Airline captain: Pilots 'forgetting how to fly'

WASHINGTON (AP) — Are airline pilots forgetting how to fly? As planes become ever more reliant on automation to navigate crowded skies, safety officials worry there will be more deadly accidents traced to pilots who have lost their hands-on instincts in the air.

Hundreds of people have died over the past five years in "loss of control" accidents in which planes stalled during flight or got into unusual positions that pilots could not correct. In some cases, pilots made the wrong split-second decisions, with catastrophic results — for example, steering the plane's nose skyward into a stall instead of down to regain stable flight.

Spurred in part by federal regulations that require greater reliance on computerized flying, the airline industry is suffering from "automation addiction," said Rory Kay, an airline captain and co-chairman of a Federal Aviation Administration committee on pilot training. "We're seeing a new breed of accident with these state-of-the art planes."

Pilots use automated systems to fly airliners for all but about three minutes of a flight: the takeoff and landing. Most of the time pilots are programming navigation directions into computers rather than using their hands on controls to fly the plane. They have few opportunities to maintain their skills by flying manually, Kay's advisory committee warns.

Fatal airline accidents have decreased dramatically in the U.S. over the past decade. However, The Associated Press interviewed pilots, industry officials and aviation safety experts who expressed concern
about the implications of decreased opportunities for manual flight, and reviewed more than a dozen loss-of-control accidents around the world.

PAL union questions layoff plan before CA

GROUND workers of national carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) asked the Court of Appeals on Friday to declare the company’s massive retrenchment program illegal.

Under the Malacañang-backed spinoff plan, some 2,600 workers will lose their jobs as part of the airline’s move to restructure its operations.

PAL reportedly suffered P15 billion in financial losses at the height of the global financial crisis in 2008 and 2009, prompting it to cut manpower costs.

But the workers union PAL Employees Association (Palea) maintained that the management cannot prematurely implement the August 11 decision of the Office of the President since it is not yet final and executory.

Sun.Star tried to obtain a copy of the petition from the union but no response has been made as of this posting Friday.

Palea’s filing of a CA petition comes on the heels of an announcement on Thursday by PAL that it has sent termination notices to affected employees which will be effective on September 30.

Employees come from the 70-year-old airline’s non-core units, namely: call center reservations, ground passenger handling, and catering services will be laid off and are expected to be hired by the airline's third-party partners.

“If PAL management pushes through with the mass layoffs, we will construe that as defiance to judicial process and a direct challenge to the union. Palea will act to defend its members,” Palea president Gerry Rivera said.

For his part, Tex Bulambot, Cebu-Visayas Station board member of Palea, told Sun.Star that both parties should wait for the final ruling from the Supreme Court on the issue.

PAL went back in the red after recording $10.6 million losses for the first quarter (April to June) of its current fiscal year due to high fuel prices, natural calamities in Japan, and the lingering conflict in the Middle East and North Africa. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph

Cebu Pacific ‘largest airline’ in PH

CEBU Pacific is the largest airline in terms of seat capacity operating to, from and within the Philippines, according to a Center for Asia Pacific Aviation (Capa) article released last Aug. 21.
Capa named the top 10 carriers in the Philippines by capacity, or seats per week based on August 22-28 Capa and Innovata data.


Cebu Pacific offers 258,120 seats, with its fleet of brand-new eight ATR 72-500, 10 Airbus A319 and 15 Airbus A320 aircraft.

 

Meanwhile, CAPA reported the following seat capacity offered by other airlines: Philippine Airlines (220,302), Airphil Express (103,102), Zest Air (77,232), Cathay Pacific Airways (29,170), Asiana Airlines (17,624), Korean Air Lines (12,996), Singapore Airlines (12,600), SEAir (11,436), and Delta Air Lines (10,478).

“Cebu Pacific is now the largest airline operating to, from and within the Philippines, based on not only the number of domestic and international passengers flown, but also total domestic and international seat capacity,” said Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog. (PR)

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph

Embattled PAL workers given 1-month ultimatum

MANILA -- Beleaguered employees of Philippine Airlines (PAL) will only have until September 30 to stay on their posts, a company official said Thursday.

Separation letters were already sent to the 2,600 workers from the airline’s catering, airport services and call center reservation units as part of the Malacañang-backed outsourcing plan, PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said.

Those who signified intention to join the service providers after the prescribed September 9 deadline will start official duty the next day, October 1.

Under the spinoff plan, Sky Kitchen will take over the catering department of PAL while Skylogistics will capture the 70-year-old airline's ground and passenger handling.

SPi Global, managed by telecommunications mogul Manny Pangilinan, will handle the call center reservations department.

Bautista said the airline also sent notices to the regional offices of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) in Manila and Cebu as the PAL Employees Association (Palea) promised to challenge the massive layoff program on Friday before the Court of Appeals.

“The spin off/outsourcing is a painful but necessary decision to ensure PAL’s viability and long term survival. We assure affected workers that they will all receive their separation pay and other benefits,” Bautista told reporters.

PAL will spend about P2.5 billion for the severance package which includes separation and gratuity pay, trip pass benefits, and one-year extension of medical and hospitalization benefits, among others.

The Lucio Tan-led airline had said that the company’s P15-billion losses in 2008 and 2009 necessitated the restructure program, which includes cutting down on manpower costs. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)

Source:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/

3 men survive plane crash

CEBU CITY (Updated) -- A six-seater Cessna plane with three persons on board dove in the waters off a beach resort in Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City at 10:46 a.m. Thursday.

Three hours later, a pump boat carrying Koreans on their way to dive capsized near the islet of Nalusuan in the adjacent town of Cordova. No one died in either accident.

The Cessna plane 206 crashed and flipped upon impact after it met a mechanical problem while hovering above Lapu-Lapu City.

The single-engine plane with body number RP C1175 was on a test flight when its engine lost power.

Pilot Captain Joseph Brent Chiong Jr., assistant pilot Saturnino Dela Cruz, and on-the-job trainee Ditto Adrian Rodriguez were not injured. They got wet though.

The plane left Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) at 10:39 a.m.

Seven minutes later, the pilot called the radio tower for an emergency landing.

Witnesses told Sun.Star Cebu that the plane was hovering when it suddenly descended and nosedived into the waters, some 100 meters from the shores of Hadsan Cove Resort, a dive spot.

Brothers Jupiter and Premo Amorin, who were fishing near the area, paddled immediately to the plane when they heard the plane passengers shouting for help.

Premo said they thought it was an air show.

Fearing that the plane would explode, they hesitated in approaching it. Chiong, the pilot, had assured them it would not.

The fishermen had the two pilots and the trainee ride with in their boat. Rodriguez, the trainee, was in shock and couldn’t speak.

Premo said it was a good thing that the tide was low and there were no swimmers, otherwise, someone could have gotten hurt.

A rescuer from General Aviation, who asked not to be named, said the Cessna plane was recently acquired by the Mactan Aviation Technological Center.

He said Chiong and company were on a test flight to acquire a license that would have allowed the plane to be used for commercial air service such as island hopping. The plane has been used for cloud seeding in Mindanao.

“There are various reasons that can cause a plane to crash. It’s hard to identify,” he said when asked why the plane lost power.

Rescuers, with the help of curious residents, dragged the plane to shore with the use of ropes.

After four hours, they retrieved the plane.

Rescuers told reporters they would have to dismantle the plane so it can be carried. The plane’s body can still be used.

Apron Hiyas, 11, who helped in the rescue, will be given a share of the P2,000 cash intended for the rescuers.

Hiyas said he can buy rice with it.

Sun.Star Cebu tried but failed to interview the pilot at the hangar of the Mactan Cebu International Airport.

Meanwhile, in Cordova, a pump boat capsized at 1:05 p.m. but none of its passengers was reported injured.

Coast Guard Auxiliary Squadron Commander Simplicio Gilig told Sun.Star Cebu that there were five Koreans, a Filipino dive master and two crew men on board the pump boat.

The pump boat left the Fun and Sun Diving Shop in Buyong, Lapu-Lapu City at 11 a.m.

Gilig said the boat was good for five passengers but was carrying eight passengers and 12 oxygen tanks.

The boat was making a turn toward Nalusuan when big waves hit it and caused it to overturn.

