Call it luck as I was called in to co-coach a contest in the Regional Technolympics, specifically the Bazaar Exhibit. Fellow teachers who were more qualified to co-coach happened to be all busy at that time, so I participated and was able to garner the first place. With that, we, in the bazaar exhibit, are qualified to represent the region in the National level of the Technolympics, together with other contest areas combined, and then called the National Festival of Talents. The NFOT was held at General Santos City on Feb. 22-26, 2016.

The Preparation
Well, the author's attention was more focused on possible designs and thinking about the products to be displayed at the bazaar for the NFOT. So there is less I could share about how to get plane tickets, as they are a requirement before boarding a plane. Thanks to our master teacher and coach in the bazaar, Madam Lourdes S. Ballo, that we all had our plane tickets prepared before they run out for flights from Manila straight to Gen. San. City Airport. She had carefully considered the number of baggage we needed to carry in our transport.

Getting to the Airport
So we had many boxes of products and baggage to bring to the venue for the NFOT contest. We had labelled our stuffs, and totaled to 23. Transporting them through the bus could be cheaper but the handling could be less careful so our main coach hired a van. So there were 6 of us passengers. Four of us will go to the National Festival of Talents, while the other two will attend the National Schools Press Conference contest at Koronadal, South Cotabato. Still, we 6 booked for same flight as we are from same school. By God's grace, we arrived at the airport safe and excited, and quite unsure where to go next. The driver narrated it could be at NAIA Terminal 3, as it is used for domestic flights. It was nine o'clock pm when we left the school and arrived at the airport terminal 4:30 am that next morning.

Check-in of Baggage
After unloading our baggage, we searched for the line for Cebu Pacific. There was already a long line, and we had many stuffs to carry. Thanks to the push carts on standby. We piled our baggage onto 3 carts and pushed them to the end of the line. When it was our turn at the gate to the airport, we were made to place our baggage onto the moving table. It was actually a scanner for prohibited items. We were also asked to place our gadgets on a tray to pass through the scanner. The baggage passed through the scanner while we passed through a door with detectors. I was a little alarmed that the door beeped when I passed through so the security personnel checked on me. Ah, it was my local belt that made the detector beep. So after that gate, what's next? We loaded our items onto another set of carts so we could just push them while inside the airport premises, then we proceeded to another long line for checking in. Again? This time, they are going to weigh our stuffs, then let them pass through a conveyor belt after placing stickers on them. So this is where the hand carry term applies. We were allowed hand carry bags up to 7 kilograms maximum and that any excess will be charged 200 pesos per kilogram. So we were charged additional 784 pesos for the excess of our declared Checked-in baggage (which was already paid when they booked our plane tickets). At least the clerk offered suggestions so we could minimize our additional fees. Now we have submitted much of our baggage while those we had for our hand carry were left for us to carry to our next stop and probably throughout the travel.

Ready to Board the Plane?
After paying for the additional fees for excess baggage, we were told to proceed to a gate number specified on our plane tickets. It was a long walk with heavy hand carry baggage. We don't see anyone pushing a cart anymore so I thought the carts may not be allowed at that area of the building. Gate 119b was a long walk as we passed through other gate numbers. Reaching our assigned gate numbers gave us time to sit, and rest, and take a nap as we wait for 6 o'clock. We had less than an hour to wait.
At six o'clock am, there was an announcement asking us passengers at gate 119 to transfer to another gate. As for the reason, we didn't care to listen well. Ah, where is gate 132b? We followed other passengers gathered at our gate area as they transfer to 132b, we suppose. It was another long walk leading to the first floor of the building as the passageways get more crowded.
At gate 132, we came to a short line so we were among the first to get to the assigned gate area. It's my turn. They simply checked for my plane ticket then put a stamp on it and made me enter another door, going outside?

Where is the Plane?
So after checking for my plane ticket, I was led to a door going outside the building. Outside was another guy in uniform asked us to enter a bus. Bus? Yes, a yellow bus with black stripes paint; not an airplane yet. We quickly entered the bus, and as the rest entered, we realized there wasn't enough seat for everyone. And the others had to stand. Good thing I was offered a seat by our master coach as she joined our 2 students sitting at the farther rear. My bag is getting heavier and I don't want to stand just in case we were to travel farther. Good thing, the bus ride was quick, as it simply ferried us closer to the plane, and I saw another bus followed after us. So two bus-ful passengers could fit into one airplane? The bus stopped and we could see outside the parked plane. Of course it is much bigger than the bus. Cebu Pacific was readable on the side, and the wings were noticeably long, plus the two set of stairs leading to doors to the body. We were led to the rear door, near the tail of the plane. Obviously excited, we tried to capture pics before we climbed the stairs. For some moments, the bags' weight were ignored as we climbed. One by one as the width is good for one person with bags on the side. At the door, we were greeted by a beautiful, smiling, welcoming, flight attendant showing us the aisles.

