I'm accessing this blog today in the town of Coron. We had a little R&R and we decided to stay here for the night. When we left the office we just plan to go to Landbank to open an ATM account here to save from the bank charges. We waited for almost two hours while we wait for our ATM card. Since we've been waiting for so long we just discussed spending the night here and see the sights which we were unable to see the last time.
We decided impromptu we didn't even brought any change of clothes. So, we proceeded to the market to buy a face towel, shorts and a shirt. we also went to the souvenir shop here since i bought my girlfriend belle something that she wants, a pearl necklace. We also look for a room to spend the night in and we found an air-conditioned one for 600 a night but sadly it is full. So, we settled to the 350 a night room with just a fan and two beds. We went to hire a tricycle for our trip to Maquinitan where the hot spring is located. A note to all travelers do always ask some local how much usually is the going rate before you try to negotiate a ride. We hired a tricycle for 300 pesos which is the going rate here in Coron to the hot springs. The driver would wait for you there while you go inside and take a dip in the springs. The entrance to the springs is 100 pesos.
When we got there the technique they say in staying longer in the spring is for you to immerse yourself slowly in the pool. i really enjoyed sitting on the little waterfall while the hot water is streaming down your back. We took a couple of snaps of the place and got to dipping in the pool. The only downside of a hot spring from a swimming pool is you're perspiring when you get out of the pool. but all in all it was a fun and adventurous day. The cleansing is a plus since the warm water opens all your pores you could flush out all the dirt in your body. The Coron adventure hasn't been concluded yet as i write this blog. But i will update you on the next blog.
Keep on reading..
Friday, November 27, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
The Day After
Another day is done in Busuanga. As I am writing this blog we have just finished having dinner. Tonight’s menu was corned tuna and beef loaf. We don’t have any food left on the fridge because we weren’t able to go to town to do the groceries. Mineral water has run out also. But all in all it was a good day besides that. We also just finished watching Wolverine while we were eating dinner.
Manila VFR was suspended today so it was a day of rest for us. Not much planes to talk to and control besides the usual 4 scheduled flights. We are getting the hang of things now and we tried playing the PS2 I took with me here. But to our dismay we weren’t able to since the audio and video connection of the TV is broken. It has been hotwired to the DVD already and it means hotwiring my PS2 also in order for us to use it. Emman is still nowhere to be heard from; our last report of him was he would be here on Saturday.
We tried to go to the waterfalls nearby after work but decided against it when the water was too cold to take a dip. Today we experience our first power outage and which cause the radios to flicker because of the back-up batteries weren’t charged. It gave us the excuse to close the airport earlier than 5pm. But the outage just lasted for an hour. We were just relieve it did because we can’t imagine sleeping in the cab without aircon. It was a choice of sleeping downstairs with plenty of mosquitoes or here with the aircon out. After work we just took a short walk around the terminal and played basketball at the old terminal. The ring was so small for the ball that we were using but we still worked up a sweat along with Mario, Sir Tony and Rex, another ATP assigned here.
After the game we retreated to the confines of the cab and I settled into a corner in continue to read the book that I’m reading. Mario and I were planning on buying a new board and ring for us to play on this Saturday when we go to Coron for our first visit. I’ll be sure to find an internet café with a decent connection so that I could upload the pics I have taken here. It’s time to get some rest now for tomorrow would be another working day. Belle was telling me that I settled to the provincial life. It’s just that you got nothing to do here after 8pm. I have a choice between my book and this blog I’m writing every night to keep me sane or there is better alternative smoke.
Manila VFR was suspended today so it was a day of rest for us. Not much planes to talk to and control besides the usual 4 scheduled flights. We are getting the hang of things now and we tried playing the PS2 I took with me here. But to our dismay we weren’t able to since the audio and video connection of the TV is broken. It has been hotwired to the DVD already and it means hotwiring my PS2 also in order for us to use it. Emman is still nowhere to be heard from; our last report of him was he would be here on Saturday.
We tried to go to the waterfalls nearby after work but decided against it when the water was too cold to take a dip. Today we experience our first power outage and which cause the radios to flicker because of the back-up batteries weren’t charged. It gave us the excuse to close the airport earlier than 5pm. But the outage just lasted for an hour. We were just relieve it did because we can’t imagine sleeping in the cab without aircon. It was a choice of sleeping downstairs with plenty of mosquitoes or here with the aircon out. After work we just took a short walk around the terminal and played basketball at the old terminal. The ring was so small for the ball that we were using but we still worked up a sweat along with Mario, Sir Tony and Rex, another ATP assigned here.