All passengers were picked up by another pump boat. (Sun.Star Cebu)

By Davinci S. Maru

Surf kayaking thrills Camarines Norte

A PARTICIPANT loses the battle against the waves in a surf kayaking race, the second leg of the Philippine Kayaking Series 2011 in the weeklong “Kadagatan (Ocean) Festival” in Mercedes, Camarines Norte. DAX ALAN CRUZ/CONTRIBUTOR

MERCEDES, Camarines Norte—The lowly “paraw” in the bustling fishing town of Mercedes in Camarines Norte has given way to the kayak.
Commonly used by poor fishermen in the seaside towns of Camarines Norte, the paraw is a 4-meter-long wooden boat with a paddle and sail. It is similar to the kayak in overall structure, but the latter is usually made of reinforced plastic.
The kayak has a dent or “cockpit” for the paddler and a covered deck that allow it to roll over the waves as a surfboard does. It is just the right vessel for a surf kayaking race in Mercedes on Aug. 7.
The race was the second leg of the annual Philippine Kayaking Series 2011 (the first was held in Anvaya Cove in Zambales). It was also a main event in the weeklong “Kadagatan (Ocean) Festival” that paid tribute to the fishing industry in Mercedes, a main source of livelihood for most of its 41,713 people.
Fourteen two-man teams, some of whom coming from Batangas province, paddled all the way to the coast of Mercedes in the 15-kilometer race.
3-island route
Starting point was Caringo, an island barangay endowed with fine sand beaches. The kayakers went through the channel between the Quinapaguian Island and coast of Barangay Mambungalon (located in mainland Mercedes) and headed for the Canimog Island until they reached Baybay Beach in the town proper.
A test of strength and stamina of the participants, the race was mainly a sea kayaking event from Caringo. It only turned into surf kayaking at the end point, where the shallow seabed, strong current and winds produced crushing high waves. The paddlers had to glide through the crests and troughs of successive waves before reaching the shore.
“To cut through
the sea smoothly, we needed to move in accordance with the waves. There should be timing,” said Julio Casalo, 49, one of the paraw fishers who competed.
Eighteen other locals, most of whom are paraw fishers, joined the competition and had to be at par with the professional kayakers. Some made it to the beach without their kayaks as they fell from their vessels while being tossed by the waves.

President Aquino: Ship symbol of our defense

The Philippines’ newest warship, which sailed on Tuesday into Manila Bay after a 14,679-kilometer voyage from the United States, was hailed by President Benigno Aquino III as a symbol of the country’s determination to defend its claims in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
“This is just the beginning. Expect more good news because we will not stop at one ship,” Mr. Aquino said as the refurbished Hamilton-class cutter BRP Gregorio del Pilar dropped anchor, ending a 33-day voyage across the Pacific Ocean.
“This ship symbolizes our newly acquired ability to guard, protect, and if necessary, fight for the interests of our country,” the President said.

The 3,390-ton, 115-meter Gregorio del Pilar, a decommissioned US Coast Guard vessel, is 46 years old. It replaces  a World War II -era destroyer as the country’s flagship vessel.

Mr. Aquino said the “new” flagship vessel would help protect the country’s exclusive economic zone and its oil and gas exploration activities in the contested sea.
“This will upgrade our capability to guard our exclusive economic zone as well as the service contract areas,” he said in a welcoming speech.
Many of those areas are claimed by China, which insists it has sovereign rights to almost all of the disputed territory, even waters approaching the coasts of Southeast Asian countries.
Other parts of the West Philippine Sea, including a cluster of isles and reefs called the Spratly Islands, are believed to be rich in oil and mineral resources and straddle vital sea lanes. They are also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Revival of Philippine Navy
The Philippine Navy chief, Vice Adm. Alexander Pama, hailed the Gregorio del Pilar as a timely boost to the Philippines’ military power.
“[It] now symbolizes the revival of the Philippine Navy,” Pama said at the welcoming ceremony.
“The Gregorio del Pilar’s ability to operate in adverse conditions… will be vital in securing our maritime nation’s territory and asserting our sovereignty in areas where our capability is now seriously needed, he added.”
US Navy impressed
Officials said the 95 crew members of the Gregorio del Pilar impressed the US Navy with how quickly they learned how to operate one of the largest ships ever built for the US Coast Guard.
Led by Capt. Alberto Cruz, the 13 officers—three of them women—and 82 enlisted personnel trained rigorously in the United States from February before setting out for the Philippines.
“They were quite impressed with our troops,” Pama said.
An initial batch that included Cruz and 20 other officers and enlisted personnel underwent rigorous training on board the USCG Boutwell, a sister ship, for two months.
The 21-member team then trained the next batch of 74 crew members.
The ship was acquired under the Mutual Defense Treaty that gives the Philippines access to decommissioned US defense equipment.
The Philippine military’s budget of about $2.5 billion this year is just a fraction of China’s published defense spending of about $90 billion.
China warning
Manila clinched the deal to acquire the Gregorio del Pilar—named after the youngest Philippine revolutionary general who fought the Spanish and died in combat against American forces—early this year before the tensions with China flared.
The United States has since promised to help upgrade the Philippine military further, but no details have been released.
China’s state-run media this month warned the Philippines it could pay a “high price” for building up its military presence in the West Philippine Sea.
But bilateral ties remain strong in other areas, and Mr. Aquino will pay a state visit to China next week.
Jets, armored carriers
Mr. Aquino spent nearly two hours in a tour of the vessel. A select group of reporters were also allowed to tour the ship.
The President has set his sights on acquiring more ships, trainer fighter jets and armored personnel carriers.
“I want everything. But what we will acquire (are) lead-in jet trainers to keep the skill (levels) of the fighter pilots,” Mr. Aquino said.
He also mentioned acquiring for the Philippine Air Force defense radars, a long-range patrol aircraft and support aircraft.
He also cited the need for amphibious vessels, offshore patrol vessels, at least three naval helicopters and Coast Watch stations.
For the Army, the Philippines plans to buy new assault rifles, armored assets and force protection equipment such as helmets, bulletproof vests, night-fighting equipment and radios, Mr. Aquino said.
“There’s a whole list of modernization items for the (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and also the (Philippine National Police) and the Coast Guard,” the President added.
Defenseless in airspace
The country has been defenseless in its airspace since 2001, when the Philippine Air Force last flew a fighter jet. The obsolete F-5 jets were decommissioned in 2005.
Mr. Aquino said the country had to carefully weigh whether acquiring a submarine is “practical, whether or not it meets our needs.”
He cited the experience of a Southeast Asian country, which he did not name, that bought submarines from Eastern Europe for a “bargain” price of $12 million.
But the buyer discovered that the submarines had to be refitted for tropical purposes so it ended up spending the same amount it would have spent had it bought new submarines.
Pama said the Navy planned to acquire at least two more decommissioned ships from the US Coast Guard.
The Philippine Navy has an old and badly equipped fleet of fewer than 80 ships to protect its coastline and vast marine interests. The fleet is mostly made up of aging World War II vessels.

By: Dona Z. Pazzibugan
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Anger over Indonesia airline’s job breast checks

SEOUL—Would-be flight attendants in South Korea have accused Indonesia’s national airline of making them strip nearly naked and have their breasts handled in medical check-ups, provoking a storm of criticism.

Several dozen candidates for 18 highly coveted female flight attendant positions with Garuda Indonesia were required to strip down to their panties to screen out those with tattoos or breast implants, one applicant told AFP. She declined to be named, saying she was still waiting to hear whether she had got a job after the tests last month.

“The hand examination on breast was held since those with implants can have health issues when air pressure falls during flights,” Yonhap news agency quoted an airline official as saying. Cabin crew are banned from having tattoos and workers hired in other countries such as Japan and Australia were also subject to a similar process, the agency quoted the official as saying. Garuda Indonesia’s Seoul office denied part of the accusation, saying job applicants did not have to remove their bras and its staff only “lightly tapped (the) upper side of their breasts.” 

“Those who passed the medical check-up said they felt no shame in the process,” the firm said in a statement, adding it was common for airlines to check if job seekers had tattoos or body implants.But the move baffled industry peers and angered women’s rights groups, which called the process unnecessary and intrusive.

Kim Da-Mi, a Seoul-based activist with the Sexual Violence Relief Center, urged the state human rights agency to take action, telling AFP: “I wonder if such a practice is acceptable in Indonesia.”

Indonesia has the world’s largest Muslim-majority population.

“We’ve never heard of or done such check-up on flight attendants,” said a spokesman for South Korea’s flag carrier Korean Air, calling the Jakarta-based airline’s tests “bizarre.”

“I wonder if that means passengers with breast implants should not fly also,” he told AFP.

Competition for flight attendant jobs is fierce in South Korea, where the role is seen as offering high pay and travel opportunities, and thousands of young women prepare for years before applying for vacancies.

Source:  http://www.inquirer.net/

Labor group wants PAL's outsourcing plan discussed in bargaining talks

MANILA -- A militant labor group on Tuesday said the controversial outsourcing plan of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) must be included in its stalled collective bargaining negotiations with its workers.

