto kaya hindi ko masyadong magets and dayalogo.

iisa ang mikropono kung kayat piagpasapasahan

ni hindi mo nga akalain na iyun ay isang skit

o mas tanyag sa tawag  na daama-drama.

nakita ko na lang sinuntok ni aktor 1 si aktor 2.

bandang huli ayun sa tagapagsalaysay

hindi daw sila nagkaintindihan ng kanyang kausap

kung kayat may sigalutan na nangyari,

e panu yun ‘ikako

eh nasa Pilipinas naman sila bat hindi sila magkaunawaan.?

maalala ko ulit linggo ng wika pala.

binigyan pugay ang kontribusyon ng ating mga ninunu

para mabuklod ang libu-libong isla

ng iisang wika na maintindihan ng masa.

tsk..tsk..yon pala yun.

Heyograpiya, kaysayan 101.

Ang Pilipinas kong mahal ay binubuo ng 7100 isla

Ayon kay Bb. Charlene Gonzales ay 7107 pag nag low tide na.

Hinati ito sa 3 malalaking pulo.

Luzon o mas tanyag na Maynila

Visayas o mas kilala sa bayan ng matitigas na dila

Mindanao o  sinasabing ruta ng mga rebelde

Sabi dun sa kanta

Lahat tayo’y may pagkakaiba

Sa ngiti pa lang ay makikita na

Tama

May ngiting plastik kung malala eh goma pa

May ngiting mona Lisa, palaisipan

Ngiting Gloria, nang-iinis

Ngiti ko, totoo (asus)

Dito sa barko

Aking napagtanto

Tagalog nami’y iba-ba ang ponto

Matigas, pilipit sa bisayang tulad ko

May himig at umaawit ng mga taga dulo

Malalim, kakaiba sa mga batangenyo

Hindi natatapos sa ngiti at ponto ang pagkakaiba

Sa hilig at pag-uugali lalo na

Halinat bulatlatin natin sila

Ang mga bida at kontra-bida

Yong dapat na hari,pero umaastang reyna

Parang mga artista

Na gumaganap sa pelikula

Unahin natin si Ogie A. at Michael V.

Nakakatuwa kahit walng kwenta ang sinasabi

Palaging basa ang kanilang mga labi

Umaraw man o gumabi

Nanaisin mong wag umalis sa yong tabi

Lalot malungkot ka, dahil sa kagagawan ng iyong bhebhe.

Isunod natin si kabayang Noli

Lumapit sa kanya wag mag-atubili

Balitang currents events at politika walang pili

Wag lang yong mga sabi-sabi

Kung ayaw mong buhay moy grumabe

Lipat tayo kay Boy Abunda

Tulad ni boy balitang shobis alam nya

Walng pakialam totoo man o haka-haka

Importante may katuwaan lng sya

Minsan sya nama’y naging Ogie Diaz

Sa blind item walAng kakupas-kupas

dila nyang walng habas

Dahilan minsan syay nahahampas

Kilalanin natin ang kamag-anak ni Jaworski

Sa basketbol gustong maghari

Sa paglalaro inaaway pati ripiri

Ang pagkatalo’y di nya mawari

Parang batang inagawan ng kendi

Minsan sumasampa din si Mara

Kaya siempre nabuhay din si  Clara

Si Mara na inaapi-api

Hindi nagsasalita akala moy pipi

Hindi man sila nagsasabunutan

Suntukan lang naman ang kinahahantungan

Adolf Hitler hindi pahuhuli

Tapang mo’y kanyang binili

Hindi marunong tumawa o ngumiti

Mukhang palaging nanggagalaiti

Ayaw nya ng kayo ay naliligayahan

Masaya sya pag tao nyay nahihirapan

Minsan naisip ng tao nyay makipagsapalaran

Itapon sya sa dagat ng mapag-iwanan

Meron ding kadugo si hermayni

(Hermione Granger ng Harry Potter)

Know-it-all bansag sa kanila

Lahat kuno ng bagay alam nya

Kadalasan hanggang salita lamang sila

Si pastor na mahilig sa parable

Bitbit ay parating Holy bible

Kanya itong pinili kesa bola ay idribol

Itinutuloy kahit ang mahikayat na grupo ay ismol

Mawawala ba tulad ni Pacman na boksingero

Sa pagiging kuripot bilib ako

Palaging nakatiklop ang kamao

Barat ang binibigay nyang regalo

Pero pansinin mo sa salo-salo

Pagkain alak inumin halo-halo

Masarap talaga pag libre ano..?

