2006 July | Between Bites

Archive for July, 2006

Flight of the Phoenix

Monday, July 24th, 2006

Boarding Flight No. 2P 774 B via Air Philippines… Flight destination: Manila with stopover at Cebu.

Cushee locating seat 3-C… ugh, it’s the aisle seat [First time I'm sitting on the aisle side.] I started reading the Luxe Magazine provided in the plane. 10 minutes into the flight… Zzzz… I woke up an hour later in Cebu with food and drink on the table. [I shrugged, no intention of eating.] Some passengers got off while new passengers got in. The steward announced that it is still restricted to use mobile phones while refueling. The pilots stepped inside the plane again, stopped by the entrance looking at something and started an exchange. They went inside their little hole. We were about to take off again… 1:30 pm –1 hour and I’m back in Manila. I can just imagine the backlog of work I have to do since while in Davao, I’ve been bombarded with calls from Game Mag, Hinge, Sonigold, Dondi and e-games… and some from my bosses. I started eating the chips -ugh. I should learn how to cope with stress without munching something.

1:45 pm. I was deciding whether to lick the crumbs on my fingers or wipe them when one of the stewards approached me.

Steward: Excuse me Ma’am. The captain is inviting you if you would like to join them in the flight deck.
Cushee: [with a stupid face] Huh?
Steward: Ma’am, the captain is wondering if you’re interested to see the flight deck.
Cushee: [with another stupid face. I didn't get it at that time. I thought I did something wrong. I thought I was being reprimanded because I was listening to my iPod aboard the plane] Uhm, why?
Steward: What’s your name Ma’am?
Cushee: Jane.
Steward: Ma’am, the captain is asking if you can join their company in the flight deck.
Cushee: Inside the cabin?
Steward: Flight deck, Ma’am. [Another day of higher learning à Pilot room equals flight deck.]
Cushee: [Hesitating] Oh. Uhm…… sure.
Steward: That’s great. I will inform the captain. [He started to leave.]
Cushee: Uhm wait, is that allowed?
Steward: Yes, ma’am.

When the steward left, I was still bewildered. After 1 minute, I saw him hovering nearby again. I realized I still have crumbs on my fingers waiting to be licked off… no more debates, I immediately wiped my fingers on the napkin. Where’s an alcohol or hand sanitizer when you needed one? Argh. He approached me again and asked if I was ready. I said yes even if I haven’t checked if I had drool from sleeping early on or I had food crumbs on my face. My hair was a mess, that’s one thing for sure. I got up and followed the steward. He opened the door. I stepped in. The flight deck is only about 5 x 5 feet. It was so cramped inside. An old car’s interior is roomier. All three fellows greeted me. They asked my name and they introduced themselves. I only caught the name of the third fellow -Edwin. First question - Am I from General Santos? Small talk. What did I do there, Am I traveling alone, Is it my first time to fly Air Phil… The third pilot pointed at some buttons and told me their functions. While the captain, 1st pilot, asked me personal questions like my age and my work -where I hang out… and then finally he asked for my number. Their age group..? The captain -37 y/o. The co-pilot -27 y/o.
The third guy -38 y/o.

I sarcastically remarked, “So you guys are in the married-age group? Edwin replied, “Actually, we’re single.” Edwin then went on to say that I don’t look my age. He thought I was still studying and couldn’t have been more than 20. The captain had a good sense of humor. He kept cracking jokes and was very comfortable talking. He had this smooth attitude about him. I don’t think I’ve ever shared a long conversation with anyone in uniform. It was weird coz the windshield was covered with something like a car windshield sun protector. I asked how they can view with that set-up and the captain pointed at a screen. The radar screen is like a navigational device. It showed the plane’s position and if there were any planes within a certain mile-radius. Cool stuff!!! The captain asked if I wanted to stay until the descent. How can I refuse an offer like that? I don’t think the opportunity comes so often. The third pilot propped the extra chair and fastened my seatbelt. He pointed at Marikina, Pasig… and at the meter that says we were 2500 feet from the ground. The captain was busy talking to the radio and exchanging commands with the co-pilot. Edwin pointed in another area and told me it was Makati. Sigh. I missed Makati. I missed my office. I missed my co-workers. I missed boxing. I missed my friends. I missed my family. Edwin said we were approaching the runway in 6 mins and 30 seconds. Cool how they can calculate the time and landing. After a few minutes, I saw the runway. It was one of the most amazing things… landing while in the flight deck. It was an experience for the books!