After the game we retreated to the confines of the cab and I settled into a corner in continue to read the book that I’m reading. Mario and I were planning on buying a new board and ring for us to play on this Saturday when we go to Coron for our first visit. I’ll be sure to find an internet café with a decent connection so that I could upload the pics I have taken here. It’s time to get some rest now for tomorrow would be another working day. Belle was telling me that I settled to the provincial life. It’s just that you got nothing to do here after 8pm. I have a choice between my book and this blog I’m writing every night to keep me sane or there is better alternative smoke.
Monday, November 23, 2009
After the First Day
Today was my first day at work at Busuanga. It was a time for adjustment for me since the job here is different from the one I have before in Busuanga. It was also a day of bloopers since it was my first time to work in an advisory airport. As you all know Busuanga Airport is an uncontrolled aerodrome. It means that aircraft here are not provided ATC clearance. The big difference for us ATC’s is that we don’t have liability if something happens to an aircraft in an uncontrolled aerodrome.
I woke up at about 5am since work here is from 6am to 5pm. The view from the cab where I sleep since it’s the only air-conditioned room here is magnificent. You could see the fog coming down from the mountains. When I was in Manila all you would see is smog not fog because of the traffic around the airport. I just took a quick shower and reported for duty after on the cab where I slept.
The first plane I controlled was RPC 798, a BE18 which I remember always reports having engine vibrations when I was in Manila Tower. After RPC 798 landed it was off to breakfast downstairs which Marlon, the ATP personnel cooked. It was sausage and noodles. I have trouble adjusting but after an hour I got the hang of it and the procedures involve in handing off airplanes and advising Manila Radio of the Arrivals and Departures. All in all we just have 5 scheduled flights, a very farfetched number from the 650 a day in Manila.
Mario formerly of Manila Radar also arrived today and I got the cargo I sent here ahead of me since I wasn’t able to get it when I got here yesterday since PAL’s office is closed for the day already. After a brief talk with Sir Tony back at the cab we headed to the Airport Manager’s office to introduce ourselves to the staff and logged in. After exchanging small talk we headed to the office for lunch. This time it was chicken adobo which Jojo, another ATP personnel assigned here cooked. It was also my first to get in and out of the Terminal without someone batting an eyelash unlike in Manila that all I could go to at the Terminals is the toilet.
After lunch it was back to work which is more talk than work. I started reading a book of Dale Brown titled Warrior Class. He was the same author who wrote The Flight of The Old Dog. The job was a routine the whole day and most of the traffic is over flights. We just got through the day exchanging small talk and Sir Tony telling us what to see here in Busuanga.
We closed the airport at 5pm and went on a brief walk on the ranch to the waterfalls nearby where from what we gathered from Sir Tony, people go there during the weekends to have a picnic. We decided to go back there on Saturday on our day off so that we could have a dip in the cool water of the falls. Dinner was served when we got back. Since the three of us are not so adept at cooking. We just cooked sardines and corned beef. After dinner is the usual DVD time and me on my laptop writing this blog and trying to upload using the crappy Globe Tattoo.
Till the next blog..
I woke up at about 5am since work here is from 6am to 5pm. The view from the cab where I sleep since it’s the only air-conditioned room here is magnificent. You could see the fog coming down from the mountains. When I was in Manila all you would see is smog not fog because of the traffic around the airport. I just took a quick shower and reported for duty after on the cab where I slept.
The first plane I controlled was RPC 798, a BE18 which I remember always reports having engine vibrations when I was in Manila Tower. After RPC 798 landed it was off to breakfast downstairs which Marlon, the ATP personnel cooked. It was sausage and noodles. I have trouble adjusting but after an hour I got the hang of it and the procedures involve in handing off airplanes and advising Manila Radio of the Arrivals and Departures. All in all we just have 5 scheduled flights, a very farfetched number from the 650 a day in Manila.
Mario formerly of Manila Radar also arrived today and I got the cargo I sent here ahead of me since I wasn’t able to get it when I got here yesterday since PAL’s office is closed for the day already. After a brief talk with Sir Tony back at the cab we headed to the Airport Manager’s office to introduce ourselves to the staff and logged in. After exchanging small talk we headed to the office for lunch. This time it was chicken adobo which Jojo, another ATP personnel assigned here cooked. It was also my first to get in and out of the Terminal without someone batting an eyelash unlike in Manila that all I could go to at the Terminals is the toilet.
After lunch it was back to work which is more talk than work. I started reading a book of Dale Brown titled Warrior Class. He was the same author who wrote The Flight of The Old Dog. The job was a routine the whole day and most of the traffic is over flights. We just got through the day exchanging small talk and Sir Tony telling us what to see here in Busuanga.
