Class 2006 Our Story? (The Immaculate Years) part 3

Class 2006 Our Story? (The Immaculate Years) part 3

Aside from the normal midterm and final examinations, the graduating class needed to undergo and pass the validating examination. With the eagerness to graduate, each member of the Class spent hours late at night and early in the morning to review. Validating examinations foretell jeopardy if not attended to properly. Many sacrificed by staying on board rather than going ashore.

It was during the first semester when all sections of both BSMT and BSME had their sea duty at SBMA to man seven crafts which was a part of our sea exposure and learning. Our juniors generally benefited since it was their first experience to stand a watch, perform duties onboard, as well as observe the maneuvering of vessels during operation.

After our validating exam results, a sense of accomplishment cheered our tired minds after days of unrest. We will finally graduate after all the long journey. we may now say with pride and honor, "we prevailed against the evils of this Odyssey". We are now officers!

And so, as times has watched us grow from young boys to experienced seaferers ready to conquer the open world ahead of us, we prepare to bid farewell to our Alma Mater. Leaving the lofty portals of the Academy is like leaving home. We learned a lot from its motherly hand and forever we will carry in our hearts the words Righteousness, Humility and Courage - our molding guide in our success.








Behold! One hundred and eighty two officers of CLASS 2006!
We will always and forever be PMMA'ers! brother...

Behold! The Fair wind and the sky so blue! let us sail far... far away towards the sun's brillant glow!!!


the end...

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Class 2006 Our Story? (The Immaculate Years) part 2

Class 2006 Our Story? (The Immaculate Years) part 2

The saying, " To be a good leader, you must be a good follower"' holds true as we took command of the rest of the midshipmen. We were next to tactical officers. As the ruling class, the duty and responsibility of upholding the Academy's prestige and honor lay on our shoulders. We held positions of each committee and stood as Line Officers in the regiment of the Corps. The years when we were directed to just obey, obey and obey finally paid off.

Academic life became tougher and busier than in our junior years. The pressure was no longer in the battalion but within the four walls of the classroom. We now have all the time to study. Yet, the demands of both major and minor subjects clashed together, leaving limited hours to do other responsibilities for the Corps. Hence, "wise use of time" was one of our treasured mantras.

The activities for the year went smoothly as the months passed. We had our Acquaintance Party on September, semestral breaks in October, Valentines Party and Recognition Period, the year could not be complete without the civic and military parades.


to be continue.....

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Class 2006 Our Story? (The Immaculate Years) part 1

Class 2006 Our Story? (The Immaculate Years) part 1

FIRST CLASS YEAR
(The Immaculate Years)

The Sultry Zambalenean wind blew smoothly through the newly sprouted green leaves in the Academy. Young and full of vigor, we came back to continue our education and the training we once left.

The good old days flashed back before us. what we once experienced as juniors now constitute a strong and mighty immaculate.

During our days as underclassmen, we found it very scary to go back to PMMA; but the day, with all the enthusiasm and delight in our hands, we couldn't wait to see the august hall of our institution, as Kings, though not clad in royal robes nor crowns but with the highest respect from the underclassmen, for now we are the supreme ruler of the Corps.

This time we are now the "Kings of the Barracks" - a dream that was once enjoyed only in fancies was now a sweet reality, Being a firstie was each plebe's dream, thirdclassmen's fantasy, and a secondclassmen's wonder. As the highest member of the regiment, unthinkable reporting and compliances are replaced by duties and responsibilities.

Changes in the system made it hard for some to go with the flow. Many had been denied the continuing of their training due to violations of new rules and regulations which were diligently enforced. Nothing is constant though the edge was rough; we merged ourselves in the transition process for the betterment of the corps, for our future and for the future generations of PMMA'ers to come.


to be continue....

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Class 2006 Our Story? (SHELLBACKS on deck) part 3

Class 2006 Our Story? (SHELLBACKS on deck) part 3

Days on board were not as easy as it seemed to be. Work and study come together in the process of learning. "Experience is the best teacher' as the old saying goes. On board, we learned many things, which cannot be erased for it was written by experience. Making our sea project taught us things that we were to study. We decoded the principle behind a merchant marine officer. Staying late after work to study and helping the "mates" with the paper works was a part of our shipboard training. Eagerness to learn and humility was also a good thing...

Earning for ourselves gave us a feeling of pride knowing that we could now enjoy simple pleasures of life as fruits of our labor. One of the favorite moments onboard was the end of the month... - the time to receive our hard-earned dollars. Our allotment which our family and loved ones received somehow pacified financial shortcomings.