Posted in Walk the World | No Bites »

Davao Trip and Others

Monday, July 10th, 2006

Wow, I’m finally back in Manila. I have been so busy the past 2 months that I don’t even know where I left off. It was a month-long preparation for the June 16 company event in Azzurro then the following week I was busy with the Survey project and other leftover stuff from the anniversary event. June 23, I had dinner with JICA friends. Oguri-san, a Japanese youth counterpart visited the Philippines. During that same weekend, Rose, our sashin girl from Cebu, arrived too for a convention in Manila. Rose and Ninski followed after dinner and we decided to lounge at Oguri’s hotel. We all got together and reminisced our Japan days. It was nonstop talking until way past midnight. I had so much energy that day. Why? We had a Man Comm meeting earlier that day. Man Comm meeting is regularly scheduled every Friday at 11am for company updates and business plans. I was tasked to formulate the itinerary for the company outing and the mechanics for the “Name that Café” contest that IPVG and Sabiclub will partake in. During the meeting, our CEO gave me a promotion!!! I was soooo elated!!! After the meeting, the Sabiclub GM congratulated me and said that good things happen to good people. How sweet of her to say that. Things like this continue to inspire me to be my best and return the kindness that I get to other people. Since that meeting, I’ve been so bubbly and talkative!

The week after that I was busy coordinating with the regional sales manager of e-games for future café tournaments and a certain project manager of IPVG for the Korean survey project. Our CEO knows I’ve been coordinating with two departments from the other company and he jokingly said that it comes with my new position. I also started preparing for event materials/designs for the opening of SM Baguio. I was taking my leisure time since I was informed that Station 168 GM will be the one who’ll take care of the bulk of things because he’s the one who’s already in Baguio. We won’t have the usual opening ceremonies. We planned to go with a very simple opening –no catering, no fireworks. That same week, I was preparing for my Davao trip while also planning for the company outing in Baguio. We were supposed to leave for Baguio July 6 via a private coaster and head back to Manila, July 9.

My Davao flight was scheduled June 30, so I filed for a 1-day vacation leave. I was engaged with hurriedly finishing some projects before the trip when Thursday afternoon [June 29], our CEO dropped the bomb. He wanted me to go to Baguio on Monday right after my Davao trip. Say what again?? He explained that the vice-mayor of Baguio was expected to attend alongside the President of another company, so I had to do the whole hula-bura of an opening event. Imagine, from my supposed vacation, I have to travel to Baguio and stay there for one week to plan and execute a Grand Opening event. I was going crazy Thursday afternoon. My Puerto Galera plan with JICA friends was already moved due to company outing, which I can’t complain for since I’ve been proposing for a company outing for the longest time… and I was excited to bond with my officemates. BUT due to the change of plans, I had to go to Baguio ahead of the pack. I am EAGER to help out my S168 GM because I know he has a lot on his hands already and I’m sure he won’t be able to take care of the event plans, but I was really forlorn to go to Baguio by Monday since my friend from Gen San will be spending the week in Manila. I had two options –either I take a bus or plane to Baguio. I hesitated on traveling by public bus since I’d be going alone and I’ve never traveled that far on my own, especially not on a bus. So I was thinking of taking the plane. My GM asked me if I had taken an Asian Spirit flight and I said not yet. He then told me about his horrendous experience going to Baguio via plane. He said it’s safe but the flight was shaky. I also got to talk to our CEO and he joked about giving me his tickets because he doesn’t want to fly there anymore. After a long thought, I decided to just travel by land. I was already thinking of inviting some friends to drive me there. However, I talked to my GM again and he said he wants me to fly to Baguio so I won’t be tired when I arrive. He then calmed my fears by saying that he hasn’t heard of any plane crash in Baguio and kept on joking about the safety of the flight. He insisted that I take the plane and that the flight will be over before it even started. Finally, I agreed to fly to Baguio with an anxious heart. Our accountant booked me a flight and the ticket was delivered to me.

June 29- I had dinner with Rhoda, Ninski and Kennykins. We ate until we were so full. Rhoda and I drank Bailey’s while Ninski drank beer. Rhoda and I bought pasalubong for the Mindanao peeps. We separated around 10pm and agreed to meet in the airport by 3am for our 430 flight to Davao. I crashed at Theo Mayo’s place in Makati Ave. I was sooo sleepy since I had such a long day, not to mention a long month of work and no play… besides, I had to get up by 2am to get ready to be brought to the airport. Sadly, my sweetie [yes, we call each other sweetie like we’re in a relationship, haha. My theo mayo.] was having a major dilemma that time. I had to stay up with her and comfort her through the night. She had been crying the whole day that her eyes were so puffed and I felt her tired body. I’ve been fighting my droopy eyes to stay awake and listen earnestly to my friend. I waited for her to fall asleep before going to bed. I think I fell asleep around 12mn. 2 hours later, my alarm woke me up and I had to drag my heavy body to a cold shower. 30 minutes later, Rhoda and I boarded the plane at 4am. We were so excited!!! Rhoda was able to get some winks during the flight while I waited for the sunrise. It was soooo beautiful –it was a masterpiece crafted perfectly.

