I’ve always been afraid of flying. I used to joke with friends, “If a boat sinks, I can swim. If a plane goes down, I can’t fly.” For the longest time, that fear was enough to keep me grounded—literally.
Photo: Cebu Pacific/When In Manila
So when I finally booked my first-ever plane ride, I was nervous. The reason was simple: I was traveling alone for the first time to visit a friend. No past airport experience, no flying stories to compare it to, just a boarding pass on my phone and a lot of second-guessing. I was flying from Manila to Cebu, and back. My chosen airline was Cebu Pacific.
Overpreparing for NAIA
Even though it was a domestic flight, I arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 about four hours early. I didn’t want to risk missing anything just because I didn’t know what I was doing. Before heading to the airport, my friends and I had dinner, and the entire meal turned into a checklist of everything I needed to remember—when to line up, where to go, and what not to panic about.
When I finally got to the airport, I was surprised by how calm it felt. My flight was scheduled a little past three in the morning, and there were only a few people around. The space was clean, well-maintained, and far less overwhelming than I imagined. That alone eased some of my anxiety.
A bus ride to the plane
One of my biggest surprises came during boarding. Lining up was straightforward, but instead of walking straight from the gate to the aircraft, we had to take a bus to the plane. I genuinely didn’t know that was a thing. I’m not sure what I expected, but boarding a bus was not part of the mental picture I had built in my head.
Photo: When In Manila
Once on board, the Cebu Pacific cabin crew were already guiding passengers to their seats, helping with luggage, and assisting those who clearly looked like first-time flyers. I didn’t feel rushed or awkward asking for help. I was simply shown where to put my things and sit.
Takeoff wasn’t what I imagined
As the plane prepared for takeoff, I quietly did breathing exercises in my seat. While the plane was moving along the runway, everything felt calm and smooth—almost too calm for something I had spent years worrying about.
That changed during takeoff. As the plane picked up speed and lifted off, it finally felt like the rollercoaster ride I had been bracing myself for. It was quick, intense, and over before I could fully process it.
Once we were in the air, everything settled. The flight felt stable, there was no turbulence, and I slept for most of the hour-long trip.
For someone who had spent years convinced that flying would be terrifying, that moment still felt unexpected and reassuring.
A simple first trip in Cebu
Landing in Cebu felt quieter than I expected, which worked well for a trip that wasn’t about rushing from one attraction to another. Mactan International Airport felt smaller than NAIA—at least to me—but everything was straightforward.
I arrived a little past 5 AM, grabbed a much-needed coffee from a shop that had just opened, and waited for my friend to pick me up. For a first-time solo traveler, that sense of ease mattered more than I realized.
I spent most of the trip simply hanging out with my friend—catching up, eating out, and moving around the city at an easy pace. There was no pressure to follow a strict plan, which made settling into an unfamiliar place feel less intimidating.
One of the few places we visited was the Mactan Shrine, and we ended up staying there for hours. We mostly just talked, sat by the shore, and watched groups of teenagers filming videos. They kept dancing to “Jingle Bell Rock” over and over again, which we couldn’t help but laugh about as we passed the time.
Photo: When In Manila
After that, we walked around the nearby stalls to look for souvenirs, taking our time rather than rushing. We also met a friendly cat that happily let us pet it, which turned out to be one of the more memorable parts of the afternoon.
It didn’t feel like a place meant to be rushed. The Mactan Shrine felt like somewhere people actually spend time—lingering, talking, and letting the day pass.
From fear to familiarity
That first flight didn’t suddenly turn me into someone who loves flying. But it did change how I see it.
I went into the trip expecting to be anxious the entire time. Instead, I learned that flying could be manageable, quiet, and even restful. Cebu Pacific played a big role in that experience by making the process feel straightforward and beginner-friendly.
The cabin crew were attentive throughout the flight, from boarding to landing. They sold snacks during the flight, checked in on passengers, and were especially helpful to those who were clearly new to flying. The seats were comfortable, and legroom was enough for me—I’m five feet tall, and so I didn’t feel cramped at all.
My Manila-to-Cebu flight had no delays. On the return trip from Cebu to Manila, there was a slight 30-minute delay due to the plane running late, but it was communicated clearly and handled smoothly.
Would I fly with Cebu Pacific again? Definitely. That first plane ride made future trips feel less intimidating and made the idea of traveling alone feel possible.
Sometimes, all it takes is one smooth flight to realize that the things we fear most aren’t as scary once we’re actually in the air.
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