GarIn

I was asked yesterday by Felix, an Indonesian Inmarsat manager who is currently crossposted here in ACeS Subic, to capture photos of the existing equipments of Inmarsat Network. I started doing it last night. pinagpatuloy ko lang this morning dahil hindi ko nakuhanan ang dalawang satellite antennas kagabi dahil madilim na.

Meet Garuda and Inmarsat (afar). The two satellite antennas. Inmarsat is the new friend of Garuda. But their frienship is short-lived. Soon, Garuda will bid goodbye na.

I would love to share to you the photos pero hindi puwede i-post ang mga equipments. Kaya eto na lang ang ishe-share ko.



Bulaga!

Bleeh! Bagong kuha. Mainit init pa! Siyempre hindi ako papaawat, kinuhanan ko din ang aking sarili habang nasa labas hehehehe

HOME (September 19, 2007, 8:30 AM)

There is no place like home. Kaya nga every last day ng working week natin we’re excited to go home to see our loved ones. Yeah loved ones. Unspecified. Our loved ones are our family (given), puede rin boy/girl-friends, friends, barkada or relatives. Ung iba masuwerte because they live near their workplace. Isang sakay lang nasa bahay na. So anytime puede sila umuwi, magpahinga, pumetiks at matulog at bumalik na lang ng office pag malapit na mag-end ang shift para magtime out. Joke! J.

Meron naman jan na kahit malayo ang work place nag-uuwian pa din. Hindi makatulog kapag hindi ung unan niya ang gamit or kapag hindi kayakap ang kanilang nanay. Sweet Jesus! O kaya takot magboarding house kasi umiihi pa sa banig. J But for others like us (ACeS pipz), we have to sacrifice. Naks. Sounds cliché but true. Hindi kami basta basta makakauwi. There are a lot of considerations bago makauwi ng biglaan. Sino magdadrive pababa? Anyone available? Kapag single shift ka, hindi puede. Unless makikiusap at may willing na papalit sa shift mo. And it takes 3.5 to 4 hours to be home.

The best way to connect to our families is via phone. Buti na lang may direct sa mobile dito. Pag bored, grab ng phone makipagkuentuhan kahit kanino. Tawag sa pamilya upang kumustahin. O kaya tawag sa sinusuyo para kulitin. Hehehe. Is Mon guilty of that? J

Iba pa rin kapag umuuwi araw araw sa bahay. Iba pa din kapag nakikita mo ang pamilya mo, mga kapatid na kahit may tampuhan minsan. Unless may iba jan na ayaw umuwi kasi nahohold-up lang. Gets? J We work primarily for our family. Masuerte ung iba because they are not obliged to pitch in. Pero iba pa din ung feeling kapag nagbibigay ka ng “grace” to your family. Makikita mo ang nanay mo or tatay mo nakangiti ng napakalaki abot hanggang anit J kapag inabot mo ang grasya sa kanila. Sasabihin ng tatay mo, “Yes! May pambili na ako ng alak!” hahahaha. Joke lang po. O kaya naman ang nanay mo, “Salamat anak at may pang mahjong na ko!” Joke ulit! Nakakawala ng pagod, di ba? Hay, I miss my family. I wanna go home.

The return of the come back

And speaking of home Macel just got back here in ACeS (where she called home) from her long trip. She had a 9-day grand vacation (5 restdays, 3 mandatory leaves plus 1 sick leave). Sarap naman nun! Coming from a long pleasure trip, Macel is obliged to bring us pasalubong. Sarap ng puto seko and pili tart. Actually kahit walang pasalubong okay lang sa amin. Hindi lang naman namin siya kikibuin ng one week. J The fact na nakauwi siya ng maayos, walang galos, hindi kulang ang body parts, ok sa alright sa amin yun. Mas ok pa yun sa pili tart at puto seko. Plastic! Hehehe

Macel and yours truly at Gerry's Grill, Subic

Alam nyo ba pagkagaling niya sa vacation naggym kaagad. Oo! Now you know. Hehehe. She gained pounds daw. Ayos! Nagpapayat siya para sa vacation. Then tumaba siya after. J Malamang you’re wondering kung san siya naglagalag. Just ask her. Secret daw eh. hehe. Sa Naga siya nagpunta.

FO sa Naga

Gio, Jet, me and Nat at Bigg's

Naalala ko tuloy nung nag-FO kami sa Naga. Ang saya saya! Having Gio and Jet around. Kasama pa si Nat the Gentle Giant. He was my room mate. Ang suwerte ko kasi mapagbigay si Nat. nakakatuwa kahit nanonood siya ng TV sa hotel kapag nakita ako binibigay niya yung remote. Samantala sina Gio at Jet nag-uunahan pa sa remote. Hahahaha. Can’t forget also Nat’s longing for his family. Namimiss na daw niya pamilya niya at mga kaibigan. He was telling me that every single day.

