28/10/2020
✨ Vibrant Wellness on Smile Magazine for Cebu Pacific
As an OFW in Singapore for 10 years, Cebu Pacific Air being the largest carrier in the Philippines has been my go-to airline to fly with. And within 10 years, perhaps it also served as the witness to the untold human emotions I felt everytime I’m in the airplane seat. No matter how many times I travel, I inevitably go through emotions that every OFW can probably relate to - that feeling of sadness everytime I fly away from home and that feeling of happiness when I finally get to go home even for just a 3-day vacation.
To cope with the loneliness or excitement that I never outgrown to feel even after many years of flying, it was the in-flight magazine who did all the trick of keeping me engaged. SMILE magazine would always put a smile in my face with its dynamic travel and lifestyle content.
When I returned home for good in 2015, I prayed that all the next flights of my life will only give me a sense of happiness and excitement, hoping that I will only fly for travel and vacation. Blessed and favored, my prayers worked and that “crying until you can’t breathe” airplane moments became just memories of my OFW life. Memories to cherish because they built the strong woman I am now.
I never thought that my entrepreneurship journey after 2015 will lead me to have our own travel and tours business which restored my frequent encounter with airports, boarding passes, airplanes, and inflight magazines. Still, Cebu Pacific Air is my frequent go-to airline of choice and Smile magazine never failed to bring smile in my face as I turn each page with compelling travel and lifestyle inspirations.
The last time I sat on the plane was in January this year when we had our Europe vacation and sadly all the trips that we’re supposed to have this year never happen. Pandemic disrupted travel plans globally due to flight suspensions, border closures, and massive lockdown. It was a hard hit to the airlines and tourism industry and probably the memories of my airplane breakdown and tears can’t even compare to the feeling of being trapped in the borders, not knowing when you can experience the flight back home because of pandemic.
It was also during this time when most people felt hopeless that came into existence. For a company that was launched after Taal Volcano eruption and with a looming pandemic affecting the world, how could we even dare to exist? It was a disaster to even begin with but as we echoed our mission and vision, we started to build a community - a strong Vibrant Community that spans to more than 40 countries across the globe in just eight months.
And surprisingly, Cebu Pacific Air’s publishing company of Smile Magazine that is based in Singapore noticed us and get in touched with us. I am hoping that just as how I get always inspired as a reader of their inflight magazine, Vibrant Wellness content will also do the same impact to the people who will read about us.
This is not the time when the airlines are packed with travelers in and out of different destinatlons. Tourism has not yet revived its full glory, yet we are optimistic that Vibrant Wellness appearing in Smile Magazine’s page will serve a good purpose.
Here’s for every OFW like me who once sat on the airplane with bleeding heart as you linger on the airport goodbyes of your children and families. Sometimes loving your family also means leaving them behind because working abroad is your best choice. Hold on to your dreams and always remember that sacrifices with good intentions will eventually bring good life and comfort in the long run.
Fourteen years ago, I was a 22-year old young lady who took my first flight abroad to work in Singapore and never in my wildest dreams that I would turn out to be the same person that is being mentioned in the article, as the CEO of Vibrant Wellness. Beautifully written as a company that “has thrived during the pandemic and made strides in helping the local and global community, through providing jobs and working with various Filipino vendors around the world.”
Most specially, this is for the 65,000 strong members across the globe. Know that our dreams and visions are flying high, literally as high as 30,000 ft above the ground. We are being carried by the largest airline in the Philippines during the most wonderful season of the year, the magical “ber” months that still fall amidst the pandemic. We will soar high and we will send hope because this is what we always live for. ✨💜
Love,
LCeo
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