Renato Magtubo, chairperson of the Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), said PAL should include the outsourcing plan in its bilateral talks with its employees instead of unilaterally imposing it.

For his proposal to take effect, Magtubo said the government must exert "moral suasion" on PAL to subject the outsourcing plan to collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations.
PAL, however, repeatedly said that CBA negotiations can move independent of the labor dispute on the outsourcing plan.
In 1998, Palea acceded to a 10-year suspension of its pay agreement with PAL as part of the company’s financial rehabilitation plan.
The company successfully implemented its revitalization efforts in 2007, only to be snapped by the weakening of the global aviation industry a year later.
Meanwhile, Palea president Gerry Rivera said that they are preparing for more protests this week even as their lawyers are finalizing the petition to be filed at the Court of Appeals.
The union insisted that the Palace ruling allowing the layoff of 2,600 workers is not yet executory pending a final judicial resolution of the case.
On Monday, Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel Roxas II called on PAL to setup contingency plans for a work stoppage at the flag carrier. (Sunnex)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/

PAL workers to picket stockholders meeting

MANILA -- Disgruntled employees of Philippine Airlines (PAL) said it will hold protests against the impending layoff of 2,600 workers at the carrier’s annual stockholders meeting on Thursday.

The meeting is set at 9:30 a.m. at the Lucio Tan-owned Century Park Hotel in Manila as the group urged the airline management to stop the implementation of the outsourcing plan and to start the collective bargaining negotiations.Workers union, Philippine Airlines Employees Association (Palea), had earlier declared that it will act accordingly should the management prematurely implement the mass lay off, which was twice upheld by the Office of the President this year.

Last year, PAL reelected Tan as chairman and chief executive officer and Jaime Bautista as president and chief operating officer.
The airline reported a lower net loss of $10.6 million for the first quarter (April to June) of its current fiscal year, compared to its $31.6 million net loss in same period in 2010. (Sunnex)

 By Virgil B. Lopez
http://www.sunstar.com.ph

For survivors, a wait that felt like forever

JAKE Cabalan received yesterday the kind of phone call everyone dreads. A fast craft heading for Bohol, the Island Express I, was burning. And his wife and two-year-old daughter were on it.

A very nervous Cabalan rushed to Piers 1 and 3 in Cebu City to ask for help and wait for more news. His fear rose after he lost contact with his wife Myrna’s phone, shortly after she called him to report the trouble.

After several minutes of waiting, he received another call from his wife, saying they were rescued by the crew of the Sea Jet and were already safe.

 

“Mura kog naibtan sa kakuyaw pagkadungog nako nga safe na sila (I felt as though a thorn had been plucked from me),” he said. Cabalan’s wife and daughter were heading for Bohol to attend a relative’s death anniversary.

Like them, survivors of the Island Express I fast craft were thankful to the Sea Jet’s crew, who saved their lives.

One of the crew had to dive into the water to save a three-month-old baby, who fell from the burning vessel. The baby was safe.

Another passenger, Jesus Ceniza, arrived in Cebu City around 4 p.m. yesterday still badly shaken by his ordeal.

He did not join the other survivors who were staying in Tubigon, Bohol since he had to be in Cebu for work. He boarded another vessel from Bohol.

“Tanang survivors basa gyud kaayo mi kay kinahanglan mi molayat sa barko para makuha sa rescuers (We were all drenched because we had to jump from the boat in order to be rescued),” said Ceniza.

Ceniza said while the vessel was burning, they all stayed in the front deck, already wearing life jackets.

While waiting for some miracle to happen, he noticed another vessel approaching them from afar.

“Morag nawala gamay akong kakulba pagkakita nako nga naa’y barko padulong namo para masalbar mi (When I saw the other vessel approaching, a little of my fear disappeared),” he said.

He recalled that the crew of the Sea Jet instructed them to jump off the vessel, for them to be rescued.

“Sa wala’y pag duha-duha nilayat gyud ko para masalbar (I did not hesitate. I jumped),” he added.

He could not recall hearing any announcement from the vessel’s crew or any information about what was happening on the vessel.

“Late nami nakahibaw nga naay sunog, mao natong among nakit-an nga dako na diay kaayo ang kayo (We found out about the fire late; it was only when we saw the flames were already large),” he said.

Passengers of the Sea Jet said had they arrived a few minutes later, there would have been fewer survivors.

By: Jill B. Tatoy
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/

Island Express Shipping vessels grounded after fire

CEBU CITY -- Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II ordered Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) to ground all vessels operated by Island Express Shipping after a fire that killed three persons. In a press statement issued Monday, Roxas said the directive was meant to ensure that all vessels operated by Island Express Shipping are seaworthy.Three persons died and 72 others were rescued after the Island Express I plying the Cebu City-Tubigon, Bohol route caught fire near Mucaboc islet in Bohol, 10 miles from the Tubigon port.

 

The fatalities were identified as Matea P. Infiesto, 62, and Nicetas N. Cabrera, 73, both female passengers from Lagsing, Bacani, Clarin Bohol and chief mate Abelardo C. Torrevillas Sr., 57, from Tagbilaran City.

The vessel was carrying 75 people, including its officers and crew, when the accident happened.

Island Express Shipping has six vessels: one fastcraft and five Roll-on Roll-off vessels serving Hagnaya-Sta. Fe and Cebu-Tubigon routes.

“At this point, public safety is our primordial concern. I will not allow shipping companies to take chances with the lives of the passengers. DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communications) will ensure that whenever a passenger steps on a ship, he can be certain that ship will have passed all the stringent requirements for safety,” Roxas said.

Roxas instructed the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to convene the Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) and to subject the owners and operators of Island Express Shipping to a thorough investigation to determine whether the shipping company or its crew was at fault.

Roxas also ordered the Marina and PCG to ensure that the owners provide the survivors and the family of the casualties the assistance they need.

He also tasked the PCG to continue monitoring the situation for other damage and possible oil spill.

“Our job is to protect the safety of the public not to balance contending interests. The shipping companies have officers, lawyers, accountants and others; they can take care of themselves. Our job is to protect the interest of the public whom we serve,” he said. (Sunnex)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/

3 die in ferry fire

CEBU CITY -- Three persons died and 67 were rescued after a fast craft plying the Cebu City-Tubigon, Bohol route caught fire near Mucaboc islet in Bohol, 10 miles from the Tubigon port.

The Island Express I, a vessel of Island Shipping Lines, was carrying 70 people, including officers and crew, when the accident happened.

Passengers and crew were waiting on top of the vessel when a competitor, Sea Jet of Aleson Shipping Lines with Capt. Camilo P. Alvarez at the helm, passed by at 10:30 a.m. and rescued them.

“The ship was covered by thick smoke when we got near it. We saw the people on top of it and instructed all of them to wear life jackets before transferring to our vessel,” Alvarez told Sun.Star Cebu.

He said the Island Express I sank shortly after the rescue.

“Had we not been able to pass by and rescue them immediately, most of the 67 survivors could have died,” Alvarez added.

Alvarez said the Island Express I left Cebu at 9 a.m., while Sea Jet departed 35 minutes after that.

Quoting Tubigon police, radio dyHP identified the fatalities as Matea Empuesto, 29, and Nicetas Cabrera, 35, both of Lapu-Lapu City; and Abelardo Torredillas, 50, the chief mate of Island Express I.

The initial indication is that chief mate Torredillas suffocated while trying to help passengers. Cabrera and Empuesto were found floating in the water, already dead.

They were in the morgue of the Tubigon Community Hospital in Tubigon, Bohol as of this posting.

Dr. Emmanuel Labella and his brother Cebu City Councilor Edgardo Labella were supposed to take the Sea Jet at 1:30 p.m. from Tubigon back to Cebu City, when they learned that their trip would be delayed because of the rescue.

Councilor Labella said the officers and crew of Sea Jet led by Capt. Alvarez must be commended for setting aside competition and rescuing the passengers and crew of Island Express I.

SPO4 Orlando Urbano of the Tubigon police said all the survivors were brought to Tubigon Community Hospital for check-up and treatment.

One of the survivors, Adelfa Nisa of Cordova, Cebu, said she and her 3-year-old son left for Tubigon Sunday on the Island Express I to attend her aunt’s wake.
At 10:15 a.m., while the vessel was sailing near Mucaboc islet, thick smoke suddenly rose from the engine room, going toward the passengers’ area.

Nisa said all of them scampered for safety. They decided to wear life jackets and planned to jump into the sea because they feared the vessel might explode or the smoke might suffocate them.

Capt. Anelito Gabisan, commander of the Philippine Coast Guard in Bohol based in Tagbilaran City, said they are now preparing for the investigation.

He said they expect the management of Island Shipping Corp. to file a marine protest on the accident.

