More Fun For Juans

And so the challenge has begun! The Juan For Fun Backpacker Challenge, that is! 

We've mentioned this new contest by Cebu Pacific in an entry before when the teams were still being assembled but now, 5 teams have been chosen to embark on an all-expense paid journey to 6 local destinations in the Philippines. Wow, all-expense paid?! Count The Pink Tarha in! If we were in the Philippines, we would've joined the fun! Ooops, we're no longer at the 17-23 age range and we're not students so uh, I doubt we would get in. Haha! 

The send-off party!

Anyway, the teams are comprised of very able students who can go around the Philippines and do the tasks and challenges ahead of them. The teams are: Team Sun Broadband, Team Crimson, Team Awesome, Team Lemixian, and Team Seven. 

The first destinations is… can you guess? Manila, of course! 

The Philippines' national capital region is 633.3 square kilometers with with over 13 million people. The challenge is to guess the one word with 4 pictures as clues (4 Pics 1 Word online game anyone?) 

Boracay in Aklan: a must-see destination

The second destination is Kalibo in the province of Aklan. The teams were challenged to pina weaving, an age-old tradition which has been recently revived in the past 20 years. Team Seven, composed of Cyryll Juvan Macas, Mark Cominic Pat, and Irish Gayle Cajigas of Bukidnon State University, takes home the pineapple! 

Pina weaving winners Team Seven

Picturesque Davao is the third destination. Crocodile Park, one of the most famous tourist spots in Davao, took the teams into several tasks like eating, peeling, and running! Team Awesome composed of Cebuanos Windom Lim, Leander Dan Aldemita, and Shemaiah Xyza Baja of University of San Carlos - Cebu, wins this one. 

To keep up with the teams and their race around the Philippines, visit JUAN FOR FUN and the Cebu Pacific Air Facebook page. It's also a good way to discover interesting places in the Philippines which OFWs like us can visit when we go home for our vacation in the homeland. ~ Sundrenched

*This entry is sponsored by Cebu Pacific Air. All opinions are the writer's own.

Ceb Visits Dubai

Well look who's been spotted in Dubai! 

Ceb at the Burj Dubai

CEB, Cebu Pacific's lovable mascot was seen traipsing all over Dubai, United Arab Emirates! 

Visiting the marina

Ceb roaming the streets of Dubai

We don't think you need to guess why Ceb is visiting this popular city in the Middle East. Of course, it's to check out the newest route of The Big Juan! On October 7, 2013, Cebu Pacific's A330 will touchdown, for the first time, in Dubai's international airport! We're excited for all Filipinos who will be in this flight. Of course, the plane will go back to Manila carrying the winners of the 100 Lucky Juans contest! 

For those who wants a free seat in this memorable voyage, you still have time to join the 100 Lucky Juans contest. Visit the Cebu Pacific Facebook page, click on the 100 Lucky Juans app, and submit your entry! It's so easy! They've been announcing winners weekly and we hope to see your names next on that list. 

Hay, for us in Riyadh, we can only hope for a Cebu Pac route in here please! Haha! Well who knows? While waiting for that flight, maybe we can fly to Dubai and hop on a flight to Manila from there! Sounds like a good plan huh! ;) 

This entry is sponsored by Cebu Pacific. All opinions are the writers' own. 

Family Affairs

Another round of winners were announced in Cebu Pacific's 100 Lucky Juans. And we were not surprised that most of them feature their loved ones and family members in their photos. After all, going home to the Philippines is really all about our families.

Take for example Ernesto Enumerables' entry which says that he wants to propose to his girlfriend on her birthday. Awww, sweet! (I hope publishing this wouldn't ruin the surprise! hehe!) He also wants to see and hug his baby, Joeliane.

Jewel Catungal wants to go home to the Philippines because she wants to see her daughter and tour her around the many islands of the beautiful home land! Truly, it's more fun in the Philippines!

I really like this photo of Melita Matabang featuring her mom and her mom's siblings. I like seeing siblings who really go along together. Reminds me of my brothers, sisters, and I. ;)

Congratulations to the Week 5 winners of 100 Lucky Juans! 

For those who still want to join, there's still enough time! Visit the 100 Lucky Juans app in Cebu Pac's Facebook app and submit your entries. This is open to OFWs in the United Arab Emirates only.

This entry is sponsored by Cebu Pacific. All opinions are the writer's own.

The Big Juan Soars

Cebu Pacific has really making some huge updates in their fleet lately. Apart from The Big Juan, their biggest plane to date, Cebu Pacific has just recently received its 45th aircraft, a brand new Sharklet-equipped Airbus A320 from Toulouse, France. This is Cebu Pac's third delivery of this kind of aircraft for 2013. The Sharklet-equipped Airbus A320 allows airlines to save up to 4% on fuel burn.

Soaring high!

And that's not all! Cebu Pac is expecting delivery of 16 more Airbus A320 aircraft with Sharklets, 30 Airbus A321neo and 3 Airbus A330 aircraft from this year to 2012. Now, that is one soaring airline!

Speaking of soar, the Big Juan also made its inaugural flight from Manila to Seoul (Incheon) . Flight 5J 188 was sent off with lots of fanfare and freebies. Wish we were Rizziane Tolentino, the first passenger to check-in to the flight who received a free roundtrip ticket to Seoul! 

The Big Juan ready to go!

The Big Juan's inaugural commercial flight to Seoul

Welcome aboard!

It's more fun with the A330!

The Big Juan was also used last July 8 for flight 5J 813 from Manila to Singapore. We can't wait for its grand Manila-Dubai flight on October 7, 2013! Which reminds us, have you joined the 100 Lucky Juans contest? Not yet?! Well, better hurry and check out how to join in this page and head to the Cebu Pac Facebook app to submit your photo/video/article. A seat in The Big Juan is worth it! ~ Sundrenched

This entry is sponsored by Cebu Pacific. All opinions are the writer's own.

Wishes Granted

Every Overseas Filipino Worker wants to go home to the Philippines to be with their families and the 100 Lucky Juans contest of Cebu Pacific is making the wishes and dreams of OFWs in the United Arab Emirates come true. The winners for Week 3 and 4 were already announced and The Pink Tarha had a happy yet nostalgic time browsing through the winners' entries. 

We feel their emotions emanating through their photos, videos, and writings. It's not easy to be away from the homeland and it's never easy to be away from our loved ones. We can relate to some of the entries saying that they wanted to grant the wishes of their parents and children to come home. After all, the Pink Tarha ladies were once these children of OFWs who long to be with our fathers who were abroad for quite a long time. 

Just like Ginalyn Caputol's entry which says, "My plan for my homecoming would be to grant my father's 60th birthday wish, his wish is my presence during his birthday. I would like to surprise him and give him a big party. I've never been home for 3 years." Now that she won a free flight back to the Philippines for a vacation on October, she has a chance to surprise her father. What a tearful reunion that would be. Sigh... 

Mhea from Jumeirah, Dubai has a wish for her family on her next vacation. She wants to give her mother a treat and bond with her siblings, nephews, and nieces. "Wala akong ibang iniisip kundi ang magbakasyon ulit sa Pilipinas... Gusto ko silang ipasyal sa mga lugar na dati dati tinitignan lang namin sa magazines. Gusto ko ring magsimba kasama ang buong pamilya. Simple pero very sweet homecoming." Well, guess what Mhea! Wish granted. 

Gina Basilan, on the other hand, wishes to experience the beautiful nature of the Philippines aboard the Cebu Pacific airplane with her family. "Being unhappy is not easy. I miss my family in the Philippines. I want to visit them after four years." 

She even said that she hopes to ride with Cebu Pacific. Your wish is Cebu Pac's command, Gina! 

And finally, Suzeth Jalandoni from Sharjah, UAE gets a chance to bond with her son this October. "Sabik ako maparamdam sa baby ko yung pakiramdam ng pagiging ina. Halos araw araw ng aking buhay dito sa UAE, inaasam ko na sana kasama ko lang ang anak ko at pamilya ko... Dito ko lubos naiintindihan kapag magulang kana pala, kahit mahirap, kahit mapalayo ka, bsta mabigyan mu lang ng magandang buhay at masuportahan ang pangangailang ng pamilya, lahat nakakaya. Kung pwede ko nga lang pabilisin ang araw pra lang bakasyon ko na!" 

Start counting the days to October, Suzeth! 

