Hi!!! everyone…..

My name is Lyka Joy Arcilla, 16 yrs old, a senior student of LNHS.
To those who don’t know me yet, I will just mention some of the adjectives that will best describe me. I am very kind humble and respectful lady who is always very serious with whatever I say or do.
I hate liars and also hate deceivers who play with feelings and think it's all fun.
I am a very straight forward lady who does things very well and always very straight. I believe in treating others as I like to be treated, with kindness, courtesy, consideration, honesty, respect, etc. I do not judge others, that is up to God and I am not prejudice unless it comes to someone’s negative (bad) character and lack of respect, courtesy, kindness, honesty, etc. I view others through their eyes, the windows to their soul (heart) not through their physical features or attributes. Actions speak louder than words with me.

It is my pleasure to be the Bloggers muse for December. Thank you to all who voted for me. It is an honor to be chosen.

Everybody starts with first time… First time to walk, run, cry, and love. All of us experienced this phenomenon in our lives. It is hard to be a first timer… My captain told me that first time is the worst time in your life and I believe him. There is a saying that you will remember and it will put in your mind when you are in a trash of first time experience. No one is perfect and we must just charge it to experience.
July 24, 2008, this is the date when I became a 3rd officer onboard the ship. Life is different from rating to officer. Before when I was a rating I just obey order and I don’t command others. I just obey and obey and obey. The triple “O” which the PMMA graduates stick to there mind at all times. As a 3rd officer aboard the ship, this is the beginning of a new life for me. New rules and new atmosphere for the rest of my contract here in MT Ruby Express. Things are different for me because before when I was a rating I do all the hard jobs on deck and I always do it without assistance. For now when I’m working here aboard the ship I have the right to ask for assistance from ratings. I just tell them what they will do and that’s it I’m done with my order from them. I feel not complete for that attitude… I prefer to do it by my self and not to pass it from other but things change for me as an officer. It makes my jobs easier when the ratings assist me on my jobs on port and at sea and that is part of our job. There are some jobs that I don’t ask for assistance and that will be paper works and my daily jobs on life saving equipment and fire fighting equipment. My captain told me that being an officer is not an easy job but it takes a discipline to practice your leadership and responsibility to command the crew. I believe him and it’s hard to ask or to give order from the crew because I was a senior cadet before then I was promoted as 3rd officer. They look at me as a cadet even I’m already a 3rd officer. They want to command me and they want that they will be in charge of me. I don’t listen to them and the consequence for that is they will be mad at me and tell me that “naging opisyal ka lang yumabang ka na!”.
Sometimes I ignore them and follow what I want because I know that I am right. Still they want to be in charge to all of my duties and responsibilities. I fight back and I always told them that incase of misunderstanding and an accident the one who will blame is “me” not you. They will be mad at me when I tell them that word. I just thinking if they want to command they must take board exam so that they can command their own responsibility. There responsibility is different form me and I strive hard and give all my effort and life to become officer aboard the ship. My 2nd officer told me that its part of life 3rd mate. They know you as senior cadet before and they command you before, now things are different. You are now in charge of them and you will command them. They just don’t believe that you are now an officer to command them. Sometimes they apply the experience onboard the ship. Yup… they have more experience than you are but they don’t have a license but for you 3rd mate you are still new in this kind of life but your already have a license and you already use it in just a short time basis. You cannot blame them but you must feel them that you are now the boss not them. Even they will be angry on you, you’re still the officer aboard the ship.
I do what 2nd officer told me and I fight and apply all the right things that I know its right. Time passed and some of the rating accept me as there officer because I apply to them that I deserve to be respected not to be laughed and ignored. This is the struggle of my first time to be an officer aboard the ship.

