Da Electric Company
Didn't someone say "...come June, power outages will be a thing of the past" or was that meant to be the other months of June in the distant future? Not that my name is Francisco to be Frank or Tikko but quite frankly, I'm sure we all share the same frustrations over the many power outages we are now experiencing EVERYDAY. First came the scheduled outages followed by the unscheduled ones and the next thing we know, frequent outages that are burning up our appliances that we can't afford to have fix back into operation because we spent more on paying utility bills from the same electric provider that's responsible to the damages in the first place. Hafa Adai masusesedi? Essor salappi!!!!
Stimulated Situation
It was reported that the Chalan Kanoa branch of the U.S. Postal service was swarmed with a lot of people checking their mail boxes for their "Stimulus Checks" a few days ago. The Postal parking was filled with cars all the way to the Round House on the south. There must have been one hell of a traffic situation down there on that day. Let's blame and thank Uncle Sam for creating such a chaos. Ready? One, Two, Three-all together now. THANK YOU UNCLE SAM. Anyhow, it was one heck of a relieve to be able to par up a bit with bills. Thanks for stimulating me too.
Gas! Gas! Gas!
Had you been in the military, you'd be scrambling with your chemical suit as every second counts or your ass is grass. In our particular situation, we are exercising burning less fuel for more time-time your vehicle will take you until the engine chokes to death for the lack of fuel and decides to make you walk, hitch a ride (which is against local law) or find some other means to get to refuel.
Back in the 70's, we were lining up at the few gas pumps on island to fuel up our vehicles and whatever container(s) we may bring along with us. My late uncle owned a Willey's back then. He would hook up his military type trailer, stack it with his G.I. fuel gallons and any other container that will hold liquid (which include empty plastic Clorox containers) and get in a long and slow tedious line on a scheduled day to buy fuel. Because I was the mucus one back then, I was told to walk back home and get lunch as once you take your vehicle out of the line, you end up at the end to start over again which was something you don't want to do as most times, fuel supply runs out and that was before it was limited to something like 10 or 20 gallons per vehicle. I come back with lunch and my uncle was still lining up not anywhere close to the pump yet.
Present gag
As if the price of fuel is not high enough, some idiot decided to play some stupid rumor that the gas price was to climb past 5 bucks per gallon starting around 2:00 p.m. on that given day. I was driving past the San Vicente Mobil station when I first came across an unusual long line to the pumps only thinking "Stimulus". I came up past the Kagman Mobil where there's another unusual long line of cars probably waiting to gas up. The same thought came to me again "Stimulus".
Around 4:00 p.m. as I was heading back up the same road from Kagman, cars were still lined up at the Mobil station but the board still read "4.62" per gallon. This just kept me wondering why people were really lining up at the fuel pumps. This got me thinking on my way up to Capitol Hill as I was heading to pick up my better half from work. The gas gauge on our vehicle was registering a quarter tank. Should I go and fill up?
The first thing that came out from my better half was "has the gas price gone up already". I just asked her back "is it suppose to go up". Not taking any chances, we headed down town to the nearest ATM and on our way down, Shell Marianas located in (local) Puerto Rico still indicates the same price for unleaded. We got some money out from the bank and headed to the middle road Mobil station to fuel up.
Hyped Old Lady
Surprisingly, there were only a few vehicles lined up at the gas station by the time we got there. I went inside to pay for the gas and found myself in line behind an Oriental couple and an elderly Chamorro woman. The elderly's turn to pay her purchase and as she approached the cashier's counter she asked "is the price of gas really going up" only to be responded by the Philippine national lady cashier "I don't know ma'am-we don't get da memo yet" and I interrupted from behind the elderly "can I give you a memo to bring down the price of gas to a dollar" as they both laughed followed by a comment by the elderly "ai ya sina mohon no laihu".
The Gas Attendant
I found our nephew working the pump on my car as he conversed with my better half who was still in the car. I asked him if their station was busy earlier and he responded "you should have been here this afternoon uncle. There were more cars and more people here than during the grand opening". We gathered from him that people were also arguing as to who came first in line to get gas. Oh well, All is well...I think.
4 extra credit
A hooker was approached by two "nit-wits" as one asked, "how old are you" and she responded "terry dollah". The other nit-wit asked "what's your telephone numbah" and was responded back "too, ay,ay-ay, ay, lie, lie". Followed by another question "and what can you do" she responded "wrong time, shode time, airy time".
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
My harmless thoughts
PROBLEMATIC SITUATIONS
Our islands are full of guest workers, their families, acquaintances and what have they...but this is due particularly on our part as islanders. We invite them over to work, to fill positions not particularly inviting to today's generation. Like someone once put it, "we can fill these positions-even as a farmer but there has to be a pen always dangling from our pockets" even when you are sweating from tilling your farm.
