Lately, I’ve been feeling really frustrated — and honestly, sobrang disappointed.
I was just planning a simple trip pauwi ng probinsya, to visit family and spend a few days with loved ones. So I checked flights from Manila to my Province via Philippine Airlines, and I was honestly shocked:
₱7,492 — one-way lang yan, per person.
Like, seriously? This isn’t even an international flight.
It’s not a holiday, not peak season, not even a long weekend. Just a regular flight on a regular day — but the price? Parang Europe to Asia level.
And here’s what really stings.
I currently live in Europe, and here, you can fly from one country to another — like Poland to Italy or Germany to France — for around ₱2,000 to ₱3,000, minsan nga less than ₱1,500 pa if you catch a promo.
Yes, you read that right. International flights, longer distance, crossing borders… but still mas mura kaysa flight pabalik sa sarili mong hometown sa Pilipinas.
I know naman na may mga buses as alternative way and yes, you can take them to get to many provinces.
But let’s be real, if you only have a few days off, and you want to make the most out of your time with family, flying is the only practical option.
Pero ang sakit sa bulsa. You’re paying premium prices just to go home.
And what hurts the most?
Mas mahal pa ang umuwi sa pamilya mo sa Pilipinas kaysa magbakasyon sa ibang bansa.
That just feels… wrong. Mali talaga.
How did we get here? Why is it that in a developing country like the Philippines, airfare is more expensive, while in first-world countries, flying has become practical, affordable, even routine?
Are we saying na only people who can afford ₱15,000+ round-trip deserve to go home? Paano na yung OFWs? Yung ordinary workers na gusto lang umuwi sa pamilya nila for a quick weekend or vacation?
I’m not blaming any single airline. I understand may operational costs, fuel surcharges, taxes. But let’s be honest, may mali talaga sa sistema.
There’s barely any real competition. Wala masyadong budget options. Walang protection para sa average Filipino traveler.
We deserve better!
Going home should never feel like a luxury.
It should be a basic right — affordable, accessible, and fair.
Because this isn’t just about airfare. This is about family. About connection. About the chance to see your parents, hug your kids, celebrate your lola’s or lolo’s birthday, or just breathe the air of your hometown again.
So yes, I’m disappointed. Deeply.
And I really, truly hope that someday soon, this changes — for all of us who just want to go home.
P.S: Tapos yung mga nasa posisyong politiko, dekada na silang nakaupo, pero wala man lang ginagawa para mapaunlad ang serbisyo sa mga probinsya? Hoy gising2x naman dyan!
(Editor’s note: this column is giving way to an anonymous OFW reacting to the exorbitant airfare charged by local airlines in his country The Philippines. Here is her piece unedited)
