members of Manila media, Pal Marketing and
communications ladies, Mactan Shangrila personnel,
and Cebuana friends during the lunch hosted by
Shangrila Mactan for us.
Shangrila Mactan gave us the Presidential
Suite while waiting to
board flight PR 122 to LA
Mariquita Yeung, Mayenne Carmona, JoAnne Rae Ramirez and Eric Tan
It was a treat for the Cebu Media members to
experience Pal's first flight to Los Angeles on March 15, 2016 and back on
March 21, 2016. They are now part of Pal's history. Members of the
Media from Manila flew to Cebu and took the 2nd flight from Cebu to LA. I
represented ZeeLifestyle Magazine of Cebu but flew with the Manila Media
because I am based in Manila. From Manila were JoAnne Rae Ramirez of
People Asia and Philippine Star, Fil Sionil of Manila Bulletin, Anna Sobrepena
of LifeStyle Asia accompanied by Pal's lovable gals, Ria Dominguez, VP of
Marketing and Comms, Pinky Custodio, Head of Marketing Activations, Terry
Romilla, Marketing Activations Officer, Cielo Villaluna, External
Communications Head and Spokesperson. Millet Mananquil, EIC of PhilStar's
Lifestyle Section took the flight from Manila with PAL Executives.
PR 122 (CEB/LAX) departs Cebu every Tuesday, Thursday,
Saturday at 6.25 PM and arrives in Los Angeles at 5.35 PM local time.
At LA airport, Cielo Villaluna, JoAnne Rae Ramirez,
Anna Sobrepeña and I posed with our flight
Captain: Capt. Victor Reyes,
First Officer: Juan Bustamente,
2nd Officers: Peter Sandico and Jonathan Lim
PR 123 (LAX/CEB) leaves Los Angeles on the same days
at 8.40 PM local time and arrives
in Cebu at 4.40 AM. +2.
From a personal observation, taking the flight from Cebu was so stress
free. There were no long queues on immigration to reckon with. The
airport was not crowded, we all felt so calm like we just came out of a
meditation session. Their Mabuhay Lounge served us the best coffee
in the whole of Cebu. I have the tendency to speak in hyperboles when I like
something, but their Coffee was really delicious. Cielo Villaluna can
attest to that!
Our 3-night stay in
the City of Angels was truly memorable. For starters, our hotel was truly world
class! SLS Hotel located at La Cienega Blvd, Beverly Hills is a 5 -star
boutique hotel with interiors deigned by Philippe Starck. His designs
never fail to dazzle the first-timer. His furniture pieces are sleek and on the
edge of avant-garde. But his haute - design elements sometimes get in the
way of practicality and comfort. For example, the rooms, although
spacious are dimly lit with modern lighting effects. The mirrors
are tinted, not practical for beautifying purposes.
Honeymooners might find the dimness romantic, but non-honeymooners like
the majority of us would prefer a better lighted room.

My Cozy, spacious bedroom at SLS Hotel, a 5 star hotel in Beverly Hills
The fun view from my
bedroom
I truly liked the location of our hotel- walking distance
to the
Beverly Hills Mall, Trader Joe's, Saks Fifth, TJ Max, Ross, etc.
The floral
arrangement changed daily
My favorite private
room near the breakfast place. Take note of the crown Chandelier
SLS hotel's lobby library with
an opaque head of a moose on top of a fireplace
Yummy breakfast buffet
The Gala night was elegant and well organized.
PAL President Jimmy Bautista led the speeches followed by other Pal
executives. The speeches were not lengthy and hit the spot.
Prior to the
Gala dinner, there was a press conference
for the US
media, Philippine media, government
officials and travel
agents
The invited guests to
the Gala dinner
President and COO
Jaime Bautista
gave a heartwarming speech
where he said
that PAL is the ❤ of the Philippines
Zsa Zsa Padilla was
the sexy chanteuse of the evening
Cielo Villaluna, Bishop Oscar Solis, the only Filipino
Bishop in the USA, Fil Sionil,
Anna Sobrepeña, Jaime Bautista, JoAnne Rae
Ramirez, Mayenne Carmona, Ria Domingo
Posing with the man of the hour - PAL President and COO Jaime Bautista ...
Ella Gozon, Anna Sobrepeña,myself, Jaime Bautista, JoAnne Rae, Millet Mananquil, Ria Domingo,
DOT Director
JunJun Apo-Jorda and Cielo Villaluna
With new found friend
Pinky Custodio
It was great to see Acor Gonzaga again after
all these years
So honored to pose
with PAL's President and COO Jimmy Bautista;
seated: PAL's SVP Airline
Operations Ismael Augusto Gozon and Atty. Aster Torres
Our trip to the Chino Canyon of Palm Springs was a lot of fun. We took the aerial tramway, the world's largest rotating tram car.
.
On top of the world:
Acor Gonzaga, Mayenne, Jim Bautista, JoAnne Rae Ramirez, Anna Sobrepeña
Enjoying the
climb of Chino Canyon in Palm Springs: Jimmy Bautista and Lito Alvarez
At last a bench! Ria
Domingo seemed tired! Cielo Villaluna and Anna Sobrepena seemed cool!
We rode
this aerial tramway, and started our breathtaking view of Chino Canyon
All good things must come to an end.
Our last night in
Bazaar, the bar of our hotel
Palm Sunday:
Jimmy Bautista, Roy Bonghanoy, Lito Alvarez
Zsa Zsa Padilla and I
enjoyed the Cherry Blossoms!
On our 4th evening we boarded PR 103 at Tom
Bradley International Airport.
Helping us Check in
for our flight back to Manila:
PAL LAX station Manager, Rex Aldanese and Duty Manager Anna
Pesigàn
The ❤ of the Philippines
The crew on board our flight PR 103: FP Vivienne Pineda,
FA
Maggie Gumaru,CSM Geb Inocencio, FS JunJun Uy, FS Aica Baes
After a 14 hour flight we landed at 4.40 AM at NAIA 1. Parting is such
sweet sorrow! But among good friends, it is never goodbye. It is always
"au Revoir" -till we see each other again!
Happy 75th Anniversary to Philippine Airlines, the Heart of the Philippines.
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