People in the Philippines are suffering from Rice shortage. They don’t know how this rice shortage hit the Philippines. People pay for there rice per kilos so how come that the supply is short? Many different kind of rice are harvested or imported to the Philippines. From America, Vietnam etc we have our own land to plant rice but they buy from other country. Some seller of the rice in the Philippines increased the price of their rice and they said that it’s rice shortage so we will increase the price. Is that the solution for the rice shortage?? To increase the price of the rice?. Pangaabuso ang tawag dun diba?
I’m here now onboard ruby express June 5, 2008 we are lucky here because we don’t experience rice shortage unlike in the Philippines. The owner of the ship supplies us enough food to ease our hunger everyday. We eat 3 times a day plus meriyenda and midnight snack when you are hungry before you go to bed.
We are at anchor in I anchorage in Point Tupper Canada waiting for the order to load cargo and we will bring the cargo to Miami Florida (port everglades). If the Philippines experienced the rice shortage, here in the ship we experienced it too. As I said before the owner gives us enough food supply but the problem is our old man here in the ship. He is not a Filipino but a foreigner and he doesn't eat rice. Asian eats rice and that is the staple food of the Asian and you cannot remove it from there dinning tables. Our chief cook already told our old man that his supplies are not good enough to last in Florida. From Canada to Florida we can sail it for 4 days by 14.5 knots. Our speed will reduce if there is a bad weather on our way so it’s not sure if we will make it a 4 days going to Florida. Our chief cook told to captain that if the port will allow some crew to go ashore they will buy some rice to supply us till Florida. Our captain doesn’t agree to the chief cook plan. He told chief cook that if we get some provision here in Canada the charge in supply boats are much more expensive than the rice. He doesn’t agree to buy a rice supply in wallmart and all he want is to get provision (rice provision) in Florida. Our rice supplies are not enough for 26 crew onboard the ship. In breakfast they will not serve rice but they will serve bread. Filipino get there strength to the rice and the work of the ratings aboard the ship are very hard. In lunch and dinner they will serve rice but it’s limited. If you are late in lunch and dinner time you cannot eat rice because it’s not enough for the 26 crew onboard the ship.
For now we are just in silence on what’s happening to the ship. This entire problem was the old man's fault. He must decide for his crew and not force them for what he only wants. He is lucky that he doesn’t eat rice but if he eats rice and our supply is short. For sure 100% even the charge of supply boat is much more expensive than the rice he will get and buy rice here in Canada.

It’s been 6 days since we didn't eat rice. We just eat bread, bread and bread. Its okay if we will eat bread and the crew will be having a light work like painting and chipping on deck. In our situation, light work is not applied to the helpless crew onboard our ship. The 4 Indonesians are working inside the ballast tank from 8am to 8pm then the Filipino crews are working aloft in bridge wings and other hard works that you might think. The Filipino works from 8am to 8pm same as the Indonesian crews.
You can see the faces of the crews. They are pale and they don’t have a power to work hard in a whole day basis. Bosun and Pumpman are asking if they can work for 8am to 12pm because they are already drain up because we don’t eat rice. But the 2nd in command always says it can’t be like that. They must work in whole day even they don’t eat rice. In 6 days suffering without rice the crew and officer of the ship gathers 3 times meeting in crew messhall. “Rice” rice is the topic of the meeting onboard the ship. The master asks a favor to the crew if they can manage not to eat rice in a couple of days because the service is much more expensive the price of rice. We don’t have a choice but to agree to the master statement to the crew. Days past and the agreement in rice delivery was finish so another meeting are held in the crew messhall. Same statement of the captain was spread to the crew but one of the crew insists to the promise of the captain. He cannot do it without rice. His stomach works badly and he is dehydrating that make him weak. The Indonesians want to speak and agree to the bosun but they don’t have a chance to speak because they are having a bad time speaking in English. Other officers like to buy rice right away but other officer want to wait till we berthed. Kanya kanyang hugas kamay at kanya kanya paling kung saan ang malakas “balingbing” in Filipino term.
The captain see the bosun status and he just agree to buy rice right away. If bosun is not sick maybe the captain will not buy rice in anchorage. The people cannot work anymore and the captain sees it to our eyes. He buy rice but through force of the Filipino. If the captain insist it to buy rice in that moment I think there will be crew will loose his patience and just hit the captain. All of us are weak and angry to him in that moment.

