Airport tales in Singapore and Cebu
I’m not very fond of airports. Forget that last-minute shopping, the free wifi and café-ing, they are just lures to get us to part from our hard-earned money. I mean who fancies queuing up for security control and immigration? If the airport is big like Amsterdam Schiphol Airport you will have bear the long walk and even perhaps running to your gate. Upon arrival there is more waiting and queuing up again for boarding. Teleportation is the way to go in the future.
I also don’t fly business or first class unless the company I work for pays for it. When I have at least 2-3 Million Euros in my savings account (or upon medical advice) then I will start paying for a first class ticket, and only for long haul trips. That’s why I don’t understand people flying business and first class for personal when they don’t even have a hundred thousand Euros in their savings account.
Because I fly cattle class, I normally wait until most of the passengers have boarded the plane. I board last to avoid the chaos =)
Cebu Pacific Air Check-In Counter in Singapore
I just love the slogan of Cebu Pacific – ‘It’s time everyone flies!’ And rightly so. I am very pleased that Cebu Pacific has joined the travel industry with this vision, thereby giving better price points to consumers. Moreover, I am also very pleased that they have and are continually introducing new local and international destinations (to and from Cebu especially). This really helps leverage Philippine tourism locally, as well as internationally. Here's to hoping more budget carriers jump in the wagon in the near future. It is really time for everyone to fly and travel affordably!
In addition, I like the name of the company as it represents the island where I was born =)
SisterJ, Myrrh and moi took the Cebu Pacific flight from Singapore to Cebu 2 weeks ago. At the Cebu Pacific counter in Singapore Changi Airport we presented our tickets and passports. Unfortunately, many budget airlines, even in Europe require a ticket printout. Paperless digitalisation is yet to come, after all, if you pay budget, you get processed the budget way.
The Cebu Pacific lady tinkers my passport, she’s Singaporean with perhaps Malay or Indian roots. She wrinkles her nose and scans my passport again.
‘This isn’t a Philippine passport.’ She said.
She’s not processing my ticket because I do not have a Philippine passport. I was about to have a WTF moment when the Filipino supervisor came to her counter and told her I am born in the Philippines.
Uh-huh. What is the problem here? Can someone please explain and help me understand? Does anyone have to have a Philippine passport in order to go to the Philippines??? Only Filipinos can buy tickets and board Cebu Pacific Air? *scratches head*
I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps it’s her first time processing a non-English European passport. Obviously she doesn’t understand Dutch since my passport is in Dutch. Or she is new in her post. Fine, but I was really irritated, especially when I look at her face and how she scrutinised my passport, as if it’s a passport from outer space.
My first time being somewhat discriminated for having a European passport. LOL
Immigration in Cebu, Philippines
4 hours later we arrived in my home island—Cebu.
The immigration officer behind the immigration booth smiled at me. Not many immigration officials are friendly, but you meet a few in between from time to time.
‘Ah, balikbayan!’ he grinned looking at my passport. (balikbayan is like an expat who came back to visit or repatriate)
He further asked when was the last time I visited. I told him last year. After stamping my passport he told me he was the one who stamped and signed my passport last year as well. I thanked him and waited for SisterJ and Myrrh to finish their turns at the immigration. The same immigration man will be handling them as well.
‘Ate (a term of endearment for older sister in Filipino), the immigration man asked me if you are my mother.’
Huh. WHAT DID YOU SAY!?
Ouch. That’s a big blow to my ego because my sister is already 32 years old! We have a 11 years gap between us, and although this came in as a surprise, I have a very good excuse to protect my age-defying self-worth. SisterJ looks like a teenager and everyone in Singapore thinks she is a student and not an IT Consultant working for a multinational company.
*nakalusot ra sad, haha!*
Travel Period: August 2013
Destination: Singapore and Cebu, Philippines
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
I also don’t fly business or first class unless the company I work for pays for it. When I have at least 2-3 Million Euros in my savings account (or upon medical advice) then I will start paying for a first class ticket, and only for long haul trips. That’s why I don’t understand people flying business and first class for personal when they don’t even have a hundred thousand Euros in their savings account.
Because I fly cattle class, I normally wait until most of the passengers have boarded the plane. I board last to avoid the chaos =)
Cebu Pacific Air Check-In Counter in Singapore
I just love the slogan of Cebu Pacific – ‘It’s time everyone flies!’ And rightly so. I am very pleased that Cebu Pacific has joined the travel industry with this vision, thereby giving better price points to consumers. Moreover, I am also very pleased that they have and are continually introducing new local and international destinations (to and from Cebu especially). This really helps leverage Philippine tourism locally, as well as internationally. Here's to hoping more budget carriers jump in the wagon in the near future. It is really time for everyone to fly and travel affordably!
In addition, I like the name of the company as it represents the island where I was born =)
SisterJ, Myrrh and moi took the Cebu Pacific flight from Singapore to Cebu 2 weeks ago. At the Cebu Pacific counter in Singapore Changi Airport we presented our tickets and passports. Unfortunately, many budget airlines, even in Europe require a ticket printout. Paperless digitalisation is yet to come, after all, if you pay budget, you get processed the budget way.
The Cebu Pacific lady tinkers my passport, she’s Singaporean with perhaps Malay or Indian roots. She wrinkles her nose and scans my passport again.
‘This isn’t a Philippine passport.’ She said.
She’s not processing my ticket because I do not have a Philippine passport. I was about to have a WTF moment when the Filipino supervisor came to her counter and told her I am born in the Philippines.
Uh-huh. What is the problem here? Can someone please explain and help me understand? Does anyone have to have a Philippine passport in order to go to the Philippines??? Only Filipinos can buy tickets and board Cebu Pacific Air? *scratches head*
I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps it’s her first time processing a non-English European passport. Obviously she doesn’t understand Dutch since my passport is in Dutch. Or she is new in her post. Fine, but I was really irritated, especially when I look at her face and how she scrutinised my passport, as if it’s a passport from outer space.
My first time being somewhat discriminated for having a European passport. LOL
I sneaked a shot of Myrrh and SisterJ sleeping =)
The Cebu Pacific Air girl at the Changi Singapore Airport was very strict with hand baggage so I had to take out these stroopwafels (pressed caramel waffles from the Netherlands) from my other hand baggage and put them inside my bag.
Immigration in Cebu, Philippines
4 hours later we arrived in my home island—Cebu.
The immigration officer behind the immigration booth smiled at me. Not many immigration officials are friendly, but you meet a few in between from time to time.
‘Ah, balikbayan!’ he grinned looking at my passport. (balikbayan is like an expat who came back to visit or repatriate)
He further asked when was the last time I visited. I told him last year. After stamping my passport he told me he was the one who stamped and signed my passport last year as well. I thanked him and waited for SisterJ and Myrrh to finish their turns at the immigration. The same immigration man will be handling them as well.
‘Ate (a term of endearment for older sister in Filipino), the immigration man asked me if you are my mother.’
Huh. WHAT DID YOU SAY!?
Ouch. That’s a big blow to my ego because my sister is already 32 years old! We have a 11 years gap between us, and although this came in as a surprise, I have a very good excuse to protect my age-defying self-worth. SisterJ looks like a teenager and everyone in Singapore thinks she is a student and not an IT Consultant working for a multinational company.
*nakalusot ra sad, haha!*
Cebu Pacific Air approaching Mactan Island, Cebu, Philippines
Travel Period: August 2013
Destination: Singapore and Cebu, Philippines
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