Gayun pa man kahit iba-iba

Pinilipit naming maging Masaya

Lungkot at pagod hindi alintana

Para buhay ng pamilya giginhawa

Inaabangan matapos ang contrata

Para makasama nasa piling ng pamilya.

27 things on my 27th

Wow, time flies literally so fast. 
Seems like yesterday when we argued with SM City cinema guards about our age.

It was the time when SM Cinemas shows R-18 movies.

Together with my college friends, I think12 of us at that time we decided to watch ‘’HIBLA’’ which starred Maui Taylor and Rica Peralejo.

Buying the ticket was easy, getting through the guards was difficult.

As a freshman college who everyday shaved our young beard and mustache 
we looked like a sophomore high school, 
prompting the guards to ask for our school ID.

There it goes our movie ticket was refunded.

That was 10 years ago.

If before I hate shaving for it does make me look like high school
now I shaved wanting to look like high school again.

I’m not vain though.

Thanks to my small body structure 
I still look younger than what I ought to be (at this instance being thin coupled with small body structure has its advantage).

Now that I’m on my 27^th a friend asked how I feel, how I see my life. Here are the 27 I am, want, like , need.

1. My career is not bad.

2. Ventured the sea at 19

3. I need to gain weight.

4. I need to be more patient.

5. youngest of the 8^th siblings

6. Graduated college last 2006

7. Have an adorable and sweet son.

8. I want to treat my family abroad

9. Today 23^rd of March 2012 I turned 27.

10. I need to re-affirm my Christian faith

11. Would prefer beers rather than whiskey

12. I want to have a decent roof for my family

13. Once a hat collector (puro na-arbor kag dula)

14. I like Harry Potter Books more than its movie.

15. was not able to go home on my father’s interment

16. I like the burger of Mcdo and fried chicken of Jollibee

17. onboard on my cadetship when my father passed away

18. Missed by father and brother who were with God above

19. Happily married to the woman I love since high school

20. Felt sorry for those who abused our ancestors’ innocence

21. I want to be home for Christmas and New Year and my son’s birthday

22. Bought 6600 Nokia with my own money after cadetship (15K that time)

23. That Nokia 6600 phone is almost 7 years old but still alive and loves texting

24. I like Eminem and Slapshock although I can’t do rap and definitely I can’t do rock

25. Thought that Victoria secret was a chocolate, until I had shore pass in Savannah, GA.

26. Would appreciate 3-5 birthday greetings rather than hundred aided by FB notification.

27. Had my first plane ride when I joined the ship for the first time. (international flight agad)

Was it fair..?

In July 2010, Capt. Bernadino Santos was committed for trial in Queensland due to 270 tonnes of oil spilt off Queensland coast caused by a ship under his command.

The beauty she commanded suffered from severe storm which caused her 31 containers to go overboard, these fallen containers punctured bunker tanks leading to oil spill.

Protection of the Crew

The highest order of priority when in dire situation. Responsible for the protection of the ship, her cargo and the marine environment. With us the maritime industry progresses, transportation of goods and products made possible.

Protection of the Ship

The moment we left home to start seafaring, ship became our second home. Aside from the fact that she is multi-million dollars worth, she is our fortress against the wrath of angry seas and dreaded unstable weather. Maintaining her seaworthiness is our duty. Saltwater, different climates and weathers all contributes for her fast deterioration. De-rusting and repainting was her defense.

Protection of the marine environment

The international convention for the prevention of oil pollution from ships stipulates strict guidelines in which failure to do so can cause heavy fines for the owner, imprisonment for the crew plus revocation of license to operate plus the eternal association of your name as the marine environment destroyer.

Protection of the Cargo

Maritime industry mainly revolves in the global transport of products/goods form one place to another. The import and export of products is handled by ships circumnavigating the world. Cargoes vary from precious oil on tankers, high end cars, heavy machineries for construction skyscrapers as well as machineries for ro-ros’, general cargoes for bulk carriers. Different types of ship, different types of cargo they carry from simple to a complicated one. Our role is to transport these products from one place to another safely with no zero tolerance for damage or contamination.

When an airplane landed at sea the pilot was commended for his ability to do so. He was being adored, praised and idolized. Some hailed him as a hero.

But when a ship grounded or stranded the Master is a criminal. Instead of honoring him for his cleverness to safely bring the ship to shore with no harm to his crew he is despised for causing the damage to the marine environment.

I understand when they adored the airplane’s pilot if he managed to crash the plane to the sea. What I don’t understand is how they criticize the captain of the ship if an accident met her ship. Maybe because these critics are so use in flying with plane in 2 hours, 12 hour max. Or maybe because when they are a plane passenger the likes of Victoria’s Secret models flight stewardess treat them like kings and queens bringing them foods and drinks. Isn’t it their job?

