I was due for a short vacation in Japan two years back. I’ve booked the ticket through an agency so when I received the ticket I didn’t check the details.
In NAIA, though I know where to check-in and though it was my first time to fly alone, I decided to ask the airport guard, “Boss, dito ba ‘tong flight na ‘to?” showing him my e-ticket.
“Ay, sir,” scratching his head, “Tignan n’yong maigi oh. Bukas pa ho ‘yang flight na ‘yan.”
I immediately called nanay who saw me off, “Nay! Bumalik kayo! Bukas pa ang flight!”
All the efforts of preparing for that flight. Gone! I already told my friends that I’ll be gone that day. Shame! Shame! Shame!
I immediately called ate Pam, my pick up in Japan, “Ate, bukas pa ang flight ko. Mali ang agency!” and did not leave the house that day. Ang alam nila nasa Japan na ako.
The next morning, I was excited again! Japan! Here I come!
“Sir, we’re really sorry, delayed po ang flight today. All passengers will be checked in a hotel or you may opt to choose to go back home and we’ll provide you Php 500.00 for the inconvenience,” said the ground steward on my 2nd attempt to go to Japan.
“Haaaaahhhhhh!?!?!?!?!?!? Babalik nanaman kami????” screamed Nanay, “Oh James (driver), ‘di nanaman tuloy ‘yung flight,” they will pick me up again from NAIA.
I called up Japan again, “Ate, hindi nanaman tuloy. Bukas pa.”
“Ano ba ‘yan!?” Ate Pam, shocked, again, “Excited na kami sa’yo.”
“Eh paano pa ako?”
On my third attempt, nanay told me, “Hindi na kita ihahatid, si James na lang, napapagod na akong maghatid araw-araw. Baka matuloy ka na kapag ‘di kita ihatid,” and I arrived in Japan that day. At last, nakarating din sa Japan. Ang alam ng friends ko three days na ako sa Japan.
Classic Japanese “Peace Sign” in Mt Fuji
