Explained PH Gave Me My First Airplane Ride

Have you ever looked up at the sky, saw a plane passing by, and wondered what it’s like to be up there? I have. I even took a photo of one once, flying above our neighborhood. I stared at it for a while, dreaming that someday I’d get to ride one too. For the longest time, it felt like just that—a dream.

That dream finally came true when Explained PH invited me to fly to Cebu City. They even sponsored my flight ticket. That simple act meant the world to me.

Back in junior high, I was already involved in journalism. I competed in Copyreading and Headline Writing, but my real dream was to be a photojournalist. The only problem was I didn’t own a camera, not even a simple digital one, which was the standard in 2017. But after I graduated, my uncle sold me his Canon 1100D. That was the start. I began documenting events as part of an organization that trained young leaders, using every opportunity to improve.

When the pandemic hit, everything slowed down. A friend of mine was already part of Explained PH. I thought about joining too, but I had other priorities at the time. I also doubted myself because I never even qualified for the NSPC. It just didn’t feel like the right time.

Then in 2023, that same friend reached out and encouraged me to join. They had seen my photography content online and thought I could contribute by teaching others about photojournalism. That invitation opened a door I didn’t know I was ready to walk through.

Even before joining Explained PH, I never gave up on my dream. But becoming part of the team helped me grow, not just as a photographer, but as a person. It gave me the chance to share what I knew and to keep learning from others.

During orientation, I met Archie, our Editor-in-Chief, through a Google Meet call. Soon after, I began joining on-ground coverages. One of my first was at the PUP Broad Circle event, where I finally got to meet some of the people I’d only seen online. I enjoyed being out there, beyond the screen, building real connections. I also covered the Ditto Sarmiento Journalism Cup and later joined the media team for Isko’t Iska at UP Los Baños. That was another big first for me—my first time covering an event outside Metro Manila and my first time setting foot in UPLB.

It was also during that coverage that I met Prences Jhewen Albis. We didn’t talk much because I was focused on the event, but that day marked the beginning of something special. She would later become my girlfriend.

Through my work in Explained PH, I was invited to help cover Pagsidlak: 50 Years of Resilience through Critical and Fearless Journalism, a workshop hosted by Tug-ani at the University of the Philippines Cebu. That was when I found out I would be flying for the very first time. And thanks to Explained PH, my flight ticket was fully covered.

In March 2024, I boarded a plane with Archie and Jhewen. I got a window seat, and the view was breathtaking. As the city lights faded beneath us, I looked out and realized how vast the world really is. I felt small, but in the best way possible. It reminded me that even the smallest people can make a difference.

That flight brought me back to that day I photographed a plane in the sky, wishing I could be on it. Years later, I was finally up there, all because of Explained PH.

This journey has been full of unexpected moments, big and small. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to never stop dreaming. No matter how far off your goals may seem, keep working toward them. It’s okay to fail. What matters most is that you rise, try again, and keep moving forward.

You never know where your passion might take you. One day, you might just find yourself in the clouds, looking out at the world from a window seat, realizing your dreams are finally taking flight.