A rainbow appears over the skies of northern Cebu.

The Cuyo Loop series will resume after this post.

For the past few days, it has been raining in Manila due to typhoon Helen hovering above Batanes with torrential rains dampening one’s dispostion but this didn’t stop me from going home to Cebu. Well, I had to attend to some urgent matters even if  this trip was unplanned. Luckily, I was able to get a roundtrip ticket a week before and guess what, it is Philippine Airlines which was offering their Buy One – Take One promo.

A PAL plane's tail as seen from the window before take-off.

Curiously, the BO – TO promo was not available online and my sister had to call their reservations hotline to book a flight. The fare was cheap at only P2877.00 for Manila – Cebu – Manila. That is cheaper than taking a tourist accommodation passenger ship via Superferry for the same route taking 19 hours one way and total of P3,400.00.

Because of the bad weather in Luzon, the first half of the flight was rather bumpy and at one point, scary as we passed through an air pocket, the biggest I have encountered, that the “drop” was rather “deep” making some women passengers scream while some beverages in paper cups spilled. But that was just it and the rest was tolerable.

Wide bodied aircraft and a few passengers.

It has been ages since I have flown Philippine Airlines. Whenever I traveled before the fare wars, I opted for this company. I just find their planes comfortable with plush, cloth covered seats, ample leg space, complementary food and drinks served and, especially, the wonderful architecture of Terminal II. It is an airy, progressive and modern work. To be under its roof is pure bliss!

When Cebu Pacific started their seat give away, I opted for the cheaper fares and just had to bear  the always chaotic old domestic airport that often taxes my patience, where everything seems to be so inefficient but miraculously working, cramped space and cheap leather seats.

I guess, PAL just have to join the bandwagon in order to survive amidst this off passenger season and especially that the other company is boasting as having the most number of passengers served. Now that’s an ego deflating development. In the end, though, its the riding public who are the winners.

Snacks, tea and newspapers, all complementary.

PAL still serves complementary snacks (unfortunately, its junk food), a choice of coffee, tea or water and the day’s papers. Now, compare this with Cebu Pacific’s overpriced but more descent food choices, inflight games and months old Smile inflight magazine. They used to include newspapers and the Far Eastern Economic Review but this was discontinued.

View of Punta engano and the pristine waters off Mactan Is.

The weather was fine in Cebu when I arrived. Bright sunny and blue skies with the familiar pristine waters off Mactan Is. as seen through the window. The passengers were not so many and waiting for my baggage was not that long. Though, a few hours later, the weather turned moody and it rained in the afternoon.

Its good to be back home after two months. After I am done with some things, it will just be a lazy, sort of vacation for the next two weeks.

Estan Cabigas is a multiawarded blogger, freelance photographer and writer based in Makati City, the Philippines. A true blue Cebuano, he makes stunning images and meaningful photo stories. He has contributed to local and international publications including CNN Go, National Geographic Magazine, Geo (Germany), Sunday Times Magazine (London) and other publications.

To know more about him and his photography, visit estancabigas.com.