All these wishes and dreams are so close to our hearts as OFWs in Saudi Arabia. Every day, we want to see our loved ones in the Philippines and if only we can teleport whenever we think of them, we'd do it all the time (work be darn! Hahaha, kidding!). Good thing, there are flights like Cebu Pacific which brings us closer to our families and friends back home. Congratulations to the winners of the 100 Lucky Juans contest! 

For those who hasn't joined yet, you still have time to submit your entries to the 100 Lucky Juans contest. Good luck! ~ Sundrenched

This entry is sponsored by Cebu Pacific. All opinions are the writer's own.

More Reasons to Smile for the Lucky Juans

Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates, have you joined the 100 Lucky Juans contest yet? Visit the Cebu Pacific official Facebook page for the contest mechanics and have a chance to score a free flight to Manila from Dubai on the inaugural flight of Cebu Pacific's DXB-MNL flight on October! Speaking of scoring deals, Cebu Pacific has been a beacon of hope of Filipinos in fulfilling their dreams of traveling, not only around the home country, but also in other popular destinations in Asia. 

With their seat sales that go on throughout the year, we get the chance to visit other places at affordable rates. And even without the promos, Cebu Pac still has the most affordable rates among the airlines that operate in the Philippines.

Cebu!

 I flew with Cebu Pacific on my first travel outside Luzon, visiting the queen city of the South... Cebu! Cebu has grown to be a bustling city over the years; vibrant and energetic teeming with good food, beaches, and historical landmarks. I also check deals on traveling to my father's home, the land of pinangat and laing (my favorite)... Bicolandia. Camarines Sur is one of the provinces you should definitely check out when traveling in Region 5. It mixes nature with man-made structures to offer leisure activities for everyone. My favorite would be looking up Mt. Isarog in Pili, but this town is more known for the CamSur Watersports Complex that locals and foreigners visit all-year round. Of course, I keep on wishing for flights to my homeland, La Union in the Ilocos Region. But while waiting, flights to Laoag in Ilocos Norte is a good option especially when side trips to Pagudpud and Ilocos Sur can be made out of this route. 

Northern Luzon, my hometown!

Even in my second trip abroad, Cebu Pacific was instrumental in bringing me and my sisters to Hong Kong in 2009. It was the first trip we had as a family. Cebu Pacific has more than ten international destinations from the land of smiles Thailand to the land of wats, Cambodia. In China alone, Cebu Pacific flies to four destinations: Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Xiamen. One of the most popular destinations is the Lion City, Singapore! I've been there too and it was one of the most fun and entertaining vacations ever. We toured Singapore Zoo, Sentosa, and the Universal Studios. It's my dream to visit Bali, Indonesia and Osaka, Japan. Those shouldn't be hard next time especially with available flights to those places. 

Happy to read about Bicol, Davao and Bali in one issue

The Dubai route is a great addition to Cebu Pacific's destinations. It's not only the farthest destination of Cebu Pac, it's also their first in the Middle East. And when it comes to anything Middle East, The Pink Tarha is quite excited about it. Last year, Eyecandy and I had a chance to visit Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Although we visited on different dates, we have the same conclusion upon seeing the bustling city... that Riyadh can be Dubai, if only Riyadh is open to change that fast and vast. 

Personally, Dubai is more than just a place for Filipinos to go to work to. It's a good tourist destination. I can see glimpses of the Philippines in this city, with it's old and new places; the towering buildings in its skyline overlooks the old town near the Dubai creek. The Burj Khalifa is a unique engineering feat and everyone should get the chance to visit the tallest building in the world. It's a surreal feeling to see that something quite impossible is finally made into reality. Isn't it a good thing that traveling nowadays is getting simpler and more affordable?

Cebu Pac's SMILE magazine is a fun read!

Apart from Cebu Pacific's lowest year-round lite fares, SMILE Magazine, its in-flight magazine, will get you to places! Look for them on your seats during your flights with the airline and you'll discover a lot of practical and fun information on the destination of your dreams. Travel more, kabayan! 

Of course we know that for Filipinos abroad like us, the Philippines is always a dream destination because we always like coming home. To win a free ticket to go home to the Philippines from Dubai, don't forget to join the 100 Lucky Juans contest!