Captain Brooke Castillo, the First Filipina Commercial Jet Captain and Airbus Instructor, is a trailblazer, soaring to new heights in a field historically dominated by men. As a morena in aviation, Castillo proves that once you break glass ceilings, the sky’s the only limit.

For Castillo, being a morena has been an integral part of her identity and a symbol of how one can lead by example. “I think a morena is someone who can be herself, but also be an example to a lot of other morenas,” she says. 

Colorism, however, is a pervasive issue that Castillo has had to confront throughout her career. “I think [colorism] affects every industry where the common notion—and I say notion because it isn’t the truth—is fair skin is the standard of beauty,” she reflects. Even within her own family, Castillo has faced teasing about her skin tone. “My elders would tease me about it [being morena], but I always believed there was nothing wrong with my color,” she adds. Despite these challenges, Castillo’s unwavering self-belief has propelled her forward, reshaping perceptions in an industry that often feels inaccessible to women.

The barriers Castillo faced early on weren’t just societal—they were institutional. “The first barrier is, of course, being a woman,” she recalls. At the time, airlines were reluctant to hire female pilots, often citing concerns about the impact of pregnancy on flight schedules. “They tried to avoid hiring female pilots because if you got pregnant, they’d have to restructure the whole rostering system.” 

Antonina asymmetric top. Massimo Dutti trousers. Burlô by Vestido earrings. Photo: Artu Nepomuceno.

“As a morena in aviation, Castillo proves that once you break glass ceilings, the sky’s the only limit.”

Castillo acknowledges that self-doubt can also hold women back, especially when faced with such systemic challenges. “I think a lot of the barriers are [also] our own. We doubt ourselves,” she admits. But her story demonstrates that persistence pays off, even when the path has never been paved before.

Raised in a family that revered strong, accomplished women, Castillo’s sense of determination was influenced by the trailblazers who came before her. Her grandmother, a college graduate in the early 1900s, was a beacon of hope at a time when higher education for women was nearly unheard of in the Philippines. “They were very surprised [to hear that I wanted to be a pilot], but they were very supportive,” she shares, reflecting on the support system that fueled her ambition.

It was her family’s support that primarily encouraged her to hone her love of flying, taking her dreams to even higher altitudes, as she became the first woman in the country to fly a commercial jet in 1996 with Philippine Airlines. In 2003, Castillo continued to pave the way for even more women, becoming the first woman in the Philippines to captain a jet with Cebu Pacific. 

Inspired by generations of morenas before her, she broke barriers that once seemed insurmountable. Today, thanks to her trailblazing example, Filipina women are soaring to new heights in the skies.

Photographer: Artu Nepomuceno
Makeup: Don de Jesus
Hair: Eddie Mar Cabiltes
Stylist: Steven Coralde of Qurator, assisted by Jia Torrato, Charlotte Sombillo, and Jermainne Lagura

More like this: