It’s exactly two years since Ondoy, the kind of storm we don’t want to see again in our lifetime.
I was looking forward to visiting Cebu for the first time. But I didn’t count on the date to fall on September 27.
Jeroen had just arrived from Singapore, and I didn’t want to leave his side. But I had a 6 AM flight to Cebu.
I couldn’t sleep. I tried to sleep at 12 midnight, but since I’m used to sleeping at 3, it was useless.
I got up at 3:15 to shower and get dressed. Pia and Elmo Magalona picked me up to go to the airport.
As ambassadors of HP and Bangko Sentral’s No To Fakes Campaign, we were supposed to be in Cebu for a press conference at noon.
We arrived at NAIA Terminal 2, checked in by 5 AM and went straight to Gate 1 for the 5:10 boarding, which was not yet scheduled. Pia suggested we wait it out in the lounge.
Boarding got moved to 6:45 AM and then 7:45 AM.
Personally, I did not want to get on the plane. I am very paranoid about flying. I would not make a really good flying companion and passenger in this kind of weather.
Pia was worried we would not be able to return to Manila on the same day as she and Elmo had a string of commitments this entire week.
Pia and I passed the time at the Mabuhay Lounge trying to tweet via intermittent WIFI as our Globe signal was down.
Elmo slept.

As a mom, I did not want to get on the plane. Between Pia and I, we have 11 kids.
Looking at the worsening weather outside, we looked for a signal to tell Harold Geronimo in Cebu that we were planning not to go on the plane.
Harold tried to convince us otherwise, but I made up my mind. You can’t pay me a million pesos to go on that plane. Pia said the same thing.
As we approached Gate 1 to speak to the ground stewards, a line formed for PR 847 bound for Cebu.
Harold called back and said they decided to call off the press conference for us.
Pia and I were able to contact Jeroen to send the driver back to NAIA.
On our way out we saw that passengers were stalled at the check-in counters. Apparently, PAL employees decided to go on a strike at that moment and stop working. 14,000 passengers were stranded today.

I felt for the people stuck in that boring airport, especially the foreigners. If I were to be stuck in an airport, Hong Kong or Singapore would not be bad choices.
As soon as we left NAIA Terminal 2, a strong gust of wind slapped us in our faces. Trees swayed and street signs fell. Umbrellas turned inside out. We got wet walking towards the car, drove through puddles and floods, and made it to our homes.

Later this afternoon, our flight was finally cancelled.

I was shaking when I got home, but glad to see my boys planted on our bed with their laptops.
I changed my clothes and fell asleep, I don’t know what time, but I woke up at 2 PM.
Had cereal and spent the day with my boys.
Electricity went on and off, and there was a battle among dying Internet connections (luckily we have a backup Globe Tattoo).
I ate so much junk. Watched 2 Broke Girls and spent the day just happy to be home.
And you?

P.S. Thanks to Pia for taking the pics and taking care of me. And to Harold, for understanding.
[…] browsing through Chuvaness‘ blog posts, she mentioned about 2 Broke […]
Grabe what’s happening to the Philippines… sana naman maayos na. About the PALEA employees. All of you are right, they could have just chosen another day – nakakahiya din naman sa mga foreigners who were there for their flights tapos may typhoon pa – double whammy ika nga.
Will watch this nga… I have been watching Dexter episodes. This can be a good break 🙂
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A friend who works for PAL says that the PALEA workers did not go “on strike” but instead were “protesting” because the management had apparently cut off their access to the flight systems – check ins, etc (I have no idea about these things). So they couldn’t log in at kung ano ano pa. So they protested. I’ll see if I can get a copy of what they said and post it here, if nobody gets hold of the text just yet. Right now, I really don’t know who to believe. When I was little, PAL had hero-worship status. But… Read more »
I initially thought that the PAL employee strike was because they were being made to work in the dangerous conditions of the storm. So I empathized with them. And then I saw the news that this was regarding an ongoing dispute with management. While I understand that they have to fight for their rights, couldn’t they have chosen another day to conduct their strike? Couldn’t they have postponed it, since, given the weather, flights were sure to be canceled and thousands of passengers will be stranded and will need help? What was the thinking behind it? They wanted to do… Read more »
Scary talaga ni Pedring. Naririnig ko palang yung hangin kanina, ayoko nang lumabas nang bahay eh 🙁
Uyyy, nakakatawa yung 2 broke girls hehe. Can’t wait for episode 2.
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CVS Reply:
September 28th, 2011 at 12:03 PM
episode 2 is out na
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Bubbles Magpayo Reply:
September 28th, 2011 at 8:27 PM
Yay!!! Thanks for the heads up 🙂
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Bubbles Magpayo Reply:
October 2nd, 2011 at 10:29 AM
Oooh have you seen Pan Am? I think you’re going to like it 🙂
http://www.hulu.com/watch/280286/pan-am-pilot
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episode 2 is out na
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Yay!!! Thanks for the heads up 🙂
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Oooh have you seen Pan Am? I think you’re going to like it 🙂
http://www.hulu.com/watch/280286/pan-am-pilot
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Hi I saw that you are also addicted to watching US shows. Btw me and my husband got hooked with The real housewives of beverly hills because of you and I thank you for that. Still haven’t started watching Awkward as i’m trying to complete the entire season before I watch. i have new shoes to suggest that might interest you Pan Am, The Playboy club(eddie cibrian is soooo hot), Ringer, Person of Interest, Revenge, Hart of Dixie, Unforgettable, A gifted Man, Charlie’s angels, the secret circle and my fave The lying game! Enjoy watching! [Reply]Ging Reply:October 2nd, 2011 at… Read more »
Among all the programs you’ve mentioned, I really like Revenge and Pan Am. Revenge is like Damages+Gossip Girl but older people. Pan Am because aside from a different twist to the story, I am loving the costume and the music.
Speaking of the Real Housewives franchise, the RHONY wives got a big shake up and and RHNJ wives are now in big he said/she said war. CRAZY!
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