Talking flight on Pinoy showbiz

Pinoy showbiz news may occasionally be labeled positively “contrarian” — such as actor-director Xian Lim and singer-actor Janah Zaplan earning individual licenses as pilots at this time of the year when sensational tragic air transport accidents have been occurring in various parts of the world. 

Lim’s graduation from an aviation school last year is more widely reported than that of Zaplan from another flying college. After all, the latter belongs to the rank labeled as “rising star” as a recording artist of ABS-CBN’s Star Music. She has also appeared in some movies and TV series. 

Lim, a major actor and rising movie director, shared a series of snaps from his graduation ceremony on his Instagram. Later, he also posted photos of him on the cockpit with girlfriend Iris Lee sitting beside him. after he did his first solo flight (which was fully documented on video). Lee is a film-TV executive producer for Viva Communications of Vic del Rosario.

Lim first announced his enrollment at Top Flite Aviation Academy in Subic and Bicol in September 2024, taking his first steps toward becoming a certified pilot.

Beyond aviation, Lim recently starred in the psychological thriller Playtime alongside Sanya Lopez and Coleen Garcia. He also directed for Viva Films the horror film Kuman Thong, featuring Thai star Max Nattapol.

Zaplan, as Janah Kristine P. Zaplan, graduated cum laude in Bachelor of Science Major in Flying

cum laude at Air Link Aviation College (in Pasay and Lubang island in Occidental Mindoro). Her bachelor’s degree includes many hours of flying and a license as a general aviation pilot.

Zaplan’s graduating cum laude was a surprise she kept from her parents. They discovered her honor status only right at their daughter’s graduation ceremonies when they were requested to go up to the stage to hang her medal on her neck as an honor graduate. The graduation was held at the Philippine International Convention Center at the CCP Complex in Pasay City recently. 

The parents tendered a graduation dinner for her later at Plaza Ibarra restaurant in Timog Avenue, Quezon City. She is close to showbiz press and some members of the group The Entertainment and Arts Media were invited.

We know of at least two showbiz idols who are also pilots, TV host-producer Willie Revillame and singer-philanthropist Ronnie Liang. Revillame has always spoken of owning at least one helicopter. He bought it and studied chopper flying later and eventually earned a license to fly choppers.

Liang has been working on earning his license to become pilot since 2021. He recently posted on his Instagram that he is just a few flying hours away from being granted a license as a commercial pilot.

There’s one female showbiz idol who became a pilot but unfortunately passed away though not from a flying incident: the Fil-Spanish actress Isabel Granada. She enlisted with the Philippine Air Force as airwoman, second class soon after she earned a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Philippine Air Transport And Training Services (PATTS) College of Aeronautics.

She died from aneurysm, which held her in a state of coma for about a week while vacationing in Qatar in November 2017 with her (second) husband. She was given full military honors when her remains were flown back to the Philippines.

Nice to know that Pinoy showbiz idols are capable of flying high boldly, decently.

Oh, yes, joining politics and becoming public servants is a different kind of flying boldly. We’ll tackle them at another (fine) day.

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Just a short note on filmmaker Darryl Yap reported to have postponed the 5 February showing of his controversial film, The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma. He did not postpone it himself deliberately and happily. 

He had to helplessly postpone it because the film has not been reviewed and approved by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board because there is a litigation against him for posting a teaser for the film that has a scene accusing actor Vic Sotto as the rapist of the late teen actress Pepsi Paloma.

Yap is facing 19 counts of cyberlibel in court.