We arrived in Davao airport which was so much better than the Manila domestic airport. We got our luggage and headed to the washroom. We were the last ones out and RV had to call Rhoda to make sure we were on that flight since everyone left already –hahaha. Romy, RV and RV’s friend, Ramil met us at the airport. It was such a refreshing treat to see Romy and RV!!! Nonstop conversation swiftly entailed as soon as we got in the van. My Davao trip was one adventure after the next. We also met Ton-ton and he treated us to a lunch buffet at a Davao restaurant and dinner at Colassa’s. We ate breakfast in Tap’s, a popular tapsihan in Davao. Then we went to the rest house of Congresswoman Darlene to get the boys’ bags. We went to downtown and checked the local market. I had my first taste of Durian!!! The lady vendor was kind enough to give me a sample. The Durian flesh had a hard time going down my throat, but I managed a smile to the nice vendor lady who made me taste their suha as well. Me and Rhods bought a lot of Durian candies and ube candies as pasalubong. Friday night was spent bar-hopping in Davao. We went to KTV around 8pm and left after two hours of singing. They ordered a bottle of Tequila and I was assigned to be the “tanggero.” We then moved to another nightspot which was a ballroom joint. Ramil was hesitant to go but I insisted on going with the persuasion of shouldering the expenses. Rhoda and I had a dance instructor and it was fun learning and relearning some ballroom moves. I got to dance with the dance instructor, Ton-ton, Romy and RV. Ton-ton danced a mean tango! Romy and I slow-danced to a love song, while RV and I danced swing. The DI and I danced Rumba, Boogie and Reggae. Rhoda had loads of fun dancing with the DI too. Ton-ton had some more drinks while watching all the dancers on the floor. I gave the DI a tip which RV was against for. I had no choice since he kept asking if me and Rhoda were there for a beauty pageant [wink wink] Seriously, I had to give a tip since that’s the way it should be. Ramil told me that while me and DI were dancing, the DI kept staring at me. I didn’t notice though. I thought he was gay. I actually had the balls to ask him –haha, since me and Rhoda were debating whether he was or not. I casually asked during our last dance, “Is it true that most male DI/s are gay?” to which he vehemently replied, “hindi ah. Yung iba lang kasi. Karamihan siguro sa Manila ganun, pero dito sa amin, bawal. Bihira ganyan..” I nodded my head. Then he said, “hindi ako bakla ha…” I smiled and replied, “I didn’t say you were one.” We went to Halo afterwards.

Davao has its own Halo, but I’m sure it’s not under the same franchised card from the Halo in Makati. Halo was a small hip-hop bar in Davao. This is where it got a little wilder –but not the same riot like in Makati bars. Since it was my idea to go to different bars, I covered the expenses again which was at a minimum compared to how Makati charges. I really enjoyed the music in Halo. Rhoda and I danced our hearts out. We didn’t have a care in the world since we didn’t know anyone there. This young guy approached us and introduced himself while he danced with us. He said something to me that I didn’t get, so I just ignored him. I went to the bar where Ramil and RV are seated. I saw Ton-ton talking to the guy. When I got back to Ton-ton, Rhoda and Romy’s group, this Davaueno told me, “hindi ka pala marunong mag-bisaya” So that’s why I couldn’t figure out what he was saying under all the blaring noise. Rhoda and I danced the night away. This girlfriend of mine from the Japan trip is 6 years older than me but she kept up with me and danced like she was my age. The only other person who can survive my all-night dancing spree is my soul-sister kingwee, but Rhoda had almost taken that spot [And perhaps she did, coz we haven’t danced in a long time kingtot! Let’s hook up sis soon] We kept on dancing and dancing. Everyone has started to get tired but me and Rhoda endured no breaks at all. We totally enjoyed the sounds and we kept on screaming. Every time a familiar tune was being spinned by the DJ, we kept on screaming and laughing and having a grand time. Ramil, RV and Romy on the other hand got distracted once in a while by the girls who were dancing on the ledge. One girl even danced on the bar. The boys told me that one girl took off her shirt so she was dancing only with bra on. And I thought, people were more conservative in provinces. I guess I thought wrong. There’s a funny story about the girls dancing on the ledge and Romy-san that I’ll share with our JICA comrades. Oh well… lunch is in the next hour. I have to cut this abruptly. I have to get back to work before my lunch date with Chaifer! I missed you chaiferoo!!! Oh by the by, I had lunch 2 weeks ago with former President Aquino, her sweet daughter, Tita Balsy because the Benigno family brought me along. We went to Tarlac so the Aquino family can show us the Aquino Center, which is a huge Museum dedicated to Ninoy Aquino. It’s not everyday you get invited by the former President of the PI to have lunch so I decided to forego resting and other activities to do and join the group. I also met Noynoy at the Aquino center and he was our tour guide for most parts. It was on that same day that former President Aquino was interviewed for Philippine Tatler. Before going to Tarlac, we had caviar and cream cheese spread over toasted Crostini that the former president prepared. It was utterly scrumptious. I’m gonna try the same recipe. Will continue tattling the mis-adventures! More stories from Baguio. “Manila, Manila… I’m finally home.”