"The First Ship Assignment"
By: Adelino L. Masigla
The weather was fine that dawn of March 27, 1964, I was on board the personnel boat “Hornet” on my way to my
first ship assignment as cadet midshipman. I did not bother to join the college graduation exercises the night
before at Manila Hotel, instead I went on packing my gears and visited friends to say goodbye. About 25
passengers crowded inside the small ferry and I was the only one carrying two suit cases of personal belongings,
the rest were on hand carried bags only. The Hornet delivered the morning relievers to various crafts elsewhere
inside the breakwater. The harbor lights along the Manila South Harbor were flipping off as the Hornet docked
alongside the last station to disembark the remaining two passengers.
“The M/T LSCO Pandacan”--- the helmsman said, “is the biggest motor tanker of the company, in fact the
biggest in the country. She cannot anchor inside the breakwater because of her size and because she is loaded
with petroleum cargoes. That is why she is there at least 12 miles away from the breakwater” he continued further
while pointing towards a silhouette of a ship westward on the horizon. “From now on, the M/T LSCO Pandacan
will be supplying twice weekly all the gasoline, and diesel demands of the City of Manila and suburbs as well as
the bunker oil requirements for all the generating and power stations at 160,000 barrels per voyage."
I asked where the cargo comes from and he quickly replied--- “From Shell and Caltex oil refineries in Batangas
and offloaded to small barges which are then towed to the various oil depots along the Pasig River.”
As we pass though the breakwater entrance the helmsman slowed down and maneuvered to give way to an
incoming tug boat towing an empty barge.
“Congratulation,” he said while lighting a cigarette and adjusting his cap--- “She arrived direct from Oslo, Norway
two weeks ago and today is her maiden voyage.”
For about an hour and a half the helmsman talked all sorts of topics about the Pandacan, her crew and the
company until we arrived alongside the tanker. Several tanker barges were alongside receiving petroleum
cargoes.
I was welcomed on the rail by the duty officer, 3rd Mate Loreto Perez who ordered a sailor to assist me with my
luggage and usher me to the Chief Officer, Chief Mate Edgardo Gualberto, who was sitting while sipping coffee
on the catwalk just outside of the ships office. The ship’s old man, Capt. Sotero Eletante was all dressed up and
while talking over the VHF Radio in the office noticed my presence asked the chief mate where he proposed to
keep the 13th cadet officer since the bunks and cabins were all occupied. After a while the chief mate suggested
that the ship’s hospital across the office be my temporary cabin which the old man approved.
“Pandacan now is a training ship, ha Eddie.” The old man quipped to the chief mate and without waiting for a
reply he hurried down to board Hornet.
There Must Be a Way
The year 1964 was a period when it was difficult to obtain a ship’s space for cadets. So many graduates each
year yet the number of ships had not been increasing proportionately. Three months before graduation a group
of classmates and I started scouting for vacancies armed with recommendation from the college dean that
certifies my good moral character and excellent scholastic records. We applied for cadet position in the three
biggest shipping companies where I passed all the examinations and interviews, my name was then included in
the waiting lists, unfortunately the earliest vacancy was expected six months after the scheduled graduation.
Two weeks prior to graduation day, I came to read in the newspaper about the arrival of the “Motor Tanker
LSCO Pandacan of LUSTEVECO, the biggest motor tanker in the Philippines.”
The following day, I went to the company’s office but was not able to get through the tight security as applicants
without appointment were not allowed to enter. Refusing disappointment, I watched and observed for an hour or
so the manner how employees were moving in and out of the gate.
Early the following day I went back in white polo shirt school cadet uniform and black pants less shoulder boards
and name plate and imitated what I had observed a day before. Good grace, I later found myself in front of the
assistant marine personnel administrator. I handed him my letter of recommendation from the college dean but
after reading for a while I was told of no vacancy.
I did not lose hope though and thought of approaching the Port Captain (Capt. Arturo Tabhan). While mingling
with a group of seamen in the office I again observed and studied how persons moved entering in and out of the
office of the port captain. I picked my object, a guy in white polo shirt who frequently comes in an out of the port
captain’s door, the messenger boy.
