The Presbitero Anchor: Vol 1 Issue 2

THE WRITTEN PUBLICATION OF BRP HYDROGRAPHER PRESBITERO
VOL 1 ISSUE 2
TODAY: MOSTLY CLOUDY | TOMORROW: CLOUDY MONDAY, 18 JANUARY 2020
DID YOU KNOW?
In BRP H Presbitero’s over twentytwo
years of operation, there have
only been five men given the privilege
to serve as her Commanding Officer.
The first three of them – Ho, Pascual,
and Labindalawa – have already
retired from the service.
The ship’s first captain was then LCdr.
Romeo I Ho. He led the crew assigned
to sail the ship from Vigo, Spain to
Manila, Philippines where it was
commissioned in 1998. RIH, his
initials, went on to become the
Hydrography Branch’s Director. He
retired from the service with rank of
Commodore – a one-star General.
The Command's responsibility was
then transferred from RIH to ISP, Ltsg.
Ildefonso S Pascual Jr† –believedto
be the youngest officer to act as the
ship’s captain. His tenure as CO from
1999 to 2012 is considered as
probably the longest in the history of
Hydrography Branch/Bureau of
Coast and Geodetic Survey.
Under his leadership, Presbitero was
able to conduct numerous survey
expeditions including Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ) Hydrographic
surveys in the Pacific as well as
Benham Bank – Benham Rise
delineation. ISP retired from the
service in 2016 with rank of Captain.
The last of the three retirees who
served as the ship’s Commanding
Officer was LCdr. John M
Labindalawa. As Presbitero’s “No. 1”,
Labindalawa spearheaded the ship’s
hydrographic survey of EEZ in the
West Philippine Sea. Under his watch,
three islands in Kalayaan Island
Group were surveyed by Presbitero,
namely Patag Island, Lawak Island,
and Pag-asa Island – the biggest land
mass occupied by the Philippines in
the region ...
(continued on page 2)
THE CAPTAINS
THE MEN THAT ONCE HELMED
THE LAST MEN STANDING
by Hydro318
Only two crewmen remain aboard
BRP H PRESBITERO since her first
voyage from Spain in 1998. They are
CPO Camaira Jr. and PO3 Ferrer. The
two former apprentices rose from the
ranks to lead their respective units.
Born in Himamaylan, Negros
Occidental on 24 Dec 1957, CPO
Enrique G Camaira Jr, or "Chief Iking",
joined the Bureau of Coast and
Geodetic Survey in 03 May 1976. His
first assignment was on RPS 249
Pathfinder (before, commissioned
vessels of the country were named
RPS for Republic of the Philippines
Ship).
Onboard, the young Iking performed
his duties as Food Service Worker
(FSW), or mess boy of what is now
Thefirstthree CommandingOfficersofBRPHPresbitero.
AllRetired:Commo.Ho,Capt.PascualJr †,andLCdrLabindalawa.
known as the Steward Unit. His first
survey mission was in Batangaswith
the captain of the ship Ltsg. Angeles.
Only three months into service, the
young Iking was transferred to the
ship’s Engine Department (Machinery
Unit) after demonstrating his
background knowledge in engine
works.
In 1983, Camaria Jr. was transferred
to RPS Arinya. He was onboard when
the ship ran aground in Manila Bay
just beside the US Embassy due to
severe weather disturbance caused
by a typhoon. It was said that it took
three months before the ship was
salvaged.
He served fifteen years in RPS Arinya
until 1998 when he was sent to Spain
for formal training on Presbitero’s
operation. Today, CPO Camaira Jr.
serves as the chief of Presbitero’s
Machinery Unit.
The second most senior NCO
onboard, PO2 Rolando B Ferrer or
“Boss Ferrer”, was born on 04 Dec
1959 in Calasiao, Pangasinan...
CPOCamariaJr(left)andPO3Ferrer(right).
(continued on page 2)

