Found the link to this forum over at PEX:

Confirmed test A/C A380 will be in Manila Oct 11 and Clark on Oct 12 - plane is full of test equipment so no rides - they want to prove out airports for Bupac. Prepare your gear.

Oh, there’s a disclaimer too:

word of mouth among pinoy pilots currently working with bupak and ex bupakers. I’m not asking anyone to trust but i trust my aviation colleague. this is confirmed. please dont hold me responsible if the mammoth flying metal doesnt show up. salamat.

But still, if the A380 ended up landing in Clark on those dates… @$&@)*#!)*#)_!*#!!!!

P.s. Anybody know what Bupac is?

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There’s no official statement yet, but it seems it came right out of the older Gokonwei’s mouth.

A confident John Gokongwei Jr. thinks Cebu Pacific is ready to go long-haul like fellow low-cost carrier Air Asia of Malaysia, with the taipan aiming to cross the Pacific and launch non-stop flights to the United States West Coast, and possibly onwards to Houston and Chicago, by mid-2009.

But the taipan is quick to admit that he has yet to fully convince his son and Cebu Pacific president, Lance, about the long-haul dream especially how the attendant cost-escalations would impact on the financial model of a single-class, short-haul, quick turn-around budget airline.

Source: Manila Standard Today

Hmmmm, I certainly hope they’d get a bigger plane if they’re going to do long-haul flights. Or at least give more legroom. Or have video on demand (even with pay). *cringe* I can’t imagine being comfortable in their current fleet for flights longer than 5 hours.

The article was fairly interesting, but I perked up when I got to this line:

The Manila-Osaka and Manila-Tokyo routes are also being opened, hopefully in time for the Christmas rush.

Tokyo! Manila - Tokyo! In time for the Christmas rush! *explodes*

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Chatting with Eric, Ryan and Blooey about regional airports and domain names reminded me of this Bonamine ad I saw at Cebu’s sea port last year:

Panalo talaga to!

Have a great Thursday!

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When I was a kid, I would get so excited about going out of town that I would pack my bag weeks in advance. As I grow up, weeks dwindled into days, with more thought being put into what I should and shouldn’t bring.

Of course, that never really stopped me from overpacking. All the what-if question runs through my head, prompting me to bring one more extra shirt, and extra pair of jeans and maybe a couple more underwear. My toiletry bag takes up as much space as my pair of trainers. And don’t get me started on my Pinky containers.

It amuses me when they show people on TV just throwing their closet into their luggage and sitting on it, in a vain attempt to zip it close. Though I find it silly and impractical to just throw your clothes into your luggage, deep down I realize it hits a nerve. They’re overpacking, and so do I. What makes it worse that in overpacking, I sometimes don’t have enough room for the things I should be taking along, and end up with things I never get to use.

And so I share with you some tips that I found useful when packing for a trip:

• Roll, not fold. This advice is pretty much a staple in every article about packing. It really is effective in decreasing creases in your clothes. Also, it leaves you with more space for all your clothes (a double-edge sword, actually, since more space tempts you to fill in said space).
• Don’t pack new things. Whether it’s a year-long trip or a weekend getaway (or an overnight field trip), there’s always an urge to buy new things that we believe would make this trip better. Like a new pair of hiking shoes for when you go trekking, a pair of goggles for swimming, or that top of the line travel pants the every travel article said you absolutely must have. There’s nothing wrong with buying those things, but if you plan on taking those with you, make sure to break them in before putting it inside your luggage. There’s nothing worse than wearing uncomfortable clothes and shoes while traveling.
• Make a packing list. Whenever you go shopping, it’s essential to make a shopping list so you’d know what to buy, and not end up buying the same things that are already in your pantry and neglecting to buy what you really need. It’s the same with packing. You need to come up with a list of the things you need to bring. Once you’ve drawn up your packing list, check each item if you really need to bring it along. Last year, before I went on my Thailand trip, I came up with my own packing list. I used this to check and double check the contents of my backpack before I left. When I got back, I reviewed each item, and made a note on how often I used it, if I used it at all. It’s enligthening to see how much stuff I could’ve done without. The great thing about making your own packing list is that it is tailored to your needs and preferences. In evaluating each item after a trip, you get ideas on how to make your list better (which reminds me, I have to update my packing list!).



• Put your “must haves” in your carry-on. Except if it’s liquid and more than 100ml. We’ve all heard of horror stories of missing luggages. I’ve never had the misfortune to experience that *knocks on wood* but I always try to prepare myself from the worst. I make sure my travel insurance covers lost luggage. Also, I make sure I only put the stuff I woulnd’t mind losing in my check-in luggage. Of course I don’t want to lose anything, but taking a proactive step in avoiding a major loss is necessary. And that is why my Pinkies and mangas all go into my carry-on luggage.

Got any packing tips to share?

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What happens to the muppets and monsters of Sesame Street when they grow up? They move to Avenue Q.

AVENUE Q is the story of Princeton, a bright-eyed college grad who comes to New York City with big dreams and a tiny bank account. He soon discovers that the only neighborhood in his price range is Avenue Q; still, the neighbors seem nice. There’s Brian the out-of-work comedian and his therapist fianceé Christmas Eve; Nicky the good-hearted slacker and his roommate Rod — a Republican investment banker who seems to have some sort of secret; an Internet addict called Trekkie Monster; and a very cute kindergarten teaching assistant named Kate. And would you believe the building’s superintendent is Gary Coleman?!? (Yes, that Gary Coleman.) Together, Princeton and his newfound friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life.

Source: Avenue Q Website

Similar to Sesame Street, the main characters of Avenue Q are puppets. Also, like Sesame Street, there were lessons to learn and even short animated features. However, unlike Sesame Street, Avenue Q puppet talk in adult language and doing adult things. Wink wink, nudge nudge, wiggle eyebrows. Another big difference is that if in Sesame Street you can’t see the hand controlling the puppets, in Avenue Q, the humans are in full view.

The cast were amazing. Rachel Alejandro, Felix Rivera, and Joel Trinidad are totally one with their muppet characters, and can seamly switch from one character to another (as they each handle two puppets). It’s multi-tasking at its best: they sing and act with their whole heart at the same time handling their puppets to move its mouth and gesture with its hand. Aiza Seguerra (who was the perfect choice to play Gary Coleman), Frenchie Dy, Rycharde Everley and Teenee Chan completes the Avnue Q cast.

The songs were cheery and sure to make you chuckle, even guffaw (there’s this specially hilarious line in the For Now number, watch out for it!). Within the upbeat numbers lies several truths about life. One of the strongest, is this:

Everyone’s a little bit racist
Sometimes.
Doesn’t mean we go
Around committing hate crimes.
Look around and you will find
No one’s really color blind.
Maybe it’s a fact
We all should face
Everyone makes judgments
Based on race.

If we all could just admit
That we are racist a little bit,
Even though we all know
That it’s wrong,
Maybe it would help us
Get along.

My favorite bits though, were those that involved Trekker Monster. The Internet song is a winner in my books. He also imparts this token of wisdom: “In volatile market, only stable investment is porn!”

Avenue Q is presented by Atlantis Production, and directed by Bobby Garcia and Chari Arespacochaga. It is being staged at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium at the RCBC Plaza in Makati every weekends. If you want to watch the musical, act now, as it will only run until September 23.

Thank you Gibbs and Direk Bobby Garcia, for the ticket!

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