Post Mortem to Viajelogue#2: Plane is Missing…

The messages started pouring in last night as I was trying to queue up for confession at the Opus Dei base in Ortigas.

The first one came from my husband - “It was good your trip was cancelled. There is a missing plane in Tuguegarao.” I immediately forwarded the message to my supposed to be fellow travellers last Wednesday and Thursday from Manila to Tuguegarao and back again. I forwarded another message to the IP Queen herself who made all our flight arrangements. Her response was, “Yes, I heard about it. It’s one of the chartered planes we also hire for our needs.”

Today, the first message I opened in my email is from my boss.

Personal message:

Aren’t you glad the commercial flight was cancelled?

Below is the link he sent regarding the missing plane.

Plane carrying 7 people reported missing in Cagayan

MANILA, Philippines — A small plane carrying seven people was reported missing today after leaving Tuguegarao airport in Cagayan Valley.

Reports said the aircraft, piloted by Capt. Tomas Yanez and Capt. Reiner Cruz, with passengers SPO2 Rolly Castanos, Celestino Salacup, Abelardo Baggay, Joel Basilio, and James Bakilan, did not reach its destination in Maconacon, Isabela.

The plane left the airport around 8 a.m., reports added.

Police are now checking with the Air Transportation Office to locate the missing plane. - By Dennis Carcamo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Yes, I am glad I was not on that flight. I still have guardian angels looking after me. Now, I wonder how many lives I still have left…

Add comment April 3, 2009

Viajelogue#2: April Fool’s Day with PAL

I woke up today resolute on something. I’m leaving ten years of baggage behind. It’s a fresh start for me and it’s liberating.

My husband woke me up at 4:30am. I am leaving for Magat by plane at 11am. But I need to get some things done so I asked him the night before to set the alarm earlier than our usual. When the ringing started, I snuggled closer to him. He gave me a kiss and stood up to heat up water for my bath. He promptly went back to bed and I snuggled closer to him. As he spooned me, a sigh escaped my lips. Half an hour later, he was waking me up again and I knew I can no longer postpone waking up.

By 6:15am, I was out of the house and hailing a cab. At 6:48am, I was opening the front door of the office and saying hello to the unseen occupants of the room. “Where is the Love” started playing on my cellphone. I picked up a message from Ice. We have Bulawin Pandesal for breakfast.

I opened my T61 and started checking mails. Official only please. No time nor heart for personal mails at this time. My phone rang in a little while and the IP Queen herself is asking me if I had already taken the airline tickets from her desk. I confirmed and she asked me to drop by at the 3rd Floor to pick up scrambled eggs. Fifteen minutes later, I was in the pantry having breakfast with Ice and the IP Queen. Scrambled eggs, corned beef, Bulawin pandesal and lotsa chili, and yum!

By 8:30am, all baggages were at the van and we were off to Terminal 3. Still a short line on the way in but I was already on my toes. I was traveling with Nerie, one of our Admin Assistants, Totoy Bibo, our SHESQ Manager and the “Grandfather Rule”, our CEO. Enough reason to be on my toes.

We breezed through the check-in and paid the terminal fee. At half past nine, we were sitting by Mrs. Fields cafe and Grandfather Rule was asking us if we wanted to have something for breakfast. I declined the offer but opted to have Bottled Water anyway. Small talk passed around but I was still on my toes. I need to find a temporary person for PAH and I made a few phone calls.

An hour later, Grandfather Rule led the way to the Gate. As we entered the waiting lounge, a voice said over the speakers, “Flight 018 to Tuguegarao is delayed.” Grandfather Rule gave his endearing smirk to say, “What else is new?”.

We wait in the lounge for further announcements. I take a seat beside Nerieza while Grandfather Rule and ShesQ sit in front of us. Each one of us took turns checking our mails and text messages. Every half an hour, a voice overhead will tell us that the flight has been put on hold. Shortly before twelve, a new information is announced. “Flight 018 bound for Tuguegarao has been cancelled due to weather conditions.” They might as well have said that “Happy April Fools’ Day. See you tomorrow!”

Passengers started to grumble. We overheard some of them remarking that they were at the airport as early as 7 am. Actually, our flight was originally scheduled at 9:00 am but the day before, we were advised that it will be moved back at 11:00 am so we were able to adjust accordingly. But these poor passengers who didn’t have the same privilege we had.

We trooped out to the Arrivals Area to claim the 52.2 kilos of baggage we checked in earlier - all uniforms for our plant in Isabela. I asked a PAL Express Attendant if I can reimburse what I paid for the excess wait and I was given instruction on where to do it. Grandfather must have been really tired out by the long wait earlier so he opted to have coffee with SHESQ while Nerie and I claimed the reimbursement.

At half past twelve, we were weaving our way back to Makati office where Nerie was greeted with jokes about being jinxed as it was supposed to be her first time out in Isabela. Lunch courtesy of SHESQ revived our spirits and at 2:30pm, we were doing a telecon in lieu of the conference we should have attended personally had it not been for that cancelled flight.

Overall, the four of us were circumspect about the whole thing. As SHESQ remarked, the meeting was jinxed already prior to the flight. It has been cancelled five times already. Maybe, God was telling us something and we needed to listen.

Oh well, all’s well that ends well.

Next stop: Benguet again, Cebu, Isabela and Pangasinan.

Whew. I’d better go home early tonight and spend time with Brianne and Edwin then…

Add comment April 3, 2009