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?