Upon her arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila last Dec. 11, she was met with an unforgettable surprise.
A high-level Cebu Pacific entourage led by president Xander Lao and chief marketing officer Candice Iyog warmly greeted Capaniarihan and announced her as the airline’s 250 millionth passenger.
This was followed by a lively celebration at NAIA Terminal 3. Of course, the highlight was Capaniarihan receiving P250,000 in cash and 25 free round-trip tickets to any destination within Cebu Pacific’s expansive network spanning the Philippines, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.
“This 250 million passenger milestone is a testament to the trust and loyalty of every Juan who has chosen to fly with us,” Lao said during the event.
“It represents countless stories, reunions, and memorable moments made possible over the years. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to making every Juan’s journey affordable, accessible, and unforgettable—not only across the Philippines but beyond,” he added.
Unexpected milestone, grand reward
“Ms. Russel Capaniarihan boarded flight 5J 814 from Singapore to Manila. She is a domestic helper who happened to be coming home to spend the Christmas holidays with her family for the first time in 11 years,” Kyle “Kulas” Jennermann, a Canadian-Filipino vlogger said in his Facebook page.
“What Russel didn’t know, is when she checked in… it just so happened she was the 250 millionth passenger!,” said Jennermann, who attended the event.
From Singapore to Bacolod
According to Cebu Pacific, the celebrations began at Singapore Changi Airport, where passengers of Flight 5J 814 were greeted with a teaser: a photo wall hinting at the milestone announcement.
During the flight, the cabin crew amped up the excitement with engaging games and prizes.
Upon landing in Bacolod, Capaniarihan received a final heartwarming welcome at her final destination, with local representatives celebrating the milestone.
Special homecoming
“Today, we flew our 250 millionth passenger, Russel Capaniarihan, on our Singapore-Manila flight. She’s spending Christmas with her family for the first time in 11 years and we’re so happy to be part of her homecoming story,” Iyog said on her Facebook page.
“She’s the 250 millionth reason our teams show up everyday,” she added.
Miguel R. Camus has been a reporter covering various domestic business topics since 2009.