This is the second major sea mishap involving Island Shipping Corp. in 10 years. The first was when its service boat, while transferring passengers from Island Express V to port, collided with a fishing boat at Hagnaya port in San Remegio, Cebu last December 22, 2001.

Ten passengers of Island Express V died in that accident.

In Sunday’s case, Commander Rolando Punzalan of the Cebu Coast Guard said they quickly sent divers and a medical team to Tubigon to check on the survivors.

Punzalan also ordered a search and rescue operation in the area where the vessel caught fire.

“The Sea Jet was the savior. Without it, probably there would have been more fatalities,” Councilor Labella said.

Captain Alvarez of the Sea Jet said his crew did their best to save the passengers on the other craft.

“Nakita nako umuusok na ilang vessel, so paglapit namo sa ilang vessel, I instructed the passengers to jump off. Dili mi makalapit pag-ayo kay basin maapil mi kasunog (Smoke was coming off the vessel when we approached them, so I instructed the passengers to jump off. We could not stay too close to the Island Express I for too long because we might catch fire too),” he said.

Sun.Star Cebu tried to interview Island Shipping owner Alex Tan at Pier 3 Sunday, but he declined.

By: Elias O. Baquero
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/

Thai Air To Launch New Regional Airline

Thai Airways said on Friday its new regional airline will start operations in July 2012 to tap strong demand for air traffic in Asia and win back market share in the wake of fierce competition in the region.
The new mid-tier airline will be named Thai Smile, Chairman Ampon Kittiampon told reporters.
In May, the airline said it planned to launch the new airline in March or April 2012.
The mid-tier carrier is part of Thai Airways' expansion plan, an effort to turn itself around after years of losing market share in a region where swelling middle classes, fast economic growth and liberalised air policies provide opportunities for higher earnings.

Source:  http://news.airwise.com

Thai Air Unsure Of Making 2011 Profit

Thai Airways said on Friday it was unsure whether global economic uncertainty would prevent it from making a net profit for 2011, but it would go ahead with plans to launch a new regional carrier and another budget airline.
"The economic concerns in the United States and Europe may slow down air travel demand, while the impact from fuel costs may not be as bad as earlier expected," president Piyasvasti Amranand told reporters after a board meeting.
"But we can't say right now that we will make profit for the whole year," he said, citing the volatility of global oil prices.
Fuel costs account for about 40 percent of the airline's total costs.
The national carrier reported a first-half net loss of THB7.26 billion baht (USD$243 million), versus a net profit of THB11.9 billion baht a year earlier.
The flag carrier planned to start operations of the new regional airline named, Thai Smile, from July 1, 2012, to tap strong demand for air traffic in Asia and win back market share in the wake of fierce competition in the region.
The launch timeframe is four to five months, delayed from the previous schedule in March or April 2012.
Chairman Ampon Kittiampon said the new airline would fly to domestic cities in the first year of operations before expanding its destinations into Southeast Asian countries as well as China and India in 2013, when it expected to make profit.
EXPANSION PLAN
The wholly owned mid-tier carrier will operate with 11 Airbus A320s and cover journeys with an average flight time of 1-2 hours, Ampon said.
The mid-tier carrier is part of Thai Airways' expansion plan, an effort to turn itself around after years of losing market share in a region where swelling middle classes, fast economic growth and liberalised air policies provide opportunities for higher earnings.
Thai Air, with a market value of USD$2 billion, is 51 percent owned by Thailand's Finance Ministry and competes with bigger rivals Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific Airways.
Piyasvasti said the airline also planned to discuss with the new transport minister to get the go-ahead for the launch of a new budget carrier, Thai Tiger Airways, its joint venture with Singapore's Tiger Airways.
In 2010, Thai Airways formed the alliance with Tiger Airways to operate the new budget carrier, but the plan has been delayed, pending an approval from the transport ministry.
Thai Tiger, 51 percent owned by Thai Airways and 49 percent by Tiger, was originally supposed to have started in late March. Piyasvasti gave no details about the new launch date.
Thai Airways was still keen to raise its 39 percent stake in budget airline Nok Air to 49 percent by buying another 10 percent from state-owned Krung Thai Bank at 33 baht each, the president said.

Source:  http://news.airwise.com

Nok Air management add 25% stake

Nok Air's senior management is gaining greater control over the budget carrier after striking a 412.5-million-baht deal to acquire shares held by three stakeholders.

Nok Air Management Co (NAM), a newly established company owned by five top executives of Nok Air led by chief executive Patee Sarasin and chief operating officer Piya Yodmani, reached an agreement to acquire a 25% interest in Nok Air at 33 baht a share.
The three sellers are Dhipaya Insurance Plc (10%), the Government Pension Fund (10%) and Thailand Prosperity Fund managed by ING Funds (Thailand) Co (5%).
The sale, which was agreed to by all nine shareholding groups in Nok Air including Thai Airways International (THAI), will allow Nok Air management greater control of operations and its future.
"After controlling operations for Nok Air for seven years, we [the management] want to have more say in determining [the airline's] destiny in an increasingly hostile operating environment," said Mr Patee.
Having fewer shareholders will streamline the approval process, he added.
NAM is equally owned by the five senior management members of Nok Air, though Mr Patee already had a 5% ownership.
Executives of Dhipaya and the GPF said the price was a good one, while Mr Patee said it represented the airline's current value.
They added that THAI, which earlier expressed interest in raising its stake in Nok Air to 49% from 39%, did not make an offer.
THAI president Piyasvasti Amranand reiterated yesterday that the flag carrier remained keen to acquire another 10% in Nok Air, specifically from state-controlled Krung Thai Bank (KTB).
THAI's share bid in January of this year, part of the flag carrier's attempt to bring Nok Air more closely under its wing, was rejected as KTB held out for 44 baht per share while THAI proposed 30 baht.
THAI has long been unhappy with the budget carrier's "autonomous" style, which it claims at times has conflicted with that of the parent.
This conflict has led THAI to attempt to launch an "ultra low-cost" carrier called Thai Tiger Airways in a joint venture with Singapore's Tiger Airways. However, the Transport Ministry has repeatedly blocked this venture since it was announced a year ago.
Last May, THAI exercised its rights as stipulated in Nok Air's shareholders' agreement to appoint its board member Apiporn Pasawat as Nok Air's new chairman, replacing Vichit Suraphongchai, the executive chairman of Siam Commercial Bank, who wanted to see the budget airline continue to operate independently.

Source:  http://www.bangkokpost.com/

PPA expanding and upgrading port facilities in CDO and Tacloban

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is expanding and upgrading the port facilities in Cagayan de Oro and Tacloban cities and has completed the expansion of the port in Pulupandan in Negros Oriental.

“At this time, the current ports structure plan of PPA has put premium in pursuance of its mandate to provide the country’s sea travelling public with more efficient, appropriate and modern port facilities and equipment on our key ports or major gateways like the Cagayan de Oro (CDO) Port, which is the only major port serving the entire CDO and its neighboring provinces,” said PPA general manager Juan C. Sta. Ana in a statement.
“To date, the CDO port caters to an average of 1,200 passengers daily during regular, and 2,500 passengers daily on peak seasons,” said Sta. Ana, adding that “on vessel calls, the port receives seven vessels a day ranging from superferries, liners and tramping vessels.”
On cargo, the port averages around 12,500 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit) every month. “In view of these considerations, the PPA has lined up a number of infrastructure projects that hopefully could be implemented in the medium term and which would allow the port to accommodate projected increase in port traffic.”
He said the PPA will pursue the implementation of the following individual projects at this port in the latter part of 2011 and 2012 to include the paving of around 20,500 square- meter newly developed operational back-up area to provide additional space for storage of container cargoes; the construction of a new two-story passenger terminal building (PTB) designed to accommodate 1,500 passengers at any given time, and the construction of three “roll-on, roll-off’ (RO-RO) berths that would accommodate large long-haul R0-R0 vessels of GRT ranging from 6,500 to 19,000 MT and with a minimum draft requirement of 7.0 meters.
On the other hand, the” Tacloban Port Improvement/Rehabilitation Project (TPIRP) involves the “expansion” of the existing wharf of the port. “This would require the installation of steel pipe sheet piles and waling (1,456 MT), rockworks (15,378 cu. m.), fill materials (37,544 cu. m.), and tie rods (14 sets of 32 mm x 18 m and 90 sets of 70 mm x 24 m). This port handles both foreign and domestic cargoes.
On the construction of the new wharf project at the port of Pulupandan in Negros Oriental, GM Sta. Ana said, “the revised contract amount is P411.2 million. The project was completed in 2005 during the previous administration , he said.

