In a few hours the the dawn of the new year comes, 2011. The year 2010 was a new chapter of my life. This is the year I started my shipboard training. I went on board last 26th of January. For the past months travelling along the Oceans of Asia Pacific and India. It is the best opportunity and experience I had and I have no regret about it. I'm so lucky that my training officers were so kind, also most of them were Mapuans that entered the bridging program. I also have a 10GB of Video and Photos taken during my shipboard training, some of it now uploaded on my facebook account. But the best are the documented maintenance operations I've made.
Every night before I go to sleep, I would recall my experiences or the things that what I have for the day. This is to asses myself improving to a better person. As I do my recollection, my assessment, I try to shift it to a simulation thinking of another situation that it will give me an awareness and a sense of preparedness in the future. And so far and it worked pretty well. It became better when I got an idea of documenting by video of my work, reviewing it and taking down important notes.
I'm a technology enthusiast, while I'm still on board, improving and increasing my work efficiency. I try to find ways which tools are more better. Not just choosing from a spanner wrench to a hammer but the use of computers to aid my work. I encourage some of my shipmates to use their laptop has a tools not just for entertainment, then I got results. One of my officer used his Sony Play Station Portable in reviewing instructional video while overhauling a turbo charger. Nice!
Because my family, relatives and friends were seafarers. They have told me different stories life on sea, half are true and half were just made. A good example, the saying: "TO SEE THE WORLD FOR FREE." - it is BUSTED not true. Also the stories are very old except for the SAFETY MATTERS. This is the modern time the age of technology. I remember my mom and dad exchange snail mails as mean of their communication, but now via ships e-mail and satellite phones news from home reaches dad instantly.
Before I became a seafarer it took me 6 months of academic study 2 months of training and certification 6 months of waiting and gathering the last 27 years of experiences . As the days of 2010 unfolds, different challenges were faced and tasks were finished.
There's more to come in 2011...
Today, I do my best for tomorrow I can make it better.
There was a saying: "Knowledge is Power". and another "Power is having the bigger bat than the other" and some advertisement would say also: "The power with in your reach." and "The Power of your finger. and Power etc. etc. etc
Media is a powerful tool, and the one of it is the Internet. We all know that power equals the worth of gold. With absolute power, it mask you to be god like. Untouchable - invisible. In this blog, I'm not goin to tell you the powering authority of the media nor the government but to become some-how responsible viewers and user over the on-line virtual world.
The world wide web, Internet is a virtual world of our real world.
This is almost true but things in the virtual world is a bit fast, complicated and always misunderstood. It runs on binary signals sending tons of information around the world in light speed. This is the place where we want to become more than we used to be. From telling breaking news to false one, just to get attention. Again the Internet is a powerful tool and in history power is always being abuse. At this point, on the real world where we are civil to all and acquaintance to many. But on the dark side we are starving for attention for power. So we publish our thoughts and impression on line. Unfortunately which is true its is always misunderstood.
SOCIAL SITES (FRIENDSTER, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, REDTUBE?, BLOGS and FORUMS)
In the net you have the total freedom, on hosted social site rules are made to make it harmonious and enjoying. Own personal thoughts, belief and opinion posted in this sites are respected. This posted messages are to be carefully read and to be analyze it depth to see the true meaning behind it.There are some posted messages are to be raw, reactive, a posted opinion to react on previous post. Sensational post spreads like wildfire.Well this is like with the celebrity news where people enjoys the buzz.
For some people some post messages are is like the breaking news of the end of the world. People with close relationship (families, friends and relatives) would end-up shock and haste to panic reading a posted message over the Internet especially on a social site. This always leads to hot intention rivalries and further more misunderstanding of ones opinion to the another. Much more as it reach to reality, its effect are devastating (blackmail, broken relationship, etc.).
There are ways we could prevent it. If we only keep it in mind and understand the complexity and capability of the net.
TIPS and REMINDERS
Things in the internet is almost true. You must be careful in things that you pick up over the net. What you have read may tell another word for picture tells a thousand word. Control your feelings and emotion Support the facts with other related facts and not false result. Speculation cannot be avoided but it is on the user's freedom of opinion. Secure sites can be hacked, your account can be hacked, your message can be change. Asses and prevent further damage.