Now the Feds are coming to run Immigration as they are better aware of who to admit into our islands and who not to (like my sister Nat likes to put it "duh"). If my body is covered with tattoo, would that mean I am Yakuza? Or, if my eyes are slanted, would that mean I'm Chinese, Japanese or Korean. We all have special characteristics from birth too. We have locals with slanted eyes (that we have termed them likely as Chinese even if they're not).
We have prostitution too just like any other part of the world but that's just another trait that's here to stay. They may be arrested, gone through the system and released just to be re-arrested again for the same crime. Some have been deported, some still remain as they are given a second chance to try and abide with the law and never to do it again. Yeah right!!!! Again, Nat would say "duh" to this. Signed by the President of the good U.S. of A, Immigration becomes controlled by the Feds as we sit back and see what happens.
PEW Monument
Whatever PEW stands for (acronym or not) I don't agree with what they are doing. Although these entire archipelago is under the U.S. by Constitution, I think they still have to consult with the residence who rely entirely on local resources like our open waters to include its contents and the land and what it holds preciously for its people to survive on. We islanders have survived on our local resources even long before SPAM (or canned goods) were ever introduced. We have our coconuts, taro patches, breadfruits and the plentiful local food we eat with our livestock that's also locally raised by individual families. So why do we need a monument for? A place were residents can't harvest crops or fish to provide for his family, let alone "no take zone". Bunch of crappy propaganda. What benefit do we get out of this?
RELOCATING THE MARINES
No problem relocating the 9,000 + Marines from Okinawa but training is another problem that will forever stay once they start. Field training includes defacing the environment as it will involve vehicles, a couple hundreds personnel at a time, beach landings, regularly scheduled live bombings on Farallon De Medenilla and now, the thought of military trainings on the island of Pagan. Those humongous malli'bong on that beautiful island will all be in for a great treat.
Our islands are full of guest workers, their families, acquaintances and what have they...but this is due particularly on our part as islanders. We invite them over to work, to fill positions not particularly inviting to today's generation. Like someone once put it, "we can fill these positions-even as a farmer but there has to be a pen always dangling from our pockets" even when you are sweating from tilling your farm.
Now the Feds are coming to run Immigration as they are better aware of who to admit into our islands and who not to (like my sister Nat likes to put it "duh"). If my body is covered with tattoo, would that mean I am Yakuza? Or, if my eyes are slanted, would that mean I'm Chinese, Japanese or Korean. We all have special characteristics from birth too. We have locals with slanted eyes (that we have termed them likely as Chinese even if they're not).
We have prostitution too just like any other part of the world but that's just another trait that's here to stay. They may be arrested, gone through the system and released just to be re-arrested again for the same crime. Some have been deported, some still remain as they are given a second chance to try and abide with the law and never to do it again. Yeah right!!!! Again, Nat would say "duh" to this. Signed by the President of the good U.S. of A, Immigration becomes controlled by the Feds as we sit back and see what happens.
PEW Monument
Whatever PEW stands for (acronym or not) I don't agree with what they are doing. Although these entire archipelago is under the U.S. by Constitution, I think they still have to consult with the residence who rely entirely on local resources like our open waters to include its contents and the land and what it holds preciously for its people to survive on. We islanders have survived on our local resources even long before SPAM (or canned goods) were ever introduced. We have our coconuts, taro patches, breadfruits and the plentiful local food we eat with our livestock that's also locally raised by individual families. So why do we need a monument for? A place were residents can't harvest crops or fish to provide for his family, let alone "no take zone". Bunch of crappy propaganda. What benefit do we get out of this?
RELOCATING THE MARINES
No problem relocating the 9,000 + Marines from Okinawa but training is another problem that will forever stay once they start. Field training includes defacing the environment as it will involve vehicles, a couple hundreds personnel at a time, beach landings, regularly scheduled live bombings on Farallon De Medenilla and now, the thought of military trainings on the island of Pagan. Those humongous malli'bong on that beautiful island will all be in for a great treat.
Monday, April 21, 2008
National Monument
Easter past and the entire family (on my wife's side) did not camp out on Mt. Tapochau as has been for the past years. My old folks left for the mainland followed by my daughter's boyfriend who left for Texas as he joined the Air Force.