Inside the Plane
Walking through the aisles made me feel I have entered a bus once more. Left and right side were seats, and overhead cabinets were open for our baggage. The overhead cabinets were labeled with seat numbers and I was assigned 19F. Row 19, seat F. So on left side of aisle were seats A, B, C and on the right were D, E, and F. A and F are close to the windows, while seats C and D are closest to the aisle. After fixing our baggage on the overhead cabinets, I got to try the airplane seat. Another first? Just like in a bus? In buses, there were only 2 passengers on each side of the aisle, but this time, there are three passengers. It was noticeably colder inside because of the air conditioning system of the plane. The cool air tips were opened in our seat but I didn't know how to shut them off. On my seat is the seatbelt which I quickly learned to operate. Infront of me, is a folding minitable attached to the seat; just in case you need more space to use, just like a place for drinks, or a place to write. After all the passengers have settled, an announcer over the loudspeaker began to greet and thank everyone for choosing the airline, then introduced the name of the pilot and the crew including the flight attendants I think. Then at least three attendants positioned themselves in the aisle as an orientation over the speakers started. The attendants made sure we could see them demonstrate the safety facilities provided for every passenger in case of unexpected events or accidents. So under my seat is a safety airbag (jacket?) I could inflate to use. Then, we were told to fasten our seatbelts, as an indicator overhead lighted up. The plane started to move. The outside view through the windows are moving backwards slowly, then the plane stopped.

The Feeling Mid-air
The pilot announced through the overhead loudspeakers that there is something unusual. Our plane is on a line for take-off and it is the twelfth in line. Meaning we had to wait for the others to take off first. Nonetheless, they explained that our expected arrival time will be adjusted. Finally, the plane started to move again. Instead of 6:35, the wait took us until 7:30am. Now the plane is moving steadily on the ground. We got to see through the windows more airplanes parked far outside and they vary in paint color and sizes. Then the takeoff. We could feel the wheels have really left the ground as there is lesser rolling sound below, just the sound of the engines now. The view through the narrow window offered an interesting sight of the top view of houses and buildings. The roads begin to form lines as the plane went higher. Then higher and higher. As we pass through the clouds, the plane would shake, even the wings. Now, we're flying higher than the clouds. The view is difficult to describe and nice to look at. Since I was seated closest to the aisle, much I could see through the window is the wing of the plane, against the seemingly passing sky and clouds.Mid-air is the monotonous noise of the aircraft plus the cold air overhead. I really didn't know how to switch it off, until I saw another passenger shut off the one near pointing to him. The air tip is a knob at the same time, I could twist it to open wider or completely close the air coming out of it. Now I know. There wasn't much movement in the plane not unless someone passes along the aisles, to go to the restroom. Most of the other passengers have closed their eyes. Asleep probably. Oh yes, inside the plane the flight attendants also push carts of condiments and snacks for sale to starving passengers. They have biscuits, coffee, mineral water, instant noodles, etc. I didn't see the rest as I didn't buy any. Other passengers? There wasn't much chat and there were children in other seats. They're probably heading to the National Festival of Talents or to the National Schools Press Conference.

Landing
"We are about to land in 5 minutes", the pilot announced through the overhead speakers. The expected air travel was one hour 25 minutes. So the aircraft begins to make extra movements as it prepares to go down. Again, past the clouds are some shaking of the plane, then a growing view of the mountains and houses through the window. We were asked to fasten our seatbelts as the indicator lights lit up. I noticed some movement of some parts in the wing, then the touchdown. On the speakers are announcement we have arrived to the airport safely and warned to wait for the plane to completely stop before we unbuckle our seatbelts. Then we waited for the seatbelt indicator to switch off.

Getting out of the Plane.
And the seatbelt indicator switched off. Almost everyone unbuckled their seatbelts at the same time.Then we grabbed for our baggage overhead. Unfortunately, we cannot move all out of the aircraft at the same time so we got back to sit and moved after everyone near the rear egress have moved out. Outside, we were welcomed with rainshowers. So that was why the uniformed officers outside had umbrellas offered for passengers. There was no bus to ferry us but the walk to the arrival area was rather short. And I begin to feel the warmer temperature in the place. Still, we tried to get some photos before walking in to the arrival area inside the building.

So let me end my personal accounts here. As it is already night time. I will find another time for the rest of my first airplane experience. God Bless everyone.