By YUL MALICSE

http://www.mb.com.ph/

Airphil Express welcomes new Airbus

MANILA, Philippines — A new Airbus A320, designed with Airphil Express livery, taxied into the NAIA airport recently from Toulouse, France with the airline’s own pilots in command. The arrival of the aircraft represents another determined step toward meeting the Filipinos’ growing demand for value-oriented air travel service.
The additional aircraft will enable the airline to bring more customers to more destinations in a shorter time at an affordable price. Alfredo Herrera, SVP for Marketing and Sales, says, “We aim to play a dominant role in the industry by bringing more tourists around the country while beefing up our presence in the region.” Airphil Express has mapped out a $250-million expansion plan and is scheduled to purchase two more new A320 units later in the year.
The 180-seater Airbus A320 offers enhanced cabin experience with its wider seats, bigger legroom and elbowroom for added comfort, and generous carry-on baggage space. It is the aircraft of choice for majority of airlines because the A320 is developed for reduced engine wear and fuel consumption that will result in savings for both the company and its passengers.
With seven Airbus A320, three Q300s and five Q400 under its wing, the company is expected to increase operations and create new itineraries. One recently inaugurated Airphil Express route is the Manila-Tacloban leg that ushers vacationers to a myriad other adventure possibilities in the Visayas. The Cebu-Hong Kong flight, which opened in July, presents opportunities for frequent leisure and business trips between the two destinations. Airphil Express is also set to introduce the Manila-Ozamiz and Davao-Iloilo routes in August.

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/

JG Summit earnings lower after reduction in Cebu Pacific stake

MANILA, Philippines — JG Summit Holdings Inc. reported a 26.3 percent drop in net profit for the first half of 2011 to P5.98 billion from P8.10 billion for the same period last year.

The firm said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange that the lower earnings is due to the reduction in its share in the profits of its airline business, Cebu Pacific, to 67 percent following Cebu Pacific’s IPO in October 2010, where the Group sold 33 percent of its ownership in Cebu Pacific.

The Group also recorded lower market valuation gains on its financial assets as the capital markets have seen volatility during the period.

Core earnings decreased 15.2 percent for the six months from P11.45 billion in 2010 to P9.71 billion during the period, while EBITDA reached P18.0 billion, a 5.6 percent decrease compared to the same period last year.

Consolidated revenues were up 15.0 percent from P61.11 billion to P70.26 billion due to the strong performance of all business units.

“Only our equity in net earnings of associates showed a decline by 38.2 percent to P1.18 billion during the period,” JG Summit said.

Consolidated cost of sales and services for the first half of the year increased 27.4 percent from P33.61 billion last year to P42.82 billion, higher than the revenue growth, as input costs of the food business have increased substantially.

The aviation fuel expenses incurred by Cebu Pacific also rose significantly due to the increase in fuel prices and higher volume of fuel consumed.

Consolidated operating expenses increased 16.2 percent as a result of higher general and administrative expenses in its telecoms, increased airline operations and food business.

Mark-to-market gains on financial assets recognized during the first half of fiscal 2011 amounted to P414.52 million, 47.6 percent lower from last year’s P790.93 million mainly due to decline in market values of bond and equity investments for the period.

Foreign exchange gain net recorded for the six months of 2011 amounted to P211.99 million compared to last year’s net foreign exchange loss of P407.34 million mainly due to a more stable peso during the period this year compared to last year’s.

Interest income for the six months of 2011 increased 55.6 percent from P865.81 million to P1.35 billion due to higher average investment portfolio during the period as compared to last year’s.

Equity earnings from associated companies and joint ventures dropped mainly due to lower income recorded by UIC this year, from S$169.52 million last year to S$102.58 million this year due to recognition of lower gain on sales of residential properties from S$508.54 million to S$170.12 million during the period.

By JAMES A. LOYOLA
http://www.mb.com.ph/

Air Asia leverages on affiliates

Air Asia Philippines will use its network and affiliate Air Asia companies in the ASEAN to make Clark its hub in Asia and spur growth in tourist arrivals.

Marianne Hontiveros, chief executive officer of AirAsia Philippines, yesterday said the strategy would hope to achieve what neighboring countries have achieved: Thailand’s 15.4 million international tourist arrivals and Malaysia’s 24.6 million arrivals, nearly equal the size of its population.

"We are laggards in the industry as tourist arrivals in the country are at 3.5 million. It’s pathetic compared with (other countries) in ASEAN. Now we will be able to catch up. Our affiliate in the region promises us to promote travel in Philippines," she said.

"We will make Clark as an important destination in the ASEAN."

Hontiveros said Air Asia Berhad has daily flights from Clark to Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu and Air Asia Thailand and Air Indonesia will be running flights to Clark.

"Now there is Air Asia Vietnam. They are talking with ANA (All Nippon Airways) and will soon have Air Asia Japan. In all our operations, Clark is the destination for Air Asia. We will do what PAL (Philippine Airlines) did in NAIA and Cebu Pacific in Cebu," she said.

The first Airbus 320 commanded by Capt. Johansen Hernandez landed at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport before noon yesterday.

"We want to make Clark as a hub for Asia. We plan to be a substantial player here. We want to build a market. We’re not out to cannibalize (the market) of other airlines. We want to make Clark as hub. We would like to develop the market here in Central and Northern Luzon," Hontiveros said.

Air Asia will start flying in October from Clark to Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau, where there is a huge market.

The second aircraft, expected to arrive in November, will fly to Bangkok, Incheon, Puerto Princesa and Kalibo, all popular sites for travelers.

Michael Romero, vice chairman of AirAsia Philippines, said one aircraft will be coming in January. Four planes, all leased at $50 million each, will be arriving in six months. The plan is to acquire 13 to 15 planes in three to five years.

"We’re banking on the Air Asia brand, which made other airlines paranoid. We want to give people quality service in brand-new aircraft but not cheap service," Hontiveros said.

AirAsia will employ Filipinos for the 300 jobs it would create. As flights increase, an increment of 130 to 200 jobs is expected per year.

Air Asia will set up a call center and will outsource ground handling and maintenance and will indirectly benefit industries such as retail, hotels and restaurants.

By: GENIVI FACTAO
Malaya Business Insight

AirAsia Philippines eyes Macau route

Budget carrier AirAsia Philippines is awaiting regulatory approval to offer flights between the Philippines and Macau, the company said in a statement yesterday.
However the local aviation regulator has so far received no application from the joint venture, a spokesperson told Macau Daily Times.
The MSAR office of Air Asia approached the Civil Aviation Authority of Macau (AACM) two weeks ago “to obtain the necessary information about the flight approval process between Philippines and Macau,” the spokesperson acknowledged.
“However, we have not received the formal flight application for operating flight services between Philippines and Macau by the airline yet,” she added.
The joint venture launched by Southeast Asia’s budget carrier king Tony Fernandes is also seeking to fly to Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Incheon as well as two local destinations.
The airline will take delivery of four aircraft from this year until 2012, including an Airbus A320 that arrived at the Clark freeport zone yesterday.
AirAsia Philippines was launched last December. At the time Fernandes said flight operations should begin this month, using either Clark or Subic – two former US military bases near Manila – as its base.
In December Fernandes described the Philippines as an under-served market. “We do expect to be profitable straight away,” the Malaysian added.
“Many of the routes that AirAsia Philippines will be going to are already being exploited by other AirAsia companies, so the set-up cost for AirAsia Philippines is very low,” enabling low fares, Fernandes said.
There are currently four airlines flying from the Philippines to Macau: Spirit of Manila, South East Asia, Cebu Pacific and Philippines Airlines.
Kuala Lumpur-based AirAsia holds a 40 percent stake in the carrier while Philippine investors led by Antonio Cojuangco, a cousin of President Benigno Aquino, hold a combined 60 percent, the minimum local equity stake set by law.
AirAsia currently flies from Macau to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. But since beginning operations in Macau in 2004 the carrier has already cancelled services to Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, as well as to Penang from March 29 last.
At the time AirAsia said it was looking at the business potential for routes to Phuket and Chiang Mai.

By:Vítor Quintã
Macau Daily Times

Lim’s ‘open skies’ policy was a failure

In an interview with the Inquirer, Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim—who has submitted his resignation effective at the end of August, and already accepted by President Aquino—talked about his alleged “achievements” in the Department of Tourism. But I think his only dubious achievement was to open up Philippine skies to foreign carriers at the expense of our own carriers. Other airlines, especially those in Middle Eastern countries, are heavily subsidized by their respective governments, but the Philippine government makes it difficult for our airlines to compete with foreign carriers in an increasingly decreasing market coupled with the rising costs of operations due to sky-high fuel prices.

