Fly High: The Spotlight

Fly High Manila is a famous social media brand about Filipino flight attendants and their lifestyle.  It's a great opportunity to be featured on Fly High Manila Spotlight and honored to be interviewed by my Marketing Consultant and friend, Angie Cabahug. 

“Good morning, everyone. My name is Lia, one of your flight attendants on this flight. It is our pleasure to take care of you today.”

On a typical flight, Lia Ocampo greets airline passengers and assures them of a comfortable flying experience aboard the carrier. 

During her teenage days in her hometown, Batangas City, she would recall looking up at the sky when planes passed by. She found joy watching an aircraft fade on the horizon. She knew since then it was an instant attraction. Later on, this attraction turned into a desire to become a flight attendant. Copies of National Geographic hanging around the house strongly fueled this desire. They were her main reading material while growing up. For many years, she had a supply of the magazine, children’s books, and toys from her mother’s long-time pen pal, Carol.

She recalled, “When we were kids, my siblings, Liz and Zeus, and I were excited and grateful to receive those gifts every Christmas. Those magazines were my reading companion. The picturesque pages opened my curious young mind to the world of wonders. We grew up in a household without television but surrounded by books. Hence, the beautiful images of different places and countries in the magazine, and the information I read, were stored in my subconscious mind. It impacted my imagination, encouraged me to explore the world, and led me to where I am now.”

Before taking off

After finishing college at the University of Batangas, Ocampo left her hometown to explore more opportunities in Manila with her best friend, Marichu. She applied to the flagship airline which had strict height requirements at that time. Ocampo was short of one inch. Although failing to get in, she did not take that as a failure. She temporarily set it aside and focused in a different direction.

Through an employment agency, Ocampo landed her first job at the U.S. Refugee Program. She stayed with the company for four years.

“My stint at the American Embassy in Manila opened the path to a job where I spent the next 18 years working in different departments: the Human Resources office of the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, the Public Affairs Office, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. I acquired the privilege of a special immigrant visa because of my years of exemplary service. In June 2012, I immigrated to the U.S,” she narrated.

While she was starting in New York, she chose to delay finding a job. She spent her first few months traveling, learning the culture, and making some connections before hitting the job market. After eight months, she was hired as a temporary recruiter for a large non-profit organization. When it ended, Lia worked for Macy’s as a personal shopper during the Christmas season. Subsequently, she worked for a Korean pop entertainment company to hire writers and edit their work. After two weeks of training, Lia’s inner voice told her that it was not the right job. Not long after quitting, an employment agency picked her as a customer service representative for the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs.

“Although I found myself working again for the U.S. Government, I wasn’t contented. That’s when I thought about my childhood dream of becoming a flight attendant. And the rest is history,” Ocampo fondly stated.

Her first book, What We Know for Sure: Inspirational Stories of Filipino Special Immigrants in America, narrates her and her former colleagues' experiences as special immigrants.

Upskill for safety and success

Ocampo underwent rigorous flight attendant response training as part of her company’s program. Flight attendants manage to stay calm when the plane experiences turbulence. One wonders how they do it, or if there is a special technique they apply to overcome the fear.

“A flight attendant is the first responder on the plane. Our experience flying demonstrates our response to turbulence or any weather-related issues. The longer you’ve been doing this job, the more experience you should have managing turbulence. Eventually, you become an expert. We were taught in class that our training kicks in when we encounter emergencies. We attend yearly training to refresh our knowledge. Being a flight attendant for more than seven years now, I have had experienced many turbulences, most of which were not extreme. The longer I do this job, the more confident I become. It gets less stressful and scary,” Ocampo explained.

She is a high-achieving flight attendant with various recognitions by her employer. But her beginnings were never without tests. She experienced her first emergency due to a mechanical issue. She was new on the job and was nervous. As a result, she did not perform well. But learning a lot over the years, Ocampo knows better now. She told herself that the next time is always a chance to be better. True enough, the Fil-Am crew on the plane has received many accolades from the company and the admiring passengers for her excellent customer service.

“We need to show leadership and decisiveness. Passengers rely on us and our expertise. Being aware of my surroundings is a proactive way to respond to unlikely emergencies,” Ocampo added.

If a person wants to be part of the crew but is afraid of heights or a plane ride, what advice would the seasoned flight attendant give?

“If you are afraid of a plane ride or heights but want to be a flight attendant, you must first overcome your fear. Take time to prepare yourself mentally. There are tips to lessen your discomfort on the plane. Staying focused, eliminating distractions, doing meditating exercises before your flight, and removing anxiety-inducing factors, such as caffeine, energy drink, or other stimulants, are ways to help you relax. Most importantly, relying on well-trained pilots will help you remove the fear of flying. Remember, you cannot perform your job if you have a fear of flying. A flight attendant’s life revolves around the plane, day in and day out. Decide to overcome your fear. Deal with it. Be ready for a job opportunity that will open for you. Do your best during the interview. Finally, believe that you already got the job,” Ocampo advised.

The world is your oyster and your book

Because flying is a passion and a profession, Ocampo has had many wonderful experiences in the skies. These experiences are all written in her blog, My World as a Flight Attendant. She wants to remember those memories; find wisdom from those experiences; share her lessons learned, and inspire readers.

“One of my favorite experiences was the story I wrote in my first book. My employer featured that story in our newsletter. I will include that article titled, Helping a Distressed Mother Reunite with Her Son at JFK International Airport, in a future write-up here on FlyHigh MNL,” Ocampo shared.