June 24, 2008 at 0700 hrs somebody call me in my cabin. I crab the phone and say hello but the caller drop the phone and I just wonder why he call at 0700 hrs. Actually 0700 hrs is my wake up time and my alarm clock is set in 0700 hrs. I hit the shower and prepare my self to take my break fast. OS Javier was there eating his break fast and he told me that he doesn’t like to ring him in 0700 hrs because he knows how to wake up early and they not need to wake him up.
The pump man was there too and he told us that we must finish the 1 wing and fore peak tank till 1700 hrs So that they will not give any additional work if we finish early. I agree to pump man what he told us. We tell the 4 Indonesian (general purpose rating) that we will clean the ballast tank till 1700 hrs. They agree to our plan and we set all our equipments to clean the ballast tank immediately. Nice weather for today good for working on deck. We see our captain walking around the deck and we whispered yesterday he want all the deck rating to work on deck even there is a bad weather but we cannot see him walking around the deck. He’s just inside the Bridge watching us and while he is watching us yesterday he was laughing just like the devil. For now it’s a good weather and he just ordered to us that we will work till 1700 hrs. We cannot understand our captain what he really wants to us. We finish cleaning ballast tank including the securing of our equipment 1700 hrs. After eating our dinner we can now proceed to our respective cabin and do what ever we like. Watching movies, playing video games, drinking etc, etc this is the life of a seaman inside of his cabin.
At last our crew e-mail is already fixed and we can now receive our private e-mails. I was so happy because I receive e-mail from my Wifey and my sister. My Wifey are worried because I didn’t send e-mail to her few days ago but she understand that our e-mail jammed in the past few days. I ask Purser if he already have Iridium Load and luckily he told me that he already had a load and he will give it to me later. $20 US dollars equivalent to 18 minutes and it’s enough for a seaman who really want to call in the middle of the sea. Money is nothing the important is we can call our love ones. It’s really eases my home sick when I heard my Wifey’s voice. While I’m calling her I was really happy talking to her even in a short time. Telling her that wait for me and I love her very much. I told her that always takes care of her self and I’m always thinking of her every day and every night. He told me that after I finish calling her I must call my parent so that they will be not worried to me. Napakabait ng wifey ko at naisip nya na tawagan ko ang parents ko. I was blessed to have my Wifey on my life.

Every human being have there own professionalism that build up there discipline and attitude. Discipline is everything especially in human relationship. We all know that if a person finishes college degree or not our attitude change step by step in our age development. Some people improve and some are not. Some improve there skills some are getting worst. There is one thing about professionalism and that is to adjust your mental and physical attitude to make a good harmonious relationship.
When I get my license as deck officer my attitude change and I try to be in the track of being an officer. I want to be a good deck officer in my work and especially in human relationship onboard the ship. Human relationship are very important onboard the ship. You must adjust your feeling and patience everyday to be in the right track. That’s what I’m doing now to be adjusted in different feeling, attitude, and patience of my crew mates. My life is different now and it will continue till I sail the ship. I will command my fellow crewmates (ratings) and sometime we must have a talk session so that we can improve our work onboard the ship. It’s not just when you are an officer you are in charge of all. Listen to the feedback of you crew mates (ratings) and you will find a new idea to make you work faster and safer. Just remember 2 heads are better than 1 head. The more who think and give a good idea to your work the more it will be better and good at all the times.
Some officer don’t use there professionalism but they become greedy because of the power of authority to command. They just command and don’t listen to comments and feedback of there subordinates. He doesn’t think that his subordinates need rest for a period of time. He just gives job orders and he wants to finish it as quickly as possible without thinking that the job order will be finish in a long time basis. He tells his subordinates to extend time working (overtime) but when the subordinates pass there excess overtime the officer don’t want to sign it because the excess overtime of his subordinates exceed.” Ang tinatapos sa barko ay ang kontrata hindi ang trabaho. Pagtapos mo sa prowa mangatok at mamintura at papaunta ka ng pupa pagtapos mong mangatok at mamintura sa pupa yung nakatukan mo at napinturahan sa prowa ay tutubo ulit ang kalawang. Of course the subordinates list and take note all his overtime to have more money. He Sacrifice for his love ones and rest just to have money. The officer wants his subordinates work for overtime till they exceed but in times of signing there excess overtime he don’t like to sign it. We are here in the ship for work not for free work in tagalong “nagtatarabaho sila para bayaran sila ng tama at hinding hindi na magtratrabaho sila para maging libre ang trabaho”.
Sometimes I was abuse because my senior officer aboard the ship call me too early for my bridge watch (8pm) and he will tell me that he will do something. He can do extra job when his off duty not during duty. What is the essence of being a senior officer in deck if he can’t use his power and rank in a proper Ways. We have our own work aboard the ship and sometimes if I’m off duty I will do my extra jobs and I don’t do my extra jobs while on duty and ask my mates to take over my duty. We must apply the professionalism and don’t abuse the power of our stripe in our shoulder.

