There was a season in my career when I decided to leave airport operations and explore a different path.

At that time, changes in management and work environment influenced my decision to step away and try something new outside the aviation industry. Eventually, I entered the real estate industry, where I worked under the Marketing Department as a Project Management Specialist.

Looking back now, I realize that season taught me a completely different set of skills that would later become useful in ways I never expected.

In real estate, I became involved in both creative and client-facing work. I designed brochures, updated website content, created logos, prepared audio visual presentations for mall exhibits, and assisted during orientations for in-house agents and brokers. I also handled inquiries from potential clients, prepared sample computations, coordinated booth activities, and assisted during events and marketing activities.

At that time, I did not have advanced tools or expensive software yet. Some of the presentations and videos I created were only made using simple tools like Windows Movie Maker, but I still remember how happy I felt whenever people appreciated the outputs I worked hard on.

Maybe that was also one of the reasons why I slowly became more interested in design, presentations, systems, and digital platforms.

Even after eventually returning to government service, I still carried many of those interests with me. In fact, I continued exploring real estate part time, maintained a Facebook page related to property listings, and continued entertaining inquiries whenever possible. Looking back now, I realized that real estate also helped improve my communication skills, confidence, creativity, and understanding of client engagement.

But despite enjoying that season of my career, there was still something about aviation and airport operations that kept pulling me back.

Every time I saw airplanes, I somehow felt that part of me still belonged in CAAP.

Then one day, an Area Accountant I previously worked with contacted me and asked if I was interested in returning.

Without hesitation, my answer was yes.

Looking back now, I believe some places become part of your story no matter how far you try to explore other paths. And for me, aviation and public service always felt familiar, meaningful, and close to my heart.

When I returned to CAAP, I was assigned in airport operations where I handled different types of collections, including terminal fees, cargo royalty fees, and vehicular parking fees. Operations work was fast paced, repetitive, and highly accountable because reports and collections needed to be accurate every single day.

One thing I am proud of until today is that despite handling large volumes of daily transactions, I was never short in collections. I also became known for keeping reports updated and organized because I made sure that Reports of Collections and Deposits and supporting forms were consistently prepared properly.

That experience taught me discipline, accountability, and the importance of consistency in work.

Eventually, I also started assisting the Area Accountant in preparing Program Review and Assessment presentations and reports. Since I enjoyed working with Excel and PowerPoint, I would often help organize data, improve presentations, and assist in reporting requirements even beyond my assigned responsibilities.

Looking back now, I realize that many opportunities in my career happened simply because people learned they could trust me with work.

Years later, that same Area Accountant eventually transferred to the Internal Audit Service in Central Office and later became a Division Chief. Eventually, I was also given the opportunity to transfer and assist in administrative, budget, procurement, and documentation related work under another office before finally becoming part of the Internal Audit Service.

Even as an Administrative Assistant, I was already being exposed to audit work because my supervisors trusted my operational background and analytical mindset. Since I came directly from operations, collections, reporting, and field work, many actual situations discussed during audits already felt familiar to me.

Looking back now, I realize that every role I experienced taught me something valuable.

Construction taught me how to observe details.

Real estate taught me creativity and communication.

Airport operations taught me accountability and discipline.

And audit eventually became the place where all those experiences connected together. ✨