[Pasay] ► Ninoy Aquino International Airport: Notes from My First Solo Flight

I learned from them that physical deficiencies are practically non-existent. It's all about how you maximize your life to the fullest. No one is really handicapped. We could live as a normal being if we choose to.

[Pasay, National Capital Region, Luzon Island, Luzon Group, Philippines]

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Entering the airport solo for the first time without the help or instruction of a frequent flier was a little bit memorable for me. I'm not an airport virgin but entering the facility solo for the first time had a share of anxiety in me. As usual, I observed first what the other people did before I entered the first x-ray scanner. I removed my belt with metal, my sunglasses, my bonnet and my personal doubts. I placed my things in a tray and my presence of mind in my heart.

Pre-Departure Area Drama: The People I Met, Observed and Lessons I Learned

Inside the pre-departure area, I purchased a chicken siopao—58 pesos—that didn't really taste like there was a chicken ingredient, an expensive beef tapa rice meal (120+ pesos) and the cheapest drinks (25 pesos). Whew! Airport commodities are the price of gold.

Then, someone announced that our flight was delayed. This was also my first delayed flight experience: from 7:20 PM to 10:30 PM. Uh!

While waiting for the arrival of the delayed aircraft, I met a woman from Kalibo named Maricel. She told me she has two children studying in Manila: one in De La Salle University and one in Centro Escolar University. She told me she got pregnant at the age of seventeen (17). Her youngest is in high school in Kalibo. Her husband is a UN volunteer in Sudan but according to her, earns 200,000 pesos monthly.

The latter goes home every three months. She told me there are a lot of things she did not experience and enjoy because she married early. She said I am lucky because I am doing what I love now, still single and looks 24 (according to her), a 'very' little difference compared to my actual age that time.

Whenever she goes to Manila, she attends parties and she even revealed that she could spend ten thousand pesos in one night with her relatives, and even her Ex-BF. She told me she wants to enjoy her life too. It is not yet too late.

I told her, "Yes, money is meant to be spent. If you have a lot of money but you're not spending it for your personal fulfillment and happiness, what's the use?" She agreed.

She asked me my about my job. I said "I'm a nurse."

She told me "You're rich!" I disagreed and I explamied the reason why I could afford to travel. I told her that it's a matter of prioritization. I also shared my insights about the sad situation of nurses in the Philippines like the low salary. She asked me my salary. I disclosed it. She was shocked (because it was very low).

She asked me where I came from. "Vigan." I said. She told me Vigan is a beautiful place although she has never been there.

I agreed. I said, "Yes, I am from there and I'm proud of my city. But I am not telling it is beautiful because it is my city. I am telling it is beautiful because it deserves the hype."

I also told her I've never been to Boracay which is a few minutes/hours away from Kalibo. She told me I should visit soon.

The pre-departure area was full of people while we shared personal stories of hope, dreams and frustrations. I sat down in a corner—on the floor near a massage service room ran by blind people who already know where they were going even though they could not see their way.

[PASAY] ► ME, SITTING IN A CORNER INSIDE THE TERMINAL 3 OF NINOY AQUINO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

I thought these blind men already calculated how many steps they should execute to reach their destination inside the airport. It was just amazing how they reached a place they desired accurately while they made turns with precision.

I learned from them that physical deficiencies are practically non-existent. It's all about how you maximize your life to the fullest. No one is really handicapped. We could live as a normal being if we choose to.

Ate Macel had to go. My flight was later. I learned something from her that people have regrets in the end. So I conclude that decision-making is a crucial element of future-building. It could change your life forever. We should focus on the things that we love and the people we care for.

Fast forward, it's 10:00 PM and I had to be on board. I was both nervous and excited for my first solo backpacking using an airplane. Where am I going? | to be continued... |

Chapter 01Chapter 02

Chapter 01: Flying Solo for the First Time

This chapter is a series of narratives and stories about my experience of flying solo for the first time.

✈ EPISODE 01: ▼ Bus Ride Diaries: From Vigan To Cubao To NAIA
▼
I thought twice. It was so expensive for me. I checked out the time and it was running so fast. I was tempted to go because of the time constraint but I tried to haggle down the prize again...



✈ EPISODE 02: ► Ninoy Aquino International Airport: Notes from My First Solo Flight

✈ EPISODE 03: (Up Next)

Coming soon!

Map Showing the Location of #Pasay

► FOOTNOTES, DISCLAIMERS, ACKNOWLEDGMENT, ETC

[1] The above story is the Episode 02 of Blogserye 05.

[2] This post was filed under the category "Airport Tales." See more posts related to this below.

[3] The maps I used on this post are from maps.google.com.ph.

[4] All photos are mine.

[5] The insights, condition and name of places or properties I mentioned here are based on the facts and situation on the day of my visit. Take note that you may have a different experience when you try or see the properties or places mentioned here. Names of places and properties may also change by time so it's not my responsibility to update all the information on this blog because once published, I already consider it an archive and I won't update my narratives because I want them to become my references of what have happened in the past. I'm very particular of the dates because I want my amazing readers to understand that I am writing stories based on my perspective and insights on the day of my visit. You can see dates almost everywhere on this blog. Exempted from this rule are my travel guide posts that need to be updated.