He lived independently for more than a year. Sa umpisa nahirapan daw siya. Raised from a well-to-do family in Bacolod, Nat had hard time to cope up living singly. With God’s enabling grace he was able to survive.

Then Nat had a lymp node in his neck. In times of illness, no one will comfort you best than your loved ones. That is why he decided to go back to Bacolod. Kita ko ang saya sa mga mata niya nung papalapit na ang kanyang pag-uwi. Siyempre nakakalungkot. I remember I had a “walk out” scene sa 5th floor while we were having merienda. I didn’t want them to see me cry. That time kasi sinabi ni Nat na uuwi na daw siya sa Bacolod. Seemed funny or OA. Pero nakakalungkot na mawawalay ang isang kaibigan.

Now, Nat is with his family. Matagal na niyang tiniis ang bawat gabi na kayakap lamang ang isang unan. Iniimagine niya na ang kanyang mahal na ina ang unan na iyon. Gabi-gabi na lang ang kanyang pagtangis. Joke. Kidding aside, I am happy that he’s finally home. J

Long lost home

During our cross post in Naga BSC, we did had time to relax and roam around. (parang yun lang talaga ginawa naming dun for 1 week) J. Naki-fiesta, nagwake boarding. It so happened that my aunt (a nun-misionary) is based in Labo, Camarines Norte. I told her na pupunta ako sa Naga. Sabi siya she’d bring me to our relatives in Legaspi. I was so excited kasi that was my first time to see them. I was the only one in the family who had not been in Legaspi, Albay. Ni minsan hindi ko pa nakita ang mga kamag-anak ko sa Bicol.

Wakeboarding at Camarines Sur Water Sports Complex

It was Sunday. We (Jet, Gio, Nat and I) headed to Legaspi. My tita was there waiting for us. Habang nasa biyahe nagkukuwentuhan kami. Napakadaming puno ng buko. Sabi pa nga ni Nat “ka-ka-nat tree”. Slang si Nat. Hindi niya alam ang buko. Ang alam niya “ka-ka-nat tree”. Ang lawak ng palayan. Nature tripping.

Bumaba kami sa kanto ng hindi ko na matandaan ang name. I was instructed by my tita to take a tricycle ride. Mauna na daw kami sa bahay ng kamag-anak namin kasi nasa church pa siya. Ipagtanong lang daw ang name nila. Then, alam na. Sa province kasi lahat halos ng tao magkakakilala.

Behlat! at Cagsawa Ruins, Legaspi, Albay

Natunton namin ang bahay. Lumagpas pa nga kami. Bumungad samen ang isang babae. Walang ulo! Joke. Siya pala ay tita ko. Pinsan ng nanay ko. My other titas and cousins came in and welcomed us. They embraced me. I felt the warmth. Sabi pa ng tita ko, “ang guwapo naman ng pamangkin ko!” (Gio, Jet wag kokontra! Kayo ang saksi! Hehehe). They prepared breakfast for us. Kamain kami then kumustahan. Inabutan pa ako ng embutido ng tita ko. Baon daw namin sa paggagala. Nagtkataon favorite ko ang embutido.

Pinakita sa akin ang pictures ng family namin. Buong clan. I was touched. Nakita ko ung pix ng kapatid ng lola ko. Kamukhang kamukha niya. Napaiyak na lang ako. I remembered my lola who couldn’t pronounce my name right. Instead of Jonah, Chona daw. Lagi namin siyang kinocorrect, “Lola, hindi Chola, Jonah po!” “ah sige Chola!”. Makukulit din minsan ang mga lola noh. I was teary-eyed. Siyempre nakita nila Gio. Mga nangantiyaw. Hehehe.

Then, nagpicture taking kami. My only remembrance of their house. Because of Bagyong Reming, their house was wrecked. L

I was so happy that cross posting in Naga was so timely that I was able to see my relatives there. I was able to meet them. I was able to know them a bit kahit sandali lang. That I have a home in Naga pala. J


Home daddies

For sure, Mic would always want to go home early because of two reasons. One, for her loving wife Sheryl. Two, for his new born child. He’s now a full-pledged father. Mic, pakatino ka na! J Congratulations!

Another Sikat is very eager to be home. Sino siya? Siya yung 8 hours makipag-usap sa phone. Araw-araw halos. Kagabi hindi local ang ginamit niya. He used his SU para makausap ang kanyang may sakit na iniirog. Definitely, he has to go home to NURSE her.


* * * * *
Nararamdaman ko din ang pangungulila ng iba na malayo ang kanilang tirahan who are working in Metro Manila. They are homed in Visayas or Minadanao. They sacrifice a lot. Minsan lang sila makauwi dahil mahal ang pamasahe. Instead of allocating the money for airfare or sea fare, they send it to their families in the province instead. Kudos to them!