We closed the airport at 5pm and went on a brief walk on the ranch to the waterfalls nearby where from what we gathered from Sir Tony, people go there during the weekends to have a picnic. We decided to go back there on Saturday on our day off so that we could have a dip in the cool water of the falls. Dinner was served when we got back. Since the three of us are not so adept at cooking. We just cooked sardines and corned beef. After dinner is the usual DVD time and me on my laptop writing this blog and trying to upload using the crappy Globe Tattoo.
Till the next blog..
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Busuanga First Impressions
I am writing from you at Francisco Reyes Airport at Busuanga, Palawan. The travel took 1 hour and 10 minutes. I took the Bombardier Q300 from Manila flying out of Terminal 3. I think I was the only one who is not a tourist on that flight. It’s just now, of the almost three years that I have been at Manila Tower that the view from the window of a plane was amazing. I regretted not buying batteries for my digital camera. The view would make good wallpaper on my Jurassic laptop. The clouds would give you the impression that you are in Antartica, because it’s so compact and infinite looking. The bombardier just has an altitude of 9000 feet flying at 250 knots all the way to Busuanga. After that fine view I just doze off until we are about to touchdown.
I got to admit that Busuanga is really nice. It’s ideal for people who want a quiet place of relaxation. There are pristine blue waters and lush greenery all around. The first thing I did when I got off the plane was click pictures from my N73. But due to the crappy connection I can’t upload them now coz it would take me forever. Globe Tattoo is just registering a measly 11kbps. Note to travelers: There is no Sun signal in Busuanga, Globe’s signal is crappy so stick to Smart when you are here.
After collecting my luggage I proceeded to the tower. Kind of funny though that everyone keep on asking me if I want a ride to Coron when my destination is the very airport itself. (Note: Town center is about 27 kms from the airport) I proceeded to the tower and find Sir Tony on the cab. He gave me a quick overview of all the equipment present in the cab since I worked from the Tower before it didn’t take me long to grasp what he was saying. After he closed the airport at 5pm. He gave me a brief tour of the airport and the surroundings. I learned from him that around the airport is a ranch where cowboys complete with costume and horse are herding cows in the morning. When the tour was concluded we went back to the tower for me to unpack my stuff and have a shower for in time for dinner. Busuanga at night is really creepy. There are no other sounds but the insects maybe talking to themselves. I now conclude that being here, I would have frequent “yosi breaks” because of all the free time in my hands. Work here starts at 6am and ends at 5pm when the airport closes. I am currently on the tower cab since it is the only room here that’s air-conditioned.
As I go to rest tonight I just hope everything would be okay. Tomorrow would be my first day at work I would keep you updated.
I got to admit that Busuanga is really nice. It’s ideal for people who want a quiet place of relaxation. There are pristine blue waters and lush greenery all around. The first thing I did when I got off the plane was click pictures from my N73. But due to the crappy connection I can’t upload them now coz it would take me forever. Globe Tattoo is just registering a measly 11kbps. Note to travelers: There is no Sun signal in Busuanga, Globe’s signal is crappy so stick to Smart when you are here.
After collecting my luggage I proceeded to the tower. Kind of funny though that everyone keep on asking me if I want a ride to Coron when my destination is the very airport itself. (Note: Town center is about 27 kms from the airport) I proceeded to the tower and find Sir Tony on the cab. He gave me a quick overview of all the equipment present in the cab since I worked from the Tower before it didn’t take me long to grasp what he was saying. After he closed the airport at 5pm. He gave me a brief tour of the airport and the surroundings. I learned from him that around the airport is a ranch where cowboys complete with costume and horse are herding cows in the morning. When the tour was concluded we went back to the tower for me to unpack my stuff and have a shower for in time for dinner. Busuanga at night is really creepy. There are no other sounds but the insects maybe talking to themselves. I now conclude that being here, I would have frequent “yosi breaks” because of all the free time in my hands. Work here starts at 6am and ends at 5pm when the airport closes. I am currently on the tower cab since it is the only room here that’s air-conditioned.
As I go to rest tonight I just hope everything would be okay. Tomorrow would be my first day at work I would keep you updated.
The Ticking of the Clock
I am back and its already 2am but I am still wide awake. I just have approximately 13 hours before my flight leave for Busuanga. I don't know what is in store for me there but i'm still hoping that everything would be fine.
I started this blog not to make money or be famous. If I can then that is a plus. I thought about writing my experiences for each day of my stay there. I would be the first one to admit that I know where busuanga is in palawan, but where or what kind of life is there i don't know. It's like the feeling i had when i first started training for the 10th Basic Air Traffic Service Course. You know what an air traffic controller because of the features in Discovery and NatGeo. But it didnt prepare to what i would undergo during the training. The training was intense, it would take each ounce of willpower you have to get through it. Now i'm back to that feeling, feels like i just turned the clock back to September 4, 2006.
