I was already in my twenties the first time I flew with Philippine Airlines. It was really memorable because not only was I am traveling alone for the first time, I was also flying to Dumaguete to attend the Silliman University National Writers Workshop. And that was in the 90's! Haha, please don't do the math!
Being an only child, you can just imagine the worry my parents had as I would be traveling alone to an unknown destination. I mean, it was in the 90's and Dumaguete is not as popular as Cebu or Baguio back then. Buy hey, it was Silliman University National Writers Workshop that I'm going to and I get to stay in Dumaguete for almost a month.
That was really one for the books, thanks to the previous year's Palanca Awards when I won Second Place for One-Act Play English Category. OMG! That was like the Olympics for Filipino writers. But it really opened doors and opportunities for me so I was able to secure a spot at the equally prestigious SUNWW in Dumaguete.
Back in those days, when traffic was still unheard of, one can go to the airport fast and no need to worry that you'll be late for your flight.
I remember being on a morning flight and it was a smooth travel from Manila to Dumaguete. I don't think I'm seated near the window but I do remember the FA's being nice to us (other attendees of SUNWW) who were also on that same flight. There's about 6-7 of us traveling together but we didn't meet each other until we arrived in Dumaguete. A staff from the workshop fetched us from the airport and we crammed into two tricycles.
So after almost a month in Dumaguete for the workshop (I can go a separate post on that maybe in a couple of years or more, haha!), some of my newfound friends decided to take the boat to Cebu and then go back to Manila from there. I'm in!
Spent 2-3 nights more in Cebu before flying back to Manila. This time, I was seated near the window- yey! And I clearly remember being seated next to a nice gentleman who will be holding a key position in BSP in about a decade or more since we became seatmates on that Cebu-MNL flight.
As for my first international flight, it was also being at the right place at the right time. I wasn't expecting it though, but my love for food got me to Hong Kong to attend the first ever OpenRice Asia event. It was attended by OpenRicers from Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, and of course, Hong Kong.
I, along with another Filipino OpenRicer, took a morning flight from MNL-HK. That first international travel was quite memorable not just because of flying with Philippine Airlines but my passport decided to disappear from where I placed it, then when I found it, it was expired already.
But I guess when something is really meant to be (or really meant for you), everything will just fall in its proper place.
Another memorable incident prior to take-off was that we thought that I was meant to go to Terminal 1, but apparently (and I didn't know it then) I need to go to Terminal 2 Airport. Haha, a bit stressful because it was almost 8AM and traffic in that area is bad.
But all's well after that. I even got to have my photo taken with the pilots at the cockpit area. Actually, I opted to go down as the last passenger so that I can have my photo taken. Then it was off to the Hong Kong Wine & Dine event.
I have to mention that for a first time flyer, Philippine Airlines doesn't give you that 'bumpy' take-off and landing experience. Smooth travel.
For hubby, his first flight with the flag carrier is to Cebu, then followed by Dumaguete, Capiz, and Iloilo, in a span of three months. He was doing research for a coffee table book that time so he really went around Visayas region. He also favored PAL over other airlines when he first traveled to Singapore to attend a conference.
Of course, my daughter also flew with Philippine Airlines during our Davao trip when she was two years old. We attended a wedding in Davao and almost the whole family flew together. It was fun and the FA's were very accommodating since we're traveling with a lola and a toddler. Not to mention we're traveling in a big group so mood was quite festive.
To sum it up, Philippine Airlines is part of our core memories and we're still looking forward to creating more memories with PAL.
Hmmmm, did I make kwento the time I scored promo airfare to Caticlan? I think it only costs the three of us a roundtrip ticket of less than P10K. That's memorable, right? :D
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