I woke up 0700 (my usually wake up time). As I prepare my self to go to bridge I decided to eat first my breakfast in the mess hall. My friends OS called me hello 3rd how are you and I replied I’m not yet a 3rd made I’m still a cadet wwweeeee!!!! Then we all laugh. I check my e-mail in cargo control room and I saw that I have plenty messaged and I decided to read it after my duty. I just reply to the message of my wifey and run quickly to bridge to have my duty.
3rd mate teach me some paper work about drills, inventory of life saving appliances and correction in light list and radio lists. I write all that he lectures to me because this will help me when 3rd mate will go home in New York. We receive some navigational warning about Ice berg in premises approaching Canada and the 3rd mate plot it in our chat. In our tour of duty of 3rd mate teaches me every thing what a 3rd mate doing in the ship. I was lucky that he teaching me everything what I want and he was lucky too because If I will not relieved him in his position he will not go home in New York. It’s a give and take situation for us. After my duty I ask Purser if I can have iridium load and he give me some load. I call my mama and papa to tell them my good news and they are happy to me that I already achieve what I want and my dream. My papa told me that he already sends what I want and to the reliever for 2 Able seamen. I told my papa that the ship need extreme magic sing and the ship will pay the expenses for the magic sing. My papa agrees to buy the magic sing and he will buy asap because my reliever (New cadet) will join in New York.
1500 hours I join 3rd mate to check all the life jacket and immersion suits. I told him that there are some life jackets lights will be expired in 2009. 3rd mate told me that that’s fine you will be in charge of it because I will go home in New York hehehehe. We just laugh and continue the inspections of life jacket and immersion suits. I feel comfortable from now on because it relaxing to be an officer. I know there are many paper works especially when purser will go home. I will take over all his paper works. At least I will not be under the sun the while day and I will not be getting wet outside when there is a bad weather.

1 July 2008 at 2200 hrs I and 3rd mate are in the cargo control room. We are on watch on that time and as of now the cargo operation was finished. The Surveyor, loading master and agent already left the ship. He shares some scary experience on his past ship.
When he was an Ordinary seaman he loves to play remote control in his cabin. He bought a remote control car and he always plays on it when he has a vacant time. He told me that the ship was scary and they all agree that there is some ghost in the ship. Some crew believes and some are not. He plays his remote control car in his cabin then suddenly his crew mate knocks him. He ignores his crew mate and he continues to play the car. After an hour he decided to take a rest because he is tired from work. He removes the battery in the remote control (joystick). Next is he will remove the battery in the toy car. By the way his remote control car has a horn like a real car. You can activate the horn by pressing in the joystick. He grabs the car and tries to remove the battery to save the power of the battery. Then suddenly the toy car horns and he was so shocked because he already removes the battery from the joy stick and there is no way that the toy car can sound the horn without pressing the joy stick. His 3rd mates experience a different thing when the 3rd mate is on watch. Its night time watch for the 3rd mate and it’s dark in the bridge. While he was on watch there are some shadow pass in front of him when he is alone and it scares the 3rd mate. The image of the shadow was a lady (white lady). From that day the 3rd mate don’t like to take his watch when his alone in the bridge. He wants the co duty Able seaman to be in bridge when at night time. Other Able seaman goes down early in the morning to get some drinking water for the bridge. He finishes getting some drinking water and he will go back in the Bridge. Then he look at the stare because he will be going up then he was so scared and shocked to saw a feet climbing in the stares just a blooded feet. After a second the feet disappeared.
Sometimes they celebrate birthday of there crew mate. The ship celebrates too by her self. When there is celebration of birthday in that ship the ship just sound her horn by her self at midnight. The duty officer was shocked because the horn of the ship is not activated. There Captain doesn’t believe what the crew tells him but deep inside he believe it. He just not let his crews know that he is scared because when the crew knows that he is also scared all will be scared aboard the ship. The captain takes his dinner in the mess hall and after he finish his dinner he decide to go back to his cabin by means of elevator onboard the ship. He presses the button in the elevator for officers’ deck but the elevators proceed to the engine room to the very bottom of the engine room. When the elevator will go down to the very bottom of the engine room the electrician must reset the elevator. The captain ignores it and he just takes the stares but he is really scared when that is happened to him.