The year we spent taught us the life of a seafarer and seafaring as a profession. It was a combination of lonely and colorful memories that we vividly recall even to this day.

We would surely miss the life onboard; but seeing our families, friends and love ones excite us the most. The time to disembark our first ships neared. We left the sea as apprentice cadets, and we shall returns with the STRIPES.

The time has come for us to go back to our lair, back in the arid plains of Zambales. This time, as Firstclassmen.


the end...

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Class 2006 Our Story? (SHELLBACKS on deck) part 2

Class 2006 Our Story? (SHELLBACKS on deck) part 2

On our first day on board, we familiarized ourselves with the vessel and its crew. Recalling every lesson learned from the academy was quite challenging. Relating every detail we learned from basic seamanship, general ship construction was a very powerful drive for us to appreciate the structures that makes a ship seaworthy.

Our ships sailed to the seven seas and took us to places that delighted our hearts. It is our first time to visit the different foreign countries from the continents of North and South America, Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia.


We had seen with our very eyes, beautiful of superb cleanliness, cultures, beautiful works of art and almost every material beauty that we saw only in magazines, books, televisions, and imaginations. The most unforgettable of it were the beautiful ladies of different colors and flavors who ranged from blonde, brunette, auburn and camel brown, beautiful faces with blue and green eyes and assorted "chinitas". Trading the famous Filipino hospitality with them enabled us to share memories that they will never forget... Not in their entire life on earth. This is what we call - caring for acquaintance the "PMMA style."

We ate exotic foods new to our taste buds, drank world class wine, brandy and great testing beers from different countries as well as savored delectables chocolates irresistably tempting our appetite for another bite.


to be continue....

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Class 2006 Our Story? (SHELLBACKS on deck) part 1

Class 2006 Our Story? (SHELLBACKS on deck) part 1

SECOND CLASS (SEA) YEAR
(SHELLBACKS on deck)

"Come hither, bunkmates, let us wonder through the mystery of latitudes and longitudes under the mortal-rejoicing sun that journeys above. Let us uncover the streets of the wide stars attended great man at sea to reach lands of milk and honey." We now head to Poseidon's lair in search for knowledge and ventures.

The experience of luxurious first-class plane tickets, modern bullet trains, luxary cars, limousine rides, and checking in first class hotels for free after all the unforgettable cadetship ordeals which denied us of the beautiful world inside the hot and empty ennui of the Academy was most reeee-la-xing...

We were amazed by the looks, sizes and beauties of each ship we saw for the first time. Gigantic ships of enormous lengths mesmerized our eyes especially upon seeing an almost floating metal island comprising of merchant fleets. Their built was so strong and they make way as if they were unsikable in a raging hurricane.

As we approached our maiden vessels, we wondered how it looked like inside, what kind of crew we will live with, what life awaits us and what beautiful and bad things we will be having in our days on board. The feeling of strangeness wrapped our hearts as we took each step in the accommodation ladder ( gangway). Surely it is now the real thing, the life every midshipman has been waiting for, the feeling that every midshipman has been longing for... an unexplainable feeling of excitement and doubt.

to be continue.....

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Class 2006 Our Story? (The Year of the Tiger) part 3

Class 2006 Our Story? (The Year of the Tiger) part 3

January came and the corps was back for the sequel, the finale of our scout for the sea where our vessel awaited us. Academic were tremendously arduous; projects, assignments, research works, quizzes, simulators demonstration and many others overflowed our bucket of priorities. Life in the battalion became tense as well; since our seniors were often times moody due to twists and heavy rolling.

Not so long ago, the day of Hearts came, a chance to unwind for a while. A blissful break for the weary heart and mind. We celebrate with friends and loved ones in our annual party. This time, some of us proudly showcased their " ONE AND ONLY'S" while some paraded in grandeur their "ONE AMONG MANY'S".. Truly, the Valentines hop of our 3rd class year was unforgettable, for we have a little bit of pride and confidence to be with the woman of our choice, which was in contrast during our plebe year when we just took anyone in the vicinity, not minding the looks and the qualities of our partners, - like suicide squad in dire need of drag.

Before the school year ended; we, the whole class of 2006 selected the incoming officers of the regiment as well as the committee heads who will be spearheading every endeavor and who would forebear the Academy's prestige in all the activities outside and inside institution. We were already preparing for our first class year yet we were still due for shipboard training, -an odd preparation that happens only in PMMA. The sense of leadership and responsibility that has been etched by two years of toil was soon to be tested. We were, after all, SECONDCLASSMEN.