Then there's the 3 day 2nd Refaluwasch Symposium held last week from Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I was able to attend all the 3 days' function and one subject that I really find interesting was the monument that is suppose to be created (right here) in our very own backyard. With a stroke of the United States' President, this area (containing 3 islands-Ascuncion, Urakas and Maug) to the most northern tip of this Archipelago, will unfortunately become "a monument, a sanctuary, a not take zone" and if that's really not a mouthful, how about "a Federal takeover" of what is and has been a playground for local fishermen who go as far north looking to a good catch to bring back to their families. With a stroke of the United States' Presidents' pen (be it permanent marker or a cheap government issued pen), the 3 islands including 200 miles of the vast surrounding water around them, becomes "federalist" where locals no longer can fish-let alone, take anything-A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G and E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.
PEWS says creating such a monument will bring tremendous $$$ to the CNMI that will greatly assist the local economy but has yet to identify where this is coming from or how much. That it will bring more tourist from the world all over who will in turn spend buku bucks just to go and see this monument but what is there to see other than the vast body of water surrounding these 3 islands. Are the tourists or visitors if I may, really are going to dive the deepest water in the world called the Marianas Trench, proudly wear and advertise something identifying them as "I DOVE THE MARIANAS TRENCH" or something like that.
Anyone (including you and I) can make up the same design except, maybe put a little manta'kiya on it, print it up on the back of a thousand or so t-shirts and sell them to our visitors who either come out here to snorkel or dive the local dive spots as they too will be considered to have dived the same Marianas Trench. Heck, our islands are close enough to the trench-that qualifies one to wear such an apparel already.
Personally, I think PEWS should seriously look at the 2 bomb pits on Tinian and work on having it declared a National Monument. These served a great deal during WWII which eventually brought the war to an end. Concentrate on giving these locations a major face lift to include the old runways (that can be utilized by the anticipated military build-up) remodel or rebuild the old Japanese communication facilities and bunkers and once included in the list of National Monuments, people all over will start coming. Now that's worth calling a monument, something that can be easily visited by plenty and not just by a handful of visitors.
Leave the 3 most northern islands alone! Don't even think of them and their surroundings as a National Monument because they're not. They're our islands and our livelihood.
Then there's the 3 day 2nd Refaluwasch Symposium held last week from Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I was able to attend all the 3 days' function and one subject that I really find interesting was the monument that is suppose to be created (right here) in our very own backyard. With a stroke of the United States' President, this area (containing 3 islands-Ascuncion, Urakas and Maug) to the most northern tip of this Archipelago, will unfortunately become "a monument, a sanctuary, a not take zone" and if that's really not a mouthful, how about "a Federal takeover" of what is and has been a playground for local fishermen who go as far north looking to a good catch to bring back to their families. With a stroke of the United States' Presidents' pen (be it permanent marker or a cheap government issued pen), the 3 islands including 200 miles of the vast surrounding water around them, becomes "federalist" where locals no longer can fish-let alone, take anything-A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G and E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.
PEWS says creating such a monument will bring tremendous $$$ to the CNMI that will greatly assist the local economy but has yet to identify where this is coming from or how much. That it will bring more tourist from the world all over who will in turn spend buku bucks just to go and see this monument but what is there to see other than the vast body of water surrounding these 3 islands. Are the tourists or visitors if I may, really are going to dive the deepest water in the world called the Marianas Trench, proudly wear and advertise something identifying them as "I DOVE THE MARIANAS TRENCH" or something like that.
Anyone (including you and I) can make up the same design except, maybe put a little manta'kiya on it, print it up on the back of a thousand or so t-shirts and sell them to our visitors who either come out here to snorkel or dive the local dive spots as they too will be considered to have dived the same Marianas Trench. Heck, our islands are close enough to the trench-that qualifies one to wear such an apparel already.
Personally, I think PEWS should seriously look at the 2 bomb pits on Tinian and work on having it declared a National Monument. These served a great deal during WWII which eventually brought the war to an end. Concentrate on giving these locations a major face lift to include the old runways (that can be utilized by the anticipated military build-up) remodel or rebuild the old Japanese communication facilities and bunkers and once included in the list of National Monuments, people all over will start coming. Now that's worth calling a monument, something that can be easily visited by plenty and not just by a handful of visitors.
Leave the 3 most northern islands alone! Don't even think of them and their surroundings as a National Monument because they're not. They're our islands and our livelihood.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Bad Liars
My brother-in-law's truck ran into a problem as it was parked outside a gas station for gas. I'll just go ahead and call him "John One" as I'll be writing also about my other brother-in-law John whom I'll call "John Two".
John Two (the family Grease Monkey) came to my house the other night and so we decided to check John One to see what we should do with his problematic truck. We drove (his truck) down to Arabwal where we found and informed him that we needed his assistance pretty badly. We had parked his truck out of sight where John Two and I thought John One won't find it. He asked us "why" and we simply informed him we ran into the guardrails heading down from Capitol Hill.