June 25, 2008 I woke up at 0900 hrs. Our Captain ordered it because we’ve been in a birthday party (2nd engr.). I met mess man in the alleyway (deck c) and he told me congratulation you will relieve 3rd mate when we arrived in New York. I didn’t believe him and I told him that’s impossible!? And the mess man told me that he just read the message from manila and he posted it to the mess hall. I just told him thanks for the info.
I met purser in the stares and he told me congrats cadet you will relieve 3rd mate when we arrived in New York I told him thank you very much purser at last answered prayers. I took my break fast and all of our crew congratulated me that I will be a 3rd mate when our previous 3rd mate will go home in New York. I was so very happy and at last I will be an officer now but there are some nervous and make me rattle. Anyone can feel this when you’re in this situation. Same daily routine for me stand by in the manhole while the four general purposes Indonesian are working inside the ballast tank. Some of my friend told me that I hope I will never change if I become a 3rd officer. I told them I will be neutral if the captain is in my side I will be in his side but my real side is to be with my kapwa pilipino (deck and engine ratings). Then the mess man told me we'll see if you will change but I’m really sure you will change. I just smile but he doesn’t know that I was a rating before and I know how was the feeling of rating that being abused by an officer on board the ship.
I finish my daily routine work (radio check) at 1700 hours. The purser told me while I’m eating in the mess hall that our Captain want to speak with after dinner (1700 hrs). I told to purser r ok I will report to the Captain after I finish my dinner and I told purser maybe our captain will eat me alive or something like that. The purser told me that don’t worry I know our captain even sometimes he is strict but this time he will be nice to you. I and purser report to the captain in his office located inside of his cabin and the captains told me come here cadeto. He told me like this I receive an e-mail to your shipping and I will print it for you and read it to me. I read the e-mail and (we will give chance to cadet to be 3rd mate and relieved 3rd outgoing). He told me if I already have all the requirements and document to be a 3rd mate. I told him yes I already have sir. Do you want to be a 3rd mate? The captain says to me I told him YES SIR! I want and the captain asks me again can you do it? I told our captain yes sir I can do it. Then he just says like this. Ok for now on you will not work on deck anymore but you must be in 3rd mates duty so that he can teach you everything that the 3rd mate do. I don’t like to see you cleaning the stare and alleyway from now on. (Our captain always see me cleaning the stares and alleyway everyday 1730 hrs). 3rd mate will go home in New York and I think you will have a time to study with him and familiarize yourself to be an officer. I told my captain thank you very much sir. He just told me welcome to the club and congrats cadeto I mean 3rd mate. I went out to his cabin and while walking to the stare I jump and shout for joy.

June 23, 2008 at 0700 hrs someone called me in my cabin. I grab my phone and say slow hello because the ring of the phone wake me up. Then I only hear hello good pm and he drop the phone. I have no idea what is that about. I just hit the shower and prepare myself to eat at the mess hall. I see OS Calisura in the mess hall and he just finished his breakfast. Then when I get my meal in the mess hall chief mate told us that we will go work early so I just told him that I will just finish my breakfast and wear my coverall.
After I finish my breakfast I go to officer’s dressing room and wear my coverall. Then OS Javier tells me that all deck crew must proceed in ships office. I immediately proceed to ships office and our chief officer is discussing our work for the day. He wants us to clean all ballast tank by sea water because our last ballast was fresh water and the Canada (discharging port) e-mail the ship that we need to wash our ballast tank with salt water to follow there ballast regulation. The chief mate told us if he will use the ballast pump it will take 15 hours on 2 tanks. (What’s the rush if it will take in 15 hours? 6 more days left and we will be in Canada). So the Captain and the chief mate decided to wash it by fire hose and three deck crews will go down in the ballast to wash the tanks with sea water. He wants to finish it by midnight and he just told us that we can finish one tank in 2 hours. We just stare on each other and thinking that is impossible to wash the ballast tank in two hours. The Ballast tank is too large and there are many layers going to bottom so it will take very long time to wash it. Bosun and pumpman just told to the chief officer that we will try to finish it. Actually there are bad weather coming to us and it will shake the ship. Gale force 8 and the wind speed are 34 to 40 knots. Very strong wind even I was a large man can flew me away. He want to finish it but we just finish four tanks till 8:30 pm. 1300 hrs the wind and the splash of the water in deck are getting worst. It was difficult for me to be standing by on the manhole because of a very strong wind and splash of water. It is difficult to work on our situation. They always say on the meeting and every day that safety first but where is the safety in that scenario?
OS Javier told me that when we came onboard the ship OS calisura told him that welcome to hell. He just smiled and wondering why he say welcome to hell. He just realizes now that this is hell. Our ship is headed with the devil and the devil wants us to work, work, work and no excess overtime pay. Poor ratings… working with all there might and effort and they don’t have excess over time pay. They just abused by our superior officer onboard the ship. We are almost finished the 2 wings ballast tanks and our chief office tells this and tells that and tells everything what he wants to secure. He just keeps on talking and taking on the radio. Parang ayaw nyang pagpahingahin ang mga tao sa sinasabi nya.
For now I really want to go home because our senior officer here doesn’t understand the rights of the ratings.