On the first opportunity I befriend with him and when I next saw him approaching back with a cup of coffee I took
the chance and immediately asked him to give me the cup which he did not hesitate. With it I was able to get in
front of Capt. Arturo Tabhan, placed the coffee on his left on the table together with my documents on a clear
space directly in front and stood at attention. He read it quickly for a while without uttering a word then put my
documents back on the table within his full view and resumed reading the many radiograms filed on the table. I
did not moved a bit and remained standing at attention, motionless while he was writing remarks in every sheet of
radiogram. I did not want to disturb the aura which seemed to be in my favor otherwise he should have asked me
to step out. My mind was occupied concentrating on with positive prayers while my eyes fixed on his forehead as
he continued working on the bunch of radiogram sheets. I just wished I can read whats in his mind that very
moment.
After a while, he scanned once more my resume, stared at me as though examining my built, then picked up his
pen and encircled something on the document and with a solid voice called over the intercom--- “Paddie, come
here”.
In few seconds the personnel administrator was in then Capt. Tabhan told him--- “Put this boy on board LSCO
Pandacan.”
After expressing my thanks with a snap salute I stepped out of the office with Mr. Padilla. On his table he asked
me few questions while filling up the request form for physical & medical examination then gave me together with
an employee information sheet for me to fill up and directed me to proceed to the medical department.
“How were you able to convinced the port captain?” Mr. Padilla asked further before I turned my back. “I don’t
know, on the other hand I think he did convinced me” --- I replied.
It took me another two weeks before I was able to complete all necessary prerequisite for employment and
securing additional seaman’s documents as deck cadet from the Department of Labor.
Early morning of March 27, 1964 I was on board my first ship, as cadet officer of the biggest tanker in the
Philippines--- Motor Tanker "LSCO Pandacan"
§
By: Adelino L. Masigla
The weather was fine that dawn of March 27, 1964, I was on board the personnel boat “Hornet” on my way to my
first ship assignment as cadet midshipman. I did not bother to join the college graduation exercises the night
before at Manila Hotel, instead I went on packing my gears and visited friends to say goodbye. About 25
passengers crowded inside the small ferry and I was the only one carrying two suit cases of personal belongings,
the rest were on hand carried bags only. The Hornet delivered the morning relievers to various crafts elsewhere
inside the breakwater. The harbor lights along the Manila South Harbor were flipping off as the Hornet docked
alongside the last station to disembark the remaining two passengers.
“The M/T LSCO Pandacan”--- the helmsman said, “is the biggest motor tanker of the company, in fact the
biggest in the country. She cannot anchor inside the breakwater because of her size and because she is loaded
with petroleum cargoes. That is why she is there at least 12 miles away from the breakwater” he continued further
while pointing towards a silhouette of a ship westward on the horizon. “From now on, the M/T LSCO Pandacan
will be supplying twice weekly all the gasoline, and diesel demands of the City of Manila and suburbs as well as
the bunker oil requirements for all the generating and power stations at 160,000 barrels per voyage."
I asked where the cargo comes from and he quickly replied--- “From Shell and Caltex oil refineries in Batangas
and offloaded to small barges which are then towed to the various oil depots along the Pasig River.”
As we pass though the breakwater entrance the helmsman slowed down and maneuvered to give way to an
incoming tug boat towing an empty barge.
“Congratulation,” he said while lighting a cigarette and adjusting his cap--- “She arrived direct from Oslo, Norway
two weeks ago and today is her maiden voyage.”
For about an hour and a half the helmsman talked all sorts of topics about the Pandacan, her crew and the
company until we arrived alongside the tanker. Several tanker barges were alongside receiving petroleum
cargoes.
