INTRODUCTION

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

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

THE START

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

COLLEGE YEARS

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

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

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

REALITY OF LIFE

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

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

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

LIFE ONBOARD AS A SAILOR

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

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

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

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

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

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

ENEMIES OF THE STATE

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

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

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

MY RETURN TO THE COMPANY

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

BASTARDS !!!

So, I left.

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

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

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

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

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