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The road less taken

A few months before, I had faced the situation of asking myself where I would go after college. Going back to the university where I graduated from to teach and train other mass communication students became an option. Later on, I met a good opportunity along the way which made me realize teaching was not the path I wanted to take.

Well, there were two opportunities actually. They were both so good they made me feel as if I were the luckiest man alive. One was a ride along a shortcut route (somehow) to my ultimate dream; the other was another ride (a rough one) leading to multiple forks where many uncertainties come waiting (whoa, don't get me wrong, boss).

Many would think I went for the obvious, taking the shortcut to the mainstream media. It's not really a big jump to the big fish, but at least, had I grabbed that, I would be part of the big fish. I guess the only uncertainty I would encounter would be, "When will I be one of the giants?"

TGIF—Thank God it’s the finish line!

Four years ago when I stepped onto college, I was a clueless boy wondering what new challenges stood awaiting my curiosity. Like everyone else, I was excited to attend my classes and listen attentively to discussions with an expensive binder at hand to write notes on.

My college education was a very big blessing as I got the chance to study and take up the course Mass Communication which I really wanted—for free because of the presidential scholarship offered to me. To maintain it, I had to endure sleepless nights, drink immeasurable amount of coffee to stay awake, and experience the harsh stress derived from piles of tasks (not to mention the extreme pressure caused by professors and instructors ).

Experiencing Albay

Upon stepping down from the plane, we grabbed the opportunity to have our pictures taken with the Mayon Volcano in the background.

We weren’t able to take many pictures, though, when the guard shooed us away already. We then proceeded to the arrival area and looked for our service. A van from The Oriental Hotel Legazpi, the venue of the conference, stood waiting for us. We hopped in and off we went to the hotel.

In the cabin

The take off

“Cabin crew, prepare for departure.” Then the plane zoomed up to the clear blue sky.

I was Wright (pun intended). The feeling was as euphoric as that of the inventors of the airplane when finally, I was flying up in the sky, over white fluffy clouds. Waiting for four hours for the check in counters to open, and then another hour for the boarding gate to let the passengers in, was all worth it.

Yes, it was my first time on a plane, so I savoured every bit and inch of the ride. Among the nine of us, only three had previously experienced it, but they were as excited as the rest of us because of the majestic Mayon Volcano awaiting our arrival.

Early birds

The day that I have been waiting for has finally arrived! It's been one of my life long dreams to ride on a plane that will take me wherever I want. I can only imagine how euphoric the Wright Brothers were during the first successful flights of the Wright Flyer.

1903 Wright Flyer

The 1903 Wright Flyer made four flights at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903, the best covering 852 feet in 59 seconds. It was the first heavier-than-air, powered aircraft to make a sustained, controlled flight with a pilot aboard.

The Wrights used their proven canard biplane configuration which was rooted in their initial 1899 kite design. Key to the Flyer's success was its three-axis control system, which featured wing-warping for lateral balance, a moveable rudder, and an elevator for pitch control.

The right wing was four inches longer than the left to compensate for the engine being heavier than and mounted to the right of the pilot. The wings were rigged with a slight droop to reduce the effects of crosswinds.
Gift of the Estate of Orville Wright
http://airandspace.si.edu/wrightbrothers/

Getting high...literally

“Cause I’m leaving on a jet plane... I don’t know when I’ll be back again...”

This song has recently come to my mind as two weeks from now, I’ll be riding on a plane for the first time!

On February 10, I together with my colleagues in our student publication will board a domestic flight to Legazpi City in Albay for a three-day journalism contest. That’s the next level of the competition after winning at the regional level in December last year in the City of San Fernando, La Union.

This is one of the few perks I enjoy as an editor of the publication, going places with colorful historical relevance in the country and having a taste of their rich culture. This time, I’ll be seeing Mayon Volcano in person, that volcano with the almost perfect cone shape that I’ve only been seeing in pictures since childhood.

The trip’s still several days ahead and I’m excited. Meantime, “I’ll pack my bags and get ready to go.”