There are so many things to tell about, my thoughts run around in my head like a cat and mouse chase. Things happen so fast and you'll never know where and when it will happen. Every time I take the train (LINE 1, 2 and 3), seeing poetry and images. I'm somehow inspired to think of artistic literatures. Unfortunately, I have a short term memory. I don't have a pen and a paper to make thoughts to writing. And for safety reasons - I hold on the safety handrails and seats are unavailable. I just look around and my world starts to turn. As i reach my unknown destination its like a perfect - award winning motion picture, can be only viewed in my head. As I return to reality, hope is what now I hold on.
The Maritime Academy of Asia and The Pacific (M.A.A.P.) started its 5th Bridging Program for Mechanical Engineering Graduates last April 13, 2009. The 5th batch started with thirteen (13) ME Graduates from different schools, a month later two (2) additional students joined and cope up with the subjects which makes them fifteen (15). It is the lowest number of bridging trainees due to its unexpected certain of events in the process. The ME Graduates who signed up for the program went to various interview and series of examination while others were sent by its sponsoring company. M.A.A.P. developed the Bridging Program with C.H.E.D's authorization as a calibrated response by the Associated Marine Officers' and Seamen's Union of the Philippines (A.M.O.S.U.P.) through its Academy, to the worldwide shortage of qualified marine engineers. This implements C.H.E.D. Memo Order Nr 39, Series of 2005 as pertains to the pre-qualification of mechanical and electrical engineers as candidates to undergo the program.
The program run for six (6) months, one (1) semester, performing various interactive classroom lectures and hands-on laboratory exercises that Mechanical Engineering Graduates must incorporate to become Marine Engineers. The trainees who are some licensed and have experiences in the field of various mechanical engineering design and maintenance are now trained in ship's systems operation and maintenance. The trainees performs a semi-rigid training like other cadets in M.A.A.P. to maintain a healthy mind and body. Everyday they perform early morning exercises with a 3.2 km run, sometimes few bridging cadets would like to run one lap non-stop on the M.A.A.P. main road from the west facility to the east facility covering almost the same length but with much steeper routes. Every month a physical test is conducted to determine the condition and improvement of the trainees.
The subject incorporated in the program are Maritime Law, Marine Pollution and Prevention, Seamanship 1: General Ship Knowledge and Ship Routines, Basic Swimming, Introduction to Naval Architecture, Marine Power Plant, Engine Room Watchkeeping, Marine Engineering Systems, Machine Shop Practices and Basic Welding, Marine Control System, Applied Marine Electricity, Basic Safety and Shipboard Familiarization. A total of 30 units earned, 23 hours of lecture and 21 hours of laboratory. The Subject of Bridging Batch 5 Trainees are handled mostly by its subject heads and officers of M.A.A.P. The ME-MarE Trainees
The 5th Batch of the Bridging Program (B.P.-05) said to be unique which came from different schools and have their own talents to share.
1. Arsenal, Eric John Graduate from Western Institute of Technology and a Licensed Mechanical Engineer, its sponsoring company Virgin Shipping. A witty and funny ilonggo, always eager to learn. His colleagues calls him "Mig" (Ilonggo dialect for buddy).
2. Balanay, Harry Noehl S. Graduated from Mapua Institute of Technology also a former taxi driver of MOB Transport services. His colleagues of B.P.-05 would compare him to Doraemon (An anime character that any tools and gadget you need he have it). He also promotes free Training Programs like the open source software LINUX and Livelihood Programs in making Soap, Perfume, Home Cleaning Materials etc. that are home made and much cheaper. His sponsoring company is Bouvet Shipping Company
3. Buen, Donniemar A. His colleagues calls him Doni and to his close a reliable anti-boardom buddy. A licensed Mechanical Engineer graduate from Batangas State University. A very noisy, funny, hyper-active person in and out of the campus. He is also a composer and a musician. Most of his composed lyrics are just like Bitoy's OPM. He volunteer as a drummer boy during service in his church community.
