MANILA, Philippines?Yes indeed, I am home for a brief break between Hong Kong and Bangkok. Given the recent events taking place in Thailand, I?m not really sure if our ?Cinderella? will push through now? am on ?wait and see? stance. My family and I took Philippine Airlines? 1 p.m. flight from Hong Kong to Manila.

Check-in at Terminal 2 of the Hong Kong Airport went smoothly. All in all we checked in 10 pieces of luggage?suitcases, a baby stroller, one large woven red striped bag. Afterwards, we decided to take in a few of the stores at the terminal and grab some food before heading to our departure gate. Just before 1 p.m., the boarding announcement was made. Boarding itself was easy and efficient, and my friendly daughter said hi to just about every passenger that passed us by as they were getting seated and settled. We left Hong Kong on time. I snuggled my daughter, holding her while she and I slept (we ignored the meal service, that?s how tired we were). She slept for most of the short flight, waking only when it came time to land.

Where?s the striped bag?

At baggage claim, our luggage came out? Nic?s Mickey Mouse suitcase? mom?s red suitcase? Sheilla?s black suitcase? nine pieces here? wait? where?s the red basket striped bag? We waited and waited? all the other passengers had taken their stuff and left, but we were still missing one bag! We had checked everything in at the same time, what happened?

I then remembered that we had broken one cardinal rule of traveling: Label all your bags. We didn?t put a name, address or anything on that one. I understood why that bag wasn?t put on board: It was suspicious-looking.

Once I got my bearings, I headed to a counter to report my missing bag. I handed over the claim tag and the nice man behind the counter then checked his computer for the list of bags that were either missing, left behind or off-loaded. I gave him the description of the bag and some of its contents. He managed to zero in on the bag using my claim tag number, and told me that the bag would be delivered to my home that same evening. It was, indeed, brought to my house as promised.

I would just like to thank everyone at PAL for their patience and for expeditiously managing the situation. For me now, PAL could very well mean, ?Patiently Assists with Lost luggage.? (I?d also like to laud PAL for its efforts to bring home hundreds of stranded Filipino travelers in Bangkok.

Speaking of Bangkok?

Cinderella is supposed to have an eight-show run at the Muang Thai Rachadalai Theatre starting Dec. 16 and ending on Dec. 21. Now what?

Since the layoff was a considerable one, many cast and crew members have opted to return home to the US to see friends and family overseas, while the rest are staying in Asia. Those in the latter group were supposed to travel to Bangkok on Sunday and head to a resort a couple of hours away for the time off.

However, because of recent events, plans have changed ? now, they?re staying in Hong Kong.

All of us are on ?wait and see? status ? my family and I are staying updated via news websites and TV stations. I would like for the run to go on as scheduled, but I also understand that something bigger than a show?s run is taking place right now.

I?m optimistic that things will blow over in time, and we?ll make it to Bangkok and do our run. That would truly be sweet.

Meanwhile?

Here?s a list of all that I intend to accomplish on this brief break at home.

1) Get all my Christmas shopping done.
2) Finish each and every mission on Crisis Core (over 92 per cent done).
3) Finally finish knitting that scarf that I started a long, long time ago.
4) Watch a couple of musicals with my daughter.
5) Watch a few movies with my husband.
6) Eat at my favorite places with my favorite people.
7) Sleep.

Shameless plugs

See Atlantis Productions? ?Hairspray? at the Star Theater, CCP Complex. This is their last weekend, so don?t miss it! The cast consists of Michael de Mesa, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Leo Rialp, Dulce, Nyoy Volante, Enchang Kaimo and Gabe Mercado, Tim Espinosa, Monica Reynoso, Christine Allado, introducing Madel Ching as Tracy Turnblad, and an all-dancing, all-singing ensemble of some of our country?s finest performers. Bobby Garcia directs.

Repertory Philippines is bringing to you a classic Christmas story, ?The Christmas Carol.? Starring Audie Gemora, Michael Williams, Miguel Faustmann, Joy Virata, Pinky Marquez, Rem Zamora, Oliver Usison, Liesl Batucan and Raul Montesa. Directed by Baby Barredo and Robbie Guevara. Playing at OnStage, Greenbelt 1 until Dec. 14.