VOL 1 ISSUE 2
THE CAPTAINS
byHydro318
(continued from previous page)
... The said islands were surveyed only
within two survey cruises in a span of
two months. It is by far the most
efficient survey mission considering
the security and safety issues in the
area. In 2018, he assumed a higher
position as Chief of Survey Support
Division (SSD) of Hydrography
Branch. He was in charge of managing
all NAMRIA vessels and survey
operations. He steered the division to
be better and accomplished during
his term that the division was able to
carry out all its tasks in 2019. On his
56 th birthday on March 27, 2020, JML
retired from the service as Assistant
Director for Operations – the second
highest position in Hydrography
Branch.
Only few have been given the
opportunity to take the challenge.
These men carried the burden and
they carried them well.
They may have inevitably walked
ashore but their names will live
onboard forever.
PADAYON!
Here are your top performing crew
for the month of December 2020!
Each of them shall receive certificate
of appreciation and gift check
courtesy of Presbitero Store!
1.Ltjg. Dionesio C Gato
CommissionedOfficers
2. PO3 Benjamin V Molina
Machinery
3. PO3 James S Bungue
Steward
4. SN1 Roberto S Alcaraz
DeckWorks&Security
So you also, when you have done all that you were
commanded, say “We are unworthy servants; we
haveonlydonewhatwasourduty.”Luke17:10
ERRATUM:
Commodore Presbitero was the fourth
Filipino Director of Bureau of Coast and
Geodetic Survey.
THE LAST
MEN STANDING
(continued from previous page)
... He entered the service in 04
September 1978 and underwent
1000 hours of Basic Training Course
in Seamanship conducted in
Magnetics Observatory in
Muntinlupa until the end of the year.
Back in the day, Enlisted Men had to
undergo training for certain number
of hours before officially assuming
duty. In 1979, he reported for duty
onboard RPS Arinya and served as
Food Service Worker (mess boy) for
couple of weeks before being
assigned as a Deck Personnel.
Ferrer’s first participation in data
acquisition was as boat crew during
the conduct of current observation
in Culasi, Antique on the same year.
He was also onboard when the
Manila Bay grounding incident
happened in 1983.
In 1986, Ferrer was assigned as
member of the office’s security
department in Binondo Manila. By
1987, he served as the acting chief of
the department. He was transferred
to RPS Atyimba in 1988 before being
assigned back to RPS Arinya the
following year.
PO3 Ferrer remained attached to
the ship for the next nine years
before he was chosen to be among
the crew to board BRP
Hydrographer Presbitero in Vigo,
Spain in 1998. He served as chief of
the ship’s Deck and Quartermaster
Unit. He remained attached to the
Command since then.
These men have practically spent
their lifetime onboard. The
loneliness they endured being far
from their families and the struggle
they’ve been living through onboard
are something that is unimaginable,
yet, – just like most of the vessel
crew – they chose to dedicate the
prime of their lives to the service.
Their experiences, the sacrifices, and
contributions they made were
immeasurable and incomparable.
DETERMINED.
UNTIRING. HUMOROUS.
byHydra1010
Retirement isn’t the end of the road, but just
aturnintheroad.
DETERMINED. UNTIRING. HUMOROUS.
–wordsthatdescribeoneofourown,PO3
ROLITO M. AVETRIA, who retired last
December2020.
BRP Hydrographer Presbitero is privileged
to be graced by his service with honor and
distinction. Born on the 10th of August,
1956 at Quezon Province, Petty Officer 3rd
Class Rolito M. Avetria began his career on
18 August, 1980. He invested forty years of
his life as a dedicated employee and crew
member of BRP H Presbitero, BRP H
Ventura,andBRPHHizon.
As PO3 Avetria takes off his uniform, those
who remain shall continue his good work.
His years in service are to be admired as it
was well-spent with comrades which whom
he groomed and developed himself. For
years to come, his colleagues, subordinates,
peers, and superiors alike, will always count
theirmemoriesfromhim.FromSN3toPO3,
along his path, he found obligation,
strengths,shortcomings,camaraderie,anda
foreverfamily.
The Command wishes PO3 Rolito M
Avetria the best retirement possible. Thank
youforservingthisnation.
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Presbitero2020OfficerCorps
Writers
Hydro318
Hydra1010
Contributors&Graphics
HydroX06
Hydro345
Thisisyourshipandweareyourhumblecrew.
WEAREYOURPRESBITERO.

VOL 1 ISSUE 2
ENTERTAINMENT
CROSSWORD
byHydroX06
ACROSS
1. A heavy substance, i.e rocks or water, placed in
such a way as to improve stability and balance of a
ship.
3.Theopeningbywhichashipisboarded.
6. the kitchen and cooking apparatus especially of a
ship
7. A window of a ship or an opening with cover or
closureonthesideofaship.
8. A platform in a ship forming the floor for its
compartments
9. A device with two or more blades that spin around
to produce a force for moving the ship to which it is
attached.
10. A small crane on board a ship, especially one of a
pairforsuspendingorloweringaboat.
11. A heavy object attached to a rope or chain and
usedtomooravesseltotheseabottom.
14. the main body of a ship or other vessel, including
thebottom,sides,anddeck
DOWN
1. The elevated, enclosed platform on a ship from
whichthecaptainandofficersdirectoperations.
2. A dividing wall or barrier between compartments
inaship,aircraft,orothervehicle.
4. The level normally reached by the water on the
sideofaship.
5.Atoiletintheshipusuallyplacedatthebow.
12.Anopeninginthedeckofaship.
13. An enclosed space within a ship designed for
storingcargo.
"MAG-AGAHAN KA MUNA!"
ATRAKA...
NI HYDRO345
"MAG-QM KA NA NGA LANG!"
SAGOTSATANONG(DEC2020)
PREDICTED TIDE
SUBIC BAY, ZAMBALES
18
19
20
HOUR
HEIGHT
0014 0.91
0834 -0.06
1536 0.27
1649 0.27
0204 0.36
0727 0.20
1454 0.63
2300 0.17
0310 0.22
0645 0.19
1537 0.69
MALIGAYANG
BATI!
Ating binabati ng buong puso
ang ating mga kasamang
nagdiriwang ng kanilang mga
kaarawan ngayong buwan ng
Enero. Nawa’y maging
maligaya kayo sa inyong
pagdiriwang.
Sana’y mapasaya din ninyo
kami.
1. SN2 Abe Julian O Ginete
January 20
2. Ltjg. Dionesio C Gato
January 23
3. Lt. Jelee B Dayao
January 24
4. SN2 Alexander F Grepo

VOL 1 ISSUE 2
CLASSIFIEDS
Hungarian sausage?
Chicken nuggets?
The PRESBITERO
SHIP'S STORE
Contact Mark Valencia at the Galley.
'Wag ka na lumabas.
Sa panahon ng pangangailangan,
maasahan.
PRESLA
Coordinate with
DCG for details and membership.
2021 membership coming soon.