Mateo’s birthday: PAF museum

Posted on January 19, 2010

My little boy loves airplanes. They always get his attention whether they’re flying up in the air or just toys in the department store or just about anything that looks remotely like an airplane. Hence, our house have been littered with different kinds of airplanes ranging from the tiny ones to a model airplane that my dad gave him. My legs and arms have served as makeshift runway for his many airplanes as well. His pilot costume for their ‘what-I-want-to-be’ day in school is even inspired by his love of airplanes.

Last year, the grades four to six students of our school visited the Philippine Air Force Museum in Villamor Air Base for their annual field trip. While going around the park with many old airplanes and helicopters for viewing, I had the idea of bringing Mateo there. Since it was terribly far and inaccessible, we had to postpone it several times but I insisted on it for his birthday. I just know that my little pilot-wannabe would drool at the sight of so many big airplanes. So I checked not just one web directory but several, checking directions, operation hours, and planning our route.

The museum is only open from 8 am to 12 nn every Saturday so we planned to leave early in the morning. However, we got home very late the nightbefore and we had several misdirections so we got there a few minutes before 11 am – just enough time for Mateo to run around and be totally stimulated by the visual spectacle. He excitedly hopped down from the car upon seeing the airplanes in the park and ran towards the park, leaving us behind. The expression on his face was exhilarating. He would run from one plane to another, as if undecided on which airplane to check out first. We had fun just watching him explore. Since we didn’t have enough time to go inside the actual museum where there are more exhibits and since we figured that Mateo wouldn’t enjoy it inside anyway, we just settled for sitting in the park and letting him run around and enjoy himself.