Lim came to public notice when he headed a group pushing for an “open skies” policy in the Philippines. The group’s reasoning was simplistic: If you allow more planes to fly into the Philippines, more tourists would come here. False.

But Lim and his friends fervently believed in it. Perhaps Lim became tourism secretary to be able to make open skies a permanent Philippine policy. No sooner had Lim been appointed than President Aquino issued his order opening Philippine skies to foreign airlines.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating, as they say. During Lim’s stint in the tourism department, the number of tourists coming here did not increase significantly—which is probably one reason he resigned.

Just because you allow foreign airlines unlimited access into your country does not mean they would fly in planeloads of tourists. First of all, the tourists must want to go to your country, perhaps attracted by the tourist spots. That’s the only time they will book seats in the airlines. And the airlines will fly extra flights into your country only when there are plenty of passengers wanting to go there. That is not happening.

Our Asian neighbors like Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia do not have an open skies policy, but tourists are going there in droves. We have an open skies policy but tourists are not coming here. Why? What’s the difference?

Because they have more tourist attractions. Because it is easier to go around their countries: the roads are better, local transportation is easier to get, accommodations in the tourist spots are better, the locals do not try to overcharge the tourists. And it is safer there: there are no terrorists, rebels and kidnappers. On the other hand, the depredations of kidnappers in Mindanao—ironically, the site of many tourist attractions that Westerners dream about—are well-known all over the world. Even Filipino tourists are afraid to go there. If you were a foreign tourist, will you take the chance of going to the Philippines when there are so many other attractions among its neighboring countries?

The unkindest cut is that with open skies, the Philippine government favors foreign airlines at the expense of the three Philippine carriers. Landing rights are traditionally a result of bargaining among governments. Every week you let 10 flights of my carriers land in your city, and I will allow your airlines to land 10 flights a week in my airport. Quid pro quo. It’s as simple as that.

With open skies, however, the Philippines allows unlimited numbers of foreign aircraft to land in the Philippines, expecting they would bring in the tourists.

But the countries benefited by this Philippine open skies policy do not give our airlines the same hospitable treatment. The flights of

Philippine airlines to their cities are still limited.

In fact, most benefited by open skies are American carriers which have many planes lying idle. Open skies was concocted by the US government upon the prodding of its airlines. It is suspected that the Philippine group that first pushed for open skies was created by the US government and that its members were US “dummies.”

The United States wants all Asian countries to have open skies. But it is not opening up its own skies to Asian carriers. On the contrary, it has reduced Asian flights to the US on some pretext or another, as what it has done to Philippine Airlines.

Other Asian countries did not buy the US open skies bait. Only the Philippines did.

Did it benefit the Philippines? No. Did open skies bring in more tourists. No.

Did Lim succeed in bringing in more tourists? No. Did our tourism industry prosper? No. Was open skies a success for the Philippines? No. Was it a total failure? Yes!

So what can we do to attract more tourists? First and foremost, make the Philippines safe, not only from kidnappers and outlaws but also from opportunists.

For example, as soon as tourists arrive at Philippine international airports, immigration officers try to extort money from them. Porters extort more money from them. When they leave the airport for their hotels, they have no choice but to hire the privately-operated airport limousine service that charges exorbitant fares. In Singapore, arrivals have a choice of buses that make the rounds of the hotels very cheaply. Why can’t we have the same service here?

From Manila, it is very difficult to go to the tourist spots in the provinces. Yes, there are domestic airlines going to key cities, but once you get there it is difficult to get to the tourist spots in outlying areas. Sometimes there are jeepneys and boats offering to take them there, but they always overcharge their passengers.

Some of the best tourist attractions are in Mindanao, but that is also where kidnappers are most active. Foreigners have heard of them, and that is one reason they are shying away from the Philippines.

By: Neal H. Cruz
Philippine Daily Inquirer

City eyes international flights for Dinagyang 2012

ILOILO City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog disclosed that he will be seeking a meeting soon with the Gokongweis of Cebu Pacific Air to work out a direct flight roundtrip schedule from Hongkong to Iloilo Airport for the Dinagyang Festival in 2012.

Mabilog said the heavy passenger traffic at the Iloilo airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo, especially during Christmas season until the month of February, deemed it necessary to develop Iloilo and absorb international flights.

As it is, the Iloilo Airport of international standards has no international flights to boast of, as tourists prefer to take the Aklan and Caticlan airports to serve the Chinese, Japanese and Korean passengers to go to Boracay Island.

Mabilog said the Iloilo airport is ready and available for foreign passengers, overseas Filipino overseas contract workers (OCWs) and balikbayans who wish to have a vacation and witness the Dinagyang festivities.

The city mayor said the initial target of direct flights will be Hongkong-Iloilo-Hongkong to serve the Chinese passengers and OCWs. Eventually, direct flights to China and Korea will be included in the airlines schedule.

The city tourism and development office has reported the increased arrivals of visitors from Hongkong, China and Korea in the past year to enjoy the festivities and other special events of the city.

Dinagyang Festival celebrated in the last week of January is a premier tourist attraction in the city aside from beaches and natural wonders of nearby Guimaras Island and northern Iloilo, old churches in southern Iloilo, and the unique food preparations of the city.

Mabilog said a passenger-traveler from Iloilo will save much of resources if there is a direct international flight here instead of going to Manila and Cebu for their flights.

The city mayor is also eyeing cooperation of the local travel and tours industry group to participate in booking of passengers for charter or regular international flights.
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/
(Lydia C. Pendon)

We are finally Home!!!!

 

 

CLARK, 15 AUGUST 2011 – AirAsia Philippines’ first aircraft arrived at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark today. The brand new, state-of-the-art Airbus A320 commanded by Captain Johansen Hernandez carried 29 people, including Marianne Hontiveros, Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Philippines; H.E. Mercedes Tuason, Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican; several Filipino media; as well as an all-Filipino crew.

Ms. Hontiveros said, “This is a proud moment for AirAsia Philippines as the arrival of the new aircraft signifies our first step in introducing ourselves to the nation. As an archipelagic country, air travel is necessary for Filipinos and we are here to serve and help them stay or be better connected with their families and friends.

“The Philippines has great potential in tourism, as our country has so much to offer. With AirAsia Philippines, we hope to increase the number of tourist arrivals. This is good for the community in Clark as well as Northern and Central Luzon as they can benefit in various areas including hospitality, retail and entertainment.”

The aircraft, which landed at 11.30 a.m. from the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France, is the first among four aircraft that will be delivered to AirAsia Philippines in its first year of operation. While it taxied on the runway upon arrival, it was greeted with a water cannon salute. The second one is slated to arrive later this year and another two will be delivered in 2012.

Among those on ground to witness the special event were Victor Jose I. Luciano, president and CEO of Clark International Airport Corporation; Felipe Antonio Remollo, president and CEO of Clark Development Corporation; and Hon. Alberto Lim, Secretary of the Department of Tourism

Courtesy of: AirAsia Philippines

Air Asia is coming

In March, President Aquino signed the open skies order, allowing foreign airlines more rights to travel to, from, and within the Philippines. Probably the biggest beneficiary of this order will be Air Asia, the discount Malaysian airline, and this is important news for people living here. Why?
Air Asia is one of the few airlines in the world that has taken the discount model and made it not only successful, but providing relatively decent service as well. The new hub will be at Clark, where Air Asia has had two international flights operating for a while: To KL and to KK. The fares are cheap, and, in my experience, the service is generally good.

Air Asia is coming

I have flown Air Asia on many occasions. In particular, when I was working a lot in Borneo, in some cases, they were the only way to get to small airports in Sarawak and Sabah. Several years ago, Malaysian Airlines sold most of their domestic routes to Air Asia. The only rub is that with Air Asia, you cannot “officially” buy a transit ticket. For instance, to fly from Clark to Sibu would require buying a ticket to KL, enter Malaysia through passport control, collect your bags, and check in again on your KL to Sibu flight, travelling on a different ticket… A real pain. Now that Clark joins BKK, SIN, and CGK as Air Asia hubs, travellers can expect many more direct flights to many destinations in the near future.

AirAsia vows to offer Philippines lowest fares

AirAsia vows to offer Philippines lowest fares
By: Paolo G. Montecillo
Philippine Daily Inquirer

LOOMING COMPETITION AirAsia’s Philippine unit is set to start operations in October and intends to offer the lowest fares among budget carriers.

The Philippine unit of Malaysian giant AirAsia aims to be a major player in the country’s air travel sector by offering the lowest fares in a market dominated by budget carriers.

The airline, which will be known as AirAsia Inc., will start operations by October this year, using two Airbus A320 jets leased from its Malaysian parent. The Airbus A320 is the workhorse plane model used by local budget carriers like Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines.