John One just excused himself and went off into the dark and boy-did we really mess up. John One walked towards where we had parked his truck and-yeah, he saw it because he really shouted back towards our direction "YOU LIARS". As the saying goes "Once a Marine, ALWAYS a Marine". We thought he walked into the dark to relieve himself but boy-did we think wrong, the "Local Marine" conducted his recon and found his parked truck. So okay, the Grease Monkey and I make bad liars. Now the truck is really parked for good as it won't even bother to run.
John Two (the family Grease Monkey) came to my house the other night and so we decided to check John One to see what we should do with his problematic truck. We drove (his truck) down to Arabwal where we found and informed him that we needed his assistance pretty badly. We had parked his truck out of sight where John Two and I thought John One won't find it. He asked us "why" and we simply informed him we ran into the guardrails heading down from Capitol Hill.
John One just excused himself and went off into the dark and boy-did we really mess up. John One walked towards where we had parked his truck and-yeah, he saw it because he really shouted back towards our direction "YOU LIARS". As the saying goes "Once a Marine, ALWAYS a Marine". We thought he walked into the dark to relieve himself but boy-did we think wrong, the "Local Marine" conducted his recon and found his parked truck. So okay, the Grease Monkey and I make bad liars. Now the truck is really parked for good as it won't even bother to run.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
VerveEarth
I was checking my email the other day when I came across this
TIKK,Your blog ISLAND IN BLUE caught our attention. I'm the CEO of a recently launched startup for bloggers. We are searching the internet for the world's best blogs by geography, and we found yours for the Northern Mariana Islands. I would like to invite you to our site which plots the content of the internet on an interactive map of the world. VerveEarth is an entirely new way to surf the net. It shows spatial and geographic connections that a blog search engine could never reveal. The site is http://www.verveearth.com/. Once on board, you can easily claim your blog a place in the VerveEarth world. The site is free to use and a way to drive new traffic to your blog. If our vision resonates with you, please give us a mention or add our widget to your blog. Please see our FAQ for any questions, and I welcome your feedback. http://www.verveearth.com/ Kind Regards,ClaytonCEO VerveEarth.comEmail clayton@verveearth.com,
I just said "what the heck", give it a try so I registered and out came what appeared to be a world map (somewhat like "Google Earth") that enables one to browse around to every location in the world. It seems though that this site is a bid slow in terms of who has registered as indicated by the few registered sites showing but that I think will change in a few once more people registers and gives it a try.
Well Mr. CEO of verveearth, I may have not written to you about the site but thanks for reading.
Other than that, I'm bored and Devin is not around to give me a headache. I have no beer and I'm tired from whacking the darn grass that had grown around the house. Just had to do it or else my little Devin will be using it as a hiding place from me. Did I say "I have no beer". Where's the rubbing alcohol?
TIKK,Your blog ISLAND IN BLUE caught our attention. I'm the CEO of a recently launched startup for bloggers. We are searching the internet for the world's best blogs by geography, and we found yours for the Northern Mariana Islands. I would like to invite you to our site which plots the content of the internet on an interactive map of the world. VerveEarth is an entirely new way to surf the net. It shows spatial and geographic connections that a blog search engine could never reveal. The site is http://www.verveearth.com/. Once on board, you can easily claim your blog a place in the VerveEarth world. The site is free to use and a way to drive new traffic to your blog. If our vision resonates with you, please give us a mention or add our widget to your blog. Please see our FAQ for any questions, and I welcome your feedback. http://www.verveearth.com/ Kind Regards,ClaytonCEO VerveEarth.comEmail clayton@verveearth.com,
I just said "what the heck", give it a try so I registered and out came what appeared to be a world map (somewhat like "Google Earth") that enables one to browse around to every location in the world. It seems though that this site is a bid slow in terms of who has registered as indicated by the few registered sites showing but that I think will change in a few once more people registers and gives it a try.
Well Mr. CEO of verveearth, I may have not written to you about the site but thanks for reading.
Other than that, I'm bored and Devin is not around to give me a headache. I have no beer and I'm tired from whacking the darn grass that had grown around the house. Just had to do it or else my little Devin will be using it as a hiding place from me. Did I say "I have no beer". Where's the rubbing alcohol?
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Da Pagan@venture
First leg
The trip north last week was as calm as can be. The water was great as our path north was smooth as we took our travel time at 9 knots. We had arranged our "watch" hours from the start of our leg north until our destination-Pagan, but we had cargo too-to off load in Alamagan.
