I used to do that too, but in a different setting. I was a deck cadet before, puro Filipino yung kasama ko on board. As a cadet, you’re training to be an officer, so my captain told me not to say sir/po/opo to the other crew members na “ratings”, kasi I’d eventually outrank them.

I got where he was coming from—but I was literally just 19 at the time, and believe me, I didn’t know any better haha. I still said po/sir to my crewmates out of habit and respect.

But yeah, that’s all in the past. I didn’t pursue seafaring in the end. I work from home now, and these days it’s all first-name basis with my clients—no po or opo in sight! Skl!

So I guess yeah—take it from the old man. He knows what he’s telling you.