“We’re applying for four new routes with the CAB (Civil Aeronautics Board),” said businessman Antonio “Tonyboy” Cojuangco, one of the airline’s three major Filipino stockholders.

Together with Cojuangco in the venture are businessman Michael Romero and Marianne Hontiveros. Each of the three will hold 20 percent of the new company while AirAsia Berhad chair Tony Fernandes will hold the remaining 40 percent. This makes him the company’s single biggest shareholder.

Cojuangco, in a chance interview with reporters last week, said that if plans push through, the airline would likely have eight to 10 planes operating international flights from its chosen hub, Clark Freeport in Pampanga.

“We will be a major player. Our plan is to offer the lowest fares in the country,” he said.

Alona Beach

Alona Beach is a tropical resort on Panglao Island, Bohol in the Philippines. It is one of the top travel destinations in the Philippines because of it's coral white sand beach and diving resort. There are about 30 resorts and 15 dive shops  in Alona Beach. Alona Beach is located at barangay Tawala,Panglao Island, around 22 kilometers from Tagbilaran City Bohol. Travel time from Tagbilaran City to Alona Beach may take to about 25-45 minutes.

Zest Air opens skies for more Filipinos

Barely three years since the group of juice magnate Alfredo M. Yao took over the former Asian Spirit Airlines, budget carrier Zest Airways (Zest Air) is taking the local airline industry by storm.

The Forbidden City in Beijing

While others chose to remain conservative in their strategies amid fuel cost pressures, Zest Air continues to fly above the turbulence with its aggressive re-fleeting and route expansion efforts. This is all part of its long-term plan to take a more major role in the budget airline industry.

"We are committed in serving our passengers the best way we can," said Mr. Yao, who serves as Zest Air’s president and chief executive officer. "We want our passengers to keep flying with zest when they travel on board our planes. We want them to keep coming back.

"We are currently expanding our fleet so we can provide our passengers with more flights going to their favorite destinations. As we do this, rest assured, we will stay focused on our passengers’ needs and comfort."

In a statement, Mr. Yao said Zest Air currently has a fleet of five Airbus A320s, and one Airbus 319, which the airline acquired last October.

"The aircraft has a commodious cargo hold equipped with large doors to assist in expedient loading and unloading of goods. It provides customers with added space and comfort, has reduced noise levels in the community we serve and allows Zest Air to operate a more cost-efficient and reliable fleet," he said.

Mr. Yao added that Zest Air has four Modern Ark 60s, an advanced 56-seat class regional turboprop aircraft developed by Xi’an Aircraft Company of China Aviation Industry Corp.

"Characterized by remarkable passenger comfort, operational adaptability and low operating cost, the MA60 is suitable for frequent short- and medium-haul commuter operations as well as multi-role applications," he said.

"The MA60 can meet the increasingly demanding needs of modern transport and offer operators with the greatest operating benefits," he added.

Mr. Yao said Zest Air plans to acquire two more Airbuses and two B-777s by the second half of the year for its long haul flights to the Middle East by the third or fourth quarter of 2011.

Zest Air flies to 20 Philippine destinations. It flies five times daily to Cebu and twice daily to popular stops such as Bacolod, Davao, Iloilo, Tacloban, Tagbilaran and Puerto Princesa. Zest Air also has regular flights from Manila to Boracay, Legazpi, Busuanga, Calbayog, Catarman, Kalibo, Masbate, Marinduque, La Union and Mindoro.

There are also Zest Air flights going to and from Kalibo, near Boracay Island, home of the famous white sand beaches that draw local and international travelers. Zest Air has international flights to Kalibo that take passengers from Incheon and Pusan in South Korea and from Shanghai, China.

In addition, Zest Air also flies from Cebu to Incheon, South Korea. The province of Cebu is home to many of the country’s most famous landmarks, including the Lapu Lapu Shrine, Magellan’s Cross, and the Cebu Taoist Temple.

Zest Air said in a statement that it will use its newly acquired aircrafts to increase the frequencies of its international routes.

Zest Air’s Cebu-Incheon service, which currently flies twice a week, will become a daily service starting June 20.

The Kalibo-Incheon route will also be daily starting June 20, up from the current four-times-a-week frequency, while the Kalibo-Shanghai route will double to four times a week starting June 25, from the current frequency of twice a week.

Zest Air announced that it will have a new Kalibo-Beijing, China flight starting June 26. The airline is also currently mulling flights from Kalibo to Taipei, Taiwan, and Puerto Princesa to Incheon.

"More international destinations will be opened in the near future. It won’t be long before passengers from such places as Taipei, the Republic of Palau, Singapore, Bahrain and Dammam get their chance to fly direct to many of the Philippines’ best tourist destinations," Zest Air said.

The airline noted that it has taken great pains to focus on customer service.

"[Our] flight attendants are friendly and ready to address the needs of tourists and business travelers," Zest Air said.

"At Zest Air, the staff makes sure that passengers are treated like kings and queens. Overhead compartments afford passengers ample space to stow away their bags. Seats are comfortable and the aisles are very spacious. Even toilets are such that they would probably make passengers feel right at home."

In addition, the airline announced that it recently established a partnership with Ace Insurance Group to provide travel insurance at reasonable rates. Zest Air passengers can now avail themselves of travel insurance from Ace Insurance. Insurance premiums cost P180 (one way) and P245 (round trip) per passenger.

BY JEFFREY O. VALISNO
Courtesy Of: Business World 

BOLJOON

Boljoon is a 5th class municipality in the province of Cebu. It is part of the southern Cebu, bordered by the town of Alcoy in the north, Oslob in the south, Malabuyoc in the west and Bohol Strait in the east.
The town has a land mass of 11,500 hectares, subdivided into 11 barangays. These barangays are the Poblacion, El Pardo, Baclayan, Arbor, Granada, South Granada, Lower Becerril, Upper Becerril, San Antonio, Lunop and Nangka. Six of these barangays which includes Poblacion are located along the coast while the others are upland barangays.
The geographic features of Boljoon ranges from undulate to hilly. A small river serves as irrigation to its land. It has plains as well as cliffs and hills with virgin forests. Overlooking the Bohol Strait, one has a very impressive view of the sea and its neighboring town, Bohol. Its mountain ranges and lush vegetations entitled the town as “The Only Postcard Town In The Province Of Cebu”.
The name of the town was derived from the word “Bolho” which means “springs of water”. Based on the historical records, the current name had undergone at least five renditions. Formerly, the town was referred to as “Bolhon”, “Bolhong”, “Bolhoon”, and “Bolhoong”. The sixth rendition which is “Bolojon” is believed to be an error in copying “Boljoon”.
The town is known as one of the oldest towns in the southern part of Cebu. It is an agricultural town where fishing and farming are the two main sources of living. The Poblacion is the only commercialized district in the town.
Legend goes that a certain Fray Bartolome de Garcia and his fellow Spanish Augustinian missionaries explored the southern part of Cebu with the purpose of evangelizing the natives. Arriving in the town, they decided to settle in place because of its abundant supply of fresh water. The natives who claimed the land were willing to be converted to Catholicism and were baptized including their leader, Datu Baladian.
Historical facts states that the town was created in year 1598 and the establishment of the parish is done after a year. It appears that the town was first constitutes as a parish before it was elevated into a municipality.
Furthermore, Boljoon was once part of the jurisdiction of Carcar. However, in 1690, due to the growth of Carcar in coverage and parishioners, it was divided and Boljoon became an independent parish both in civil and ecclesiastical administration. So it happens first to be a parish before converted into a civil municipality.
The town is now centuries old. Though progress is evident through modernization of almost everything from housing, vehicles to equipments and gadgets, few old houses, church and other structures still has the touch of the colonial design.
One best example is the present Boljoon Church. The church started its construction in 1783 by Fr. Manuel Cordeo but was completed under the tenure of Fr. Julian Bermejo including the convent. It is especially dedicated to the Mother of God, the Virgin Mary.
Since Boljoon was one of the targeted towns of the Moro raids, the church was constructed with its double purpose. It was part of the quadrumvirate, alongside the churches of Dalaguete, Argao and Oslob. These churches are also referred as fortresses, thus named “fort-churches”, evidenced by its massive walls in coral stones and hard wood. Aside from its ecclesiastical purposes, these served as a protection from the raid and a safe haven for the inhabitants.
Boljoon Church is the oldest remaining stone church in Cebu. Now a Boljoon landmark, it was declared as a “National Historical Landmark” by the National Historical Institute in 1999 and on the following year as a ”National Cultural Treasure” by the National Museum.
Because of the strong devotion of the residents to the Mother of God, they honored her as their protector. According to the story, the Virgin Mary appeared during one of the raids of the invaders. She covered the area with mist and the enemy fled in panic.
The miracle spread far and wide which initiated lots of people to do pilgrimage and has their petitions be answered. It has then become a tradition. The image enshrined in the high altar of the church was believed to have possessed miraculous powers.
Boljoon, though remained humble, has become one of the most interesting places to go in Cebu. Blessed with verdant mountains and hills, pristine beaches, rocky cliffs, historical structures and colorful history, it is an undiscovered paradise of Cebu, just 100 kilometers away from the main city.