It was midnight into our trip when I was awaken for my watch which ended within sight of Guguan around 4:00 a.m. I woke up the next watch, when to sleep for a few and before I knew it, we were fast approaching Alamagan. There were cargo to off load there but the task was much easier when Ben Santos came out with one of his brothers on a motor boat to meet up with our ship. A couple of cargo were off loaded into their boat and in less than an hour, we were off on our way to Pagan which was about 3 hours away.
Pagan-finally
Upon arriving Pagan, Sid and his young brother Sandy also came out on their motor boat where we also off loaded some supplies. Sid decided to tag along on the ship as we were to do some trolling around the island. Some won't believe it but the trolling catch there are monstrous in size. Talk about yellow fin/ white tuna and wahoo which were the most catch. Deep bottom launched us Onaga, yellow and black Pakapaka, Gindai and some Karikari. These were all pretty good fish (especially in the pots and pans).
Night dive
I became the boatman for the divers that night. The moon was a bit high for night diving so we had to wait it out until it sets around 7:30. With the tide just beginning to rise as I dropped off the divers, the swells were also getting bigger but I had to stay the whole time with them as I wait for them to land their catches in the boat.
D @venture
I went inland the next morning as Sid Pagan had requested that I assist his brother Sandy slaughter some cows to take back to Saipan. Sandy and I wasted no time in executing this task. We hopped onto his old but operable A.T.V. and off we went to the foot of the volcano where about 50-60 cattle were spotted but once they took scent of our presence, off they go stampeding on a southerly direction. We took off after them (on foot) but they had a better start than we did.
Da calf trail
Sandy and I took a small trail when we spotted one of Sandy's dogs running about behind us. With no hesitation, Sandy just grabbed the dog behind its neck and started slapping it like silly but I guess that's how he trains them to behave better as they all do-except for this naughty one. We continued on the small trail as Sandy leads the way when something white came pass me from the right that I thought the dog came back but hell no. It was a calf that kept trotting in front of me towards Sandy's direction so I gave Sandy a light whistle. He turned, grabbed the calf and up onto his shoulders as he continues. Sandy had to tie the poor animal to a small branch as we came to a ravine. We continued searching for the herd but couldn't locate them as Sandy told me they had probably gotten down to "the lake".
We decided to go further south but first, we must advice the others who were still waiting down at the village of our intention. We did just that but Sid Castro decided that Sandy hang back and prepare whatever cargo that was going out to the ship as he will lead the trail with me. Francis (one of our shipmates) decided to tag along so off we went. Up and down the hill we went. This is not to say I had a "flashback" but this trail somewhat reminded me of the jungles of Panama except with the absence of rain.
Da flat
We took a few wild game trails up the hill and upon coming up the flat were both east and west coasts reviewed a spectacular view-and a more promising view to the south flat with numerous spectacles of cattle, Sid only informs me "shoot first, ask questions later" I jokingly asked "who will I ask questions if I should you first" only to come back with "la'nao Frang". I pointed into the direction of a hill on the south-east and informed Sid "that's our fire direction" as he acknowledged.
We slowly made our way closer toward the cattle. Two loners to our left while the rest of the herd grazed on the right, still about a couple of meters but I wanted a sure shot so I moved closer not knowing my two companions had stop several few meters behind me. I guess the two loners to my right picked up my presence as they first took off running followed by the rest. I jumped to my feet, aimed but had their behinds towards me as they trotted away from me. Kept my aim on no particular head but as they all had no other way to run but back towards my direction, I just fired into the group as I wasn't about to become a victim of a stampeding herd. Fired three shots as they started running off down hill to my right.
O2 needed
I had not seen Sid and Francis behind me or anywhere in the direction where the herd was now headed so I ceased firing-fearing I might hit them. Just then I started hearing shots fired as the herd came pass them both. I aimed again (at no particular target) but into the running herd, fired several shots and started running downhill after them. I stopped a few meters from where I had started running, took aim at a bull behind the herd, fired a few more shots as I saw it started coming to a walk. Gave aim at another, fired and on the ground it went crashing. All the while Sid was also shooting into the same direction. I just didn't know which target he was aiming at but into the herd.
I started running down the hill again after the trotting bull which had now stopped under some trees obviously injured but still standing. I had ran out of ammo (you stupid *uck) and called up towards Sid who was still in his previous choice of firing position. He and Francis came down running to where I had chose to catch my breath-flat on my ass.
"Da thing"
"Hafa" Sid asked as I was still sitting breathless pointing into the helpless bulls direction. Sid attempted to get closer but the bull started walking off away from sight. I just watched as Francis and Sid proceeded towards the direction of the cow, Sid taking aim, gave it a single shot and I asked Francis, "is it dead" and only replied "no". Sid took another aimed, shot again and came the same question from me "is it dead" with the same reply from Francis "no". I only looked at Sid who was taking another aim "lania Sid ti Waake enow" as he took another shot and turned "yeah, ti waake nay na gaaga".
