Around GMA

Article Inside Page

For many Filipinos who followed talent searches in the late 1990s, Xaxa Manalo was known as one of the standout voices of Metropop Star Search. But while music opened doors for her at a young age, it was aviation that eventually led her to the destination she now calls home.

At the recent media conference for the upcoming concert titled Stars Reignited, the singer-turned-airline pilot looked back on the winding journey that brought her from the stage to the skies.

“Yes, flight attendant, 'yan talaga yung goal. Well, flight attendant at first because it was a childhood dream of my mom. But, yun, di ba yung parang bata pa lang, 'Oh, maging flight attendant siya.' So, parang na-brainwash ako na maging flight attendant. But nung naging flight attendant na ako, parang nagkaroon ako ng realized dream that was to become a pilot.”

Before earning her wings as a pilot, Xaxa first worked as a flight attendant, flying domestic routes for Philippine Airlines for two years. It was during those flights that a bigger dream quietly began to take shape.

“Doon ko lang na-realize na gusto kong fly. Yes, when I was in F.A. Pero tuwing pupunta ako doon sa cockpit, parang ang ganda ng ginagawa doon,” she shared.

Xaxa's journey was anything but straightforward. She left aviation to pursue nursing during the height of the nursing boom, but things did not work out as planned.

“So, I resigned. I quit my place and I started a career on ground. So, I took up nursing for 3 years. But, hindi rin pinala.”

There was even a time when she found herself uncertain about where life was headed.

“At the age of 29, I was jobless. Di ko alam kung saan papunta ang buhay ko. And then after which, I just kept praying until God finally opened a little window.”

That “little window” eventually led her back to aviation, and later to Qatar Airways, where she worked for three years.

“That's when I saved up money for the bigger dream that I had, which was to become a pilot. I took up flying for a year because nakaipon ako.”

Related gallery: Celebrities who are now licensed pilots

Now an airline pilot, Xaxa takes pride not only in flying aircraft but in the responsibility that comes with bringing people safely home.

“Well, you get to bring people from one place to another, no? Bringing them to their families, or to work, di ba? Yun, yung satisfaction that we get, na parang iuuwi mo sila sa kanilang pamilya nang safe. isang karangalan yun sa kanilang family.”

She also doesn't mind working in a male-dominated industry.

Xaxa said, “Well, nowadays, it's not that difficult anymore because girl power na dyan. Medyo parang dumadami na tayong female pilots. We just need to prove it.

Dati kasi parang, di ba, parang we have to prove ourselves because male-dominated yung industry. But now, ang dami ng mga babae, iba na yung mundo ngayon. At mas magaling na tayong mga girls.

Meanwhile, despite leaving showbiz behind, Xaxa says her love for music never disappeared. She still sings, plays instruments, and shares her talents through social media. But looking back, she believes everything happened for a reason.

Xaxa's story has become proof that dreams can evolve and that success does not always come from following a straight path.

“So never give up on your dreams. Never give up on life. And always do good in life, so life is always a good thing.”

“I would say na siguro iba lang yung plano sa akin ng Diyos. Parang trinay ko yun, but then again, maybe may ibang calling, may iba siyang plans for me.”

Now, she is ready to return to the stage with her fellow Metropop Star Search alumni for the Stars Reignited concert on September 5 at the Teatrino Promenade in San Juan City.

Related gallery: Metropop divas, magsasama-sama para sa Stars Reignited concert