Chezka Carandang Is The Women Of Influence 2025 World Citizen

In Chezka Carandang's ideal world, the word "female" would no longer be needed before "pilot." She looks forward to the day when seeing a woman in the cockpit isn't seen as extraordinary—when all pilots are simply pilots. Until then, she's making her mark in aviation, becoming the representation she once searched for when she was just starting out.

Beyond the skies, Chezka has also built a thriving community on social media, where she shares her love for aviation, her personal growth, and the realities of working in a male-dominated field. As Cosmopolitan Philippines' Women of Influence 2025 awardee, she opens up about her journey from flight attendant to pilot, the impact she hopes to make for women in aviation, and even her brief stint in pageantry—proving that her ambitions are just as boundless as the skies she navigates.

As The World Citizen, she also gives us a glimpse into her recent engagement with fellow pilot and content creator Clare Inso. Together, they're not just breaking stereotypes in aviation—they're redefining what it means to soar, both in their careers and in their love story.

Chezka Carandang for Cosmopolitan Philippines Women of Influence 2025
Photographed by Miggy Broño

READ MORE: This Is Girlhood: Meet The Cosmopolitan Philippines Women Of Influence Awardees Of 2025

Chezka Carandang, The World Citizen

To start, can you walk us through a day in your life? Is there a difference in your routine on flight days versus non-flight days?

Chezka: Well, actually, my day varies depending on whether I have a flight or not. So, on flight days, I focus on preparation, briefing, and flying. While on non-flight days, I prioritize rest, fitness, and content creation.

Being a pilot, you've flown to countless beautiful destinations, is there still a dream destination you want to visit or re-visit in the future?

Chezka: Well, I'd love to fly to Iceland one day, and for a revisit, Japan is always on my list.

Is there a particular reason as to why?

Chezka: The food, of course, the weather, yes, and the people, also the culture. I love that.

How has traveling the world as a woman shaped your perspective on both aviation and life in general?

Chezka: Well, traveling has shown me how vast yet connected the world is, reinforcing my passion for aviation and breaking barriers as a woman in this field.

There are a lot of travel tips circulating online—some even from cabin crew and pilots like yourself. But, if there was a crucial tip you could share with a first-time traveler, what would it be?

Chezka: Always plan ahead but stay flexible. Things don't always go as scheduled, so adaptability is key.

What are must-haves in your travel bag?

Chezka: Must-haves: probably a passport, my passport, my headphones, and my Kindle.

Was there a definitive moment or instance that made you want to pursue becoming a pilot? What made you want to get into aviation?

Chezka: Okay, so probably when I was a flight attendant. I had the chance to enter the cockpit and I was fascinated with the switches, the buttons, and the controls and I was really interested in what they're doing, how they manage the flight. So, that sparked my interest in flying.

Before becoming a pilot, you started your aviation journey as a member of the cabin crew. How was the transition like for you?

Chezka: Well, it's a really different one because for a flight attendant, they manage the cabin, they face the passengers. Well, for me as a pilot right now, it involves more on focusing on the safety side—like managing the flight, how to go to the destination safely. We're constantly monitoring the weather, the fuel, so it's a really big responsibility. It's also a big responsibility as a flight attendant, but I think different fields sila.

Is your space in aviation as a woman pilot something you consciously fight and advocate for? Or are all the gender-based challenges you experience something you consider “normal” and part of the job?

Chezka: I think I'm unconsciously fighting for space, but I just simply do my job, prove my capabilities, and let my presence speak for itself.

Are there any challenges you face in your line of work because you are a woman?

Chezka: Well, there are challenges, but I focus on my skills and professionalism rather than obstacles.

Are there any common misconceptions surrounding your field of work that you hope your profile and social media content help debunk?

Chezka: Well, I think one misconception [for pilots] is that the job is only glamorous and travel. But really, [being a pilot] it's flying a course, constant learning, position, and decision-making. 

Your Instagram bio reads: "Inspire, motivate, educate." Is this something that motivated you to get into content creation?

Chezka: Oh yes, I wanted to share my journey to inspire and educate others about aviation and [my] personal growth. Kasi back in the days, mga pre-pandemic, when I was about to start my aviation journey back in 2016, I didn't have enough information online. So, before, we used to visit the school personally to inquire or to call the schools. But right now, since we're more focused on social media, I wanted to be the person or the profile they look into when it comes to starting their journey.

And of course, before, I didn't know that there were many female pilots at that time. There were not much profiles, like hindi ko alam kung kanino titingin, kung sino tatanungin and 'di ko alam na ganoon na pala karami ['yung female pilots] at that time, when I was a flight attendant. Noon ko lang nalaman na "Ah, ang dami na palang female pilots."  So, I wanted to be that role model na parang I started this as an F.A. and then I wanted people to follow my journey.

And nakakatuwa kasi whenever we go to CAAP (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines), it's like the LTO of cars, the governing body of aviation. So, people started telling me na they were inspired by me, so that's why they continued being a pilot. So, nakakatuwa.

Like from being a flight attendant, na-follow nila yung journey ko. From flying the caravan, transitioning to a commercial airline, and then flying ATR to Airbus A320, then Airbus A330. So, nag-undergo ako ng lots of trainings and yeah, I'm happy na nakaka-inspire ako ng other people.