Read about Ocampo’s flight experiences on: http://flightattendantworld.blogspot.com/.

The writer asked about I Love Flying: Inspirational Journal for Your Flying and Travel Adventures. The travel journal was an inspiration during the earlier stage of the pandemic when Ocampo was on voluntary unpaid leave. She used that time to create something positive out of adversity. The emotional impact of the pandemic and her passion for travel prompted her to come up with the book, a labor of love “to honor those who have lost their lives to COVID-19 and express my admiration to the frontline workers in the aviation and travel industries” as Ocampo put it. In the journal, the author also expresses her safe flight advocacy, her goal to uplift the spirit of traveling, and her desire to shed some hope in these challenging times.

Flying and books seem to be a perfect combination. But if ever Ocampo would choose which one she loves more, being an author or being a flight attendant, she gave a well-composed diplomatic answer that reflects her biases for her two loves.

“A flight attendant has an interesting lifestyle. Being on the go all the time and the privilege of traveling the world gives you enormous experiences. You meet different types of people and create stories with them. Some of these stories are funny, sad, annoying, frustrating, and inspiring.

“I combine my passion for books, photography, and writing to create something that will inspire. Hence, I Love Flying was born.

“Honestly, it is hard for me to choose which one is closer to my heart. I became a flight attendant first before becoming an author. It does not mean that I like the other one less. They both use a substantial amount of my time, and I love both of what I do.

“However, before becoming a flight attendant, it was my goal to write a book about my journey of immigrating. So, in 2019, the perfect timing and motivation to begin the project came. I finished the book in five months.

“I am proud to say that I was an immigrant first before becoming a flight attendant. So, writing my first book about immigrants was my initial step towards writing a book about my career as a flight attendant,” Ocampo said.

Life is like flying. At one time, one is up there, and at other times, one should be on the ground. What greatest lesson or reward does our flight attendant/author get because of her flying experiences?

“On some days, when I do not feel like going to work because I am tired or unmotivated, I still show up because I love what I do. Then at work, I encounter people who uplift my spirit, inspire me, or simply make me smile. Many of us think that our work is routine. Yes, in a sense, it is. However, each day brings various experiences. Sometimes, while expecting a good day with no turbulence and delays, a sudden change of weather and condition come as a surprise. In the middle of a smooth day, an unexpected incident happens.

“You are right. Life is like flying. The turbulence on the plane symbolizes the problems in life. Challenges that come our way are tests of our character, patience, and faith. When flying, we need to have a lot of patience in dealing with the passengers. Otherwise, we will find ourselves often stressed and upset. When in life, our values and attitude determine how we deal with our problems, overcome challenges, and create successes,” Ocampo said.

As a flight attendant, Ocampo lives by “do not judge the book by its cover.” A passenger boards and no one has an idea what is going on with that person’s life. One may look grumpy or sad because he is going to a funeral, someone in his family is ill, he just fought with someone, or just lost his job. On the contrary, someone may look jolly, but that does not mean his life is at its best.

“Judging a person, in general, is not fair. I learned this lesson on one of my flights. Throughout the travel, this passenger looked stressed working on her laptop. I was wondering what was going on with her. As usual, I treat passengers equally with the best customer service. While deplaning, she handed me a piece of paper. Written in it was a lengthy letter of compliment. Her gesture surprised and delighted me. I was a bit embarrassed because I judged her for her unfriendly demeanor. I realized that people notice you despite what is happening in their world.

“Another experience happened when I met a celebrity on my working flight. I have never approached any famous person for a photo opportunity. It was the first time. Because I love her songs, I was excited to request a quick photo with her. Unfortunately, she refused my request. Since then, I have told myself that I’ll never do it again.

“These are just some of the examples of many interesting experiences I encountered while on flights that taught me lifelong wisdom. My greatest reward, so far, is to be able to publish my second book, I Love Flying. My career as a flight attendant is just one of the many beautiful journeys in my life.” Ocampo revealed.

Get ready for landing

Would she have tips for aspiring flight attendants?

“Occasionally, I would meet people who would tell me that they want to be flight attendants. I always give them advice and encourage them to follow their dreams. But like many aspects of life, the opportunity does not come right away. Timing is always the key. I am sure you have heard the phrase, ‘chase your dream.’ Your age and circumstances in life should not hinder you from chasing your dream or achieving your goal. It is never too late to fulfill your dream. I became a flight attendant when I was 45 years old. The right timing came to me after two and a half decades. Who would have thought? My friends and family did not expect that I would become a flight attendant considering my age. I believe there was a reason I did not get it the first time and had an excellent career with the U.S. Government instead. Those rewarding years gave me many opportunities and accomplishments. In addition, those years honed my personality and strengthened my character.

“If you have a strong desire to be a flight attendant, again, you must first believe that you already have the job. If you did not pass the first or the second interview, assess the things you may not be doing right and see where you can improve. Keep practicing the interview process until you get comfortable and better at it. Do not be hard on yourself. If one company did not hire you, there is always another opportunity. The next airline may be the best for you. Never give up.

“Here is my homework for you: when you see an airplane flying, tell yourself that one day, you will be up there on the plane working for an airline. Visualize yourself wearing a flight attendant uniform, carrying your crew luggage, walking at the airport to your plane, and heading to your work destination. You are excited to fly with a smile on your face because you love your job,” the inspirational flight attendant/author enthused.

Please check out Lia Ocampo: Flight attendant and book author for the published article in September 2021, and the Fly High Manila website to learn more about flight attendant stories.