I hope that one day they can be a cargo ship’s passenger too. First call, transiting Gulf of Aden, off Somalia Coast. A pirate infested area, where up to now ships and her crew were held captives of these bastard pirates. I hope they can feel the worry of our loved ones left at home every time we transit this place.

Next call 30 days voyage form Pacific to Atlantic with no other soul nearby just an endless horizon which seems unreachable. No phone signals and no internet connection, the only to way to communicate ashore is through satellite phones costing 3 to 4 times higher.

I will let these bunch of critics and skeptics experienced eating with their plate dancing on the table to the tune of rough seas and heavy swells. I will let them sleep in a cradle swaying, throwing their body while lying from one end of the bed to another; they will vomit their stomach out, they will be drunk with zero alcohol on their system while they missed the opportunity to sing happy birthday to their kids, or to march with them on their graduation or to exchange gift on Christmas or to watch the first sunrise of the new year.

In Capt. Santos case it seemed that the marine environment is more important than the life of his crew. He was not given a credit for saving the lives, he was butchered for not protecting the environment. It is not that I am not grateful to the sea. I love and thank the sea for giving me a chance to work to feed my family its just that we are talking about the lives that were saved, we are talking about husbands, fathers , sons and friends.

To whom are we protecting the marine environment anyways? To the predators of the sea? I know they would say to the future generations to come. Oh wait, isn’t it a future is yet to come? Means there is still more time to prepare. 

Why not focus on the present?

Oplan Pa-gain weight

At 26 weighing 54 kgs is a bit disappointment for me. While my colleagues and friends having trouble losing weight, I on the other hand having trouble gaining weight.

Back in my formative years I was this cute chubby little boy with eyes as those of Chinese or Koreans. Often I was mistaken as a Chinese because of the resemblance of the eye.

As our family was not so blessed with wealthy possession we often indulged in veggies grown in our backyard as our everyday viand. Once or twice if we get lucky we have meat on our table.

Our late father was a great cook, He was the one doing the cooking except for days when he was drunk. His mongo soup was my favorite and up to now for me, nobody surpass his delicious mongo recipe.

Looking at myself back in my elementary days, I was in great shape and form, not too skinny and not too fatty as well. I don’t have this bulging bone in my wrist and my neck was not this long.

I was an epitome of a healthy and well nourished kid, envied by other parents because of my humbling physique.

My body mass starts to deteriorate when I was in high school probably due to more class load and not enough nutritious food consumed. Our day starts at 0700H for flag ceremony and ended 1700H after gardening.

My sleeping schedule was disturbed and so was my rest. I need to sleep and to wake up early, too bad if there was a scheduled long quiz. Often I skipped breakfast so that I will not be late in going to school. Eight kilometer rough road by a tricycle could take as much as 20-30 minutes. Need to leave early in order to arrive early.

My hope of gaining my weight back flourished when I entered college. Luckily I passed a scholarship, full grant, from tuition fees to books to dorm and best of all free food.

As part of the dormitory training, reveille at 0430H followed by navy dozen and a 4 kilometer jog everyday. Breakfast at 6am lunch either 11am or 12am depends on the class schedule and 6pm dinner. Three square meal everyday, not bad.

Surprisingly I was not included in cadets who were having an extra exercise to hasten weight loss for overweight s and to gain muscle for skinnys’. Means my body built was deceiving.

As experienced by our senior cadets, after their sea trip as apprentice most of them lost control on their weight management until they became heavier than the normal. They told us not to worry (SKINNY group) for they assure that if it’s our time we will be as huge as them.

I finished my cadet year with unnoticeable changes in my body built maybe I gained one or two kgs with no bearing on the way I look. Still struggling to gain weight.

I share this sentiment with my colleagues onboard, again they told me not to worry for once in their life they were like me, just hit on my right BMI with no allowance. I’ve waited for three years now but no luck. They asked me why I wanted it so badly. I answered them with these.

1. The nature of work demands. Mooring lines used onboard is not the same rope I used with my carabao. Lines were heavy long and needs muscle to organize it.

2. To look just my age. I dont know if it’s a compliment when somebody asked my age and I answered them correctly and their response ‘’ NO KIDDING, I thought you are a teenager, you look so young”.

3. To be fit. Although I haven’t really had issues during my comprehensive pre-med exam, one remarks that the doctor made caught may attention. I was recommended to eat substantial amount of nutritious food to gain weight.

4. Strong body. I want an arm where my wife can safely rest and an arm where can spin my son as long as he wants.

I make it my personal business to gain weight as much as 60-65 kgs. The question is when?