MANILA, Philippines -- It’s like moving from purgatory to heaven.

This was how Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) chair Lance Gokongwei described the new home of his airline’s international and domestic operations when it transferred to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal Terminal 3 (NAIA 3).

The controversial facility opened last month with limited domestic flights.

“I always imagined what heaven would look like, and now I know. Heaven is a very, very cold place...very white and full of lights,” Gokongwei said, prompting laughter among airport officials and staff who gathered at the terminal at noon Friday.

Relentless rain made the terminal chilly as CEB kicked off its integrated international and local carriage at the main hall of NAIA 3, expanding its initial limited domestic operations in the facility launched less than two weeks ago.

The move completed CEB’s pullout from the dimly-lit and cramped Manila Domestic Terminal (MDT) and the aged NAIA 1, where some 30 airlines currently compete for check-in counters, boarding gates and lanes in immigration and customs checks.

It was the third startup rites at the terminal since its inaugural on July 22 when CEB started operations of its turbo propeller fleet.

The Philippine Airlines transferred local operations of its low-cost brand PAL Express and its affiliate airline Air Philippines two days later.

“At last, today, Terminal 3 is a full-fledged, modern-day international terminal...It is a day to feel truly proud, not only of this facility but also of our country,” said former Representative Mike Defensor, who has resigned from the NAIA 3 presidential task force, keeping his promise of getting out as soon as the terminal fielded its first overseas flight.

CEB started its first day of full operations with the arrival of a flight from Incheon, 5J-195, which touched down at 12:06 a.m. with 113 passengers. The airline’s first departure out of NAIA 3 was a flight to Hong Kong, 5J-108, which took off at 5:40 a.m. with 123 passengers.