PAL Express Centennial Batch 100 Graduation Ceremonies

The number 100 is one of the most celebrated numbers. We celebrate a company's or a school's or an organization's 100th founding day, also known as its centennial year. We celebrate our grandparent's or great grandparent's 100th birthday with a grand celebration. The Philippines commemorated its 100th year of Independence with a huge nationwide celebration. In PAL Express, we now celebrate the graduation of their 100th cabin crew batch, ICCT100-18!

We are very honored to have been invited to this very special occassion. We have been attending Philippine Airlines and PAL Express graduation rites and every one of them is very special to us, in their own unique ways. We are always excited to witness these cabin crew graduation events as it brings us closer to these flight attendants / stewards and it further opens our knowledge to the lives of these cabin crew.

PAL Express batch 100's graduation rite was held last June 6, 2018 at the PAL Inflight Center. They batch's class advisor and "mother" is Ms. Ramona "Monch" Salva, a former cabin crew and purser of Philippine Airlines who joined the company in 1985, This batch started out with 19 individuals and ended with 19 graduates, hence, 0% attrition rate, 100% passing rate! Talk about the batch number!

With trainor and class advisor, Ms. Ramona "Monch" Salva

Flyhigh Manila's Mond Ortiz enjoying a crewfie before the graduation ceremonies.

One thing we noticed about batch 100 is how united they are. Well, the fact that no one was removed during training speaks a lot of how they helped each other, holding up to the "walang iwanan" mantra, especially solidified by their class President Hughes Ong. They also come from good schools like De La Salle University, Ateneo De Manila University, University of Asia and the Pacific, University of Santo Tomas, and Far Eastern University to name a few. Aside from that, they also come from different backgrounds.

Present during the graduation was PAL Express President Bonifacio U. Sam, Assistant Vice President for Inflight Services Leonides Pena, Manager for Inflight Services Joselito Las, Training Manager Aloysius Mercado, Assistant Vice President for Human Resources Loraliza Dioquino, PAL Express line managers, and trainers.

The graduates finally take their march.

Cabin crew graduations are always a feel good story. This is where you will hear what each had gone through to become flight attendants and stewards, to fulfill a childhood dream, and to make their parents very proud. These 19 individuals at PAL Express batch 100 endured sleepless nights, time away from family, prayerful nights, crying moments, challenging times especially if you know your lifelines are almost used up, and missing important occassions. What kept them going was their unity and they fully know what their "whys" are. As what AVP Leonides Pena said, you should know your why clearly and that alone drive you.

Batch 100 class advisor Monch Salva giving the welcome remarks.

PAL Express Assistant Vice President for Inflight Services Leonides Pena addressing the graduates as special guest speaker.

We will not forget what Mr. Nides Pena said. He said, everytime these cabin crew members feel tired, irritated, defeated, and demotivated, they should always go back to their whys. Why they started. Why they endured the long lines during assessment and interview day. Why they endured training. Nides also reminded the batch to always stay humble, to love, and to be faithful. These are reminders that these new cabin crew should always bear in their hearts.

The highlight of every graduation is when one receives their certificate and the dean moves the tassel of the graduation cap to the left. In a cabin crew graduation, they stilll do receive their certificates but the most important is the wings nameplate that is usually pinned by their parents or loved ones. The wings nameplate is a symbol showing that one is officially a cabin crew member, same as a police badge.

The wings nameplate is also a symbol of the hardships and challenges these individuals endured to become flight attendants and stewards. More than a metal nameplate, yes it is a symbol.

There ceremonies went on with speaches from the valedictorian, the class advisor herself, and the turnover to operations from training. The batch also did a special dance number where they got Mr. Sam, Mr. Pena, and Ms. Dioquino to dance with them.

Honestly, what we see here is a batch united to help make PAL's 5 star dream a reality. If they were able to unite together to endure training without anyone getting removed, we are sure that they will unite to help get that 5th star. More than that, we see them as very pure individuals, friendly, smiling, gentle, but strong.

PAL Express batch 100 are composed of unique individuals, yes. They may be different from one another, yes, but that's what made them stick together like magnets. 

From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to thank PAL Express batch 100 for inviting us to your momentous occassion. It was awesome knowing each and everyone of you and we hope to see you more often in the future.

Fly high and safe skies always! May you also continue to inspire our future cabin crew to pursue their dreams!

​Enjoy the rest of the pictures and video below!

Recognizing the top performers of the batch.

Batch 100's valedictorian giving her speech.

Class advisor and trainor Ramona "Monch" Salva addressing her graduates.