I was welcomed on the rail by the duty officer, 3rd Mate Loreto Perez who ordered a sailor to assist me with my
luggage and usher me to the Chief Officer, Chief Mate Edgardo Gualberto, who was sitting while sipping coffee
on the catwalk just outside of the ships office. The ship’s old man, Capt. Sotero Eletante was all dressed up and
while talking over the VHF Radio in the office noticed my presence asked the chief mate where he proposed to
keep the 13th cadet officer since the bunks and cabins were all occupied. After a while the chief mate suggested
that the ship’s hospital across the office be my temporary cabin which the old man approved.
“Pandacan now is a training ship, ha Eddie.” The old man quipped to the chief mate and without waiting for a
reply he hurried down to board Hornet.
There Must Be a Way
The year 1964 was a period when it was difficult to obtain a ship’s space for cadets. So many graduates each
year yet the number of ships had not been increasing proportionately. Three months before graduation a group
of classmates and I started scouting for vacancies armed with recommendation from the college dean that
certifies my good moral character and excellent scholastic records. We applied for cadet position in the three
biggest shipping companies where I passed all the examinations and interviews, my name was then included in
the waiting lists, unfortunately the earliest vacancy was expected six months after the scheduled graduation.
Two weeks prior to graduation day, I came to read in the newspaper about the arrival of the “Motor Tanker
LSCO Pandacan of LUSTEVECO, the biggest motor tanker in the Philippines.”
The following day, I went to the company’s office but was not able to get through the tight security as applicants
without appointment were not allowed to enter. Refusing disappointment, I watched and observed for an hour or
so the manner how employees were moving in and out of the gate.
Early the following day I went back in white polo shirt school cadet uniform and black pants less shoulder boards
and name plate and imitated what I had observed a day before. Good grace, I later found myself in front of the
assistant marine personnel administrator. I handed him my letter of recommendation from the college dean but
after reading for a while I was told of no vacancy.
I did not lose hope though and thought of approaching the Port Captain (Capt. Arturo Tabhan). While mingling
with a group of seamen in the office I again observed and studied how persons moved entering in and out of the
office of the port captain. I picked my object, a guy in white polo shirt who frequently comes in an out of the port
captain’s door, the messenger boy.
On the first opportunity I befriend with him and when I next saw him approaching back with a cup of coffee I took
the chance and immediately asked him to give me the cup which he did not hesitate. With it I was able to get in
front of Capt. Arturo Tabhan, placed the coffee on his left on the table together with my documents on a clear
space directly in front and stood at attention. He read it quickly for a while without uttering a word then put my
documents back on the table within his full view and resumed reading the many radiograms filed on the table. I
did not moved a bit and remained standing at attention, motionless while he was writing remarks in every sheet of
radiogram. I did not want to disturb the aura which seemed to be in my favor otherwise he should have asked me
to step out. My mind was occupied concentrating on with positive prayers while my eyes fixed on his forehead as
he continued working on the bunch of radiogram sheets. I just wished I can read whats in his mind that very
moment.
After a while, he scanned once more my resume, stared at me as though examining my built, then picked up his
pen and encircled something on the document and with a solid voice called over the intercom--- “Paddie, come
here”.
In few seconds the personnel administrator was in then Capt. Tabhan told him--- “Put this boy on board LSCO
Pandacan.”
After expressing my thanks with a snap salute I stepped out of the office with Mr. Padilla. On his table he asked
me few questions while filling up the request form for physical & medical examination then gave me together with
an employee information sheet for me to fill up and directed me to proceed to the medical department.
“How were you able to convinced the port captain?” Mr. Padilla asked further before I turned my back. “I don’t
know, on the other hand I think he did convinced me” --- I replied.
It took me another two weeks before I was able to complete all necessary prerequisite for employment and
securing additional seaman’s documents as deck cadet from the Department of Labor.
Early morning of March 27, 1964 I was on board my first ship, as cadet officer of the biggest tanker in the
Philippines--- Motor Tanker "LSCO Pandacan"
§
| Motor Tanker "LSCO Pandacan" Click image to enlarge |
| The Deck Cadets at the Flying Bridge of Motor Tanker "LSCO Pandacan" |
TRUE TO LIFE STORY
masigla.com
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