Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon, binuksan na ng Cebu Pacific—partikular na ng kanilang in-flight department—ang kanilang pinto para sa mga Transwoman.
Ito ay matapos kunin ng Cebu Pacific si Mikee Sicat Vitug at Jess Labares, pawang mga transwoman, bilang kanilang mga cabin crew.
Sa kanilang mga Facebook post, nagpasalamat ang dalawa sa oportunidad na binigay sa kanila ng nasabing airline.
Umaasa din silang magbibigay daan ito sa mas malawak na pang unawa ng mga Pilipino sa mga katulad nila na nakikipaglaban para sa kanilang rights to equality.
Basahin ang kanilang mga Facebook post dito
Mikee Sicat Vitug:
Do not be afraid to fail, be fraid of not trying.
Take a leap of faith, you never know what is waiting for you on the other side.
Pasensya na mejo long post
Nag umpisa lang talaga sa random idea na mag apply ako as Flight attendant but I know it's impossible here in the Philippines for a transwoman na maging flight attendant and sa pag kaka alam ko wala pa talaga na official na pinay transwoman na naging cabin crew dito sa Pilipinas (Sa US meron sa American airlines ata) Lalo na mejo conservative ang bansa natin aminin natin o hindi talagang hindi gaanong ka open ang karamihan sa kagaya ko. Pero inencourage ako ng partner ko na subukan ko mag apply he said "stop resisting because there's no harm in trying". So I did what I needed to do, i prepared myself by reading articles and watching videos on how to do well on an interview from proper attire, makeup and how to give a good inpact. The day of the interview came and screening palang sobrang kaba ko na kasi di ko sure kung pasok ba height ko, complexion ko and smile ko sa standard nila, and hindi na ako nag expect pero pinag stay pa ako for an impact interview and sobrang nagulat ako na naka lagpas ako sa screening.. I also passed the impact interview and pinabalik ako for final interview.. Hanggang sa sinabi na nila na "Congratulations!" soooobrang saya at di ako makapaniwala na pumasa ako!
Dumating na ang training, hindi ko inexpect na sobrang hirap pala. 2 months training, araw araw may exam and 90 to 95% ang passing score kaya talagang effort kung effort at mag puyat if needed para lang mamemorize verbatim lahat lahat sa dalawang makapal na manual. Di pa tapos doon may survival swimming pa na talagang natakot ako dahil di ako marunong lumangoy pinatalon kami ng walang lifevest sa 10feet deep na pool but I survived hehehe, fire and smoke drills kung saan may totoong fire at smoke at talagang gagapang ka pa sa cabin floor, masusubukan din ang pagiging alert at sharpness at pati nadin vocal chords sa emergency procedure, sisigaw ng commands ng malakas. Paos, bugbog, galos at sugat ang inabot.. Tapos kailangan graceful at excellent customer service padin. Kaya masasabi ko hindi pala talaga madali ang maging flight attendant dahil nakasalalay sa mga cabin crew ang saftey ng lahat ng passengers. And sobrang proud ako sa sarili ko na naka survive ako at eto na naka graduate na ako ng training at checkride masasabi ko na I am now officially a Cabin crew!
I feel honored and humbled that I am one of the first transwoman Cabin crew dito sa Philippines, this is something new and I hope it will spark a change sa kung paano ang pag tingin ng mga tao sa mga transwoman na hindi kami i box or i stereotype kasi tao din naman kami, capable din kami, normal lang din kami na tao and I am grateful na binigyan ako and Miss Jess Labares ng rare opportunity ng Cebu pacific Cebgo na i prove ang sarili namin na kaya namin maging cabin crew.
Na kaka tuwa at nakaka taba ng puso na Cebu pacific Cebgo started this change sa aviation industry sa Pilipinas, they promote diversity and professional growth regardless of race, religion, sex, gender identity and individuality.
Thank you Cebu pacific Cebgo for giving us this great opportunity to be part of your growing family. To our strict yet loving and patient instructors, our mommies during our training thank you so much! And to my Cebgo 11 batchmates thank you and see you around!
And to those people who are afraid of going out of their comfort zone, to those people who wants to make a change but keep on holding themselves back because of prejudice, judgement and discrimination, just listen to your heart and make it happen because nothing is impossible.
Thank you sa Family ko, Daddy, Mama and brother for loving, accepting me and supporting me all the way, hindi ako makakarating sa kung saan ako ngayon kung hindi sahil sainyo, and to my Partner Doctor Vinny Mariñas , salamat din sa walang sawang pag supporta at pag encourage saakin, sa pag sama saakin sa interview etc lagi ka din nanjan para saakin! Thank you for loving me unconditionally! Iloveyou daddy, mama, mac and vinny!
This is Mikee Vitug, a licensed pharmacist and now your Cabin Crew saying "flying with you!"
CEBGO batch 11
Dhang Sicat Vitug Mark Sicat Vitug Jhun Vitug
#flightattendant #cabincrew #cebupacific #cebgo
Jess Labares:
Fifty-seven days.
Blood + sweat + tears + a healthy dose of laughter is, without a doubt, the most perfect formula to achieve one’s goals in life.
Becoming a flight attendant has never been a childhood dream of mine. Ever. Instead, the opportunity presented itself as a challenge - a personal challenge to know what I’m truly capable of and to try something very foreign to me. Sometimes we really have to take that brave step beyond our comfort zone to become a little more aware of who we are and to be well-acquainted with the limits of what we can do. Now that I’m officially an airline cabin crew member, I can finally say that “I have arrived.”
After fifty-seven days, I passed the most difficult training I’ve ever had in my entire life. This job may seem glamorous to look at, but what people don’t really see are the battles, both personal and professional, that we face. It has never been about looking pretty, but our passengers’ comfort and, most importantly, their safety.
History has been made as I’ve now become the very first post-op transgender woman flight attendant in the Philippines.
I will forever cherish this opportunity given to me and with that, I’d like to extend my deepest gratitude to Cebu Pacific Air and CebGo for their acceptance. On behalf of the LGBTQ community, thank you very much. This means that we have progressed into a more accepting society who has learned to respect and celebrate human individuality and expression. It is another milestone in our country that proves that reputable companies such as Cebu Pacific Air can be diverse and multicultural - and this would have never been possible without their indiscriminate and forward-thinking supervisors, managers, and big bosses. Thank you!
I hope my role will inspire, not just the LGBTQ community, but everyone else with big dreams and are determined to never give up on something they want to achieve in life. Dedication, positivity, and perseverance will definitely guide you toward personal success and happiness. Now I can finally say, this is by far the greatest crown I have ever achieved. To my unwavering support system, my family and friends who continue to inspire and encourage me to keep on going, thank you very, very much. To my papa in heaven I know you are so proud of what I have acheived and for what I have become. Sorry if I was not there beside you when you left I know you would understand. Thank you and we love you.
