HEARTS THAT GIVE
PAL’s Cabin Crew Batch ‘93
(By Melanie Angsioco – First seen in The PALiner October-November 2023 Issue)
Time flies so fast; 30 years have passed! It seemed surreal to PAL Cabin Crew Batch 1993, as if our basic training class took place only yesterday. Looking back, this batch has literally traveled the world, journeyed to a myriad of places, accomplished great things, and soared the skies in both high and low moments of our career life in Philippine Airlines.
Reaching Out to the Community
To celebrate our 30th anniversary, Batch 93 crew members conducted a community outreach project last August 12 at the Malipay Community in Molino, Bacoor. The outreach project was coordinated with the La Anunziata Parish Church, with Fr. Nelson Osorio, OSJ and PAL FA Ma. Elizabeth Valdez leading the effort.
The Malipay community is under the parish’s care, spiritually and socially, and this includes support for the makeshift Malipay Chapel being ministered by Fr. Randy dela Rosa, OSJ, and Fr. Julius Erwin Amarillo, OSJ.
Getting to Malipay was no easy task, as we reached the community only after a 15-to-30 minute walk down a rough and uneven path. We also used two ATVs to help transport supplies and gifts to the Malipay Makeshift Chapel. There, we distributed the gifts for the benefit of 50 families and 72 scholars. The gifts included school supplies (backpacks, umbrellas, notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons), five kilos of rice per family, packed lunches, Marie biscuits (courtesy of PAL AVP Gerardo Rustia’s office), and boxes of Panero pan de sal (courtesy of the owner, former PAL FA Jo Lo-Chan).
Donations flowed from generous PAL colleagues, including former PAL senior FA Lani Fabian and some private individuals who responded kindly to this call for generosity.
The outreach activity was our way to give back for the blessings we received in our 30 years of flying with the flag carrier. Active crew members took the time to serve on their days off, with some having arrived that very day from long-haul duty trips from San Francisco and Vancouver. Among the participants were Xavier and Cheryl Alvarez, Ma. Christina Castro, Jo Lo-Chan, Maria Rechilda Crucena, Rosalyn Herce, Ma. Rachel Noble (with her son), Ma. Elizabeth Valdez (with her daughter), and the author.
Pearl Night 93
Last August 18, PAL Basic Class 1993 threw a 30th anniversary reunion party at the Platform Events Place of Holiday Inn Express in Pasay City. Around 75 current and former cabin crew, coming from 17 batches, were joined by their friends and colleagues.
It was a grand affair of merriment and memories. An audiovisual presentation narrated the Batch 93 story through photos and nostalgic recordings. FA Odjie Gonzaga was awarded Lady of the Night, winning South Sea pearl earrings, while other Pearl gemstones were raffled off as prizes to lucky guests.
Batch 1993 lived victoriously through various operational challenges that confronted PAL over their 30 years of service, and we acknowledged the support and partnership of the PAL Management team. The event was graced by the attendance of PAL VIP guests: Capt. Roland Narciso (OIC Flight Operations); Capt. Leo Ezquiel R. Bernabe (OIC Operations Group) and his wife Jazmine (a former PAL flight attendant from Batch 1995); Gerardo Rustia (AVP Cabin Services); Cabin Administrative Managers Jaime Roberto Narciso, Gerry Santos and Rose Anne Guanlao; Senior Inflight Training & Development Specialists Loida Teopaco, Anthony dela Peña and Christopher Miguel Cortazar; and Wesley Calfoforo (General Manager of Macro Asia).
Among the sponsors were Tanduay, PAL’s sister company, and the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (FASAP), the crew’s partner in ensuring good working conditions. Former FA Lani Fabian and Flight Purser Aida Alejandro donated lechon for the dinner buffet, while FP Irene Ong Amboy gifted mahogany wood items as raffle prizes. FA Pilipina Magat sponsored three stunning South Sea Pearl prizes along with 60 pieces of anime FA keychains and tote bags with pearl logos.
The daughter of Ma. Elizabeth Valdez and the son of Ma. Rachel Noble recorded the Pearl 93 event through pictures and videos, with Rachel Garganera (former PAL FA) producing a special video.
In keeping with their traditions, Batch 93 members also extended financial assistance to fellow batchmates who had to go on prolonged sick leaves.
Celebrating through Sharing
The Pearl Night and Malipay mission were offerings of “Buong Pusong Pasasalamat” for our three decades of service along with more active flying days ahead with PAL. We in Batch 93 realize that real happiness comes not from material things but from appreciating our blessings and sharing them.
We assure everyone that we will continue to be PAL’s active partners in the quest to attain the company’s vision to be the airline of choice in global markets and to serve and connect the world. Batch 93 will provide our valued passengers with a top-notch travel experience to maintain PAL’s competitive leverage in the aviation industry.
Congratulations to Cabin Crew Batch 1993 for the 30 years of flying, fun memories, and friendship. Cheers to soar more years!
See more photos from this story in this issue of The PALiner: https://thepaliner.philippineairlines.com/2023/11/23/the-paliner-oct-nov-2023/