June 20,2008 location North Atlantic Ocean going to Canada (ETA June 28,2008 0730 hrs). We celebrated Fitter's birthday on board Ruby Express. We set up the location (ratings day room) for the celebration. Of course Filipino style celebration from Beer’s, pulutan and entertainment (videoke).
On the first hour of drinking all of us were shy and didn’t like to sing but the electrician was not yet full he always grab the microphone and sing at the top of his voice. The crew were being called by the celebrant in their respective cabins. After 2 hours of drinking (wifey I hope you understand that this is a celebration and I must drink. I really want to send e-mail to ask for permission but the e-mail here aboard ship was jammed and corrupt). The crowds were getting heated because of beer. Few of the crews are now singing. The height of electrician is 4 feet only and he is too small that you can carry him in just one hand. Then the electrician was already drunk and he's now the mc of the party. He gave the microphone to the ordinary seaman but the OS didn’t sing so he just told the OS (if you don’t sing I will tell chief mate that you will wash paint the anchor). All of us laughed to the electrician. Then he gave 2nd chance to the OS if he will not sing he will wash paint the propeller. All of us were laughing on what electrician have said to the OS and the OS sang because he was afraid to wash paint the propeller hehehe. The OS started to sing and he has a nice voice on slow rock singing. The electrician was shocked that the OS has a golden voice.
While the OS was singing, this electrician grabbed the purser and he wanted to dance (a sweet dance) to the purser. The purser insisted to dance and the electrician grabbed again another crew from the party. We were so happy in the party because of our electrician. The OS finished singing and the electrician get the mike and announced that ok carry on you will not wash paint but you will just stand by out side (radio check). He told it to the chief mate (chief ok na di na magwawash paint radio check nalang sya hehehehe). The motorman wanted a duet to the electrician and the electrician agreed. The motorman used the shout voice singing walang tono basta kanta ng kanta at sigaw ng sigaw. We were laughing to dead when the motorman sang. He sang 3 songs straight and he just used the shout with no tones hehehe. After a couple of songs the electrician pointed out on me and told me that cadet! You must sing but if you don’t want to sing you will wash paint the anchor and the electrician look to chief mate and smile. I sing please forgive me by Brian Adams. I know how to sing especially when I am drunk. I started singing and the crowd said wow cadet have a nice voice in ballad songs. The electrician grabbed again some crew to dance with him. He noticed our Indonesian crew mate and pointed GP Martas to dance with him. I finished the song and the crowd clapped there hands and the purser told to me that before almost the engine departments are good in singing but now the deck holds the title. Many of deck crews know how to sing.
I’m already full at 7 can of beer (Dutch royal from Ventspils Latvia). I want to go to my cabin but the electrician always look at me and asked me if where will I go when I'm going out in dayroom. I told electrician (our bouncer) I will just go to the toilet to pee. I closed the door and ran quickly in my cabin (c deck 4th floor). I must be strong and alert tomorrow because we will be having deck work tomorrow morning.

June 22, 2008 it’s been 4 days that I didn’t receive any e-mail from my wifey. I was nervous maybe she already forgotten me and found a new one. I trust my wifey and I know that she will not do it. Sometimes even I have 100% trust there are some circumstances that I am in doubt because I’m not beside her. Seamen don’t have a chance when their love ones are stolen by another man. Sabi nga nila masmagaling pa daw ang magsasaka sa panliligaw kaysa seaman. Kasi ang seaman nasa dagat malayo sa kawalan. Pero ang magsasaka matapos lang ang trabaho sa hapon pwede na syang bumisita sa nililigawan nya.