Sid headed back to the village to get the rest of the party and after 30 minutes was back to our location with the slaughtering cavalry who had also managed to bring along with them a wild boar which had been attacked by the accompanying dogs. Cutting up the 3 cows was easy but the travel back with the meat to the village was something else we had to decide how to best handle without killing ourselves.
Change of Plan
Sid decided the fastest way to get the meat on the boat was take it down towards a place they called "the Chapel" which was nothing but a formation of rocks on the east coast. It was all down hill and less distance than back tracking it back to the village. Besides, it was getting dark that even the silhouettes of the fruit bats were out flying above us.
Plan "B"
Sandy was to go back with K.C. to the village, take all the cargo out to the ship and have the ship brought to the back side of Pagan. With little time to work with, plan "B" was activated. All the meat was brought down to the beach on the east coast of Pagan. The problem we now faced as we arrived on the beach was something else to take into consideration. The tide had just started rising and the waves bigger than expected. The small channel we had planned on bringing in the small boat was almost impossible to use.
We collected the plentiful coconut husks on the beach, built ourselves two fires and sat beside them as we considered other options. Julius informed us it was a bit risky to use the small channel we had thought off using to transport our cargo of raw meat. Got our heads together as we observed the ship slowly approaching our way and decided against "Plan B". Besides, the small boat operator was turned back to the mother ship as we didn't want to risk bringing it in with the current condition-dark and pounding waves.
Plan "C"
There's was no Plan "C" until now. We're all speaking vernacular and felt sorry for our other hunting buddy who did not understand shit of what we spoke off so we had to make him understand that we were to stay on the beach and make a break for the channel come first light. We're hungry and John jokingly suggested we roast one of the hind legs for dinner. Arlin had separated some soft part of the meat in a separate plastic bag of which he brought out. "Sirloin" he said and out came some of Sandy's "escape supplies" stashed right there on the beach. Vinegar, Soy Sauce, Black Pepper and believe me not, aluminum foil and tomato ketchup that was among a few from his supply. This really wasn't survival style but rather a sumptuous dinner for us on the beach.
Bunked up
Everyone started getting comfy on their own piece of huge lava rock-make shift bed. Julius gathered dried coconut fronds which he lay on. I did the same except, the spot I had chose later became infested with ants. It's around 3:30 a.m. and couldn't hack the ants anymore so I collected more coconut husk, built two more fires (only these were much bigger) and lit up the entire camp. Everyone else started getting up and either chew or light up a smoke complaining why I had to built those brightly large bodies of fire.
Just as we could now clearly see the channel at first light, K.C. comes speeding into the channel with the small motor boat. We loaded the meat and our equipment and off we went to the mother ship only to explain to the Captain of how we came about with "Plan C". The rest from there on was back to catching more fish. Anyhow, I was surprised to see the stray calf on the ship.
The trip north last week was as calm as can be. The water was great as our path north was smooth as we took our travel time at 9 knots. We had arranged our "watch" hours from the start of our leg north until our destination-Pagan, but we had cargo too-to off load in Alamagan.
It was midnight into our trip when I was awaken for my watch which ended within sight of Guguan around 4:00 a.m. I woke up the next watch, when to sleep for a few and before I knew it, we were fast approaching Alamagan. There were cargo to off load there but the task was much easier when Ben Santos came out with one of his brothers on a motor boat to meet up with our ship. A couple of cargo were off loaded into their boat and in less than an hour, we were off on our way to Pagan which was about 3 hours away.
Pagan-finally
Upon arriving Pagan, Sid and his young brother Sandy also came out on their motor boat where we also off loaded some supplies. Sid decided to tag along on the ship as we were to do some trolling around the island. Some won't believe it but the trolling catch there are monstrous in size. Talk about yellow fin/ white tuna and wahoo which were the most catch. Deep bottom launched us Onaga, yellow and black Pakapaka, Gindai and some Karikari. These were all pretty good fish (especially in the pots and pans).
Night dive
I became the boatman for the divers that night. The moon was a bit high for night diving so we had to wait it out until it sets around 7:30. With the tide just beginning to rise as I dropped off the divers, the swells were also getting bigger but I had to stay the whole time with them as I wait for them to land their catches in the boat.
D @venture
I went inland the next morning as Sid Pagan had requested that I assist his brother Sandy slaughter some cows to take back to Saipan. Sandy and I wasted no time in executing this task. We hopped onto his old but operable A.T.V. and off we went to the foot of the volcano where about 50-60 cattle were spotted but once they took scent of our presence, off they go stampeding on a southerly direction. We took off after them (on foot) but they had a better start than we did.