The Department of Midshipmen Affairs turned us over to the Department of Shipboard Training to finally facilities our embarkation. we left the academy ready to sail the high seas. The feeling of excitement could not be hidden in the sparkle of our eyes. Days and hours were the only factors to count and we would be sailing beyond books and imaginations to places and experience we had never encountered before.

the end...

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Class 2006 Our Story? (The Year of the Tiger) part 2

Class 2006 Our Story? (The Year of the Tiger) part 2

During this time, the burden of being the Silent Drill Company member is an unwritten duty that we must uphold. The embodiment of the rifle and the great Stallion way is not an easy business. The astronomical twilight wake up calls (early reveille), the demurrage - payable side straddle ups and relevant exercises, the equatorial heat of the sun and the curtailed liberty are just simple "privileges" that "crackers" share and enjoy. Thus worthy to be called; "THE FEW AND THE PROUD..." men of the PMMA.

A month passed and we held the Annual Acquaintance Party, but this time, we were a little bit more comfortable to be with guests since we were no longer thin on top. Moreover, the month was very hectic due to the incoming first semester final examination.

Our semestral break came. It could not be definitely called a break because most of us spent it in "Safety of Life at Sea" (SOLAS) training courses. This was for our shipboard training. Some of us also procured important documents such as clearances, passport, and seaman's books as preparation for our shipboard training after the school year. The case that semestral break brings did not satiate the contortions on our faces to our stressful semester, yet our satisfaction gauge calibrated to appreciate even a minute of comfort and cheers, a fraction of an already divided day to rest means a lot.

Christmas season arrived; we had a Christmas Party without the beer busting. Christmas break then commenced. Most of us spent the Yultide season with our families and loved ones back home. We made the most out of this opportunity to enjoy every moment since we knew we would be spending our next Christmas and New Year's day in the middle of the ocean thousands of miles away....

to be continue....

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Class 2006 Our Story? (The Year of the Tiger) part 1

Class 2006 Our Story? (The Year of the Tiger) part 1

The Year of the Tiger
(third class year)

Pondering about the past that lies in the depth of hardships and struggles shortened the chain that lies down from the torrents of our hearts as we tried to unfathom the seafloor of our fate as thirdclassmen. The responsibilities that lie on our shoulders that brought on a situation just like the crew of Odyseus in close encounters with our life Scylla and Charybdis - the king and the lowest mammals. Our eager and hungry eyes snipe like that of a tiger to any bald headed bug in our vicinity yet cautious enough to camouflage from the kings who hunt for prey, in short we are caught between two rocks, one of it is our hunger to instill our authority and power to the poor ducrots we have in sight and the other one is the fear for the upperclassmen who have their cravings for the taste of thirdclassmen.

As a normal activity of the year, the class of 2003, after finishing their summer ship board training (SST) commonly known as NS - 43, came back to the Academy for graduation. They were once our firstclassmen who taught us the consequence of an offense the patience in panic-stricken seconds, the triple - O and many others. The blood past has gone, an avenue of the PMMA way which many trudged but only a few managed to cross.

to be continue....

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Class 2006 Our Story? (Taming the Beast) part 4

Class 2006 Our Story? (Taming the Beast) part 4

Upon valentine's Day, we prepared the battalions, secured our partners and invited our parents as well as our foster parents for the event. During this time, we did almost the same program we had during the acquaintance party. The only difference is that this time, it will be a month to go and we will no longer be treated as pesky varmints but a little bit higher in the caste of mammals inside the Academy.

Finally, March came, suggesting what recognition day was drawing near. Recognition day is also called the batch pinning wherein our class seal. authenticated by our hardships will finally become a part of our uniform... of our pride. It was comforting to breathe the air of the seemingly endless world. The blue sky looked brighter; a hope for a new tomorrow crept in the nerves of our face that invited a smile for a job well done.

the end...

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Class 2006 Our Story? (Taming the Beast) part 3

Class 2006 Our Story? (Taming the Beast) part 3

Upon the graduation of class 2002, we were utilized as parading elements and most of the time, we were confined to our quarters to do things for them. It was encouragement for us, our hearts seeing the graduating class step into the pedestal of success while we were just beginning.

Then the month of September came, - the excitement of the Acquaintance party filled the air together with our beloveds, we watched the Silent Drill Company perform for the first time. Open house then followed. We made preparation to entairtain our guest. It was during this time when we introduced our family and friends to our upperclassmen. Later in the evening, we had our catered dinner at the Mess Hall. The band serenade us as we enjoyed our meals with our special guests. As the night went deeper, the dance floor got filled with overwhelming joy.

