If the Justice League has “Wonder Woman,” Philippine Airlines also has their very own ‘Wonder WoMom’, or better known as “Wandering Mom” on board. She is no other than Carolyn “Yna” Ramos – the flight’s Wandering Mom, who ensures the safety of its passengers in their journey. The Wandering mom from Sta. Rosa Laguna has been flying for around 17 years as an International Flight Attendant for the nation’s flag carrier; which also just turned 41 last August, a proud and brave single mother of three wonderful children in the house.
Beginnings as a flight attendant
Just like some of us, Yna Ramos has never dreamt of gaining her wings one day; but true indeed that whatever that is meant to happen will come into reality, no matter how we run from it, our destiny will still caught us off-guard. Before she decided to take the journey in becoming a flight attendant, she first practiced her profession as an Interior Designer – but as God called her to be of service in the sky, a lot of door opportunities have been opened. She gladly tells us that when she was still a 22-year-old lady, her college friends introduced her to pageantry, and later on motivates her to apply as an FA in one of the Middle Eastern Airlines.
However, she and her friend haven’t had the chance to continue their application in the Middle Eastern Airlines; yet, as Yna’s character is to courageously face the journey ahead, she went by herself to apply for a local airline. Fortunately, in November 2003, she finally got the call from the HR team. Truly, if it’s meant to happen, it will be.
This Wandering Mom – Yna Ramos, is never exempted from life’s challenges to come along her way because she has faced tons of confusion and adjustments about the duties in the job. As an aspirant who doesn’t have a background in aviation, and customer service, everything was new to her. Yet, during the moments of enduring the hardships in the training, she told herself that “There’s no turning back.” We couldn’t agree more with this. This is a reminder that when we started our walk in our journey, we must focus on the goal to be able to endure the challenges. Gladly, on her Graduation day, she placed in the top 3 of all her colleagues.
For the love of being a single mom and a flight attendant
Yna Ramos doesn’t just possess a brave and bold character after the thorough training to gain her wings, and when she started her flying career but also to the challenging situation that she has to face alone when the father of her young kids passed away. Unknowingly by the world, she almost fell into depression when she saw herself as a mom who fails to raise her children. “Never easy” is an understatement to the situation she has faced along with her children, but giving up this career has never been an option in her heart. Yna Ramos possesses the character of being a hero of her family, a wonderful mom who never gives up giving the best for her children; financial, love, and care.
She never failed her children to support them in their school works, or projects, and to be morally present during their school presentation, even if she is nautical miles away from them. Who would have thought that a full-time Flight Attendant single mom, could also give the world to her children? A Wandering Mom, indeed!
There may be some instances that she needed to be away from her children to become a flight attendant, yet she simply educated her children that “Mommy needs to go to work.” Yna Ramos continued in sharing with us, “Then they would only ask when I’m coming back because they know that whenever I’m back, it’s a fun time for them. It’s like a reward system.” She also reminisces her moments with her child when she is with them; they wildly go on adventures, flying to other local destinations, swam, and camped on the beach together.
Someting we can learn from Yna
Diving into the life story of Yna Ramos – Wandering Mom on board, may we be motivated as she shares some helpful tips & advice:
To all the aspiring attendants who have been discouraged by the pandemic season, but want to pursue an aviation career in the future, “One day, everything in the tourism industry will bounce back. Although no one can say that this will never happen again, It’s all up to you if you still want to take the ride. Everyone just needs to be smarter next time around. Learn how to save for the rainy days.
Be smart with your money because it could be overwhelming. While waiting for the aviation industry to start hiring again, make use of this time to prepare. Improve what you need to improve. Hone your interpersonal skills, especially your communication skills. Be the complete package.”
And, to the amazing moms out there who still aspire to gain their wings one day, “Being of service to other people is a calling. It is not something you do for the perks of traveling or a high salary. You should enjoy what you do inside the plane and accept the risk that goes with your job.
The journey of becoming a flight attendant may not be easy. From the repetitive hiring process to get accepted up to assiduously passing your cabin crew training, it is not easy. All I can say is that it will be worth it.”
Looking at the picture of the life of Yna Ramos, a simple person would rather choose to give up rather than fighting. With this story, we are hoping that when you start seeing the road of giving up, may you go back to this article and remind yourself that life’s challenges are given to us to make us brave, and be the heroes of our own life.
Just like Yna Ramos, we can also be the wonders in the uncertainty, and a story to inspire other people’s lives as well, someday.
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