And meron nga siyang [Clare] mga recently na flight instructor na nag-start ng journey nila dahil sa'kin, so nakakatuwa. Hindi ko alam na mayroon pala akong ganoon ka-lasting na impact. And nakakatuwa for me and fulfilling na before, akala ko na 'yung purpose is flying the people or flying the passengers safely to their destinations. Pero right now, mayroon pa akong additional purpose in life which is to inspire people.

You also tried your hand with pageantry before, what was that experience like?

Chezka: Well, it's a different one because before, I joined pageants for me to use that as a platform to express myself. But at that time, I [was] still lost. I [didn't] know what I [wanted] in life. But since my childhood dream is to be an actress, beauty pageants [were] one way for me to be part of the industry. And then, I used that platform to express myself. And from there, I found out that it's not for me.

Though, when joining beauty pageants, you want to be a role model. But for me, I was destined for a different path. So, yeah, through social media and through being a pilot, I was able to inspire other people.

You got engaged to your fiancé Clare last year—congratulations, btw! It was such a beautiful proposal! How does it feel to be engaged with your long-term partner while also pursuing such an exciting and demanding career?

Chezka: Thank you. And it's amazing to have a supportive partner who understands the demands of my career. Before kasi, I knew that she understands it because she [had] to—because she [had] to understand 'yung nature ng job ko. Pero right now, since she's starting her pilot life, flying school, she understands it [better now]—because she lives it now, too.

Clare: It's like I'm living her life, following her footsteps. And, you know, understanding is different from knowing. Going through the same steps that she has taken has really brought our relationship to a different level. And our understanding with each other is deeper.

So, it's kind of like a bonding experience?

Chezka: Yeah. We have a better connection. We can relate to each other more. Recently, nagf-flight simulator na kami at home.  

Have there been any advice sessions between you and Clare on her journey as a student pilot? Could you share with us a piece of advice you imparted to her?

Chezka and Clare: *laughs* Every day, every day.

Chezka: Well, patience and resilience in aviation. So, it's constant learning kasi. And it demands your dedication, your patience in learning. Hindi mo puwedeng madaliin yung flight mo. Every flight, hindi mo ma-absorb lahat ng learning [kaagad].

But I can assure you na every flight, mayroon kang lesson na mapupulot. Every flight, you'll learn something more—more about the flight and more about yourself.

Similarly, what piece of advice would you share with a young girl coming to you, sharing she wants to be a pilot like you?

Chezka: I would tell them to believe in themselves, stay persistent, and never let anyone tell you that you can't.

Speaking of Clare, you two are also content creators apart from being a pilot and for Clare, a student pilot. How do you go about content creation since you have varying schedules due to your work?

Clare: How do we manage our schedules? It's just meeting halfway. When she's off, I'm the one who flies because I'm flying in Subic—so, we'd have to take a two-hour and a half ride, which is the compromise, which I think is really a testament to how much we are committed to each other. We manage it by balancing lang, like give and take, support each other along the way.

Chezka: Managing our time, respecting our rest.

Clare: Respecting our rest, very important.

Chezka: And if hindi talaga kaya ng schedule namin, we don't really push it. Kasi, at the end of the day, we prioritize our rest and being together. Pero in reality talaga, feeling ko like we don't have a date anymore because whenever we're with each other, we're always constantly delivering, accomplishing.

What do you hope your story can inspire in other women and LGBTQIA+ individuals looking to follow their dreams?

Chezka: Well, I hope our [Clare and my] story encourages others to chase their dreams fearlessly regardless of gender or background.

Clare: I think, yes, regardless of heteronormative expectations, that's already out of the equation because we're both women. So, we hope that more people see it as not as a girl and a boy, like we demand equally from each other.

Chezka: And I hope there's no more term like female pilot or lady pilot.

Clare: We look forward to the day when it's not extraordinary to be a female pilot anymore. I mean, we like the spotlight. I'm just kidding. Pero, it's nice that we have this opportunity to put it out there and we're slowly normalizing it. And the ratio between male and female pilots, I think it's expanding and not very magkakalayo, hopefully.

If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be?

Chezka: Resilient. It's not always like I'm at the top. Sometimes, I fall. Do you have one word for me? Would you describe it for me?

Clare: I would say you're very balanced. Because even with the commitment of working, and she still has a passion for adventure, and as much as possible, she wants to make her work fun, her life fun. Even with the demands of her job.

What does "girlhood" mean to you, and how has it shaped the work you do today?

Chezka:  It's about strength, growth, and the unwavering support of other women.

What change do you hope to see for women in your industry?

Chezka: Yes, no more lady captains, no more female pilots. Just pilots, just captains. That's it.

What's a small but powerful way women can support each other every day?

Chezka: Uplifting and celebrating each other's success no matter how big or small.

Clare: Yes, and being there for each other. Being a source of casual support.

Chezka: Women supporting women. 

***
PHOTOGRAPHER: Miggy Broño
ART DIRECTOR: Ica Del Mundo, assisted by Bea Bognot and Bea Malonzo
ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Ida Aldana
PRODUCER: Alyana Olivar
MAKEUP: Jazthine Manaloto
HAIR: Nikko Bruel
STORY: Clara Umali
VIDEO: Cherrie Julian and Jino Del Mundo
SOCIAL MEDIA: Aina Lizarondo, assisted by Elsa Macalinao

Follow Clara on Instagram.