Semestral break finally came; and for the first time, midshipmen were allowed to go home.

Time passed swiftly and the cold breeze of December filled the Academy atmosphere. IT was a feeling of both happiness and anxiety, for everything we did pointed to our Christmas vacation, a time we plebes can finally spend wholesome hours with our families.

to be continue...

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Class 2006 Our Story? (Taming the Beast) part 2

Class 2006 Our Story? (Taming the Beast) part 2

As days passed by, our upperclassmen grew in number. Bursting with rage and loudness, the third classmen came; they were like an armada ready to clash. We seized every second and every split opportunity to know their names. We looked at their nameplates, uniform and even their slippers as well as every single clue that could tell us their identity. Our already crumpled world became smaller and smaller each day as the first classmen and the second classmen came aboard. Most of the time, we moved as if we had thousands of unaccomplished jobs, so as not to be caught in the limelight. Reporting, compliances and other rituals of the lowest mammal in the Academy seemed to be unending.

The mess hall, under its hollow structure could not accommodate silence against the shouts of our upperclassmen as well as our voices that needed to be raised to the highest power every time we made a statement. "Chow time" is a definition of "inverted meals"' "raising feet", "exaggeration", "the usual condiments" etc., exercises, new offenses, compliance and other similar things. Being the last to finish eating is a dining faux pas which eventually results in facing scary upperclassmen. If you are unlucky enough, you will end up at the back of the battalion for the due process, with unthinkable reporting as a supplement.

Formation time from reveille until the last muster could not be complete without double timing in place. Exercises then followed the sequence of typical events that a fourth class midshipmen always expected.

to be continue...

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Class 2006 Our Story? (Taming the Beast) part 1

Class 2006 Our Story? (Taming the Beast) part 1

FOURTH CLASS YEAR
(Taming the Beast)

A very short shore pass revitalize our weathered body and enthusiasm; it was again time for us to muster the courage that seemed to have gone on AWOL. Anticipation of the life that we would adapt inside the battalion , the mess hall as well as the action - packed daily routines made our hearts pound so hard it could be felt nautical miles away, and was subtly accompanied by a brief gulp of saliva.

As we neared the mighty gates of our deer PMMA, the sight of its mighty gates in a very bareen background stirred quirky feelings from within us. Our bodies seemed to shake together with the leaves that quivered as the warm breeze blew against the needles of the pine tress. With our left hand holding our luggage and the right on thrust position, we moved on the double toward our second home.

Entering the barracks was never easy, our feet needed a jostle to make a step. After arranging our thing and cleaning our quarters; the heads made us busy the whole day. It was quite all right during that time because only few of our seniors were onboard. Knowing that it would be quite sooner or later that the empty deck be infested by tyrant dragons, our senses wanted to slow every second that passed to delay our doom.

to be continue...

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Class 2006 Our Story? (Reinventing the Steel ) part 5

Class 2006 Our Story? (Reinventing the Steel ) part 5

The last two weeks of the month seemed like a year-long showcase filled with unending riffle drills, mass punishments and other strenuous physical activities that defied our medical certificates and neuro exams; even if they held true amidst the tempest. The absence of tree canopies, the dusty brown fields and the extreme heat of the Zambalanean sun during the day evaporated every drop of sweat we made. The sight of an ice-cold bottle of cola being poured onto the soil in front of us buy an orientation staff while saying, "Those who want to resign can drink...," dried our throats; but for some, it dried their will and rung the quarter deck bell to signify their weakness and end their endeavor as probess.

Finally the day when we are accepted as part of the Corps of Midshipmen - the Oath taking Day.


A multitude of young lads once filled with courage and fears as a schooner were outnumbered in thirty one days of probation. We were told to embrace onto our emotions in the crowd; but the sight of our beloveds after a month of isolation without letters and phone calls, even a single picture brought tears of joy that we held back in our eyes. Our parents did not recognizes us because of the very dark complexion the sun had uniformly clothed as with, and the unbalanced atmospheric pressure that actually shrunk our skin to cling closer t our bones. For us, we had already tested our ships, but the long voyage was just about to begin.

the end...