4. Cunanan, Joel G. A licensed mechanical engineer, graduate from Don Honorio Ventura College of Arts and Trades. A very observant person and a silent one that most of his group-mates during laboratory would call him as the adviser. You might see him silent but he might hit you with his punchlines. Some of his close colleagues calls him Spongebob.
5. Gabay, Ronnie Ronnie is said to be the Piolo Pascual of B.P.-05. Worked as technical support engineer in Emerson before entering the bridging program. Graduate from Bataan Heroes Memorial College.
6. Gumboc, Johnny Jr. G. A licensed mechanical engineer from Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology. Married with one daughter, have established a land base family business still decided to become a marine engineer officer. His sponsoring company is Veritas Shipping
7. Losaria, Rustom Francis The big brother of B.P.-05 who always like cats. Graduate from Bataan Heroes Memorial College have been on-board for six (6) years as an oiler. Decided to become an engine officer and took up the bridging program. He was granted by the PRC's Board of Marine Engineering to take the board exam after the bridging program. Married with one child and they have a lot of pet cats.
8. Pascual, Billy Boy B A license engineer worked for two (2) weeks in MAAP's MIITD before entering the Bridging Program. He was encourage by the vice president and the president of MAAP during interviews to become a marine engineer, rather than working as a mechanical engineer in the institute. He is a graduate of Batangas State University.
9. Pacilan, Ares C. Came from Bantayan Isaland, Cebu. Worked as service crew of a fast food chain, graduated from Technological University of the Philippines Manila. Ares is the only B.P.-05 trainee could cross the swimming pool of MAAP underwater. He is also the most aprochable in the group. He was encourage by his former classmate in TUP who was also a trainee of B.P.-04 to become a marine engineer.
10. Rabe, Eliaar M. A licensed engineer youngest of the batch. Graduate from Technological University of the Philippines Manila, a batchmate of Ares. A family man with one son. His sponsoring company is Veritas Shipping
11. Resol, Joey Graduate from Western Institute of Technology and a Licensed Mechanical Engineer. Joey also planned to go on board ship until he hared the bridging program which will give him the advantage as a mechanical engineering graduate.
12. Rosales, Genere H. A family man and a license engineer and worked in San Miguel Corporation, graduated from Polytechnic University of the Philippines. His sponsoring company is Veritas Shipping.
13. Tormis, Brian O. A mechanical engineer graduate from Bataan Heroes Memorial College and worked as a project manager for a year in the middle east. Some of his colleagues calls him Brando and said to be the playboy of the batch.
14. Tarozza, Jetro Also a big brother of B.P.-05, and have been on board for seven (7) years as an oiler on various container ships and chemical tanker vessels. He was granted by the PRC's Board of Marine Engineering to take the board exam after the bridging program.
15. Villanueval, Carlo Came from Capiz and work as a maintenance engineer of a subcontractor of SM Malls, Carlo is a license mechanical engineer and God fearing person. His postures and attitudes towards to his fellow batch mates leaves an impression of an approachable politician - The Mayor.
The Challenges
Despite of the institutes mission and vision for developing the program, discrimination arises to the bridging trainees leading to some dispute between some regular M.A.A.P. cadets and Alumni. This can may be seen over the internet critizing the abilities of this bridging cadet. Mechanical Engineers who went to bridging program are in doubt weather they could handle the seamans condition. That some M.E.'s would quit immediately after experiencing the rough seas. Bridging alumni of various school are still encouraging their fellow M.E.'s do do their best and always stay safe on board, despite of the very distant isolation and dangers of the sea. Some of the bridging alumni are now making waves with flying colors of their performance.
M.A.A.P. have reached its 5th batch of its bridging program thus many maritime institute in the Visayas have also started its own bridging program giving opportunities and other options to other M.E. graduates who would like to become Marine Engineers.
The 5th bridging program officially ended last October 16, 2009.
m still on board, improving and increasing my work efficiency. I try to find ways which tools are more better. Not just choosing from a spanner wrench to a hammer but the use of computers to aid my work. I encourage some of my shipmates to use their laptop has a tools not just for entertainment, then I got results. One of my officer used his Sony Play Station Portable in reviewing instructional video while overhauling a turbo charger. Nice!