M.A.A.P. BRIDGING PROGRAM Batch 5

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.