( The following are my rambling thoughts and recollections of perfect three weeks last November in the Philippines. First of two parts. ) LOS ANGELES – “Sigurado kang gusto mong mag-exit? (Are you sure you want to exit?)” Prompts in Tagalog on my seat monitor aboard Philippine Airlines (PAL) made me feel at home even before we flew out of the Los Angeles International Airport.
My wife Janet and I were going to the homeland after five years and it was our first trip back to Manila since the pandemic. It was also our first time to fly home via PAL. Even before boarding the plane, we already felt like we were in Manila’s warm embrace.
At the check-in counter, the LAX/PAL ground staff member was smiling, friendly, courteous and efficient. She looked familiar – okay, it was my niece, Elgeen. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address.
I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . The smiling, friendly PAL ground staff member looked familiar – Elgeen Nepales. CONTRIBUTED Since it was our first opportunity to fly to the Philippines on PAL, it was our first direct flight from LA to home – no disembarking and hopping on another plane in Japan, Korea or Guam.
Thus, we enjoyed not having to go through the stress of layovers. Instead, we had time to truly appreciate the PAL crew’s attentive service and warmth, and inflight cuisine. Which other airline serves sinigang na baboy and for breakfast before landing, tapsil.
