My Chaotic Journey to Cebu
From booking a cheap flight to questioning the universe’s signs—this trip had me all over the place.
So, last year I grabbed a round-trip ticket during a Cebu Pacific sale for just PHP 1800. It felt like such a deal for Cebu to Manila. I even booked my hotels in advance, thinking I could cancel if I changed my mind. Spoiler: They weren’t refundable. So, I had no choice but to stick with the trip to avoid wasting my money.
I thought everything was set, but as soon as I left for Manila, I started wondering if the universe was trying to tell me something.
It all started when my bus crashed into the car in front of us. It wasn’t a huge crash since we were in traffic, but it caused a major delay. We ended up waiting almost three hours for another bus.
Let fate decide
By the time I finally got to Manila, it was 9 p.m. I rushed to the airport, only to miss my flight by five minutes. I wasn’t shocked, but I was definitely bummed.
I seriously considered just giving up and going home, but then I decided to let a yes-or-no tarot website make the call. I drew the Fool card, which basically said to go for it—there’s wisdom in being a little foolish, right?
I booked a flight for the next day, but of course, faced yet another delay. As I sat there, frustrated and tired, I thought, “Maybe I’m just not meant to take this trip.”
Finally boarding, but not without another delay
After what felt like forever, they finally announced we could board. I was over all the waiting, but I figured if I didn’t go now, all of this would be for nothing. On the way to my seat, a flight attendant greeted me. I managed a “good morning” back, even though my morning had been anything but good.
Just when I thought we were finally about to take off, they hit us with another announcement: another mechanical issue, which meant another delay. At least they gave us some snacks—two Dewberries, a big Presto, and a bottle of water.
I was so close to giving up again, but then I heard “Rain on Me” by Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga playing over the speakers. The lyrics “I’d rather be dry, but at least I’m alive” felt too on-point. It was almost like the universe was giving me a sign to stay positive. After all, at least I’m alive, right?
Finally, after a bunch of waiting, we took off. When we landed, “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton was playing, and it brought back so many memories. It felt like a full-circle moment after all the chaos. Despite everything, it was an unforgettable trip.