How Do I Love Thee?

How Do I Love Thee?

DEDICATED TO EVERY MARINER'S GIRL OF
CLASS 2006

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

-E.B. BROWNING

LUCKY IS THE MAN WHO WINS THE FIRST LOVE OF A WOMAN, BUT LUCKIER IS THE WOMAN WHO WINS THE LAST LOVE OF A PMMAer...

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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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Vote for the next Shipmate of the Month

Vote for the next Shipmate of the Month

Vote for the next Shipmate of the Month

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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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