Based on the information I gathered (its better to research first before doing something) Busuanga is about 30min drive from Coron. Imagine 30 min drive in Manila Time that is fast. In Busuanga that is far considering that there is no traffic on the roads just like Manila. The thing that i'm very thankful for is that there is internet connection in short my Facebooking (i invented that word) life is not dead plus i could regularly update you with what is happening to the three of us in the island paradise. Aside from that informations i guess its "to see is to believe".
Lastly, the people who had me transferred must be sleeping well since he doesn't have to worry about me anymore. Piece of advice try to see the monster that you have become. The names they call you when your back is turned are countless. "Great teamwork is driven by great leadership". A team could only function fully when his leader is just and fair to everyone concerned. Respect is not given it is earned so you better start earning yours.
I started this blog not to make money or be famous. If I can then that is a plus. I thought about writing my experiences for each day of my stay there. I would be the first one to admit that I know where busuanga is in palawan, but where or what kind of life is there i don't know. It's like the feeling i had when i first started training for the 10th Basic Air Traffic Service Course. You know what an air traffic controller because of the features in Discovery and NatGeo. But it didnt prepare to what i would undergo during the training. The training was intense, it would take each ounce of willpower you have to get through it. Now i'm back to that feeling, feels like i just turned the clock back to September 4, 2006.
Based on the information I gathered (its better to research first before doing something) Busuanga is about 30min drive from Coron. Imagine 30 min drive in Manila Time that is fast. In Busuanga that is far considering that there is no traffic on the roads just like Manila. The thing that i'm very thankful for is that there is internet connection in short my Facebooking (i invented that word) life is not dead plus i could regularly update you with what is happening to the three of us in the island paradise. Aside from that informations i guess its "to see is to believe".
Lastly, the people who had me transferred must be sleeping well since he doesn't have to worry about me anymore. Piece of advice try to see the monster that you have become. The names they call you when your back is turned are countless. "Great teamwork is driven by great leadership". A team could only function fully when his leader is just and fair to everyone concerned. Respect is not given it is earned so you better start earning yours.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Prelude to an Adventure
Hi everyone! this is my first time in writing a blog although i've heard a lot about blogging before. the only thing that prompt me to try blogging is my because of my immediate transfer to Busuanga for some alien reason that till now i can't comprehend. here you would read about my adventures and misadventures in Busuanga along with my fellow transferees Emman and Mario. Pardon me also if sometimes you'll view my blog and all you could read are nonsense blabber of a loudmouth ATC soon to be renamed ATMO - air traffic management officer, in short ATMO mo!
Weeks before you if you were a pilot you would be hearing me give out instructions at Manila Control Tower. I've joined that facility since i entered the service two years ago. We all know that Manila has the most number of traffic in all the in the Philippines, and to be able to control as an ATC you have to possess a rating for that facility. i completed mine last october 16, 2008. From that date to my transfer i haven't received my facility rating. In waiting for the rating i decided to follow it up with a letter since i was tired of the usual "tatanong ko pa.." answer when i query about my rating. i wrote a letter querying for my said rating and what happened with it. the letter was not meant to hit anyone. it was just a follow up letter done according to the correspondence rules. Only a narrow minded person would take offense with my letter.
Sad to day there are indeed narrow minded persons that take offense on it. a week after i had the letter received by our secretary. I was given an authority order transferring me to the island paradise of Busuanga. Even if I leave my present facility and the work i do there that i have come to love. I have no choice but to comply or face dismissal. I would leave Manila Tower with a heavy heart since i have a lot of fond memories there. But i still do believe in karma and if God is listening "Lord, please do take them already for they have already done too much good in this earth."
Now the adventure begins...
Weeks before you if you were a pilot you would be hearing me give out instructions at Manila Control Tower. I've joined that facility since i entered the service two years ago. We all know that Manila has the most number of traffic in all the in the Philippines, and to be able to control as an ATC you have to possess a rating for that facility. i completed mine last october 16, 2008. From that date to my transfer i haven't received my facility rating. In waiting for the rating i decided to follow it up with a letter since i was tired of the usual "tatanong ko pa.." answer when i query about my rating. i wrote a letter querying for my said rating and what happened with it. the letter was not meant to hit anyone. it was just a follow up letter done according to the correspondence rules. Only a narrow minded person would take offense with my letter.
Sad to day there are indeed narrow minded persons that take offense on it. a week after i had the letter received by our secretary. I was given an authority order transferring me to the island paradise of Busuanga. Even if I leave my present facility and the work i do there that i have come to love. I have no choice but to comply or face dismissal. I would leave Manila Tower with a heavy heart since i have a lot of fond memories there. But i still do believe in karma and if God is listening "Lord, please do take them already for they have already done too much good in this earth."
Now the adventure begins...
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