Oy teka lang. Next time ulit. May nagtext. Kapatid ko. Kelan daw ako uuwi. J

GYM (September 4, 2:04PM)

Magandang araw!
This is just to update you sa mga latest happenings, pinagkakalibangan at pinagkakagulahan sa ACeS.

Kilabot ng mga bakal boys
And speaking of pinagkakaguluhan, hmmmmm may isang sikat na itatago natin sa pangalang Barbela ang tampulan ng tingin ngayon sa isang gym dito sa Olongapo. A week ago when she started to work out things seem normal. Parang wala lang. From ACeS building to gym simpleng sikat lang siya. Pero lingid sa kanya at aming kaalaman that she’s no ordinary for some guys there (in the gym). May isang trainor na interesado sa vixen na ito at tinanong pa ang details niya. Hala isa na siya ngayong kilabot ng mga bakal boys. O kaya naman puede silang magtayo ng fans club: “the Magnetic M----- Fans Club“. Kelangan pa ba ng clue? Mysterious pa din kaya ang muscle niya? Or is it already found?

Big Girls Don’t Cry
Everyone seems to like Fergie’s latest hit Big Girls Don’t Cry. Favorite song ni Macel ito. Napansin pa nga ni Sir Ramir of FO na bagay na bagay daw sa kanya ung kanta. Hehehe. Serious and dedicated talaga si Macel sa pagpapapayat. Hindi na halos kumakain ng rice siya. Ginagawa naman niyang kanin ang bread. Joke! Wahahaha..
Parang hindi related sa big girls don’t cry ito ha. Non-sense. hehehe

Smells like chocolate
Share ko lang yung nangyari kahapon. Around 5pm Macel and I decided to go to town proper para mag-gym. Naks.
Second day ko and third day ni Macel magwork out. Walang available na magdadrive sa amin kaya nakihitch kami sa isang group. As we entered the van, what a smell! Humahalimuyak. I received a text from Macel. She texted, “Amoy jebs.” I replied, “What can you expect?” hehehe. Hindi kami nagpapaka-Malu Fernandez.

Sino ba si Malu Fernandez?
A columnist from Manila Standard and People Asia mag who authored the controversial “From Boracay to Greece” article in People Asia mag. Umani ng batikos ang article niya na ito. Why? Nilait lang naman niya ang mga OFWs.
She even boasted her riches. Indeed, she’s a socialista. Hindi lang halata. Hehehe. Kahawig siya ni Tess Bomb.
They say she’s a pig. Sabi ng kaibigan ko, she can not even be considered a pig. Dahil ang pig daw dignified. Siya hindi. Ok. She’s a bitch!

Walkathon
E di ayun na. We were driving along SBMA road. Hindi ko matiis ang something. So I opened the window ng konti so it wont be noticed. Ayoko masuffocate. So did Macel. Binaba kami sa wireless center ng Smart. I thought malapit na ito sa palengke. I told Macel na maglakad na lang kami. Warm up exercise na din sa gym un. Sa aming paglalakad bumalik ang mga memories from the past. Nadaanan namin aung isang high school. Nagflash back lahat ng high school days. Naalala namin na tuwing start ng classes, we buy new shoes, new bags, notebooks, etc. I even remembered my first few days in high school. May baon pa kong lunch. Until nahiya na ko sa mga classmates ko na kumakain sa canteen at duon umoorder. Hindi na ako nagbabaon pera na lang.

Si Macel naman, nashare niya na ung high school classmate niya ikakasal na daw. at kinaiinisan daw siya nung high school because palagi siya nasa honol roll. Wow! Astig! Ako? Kinainisan ba ko nung high school? Hmmmm hindi naman. Nasabihan lang ako ng T*nga ni Sir Cartel. Kasi naman inagaw nung kasamahan ko sa rondalla ung upuan ko. Eh de numero pa naman ang galaw namin ke sir Cartel. Pag sinabing after 10 counts dapat nakaformation na. nakabilang na ng sampo, ako nakatayo pa din. Wala na kasing upuan. Inagaw kasi. Hayyy… that was the first and last time na napahiya ako in front of more or less 50 people.

Napansin namin ang tagal na naming naglalakad. Ang layo pala. Hehehe 30 minutes ata kami naglakad. Nung malapit na kami sa palengke nasagi sa isip naming ung buntis issue. Mainit ngayon na isa sa kasamahan natin sa pananampalataya ay buntis. Ganun talaga ang pag-ibig. Nakakagigil! Hehehehe

Taho
Oops! Malapit na kami sa gym. Kumukulo ang aming mga tiyan. Hindi kami napoopoo ha. Nagugutom kami. So kumain muna kami ng Mister donuts.kinabog ang krispy kremes at gonuts. Hehehe. Pagpanik sa gym tumambad sa akin si manong. Ang nagtitinda ng taho na walang sago. Antagal ni Jerri, nagragnarok pa ata. Nakipagkuentuhan muna ako sa magtataho. Nalaman ko na buong buhay niya. Na mayroon siyang 2 anak. May manukan siya at alagang baboy. Na mahirap ang buhay sa Gapo. 7 years old ang youngest niya. Hehehe.