Da calf trail
Sandy and I took a small trail when we spotted one of Sandy's dogs running about behind us. With no hesitation, Sandy just grabbed the dog behind its neck and started slapping it like silly but I guess that's how he trains them to behave better as they all do-except for this naughty one. We continued on the small trail as Sandy leads the way when something white came pass me from the right that I thought the dog came back but hell no. It was a calf that kept trotting in front of me towards Sandy's direction so I gave Sandy a light whistle. He turned, grabbed the calf and up onto his shoulders as he continues. Sandy had to tie the poor animal to a small branch as we came to a ravine. We continued searching for the herd but couldn't locate them as Sandy told me they had probably gotten down to "the lake".
We decided to go further south but first, we must advice the others who were still waiting down at the village of our intention. We did just that but Sid Castro decided that Sandy hang back and prepare whatever cargo that was going out to the ship as he will lead the trail with me. Francis (one of our shipmates) decided to tag along so off we went. Up and down the hill we went. This is not to say I had a "flashback" but this trail somewhat reminded me of the jungles of Panama except with the absence of rain.
Da flat
We took a few wild game trails up the hill and upon coming up the flat were both east and west coasts reviewed a spectacular view-and a more promising view to the south flat with numerous spectacles of cattle, Sid only informs me "shoot first, ask questions later" I jokingly asked "who will I ask questions if I should you first" only to come back with "la'nao Frang". I pointed into the direction of a hill on the south-east and informed Sid "that's our fire direction" as he acknowledged.
We slowly made our way closer toward the cattle. Two loners to our left while the rest of the herd grazed on the right, still about a couple of meters but I wanted a sure shot so I moved closer not knowing my two companions had stop several few meters behind me. I guess the two loners to my right picked up my presence as they first took off running followed by the rest. I jumped to my feet, aimed but had their behinds towards me as they trotted away from me. Kept my aim on no particular head but as they all had no other way to run but back towards my direction, I just fired into the group as I wasn't about to become a victim of a stampeding herd. Fired three shots as they started running off down hill to my right.
O2 needed
I had not seen Sid and Francis behind me or anywhere in the direction where the herd was now headed so I ceased firing-fearing I might hit them. Just then I started hearing shots fired as the herd came pass them both. I aimed again (at no particular target) but into the running herd, fired several shots and started running downhill after them. I stopped a few meters from where I had started running, took aim at a bull behind the herd, fired a few more shots as I saw it started coming to a walk. Gave aim at another, fired and on the ground it went crashing. All the while Sid was also shooting into the same direction. I just didn't know which target he was aiming at but into the herd.
I started running down the hill again after the trotting bull which had now stopped under some trees obviously injured but still standing. I had ran out of ammo (you stupid *uck) and called up towards Sid who was still in his previous choice of firing position. He and Francis came down running to where I had chose to catch my breath-flat on my ass.
"Da thing"
"Hafa" Sid asked as I was still sitting breathless pointing into the helpless bulls direction. Sid attempted to get closer but the bull started walking off away from sight. I just watched as Francis and Sid proceeded towards the direction of the cow, Sid taking aim, gave it a single shot and I asked Francis, "is it dead" and only replied "no". Sid took another aimed, shot again and came the same question from me "is it dead" with the same reply from Francis "no". I only looked at Sid who was taking another aim "lania Sid ti Waake enow" as he took another shot and turned "yeah, ti waake nay na gaaga".
Sid headed back to the village to get the rest of the party and after 30 minutes was back to our location with the slaughtering cavalry who had also managed to bring along with them a wild boar which had been attacked by the accompanying dogs. Cutting up the 3 cows was easy but the travel back with the meat to the village was something else we had to decide how to best handle without killing ourselves.
Change of Plan
Sid decided the fastest way to get the meat on the boat was take it down towards a place they called "the Chapel" which was nothing but a formation of rocks on the east coast. It was all down hill and less distance than back tracking it back to the village. Besides, it was getting dark that even the silhouettes of the fruit bats were out flying above us.
Plan "B"
Sandy was to go back with K.C. to the village, take all the cargo out to the ship and have the ship brought to the back side of Pagan. With little time to work with, plan "B" was activated. All the meat was brought down to the beach on the east coast of Pagan. The problem we now faced as we arrived on the beach was something else to take into consideration. The tide had just started rising and the waves bigger than expected. The small channel we had planned on bringing in the small boat was almost impossible to use.
