Bisdak Babbles

I took up Computer Engineering in college, so we had a few electronics and communication courses. Trying to make those circuits work was really fun but I hated calculating frequencies, resistances, capacities, etc. Why am I talking about this now? My cousin happened to ask me about Cat5e Keystone jack and I was clueless. Forgetting it because it had been years since my electronics courses is a lame excuse.

Cat 5 or “Cable and Telephone” is a type of cable often used for computer networks. Cat 5e is just an enhanced version of Cat 5. Keystone jack, on the other hand, is the female connector, and the matching male is referred to as the keystone plug. Still a bit confused? The photo on the right side shows a Cat 5e keystone jack. From there, I’m sure you can already figure out how does a keystone plug look like.

I’ve always wanted to rant about Sulpicio Lines but due to the recent Princess of the Stars disaster, I’ve put this entry off a few weeks.

Anyway, I’d just would like to share some of my experiences with Sulpicio Line’s Dipolog Princess (DP). This ferry has been around for as long as I could remember.

Experience #1:
I was still a freshman in college, I boarded DP one Saturday night from Cebu to Iligan City. There was no problem when it left Cebu but it suddenly stopped 4 hours after departure due to engine trouble. It started running again 5 hours later. It was supposed to arrive in Iligan at 6:00AM, but due to the problem, we reached Iligan Bay at around 1:00PM. We were about a hundred meters from the port but the engine died again. The problem wasn’t fixed so they left us with no option but to transfer to a tugboat to the port. It was my first time riding a tugboat and jumping from the ship to the tugboat was really horrifying!

Experience #2:
DP is the only ship that goes to Iligan City from Tagbilaran City. My father died in Tagbilaran City so we had to stay a few days in Bohol waiting for the ship. DP was supposed to leave Bohol on Wednesday but, due to engine trouble (again), we left Bohol the next day. We were mourning and provoked by the ship’s delay. These drove me to my limit and I actually lost my temper when I found out that some people had the same bed number as my family and me. Moreover, we weren’t able to get the economy accommodation, so we got the tourist ones. The room was supposed to be air-conditioned but we weren’t able to get some sleep because the air-conditioning system was broken!

The only good thing I can say about Sulpicio Lines is that they serve good meals. Honestly, I like some of the Sulpicio Lines ferries, especially Princess of the Ocean. But they should let go of Dipolog Princess.

I think that not only Sulpicio lines, but also most of the ferries in the Philippines have major problems. Most (if not all) of the ships are old and have poor maintenance. Serious mechanical inspections are only done when tragedies happen. Security is tightened only when a bombing incident occurs. I just hope they won’t wait for another incident to happen before they do something.

Christmas Day is undoubtedly almost everyone’s favorite day. That’s why, I couldn’t help but think about Christmas even if it’s still July! I just hope I could go home this Christmas. I’ve spent the last two Christmases away from home. My father may have already left us, but the children at home, particularly Shaynna and Kiera would at least lessen the pain.

Anyway, if given the chance to go home this Christmas, I’d definitely organize a kiddie party and send out Christmas invitations as early as September!