Then came Jerri. Bitbit niya ung mga pinalaundry niya at isang malaking back bag. Nagwarm up na kami then ayun start na!

Future ni Mon
While we (Macel, Jerri, Myk-Suertrese and I) were waiting for the service to fetch us, we looked at the pictures of muscled men and women who work and have worked out to Ernie’s gym. It is where we gym at. Nakita namin na may kamukha sa pic si Myk. Then sabi ni Macel hanapan daw namin ng kamukha si Mon. So hanap. Hanap pa… Ayun. We saw this pic that we think na magiging ichura ni Mon after 4 years of working out. If you’re interested with the pic just email me or Macel. We’ll gladly send it. Peace Mon! hihihihi Dito pala nagwork out si Rico Barreira. Kasi may picture din siya and he lives in Olongapo. Sinabi pa nga ni Macel na friend pala siya ng helper namin
na si Maricel sa office. Yes, magkapangalan sila.

Amino Acid
Going back to the gym. Actualy the owner of it was a former body building champion. He, if not mistaken, was the 1986 National Bodybuilding Champion. Naisip namin ni Jerri, I was just 2 years old then and Jerri was 4. Wala lang naisip lang namin. Pinaganana lang naming ung arithmetic skills namin. Adding to his roster of achievements, he competed to Bangledesh to represent the country for the World competion siyempre in bodybuilding at madami pang ibang competitions. Hindi ko memorized nakapaskil sa labas. hehehe But in fairness to Mang Ernie, he has a great physique. He doesn’t look his age. He’s 65 pero mukha lang siya nasa 50’s. Close nga sila ni Mon kaya binentahan siya ng amino acid. (LOL). Malamang magiging ganun din katawan ni Mon dahil sa amino.

Diet
Mon was advised to not skip breakfast. Ung isang senior namin naman, wag na daw magdidinner. Hay hirap nun. Just maintain the daily intake naman ang payo kay Jerri. Meaning he has a balance diet. Whoa! Sa akin? Walang sinabi. Sa tuwing nakikita ako ni Mang Ernie lagi ako nagpapahinga. Then, magkikita kami ulit, he’d ask “oh, tapos ka na?” Sabhin ko naman “opo”. Parang hindi niya ko nakitang nagbuhat. Hehehe. Masipag talaga ako!

Mon is very perseverant. Kahit antok na antok pa siya and 2am na natulog gigising at gigising siya ng pilit makapag breakfast lang. He’s just following Mang Ernie’s advise. Masunurin na bata. Hehehe.

Miss ka na namin Mic!

Ano pa ba kukuento ko? Saka na lang yung ibang kuento ko pagbalik ko from rest days.
Ciao!

Engineers Pangkalawakan

Kung sikat na sikat ngayon ang mga Pulis Pangkalawakan sa pamamagitan ng Zaido, aba'y may sariling version din kami niyan. Not everyone knows that 6 years ago may mga taong naninirahan sa lupa na nagbabantay ng kalawakan. ito ang mga tinatawag na Engineers Pangkalawakan!

Meet the ACeS Team. This team where I belong monitors, handles and takes care of the satellite services of Smart Communications which is SmartLink. Yes! Ung may commercial na "Bakit Maalat ang Dagat?". This is a call service provided for seamen. Satellite is used to transmit signal that enables seamen to call or be called by their loved ones in the middle of the ocean. Astig di ba? No more cries for both the seamen and their families dahil maaari na silang mag-usap through satellite phone anytime anywhere.

ACeS Junior Engineers: Macel, Jerri, Mic (now transferred to NOC), Mon-yet and me

This picture was taken during the SMART Cadetship Graduation at Makati Sports Club. All 5 of us are products of Sikatorse - Batch 14. We call each other sikat. Truly, we live by that name. Ask an NSD personnel about Batch 14, sigurado marami silang makukuento. hehehe.

From Left to right: Mon(yet), Jerri, Sir Erik, Maam Elanie, Macel and me. Other members are Myk, Rey, Sir Darius and Maam Novie.

Macel, Jerri and I just woke up when this picture was kodaked. Actually, we were forced to wake up kasi they need to document the daily works in ACeS for the Batavia Project (having Inmarsat as the new satellite, Garuda's lifespan is near to its end na kasi). Siyempre, hinding hindi namin hihindian ang picture taking. It is our vitamin since cadetship training pa.

I devote 5 days a week dito sa ACeS. It is part of my world.