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Class 2006 Our Story? (Reinventing the Steel ) part 4

Class 2006 Our Story? (Reinventing the Steel ) part 4

A day later, our hairs were cut millimeters above our scalp. Those who overly treasured their good looks were sent home. We are also taught the proper posture and bearing of a cadet. One might think it easy but in reality, it is a posture that defies the longitudinal and transverse stress tolerance of our keel and framing system in short, unstabilized. It is a conglomeration of "heads up", "chin-in", "look straight ahead ", "shoulder's back and down" and "hands back"; all in one to forge a PMMA fourth class midshipman.

For the first two weeks, indoctrination of the regimental rules and regulations popularly known as the Triple R was facilitated. The tiresome daily routine of waking up very early and staying late at night made our eyelids heavy, but the presence of the Orientation Staff restricted even limited air to be gathered in our throats to make a discreet yawn. Many lost hope and missed the comfort of civilian life. We did not just become slim but actually became very thin. As our metabolism increased, we hungered like prisoners of war.

We are hungry yet strong; alive and kicking! We thirsted like desert soil in abyss to which a raindrop was bliss. Determination was the keyword for everything.

to be continue:

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Class 2006 Our Story? (Reinventing the Steel ) part 3

Class 2006 Our Story? (Reinventing the Steel ) part 3

We finished the roll call and made our farewells to our love ones. It was a bitter-sweet moment for all of us. A goodbye to the familiar life and the joy of having a chance to new one.

We hoarded ourselves like oxen toward the gymnasium where our luggages were inspected. The meticulous inspection of our gadgets intensified the tensions that our weary mind and body was already subjected to. Yells from all angles of the celestial sphere could be heard from the orientation staff. Our ego was indeed deflated.

After the inspection, we headed to our designated barracks. Then and there we realized that our second home was not a home of privacy, not a home of comfort and worldly luxurious . It was surreal. Silence filled the alleways, the overheads and the bulkheads which were already empty, the dominant colors were gray and white. Truly, it is the place were boys are re molded into men, officers are curved, and characters tested and strengthened.

By noon, we found ourselves inside the mess hall to have our first meal inside the Academy. We were first allowed to do the usual way of eating we were accustomed to; but later, the art of square meal was injected in our dinning etiquette inside the mess hall. The meal routine was very uncomfortable, complementing the fact that chow time was indeed a big deal in PMMA. The once glazed upon MESS HALL became MESS HELL.

to be continue...

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Class 2006 Our Story? (Reinventing the Steel ) part 2

Class 2006 Our Story? (Reinventing the Steel ) part 2

Our first day was truly memorable. The summer sun was high and scorchingly hot, the wind seemed to be hiding. as early as 8 am, pints of sweat poured out from our bodies drenching us wet all over. As we lined ourselves in queue towards the mighty portals of the academy, happy memories of our family, friends and acquaintances flashed back before us... yet so far intangible. With our luggage in one hand and our hearts and memories in the other, we can lead ourselves in unison toward our dreams and aspirations. This marked the beginning of the new chapter of our lives.

Minutes later, names were called. With luggage over the head, and legs on the double, we fell in line where the coast and the sea meets, a line that delineates the free unruly boy from a regimented, disciplined midshipmen. We stoods like stanchion posts in accordance to our designated companies. We were prohibited to make any movement not even to scratch an itchy nose.

The chronometer ticked and our muscles were growing stiff. Some fell to there feet while others quit before they fell, The attention of such ordeals leads many to the brink of early resignation. Only the strong hearted and determined remained. For weak hearts and flesh don't exist where undaunted spirits dwell.

to be continue....

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CLASS 2006 Our Story?

CLASS 2006 Our Story?

PROBATIONARY PERIOD
(Reinventing the Steel)

Our story started November 2002. Thousand of aspiring midshipmen pooled in examination centers from different parts of the archipelago to take the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy entrance examination. It was here where the capable were separated from the more capable. After the results were released, we headed our way to San Narciso, Zambales; the home of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy. We underwent medical and neuropsychiatric examinations as a prerequisite to the Probationary or Indocrination period. Some were humdingers but physically unfit, while others had Herculean physique and untainted health, but were psychologically unqualified. The sea needs both - the physical and mental fitness. Of the tons of thousands who tried their luck, many returned home and only few hundred remained.

After the rigorous medical and neuropsychiatric examinations; cheers and anticipation soaked our horizons as we waited for the day would be called "Probees", the day we would be labeled boondoggles. Our remaining days as carefree civilians were spent with our love ones. Preparation like packing dozens of white underwears, printed T-shirts, prayer books, and other authorized personal effects were done. We were prohibited to bring cell phones, stereos, wristwatches, and other things which a civilian enjoyed as a luxuries of life; even meager food and water were not exempted.

to be continue:

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