We collected the plentiful coconut husks on the beach, built ourselves two fires and sat beside them as we considered other options. Julius informed us it was a bit risky to use the small channel we had thought off using to transport our cargo of raw meat. Got our heads together as we observed the ship slowly approaching our way and decided against "Plan B". Besides, the small boat operator was turned back to the mother ship as we didn't want to risk bringing it in with the current condition-dark and pounding waves.
Plan "C"
There's was no Plan "C" until now. We're all speaking vernacular and felt sorry for our other hunting buddy who did not understand shit of what we spoke off so we had to make him understand that we were to stay on the beach and make a break for the channel come first light. We're hungry and John jokingly suggested we roast one of the hind legs for dinner. Arlin had separated some soft part of the meat in a separate plastic bag of which he brought out. "Sirloin" he said and out came some of Sandy's "escape supplies" stashed right there on the beach. Vinegar, Soy Sauce, Black Pepper and believe me not, aluminum foil and tomato ketchup that was among a few from his supply. This really wasn't survival style but rather a sumptuous dinner for us on the beach.
Bunked up
Everyone started getting comfy on their own piece of huge lava rock-make shift bed. Julius gathered dried coconut fronds which he lay on. I did the same except, the spot I had chose later became infested with ants. It's around 3:30 a.m. and couldn't hack the ants anymore so I collected more coconut husk, built two more fires (only these were much bigger) and lit up the entire camp. Everyone else started getting up and either chew or light up a smoke complaining why I had to built those brightly large bodies of fire.
Just as we could now clearly see the channel at first light, K.C. comes speeding into the channel with the small motor boat. We loaded the meat and our equipment and off we went to the mother ship only to explain to the Captain of how we came about with "Plan C". The rest from there on was back to catching more fish. Anyhow, I was surprised to see the stray calf on the ship.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Going, going, gone North
Dawn on Pagan's east coast where the boys call it "JURASSIC PARK" for its ghostly rock formation.
The village of Pagan in the foreground right above the water level. Note the rising smoke from the top of the "Buutkaan".
Sid & Sandy "Paganese" Castro-out to meet the boys on the ship. Sandy is the real McCoy with four consecutive years residency under his belt. He speaks so many dialects that he can communicate with the silos, the sibwa, waake and many other creatures including his best dog buddies on Pagan whom I can only name a few such as Buutkaan, Boboy, Na-ture and Soba. He can also speak to the abundant fishes and other sea living creatures too.
The Santos Boys of Alamagan loading Saipan bound cargo "da NAVY SEALS style". Surfs' a bid rough that loading was impossible from the regular loading/off loading landing beach.
All attempts taken...to keep goods dry-but how with the every rising surf? No problemo!!! ALAMAGAN SEALS at work.
Flores na Gindai on da lines off the south-east coast of Alamagan.
Be it Onaga or White Tuna. Francis and Ton can catch them free-diving with a pair of goggles using a single empty bottle of Soju full of air down to a mare 200 meters deep of water. The thing about it though is, they have to dive bare butt naked or the fish don't come to them.
Just one of the many gigantic Wahoos that just come flying onto the ship without using a single line or hook. They just come landing on the deck for no apparent reason but probably thinking "please take me home and fry me".
Francis with one of the PRIZE CATCHES.
Joe "Ay Baybay" Manalo just wants to jump ship and swim ashore onto Alamagan already.If the pictures aren't so interesting for some, then maybe the following anecdote will be...
Joe "Ay Baybay" and Ton "Suicidal"-each have a farm worker. One day they decided to get together and have a bar-b-q when Joe Ay Baybay said "you know what par? I think my farmer is a bid slow with communication" Ton Suicidal goes "why do you say that par" and Joe Ay Baybay replies "wait" and calls on his worker "Peppito", Peppito (his worker) comes running "yes boss". Joe Ay Baybay took out a dollar bill and says "take this dollar bill, run to the store and get us ten cases of beer, "yes boss" replies Peppito as he runs off to the store.
Ton Suicidal turns to Joe Ay Baybay and says "you think your worker is slow, wait and see what my worker can do". He calls on his worker "Carlito" and Carlito comes running, "yes boss". Ton Suicidal tells him "run to my house, see if I'm there. If I'm not there, call me on my cell phone". "Yes boss" replies Carlito as he also runs off on this errand given by boss Ton.
Along the way, Peppito and Carlito met when Carlito asked "ay parre, wherr yu go'n". Peppito replied "parre, I tink my boss is crazy. He tell me to go to da store to buy ten case of beer with dis wan dolla, but how am gone to carry ten case of beer"
"Ai parre" goes Carlito "you think yo boss is crazy. My boss is plenty more crazy" "Why parre" asked Peppito. Carlito continued "he tell me to run to his house, check if he's der and if he's not der, I call him on his cell phone-but I don know his cell phone number".
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