How it all started

My ham life started way back in 1991 at the US Naval Base in Subic Bay, Zambales, Philippines. After the major eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, I had to find a way on how to establish constant communication with the Philippine's National Disaster Control Council in the DU3 area. We need to have on the spot disaster reports as soon as possible to be able to make the necessary disaster moves as the lahar (mudflow) alert signals being provided by the local government may just be a minute too late for me and my family. And the two-way radio was the only answer. So I bought a good second hand IC27H from an American amateur who was all set packing up and ready to leave lahar country. He had a lot of excess baggage which included an Alinco Power Supply, HD73 Rotor and a 40 feet aerodynamic tower which I bought at rock bottom prices. After spending long hours with my IC27H, I started to enjoy what this little radio is giving me and I was slowly and unknowingly being annihilated by this thing which at this point I can already call it my newly-found hobby. Together with the hobby, my fondness to stay home was increased and my savings account is slowly being slashed. Through the help of an amateur friend DU3MCJ/Mike, I learned what ham radio is all about. I took my amateur exams late that year and I didn't know that from that time on, tinkering and soldering would be a very regular weekend ritual.

And of course the rest is history…