No iridium load because the previous load that they send to us are all invalid so they are now investigating why and what happened to all iridium cards. Our e-mail has a problem. We cannot receive any e-mail but we can send but the message can’t send to there destinations. We’re sailing on North Atlantic Ocean. Visibility is good, Temp on dry thermometer was 19 and wet is 15. The wind is SSW force 6, cloudy skies. Our port of call is Canada and that is my first time to be in Canada.

Every 0730, 1145, 1245, 1445, 1645 and 2200 hrs. I always check my e-mail to read my messages from my wifey. I really love to read the message of my wifey and it takes my home sick away. The time is faster when I receive message from my wifey. It makes my days more happier and more brighter when I go to my work here in the ship. But for now the e-mail was jammed and we are thinking that our captain disabled or corrupted our e-mail. There were some misunderstanding about the crew and the captain. I observe that the problem was on the captain of the ship. He wants the rating work from Monday to Sunday from 0800 to 2000 hrs. I know there is an overtime that he wants to use the over time to make the ship more seaworthy. He just wants the ratings to work. He doesn't want the ratings go to rest so the harmonious on the captain and the crew had a gap. The rating speaks about the working time and the captain misunderstands the situation so he just removed the excess overtime of the crew.

For now I just want to go home because there’s no e-mail and iridium load. My home sick is getting worst from time to time because I couldn't receive message from my wifey. I really hate when the captain and the crew have gaps and the captain is doing some different things to disable the outgoing communication from our love ones. Wifey I love you very much and please understand the situation that I can’t send message for now. If we will be having a signal on our mobile phone I will send you SMS that our e-mail is bugged down. I hope our e-mail will be fixed as soon as possible and we can have communication again.

My name is Lorelei but my friends use to call me lei, sometimes they tend to call me hua tsi lei because of my Chinese appearance .. There was an instance when a Taiwanese approached me in their language, I just smiled. Then he was with his wife, a Filipina, so she interpreted if I’m an Oriental beauty, I replied, nope...But they thought that maybe I have a Chinese blood, to trace my roots......he,he,he...

Anyways, I am presently residing at Mariveles, Bataan. I am an Industrial Engineer, a wife and a mother to my 2 kids… Yeahh right, I am married .. sometimes people get shocked when they learned that I already have kids. It isn’t obvious daw kc eh hehehe so they would crack a joke and say “nakapeke na naman ako”.. Well it is not my fault either.. I’ll share to u my beauty tips later (just kidding) ..

I’ve learned a lot about life, maybe because of the adversity that I’ve been through. I am proud to say that I am a fighter because despite the trials, I remain standing...
I don’t let my frustrations bring my life to chaos because there is more in the world to see.

I want to give everything I could for my family. I want them to be happy.

The liver is the second largest organ in the body (skin is the first largest). Surprising, few people know about the liver and its importance to health and well-being. This article will tell about the functions of the liver, the challenges it faces, and what can be done when something goes awry with this very important organ.

The Liver

The liver is the second largest organ in the human body, and it is one of the five vital organs—meaning the body cannot survive without it. Situated below the right ribcage at the bottom, the liver is about 8 ½ inches in diameter, boomerang shaped, with the adult liver weighing about 3 ½ pounds. The liver conducts several hundreds of functions every second; it metabolizes nutrients and substances, helps with food digestion, and cleans the blood. It also stores many vitamins and minerals and helps to regulate the body’s sexual hormones. Its biggest function, however, is to clean the blood.

The condition of the liver is often ignored until something is discovered to be wrong with the liver. The most common “condition” to affect the liver is TOXICITY, as defined in the Taber’s Medical Dictionary as “being poisoned.”

All blood that circulates through the body passes through the liver for cleansing. The liver is one big cleaning organ, among other things. Whenever there are substances that may be harmful to the body, the liver takes them out of the blood. The liver then takes these harmful substances and tries to convert them into a substance that is less toxic or acceptable to the body. If the harmful substance cannot be converted well, the liver either puts it into the digestive system for flushing out of the body through stool, or puts it back into the blood stream to be flushed out of the body through urine (most often). On occasion, the liver stores the substance to keep it from damaging the other vital organs (brain, heart, lungs, and kidneys). Stored substances either stay in the liver or are put into fatty deposits in the body (such as the fat around a person’s waist).