Courtesy of: ExploreCebu.com

City Of Good Life

Welcome to Oroquieta City

Layawan was the oldest name of Oroquieta, which was the barrio in the province of Misamis since 1861 until 1879. The early settlers then of the barrio were Boholano peddlers. They found so many stray animals along the river, thus they named the place Layawan, which means a place of stray animals. A little later, Misamis was divided into two provinces, Misamis Occidental and Oriental. Then in 1880, Layawan changed its name into Oroquieta when it became a town. Some sources revealed that the town got its name from a famous barrio in Spain where Father Toas Tomas Casado, the first parish priest here and General Domingo Mariones y Murillo, a hero in the battle of Oroquieta, were born.

Another version is that Oroquieta had derived its name from the word ‘ORO’ and ‘KITA’. The early inhabitants then had found gold along the river. Thus, the name ‘ORO’ which means Gold and ‘QUITA’ or ‘KITA’ which means to find.
Many years had passed; Oroquieta progressed by leaps and bounces until finally it became the capital town (cabecera) on January 6, 1930. As capital town, people of various neighboring provinces came and inhabited in the place where they earn their living through fishing, farming, merchandising and other forms of businesses. Soon afterwards its income increased simultaneously with increase in population.

It is worthy to note that sometime in 1942, Oroquieta was made the capital of the free Philippines by the guerillas. (Personal interview with the late Atty. Vicente Blanco, Municipal Mayor during the Japanese Occupation)
It must be remembered that during this time the late President Manuel L. Quezon together with the late Sergio Osmeña, Sr., a bodyguard and Major Manuel Nieto, Sr. landed in Oroquieta after their evacuation from Corregidor to Australia.
The seat of government of the Free Philippines then was the Capitol. The Free Philippine Government was then issuing Misamis Occidental emergency notes. Late President Quezon, upon knowing that Oroquieta was made a capital of the Free Philippines and that the town was issuing emergency notes, authorized the Printing of the Mindanao emergency note.
Another noteworthy incident during the Japanese occupation was the visit of the former President of the Philippines, Ferdinand E. Marcos and Major Manzano to Oroquieta. That time, the Commanding General of Mindanao was the late Col Wendell Fertig.
Oroquieta was created a City under R.A. 5518 and inaugurated as a chartered city on January 1, 1970. The charter converting the municipality of Oroquieta into a city are signed by President Marcos on June 25, 1969 in the presence of the then City Mayor, the late Ciriaco C. Pastrano, with the newly elected councilors and other city officials.
Oroquieta City is and will always be the home of hospitable and peace loving people.

Oroquieta City Profile

Oroquieta is one of only three thriving cities in Misamis Occidental.  Its strategic location was a major consideration when it was made the capital of the province in 1930 and 40 years later became a chartered city.

There are two prevailing traditions as to the origin of Oroquieta.  One, that Oroquieta got its name from two Spanish words “oro” and “quita” meaning “gold” and “to find” respectively.  Oral tradition has it that early Spanish settlers found gold nuggets along Layawan River hence, the name.
Early recorded history tells that Oroquieta was formerly called “Layawan” – the present name of the city’s biggest river that supplies most of the irrigation needs of the lowlands.  “Layawan” is taken from the root Visayan word “layaw” which means “astray” or “wild”.  The place, being endowed with lush vegetation and foliage, was a haven for roaming wild life which explains why it was called, Layawan.
Layawan, a former barangay of the municipality of Jimenez, became a town in 1880 and named Oroquieta, by Rev. Fr. Tomas Casado, an Augustinian Recollect priest who hailed from a town in Pamplona, Spain called Oroquieta.  Father Casado was instrumental for the development of Oroquieta.
Oroquieta City is located in Northern Mindanao.  It is the capital of the Province of Misamis Occidental and is nestled in the northeastern region of the province with its coastline facing Iligan Bay towards east.  It is within the grid square of 8 33’33” north latitude and 123 44’35” east longitude.  To its north lies the Municipality of Lopez Jaena; to the east is the wide open Bay of Iligan; down south is its sister town of Aloran; west-northwest is the remote town of Concepcion; and to the northwest is Sapang dalaga.  Its total area is about 263m 934 square kilometers roughly 13% of the Northern Mindanao land area.
Oroquieta City, the provincial seat of government, is 42.3 kilometers north of Ozamiz City and 115 kilometers southeast of Dipolog City.  It is accessible by sea with direct overnight voyage from Cebu and land transportation through cemented or asphalted semi-circumferential highway that traverses parallel to the coastline which links the 3 cities and 12 towns of the province except for the hinter towns of Don Victoriano Chiongbian and Concepcion.
Interior barangays of Oroquieta are connected to the coastal areas through a network of feeder roads while the remotest barangay, Sebucal, can only be reached through foot trails.
Courtesy of :  The City Government of Oroquieta

Restaurants & Fast Foods

Courtesy of : Oroquieta City

• Restaurants/Fast Foods
• Bakery & Grocery
• Halang-Halang
• Resources"

The food and dining establishments in Oroquieta City today generate their food production in a "cooking in the kitchen" environment. Majority of them provide catering service which involves a lot of planning, ingredient control and most of all energy consumption. In spite of the costs involved in maintaining their operation, they continue to aim their goals in providing the customer with the best quality of service as well as highest quality and best tasting foods at affordable prices.

I myself have visited and enjoyed the foods of some of these restaurants (including Karen's), and I was very amazed and pleased to receive the best quality of service from the staff. Their delicious foods can lure your palate to have a voracious appetite. The aroma of "Chicken Adobo" and Siopao permeates the surroundings. The delicious cool taste of the frosty fruit-flavored Halo-halo soothes your needs to shelter from the hot weather. The proprietors' ways with food and attention to details of service and delicious tastes wave attractions. I believe that production planning and best quality service to customers are primarily the effective ingredients of their success.

Other food establishments in Oroquieta City are influenced by our Chinese ancestors. Commonly seen in and around the neighboring towns of Oroquieta City are the Chinese restaurants. Each of them features their signature delicacies which are multi-culturally trademarked. Many restaurants features Canton or Shanghai Chinese cooking from the cultural influences of Canton and Shanghai China, respectively. The meticulously layered soft noodles and crispy green vegetables enhances the deliciously reputable Chinese recipes.

With the choices of several restaurants in the area, many people have particularly enjoyed the Rhovic's restaurant. At Rhovic's, you will also enjoy this "spotlight" section where the eating venue is illuminated by the shining blue waters. Like Rhovic's many other restaurants in the city allow you to order from the menus of your hand-picked favorites that are distinct to your palate. For example, the chicken barbecue, siopao, and the delicious and perfect fruity frosty dessert, Halo-halo make Rhovic's and many others among the acclaimed food sites in Oroquieta City.

The pleasure of a "five-star" fine gourmet dining may not be found in Oroquieta City, but the Oriental-Filipino cooking is sensational enough to satisfy your quest for special dining. Aside from the food, the quality of service that you receive from the management and staff are golden privilege to enjoy the hospitality that is being provided. Their organized and task-oriented staff are working harder each day to ensure that their customers are treated with the utmost respect and diligence.

CHOPSTICK Independence Street Poblacion 2, Oroquieta City Contact Person: Mrs. Emma L. Lim Tel. No. (088) 531-1125 DDC CAKE SHOPPE & NODDLE HOUSE Enerio Street Poblacion 2, Oroquieta City Contact Person: Mr. Danny de la Cerna Tel. No. (088) 531-1912 KAREN’s BARBECUE & FAST FOOD Corner Enerio & Ozamis Streets Layawan District, Oroquieta City Contact Person: Mr. Julius Tac-an Tel. No. (088) 531-1162 NORTHPOLE Independence Street Poblacion 2, Oroquieta City Contact Person: Mr. Orlando Tiu, Jr. Tel. No. (088) 531-2026

PEARL JOY RESTAURANT Barrientos Street Poblacion 2, Oroquieta City Contact Person: Ms. Pearl Joy C. Roferos Tel. No. (088) 531-1138 RHOVIC’s PLACE Magsaysay Street Poblacion 1, Oroquieta City Contact Person: Mr. Rudy Ala Tel. No. (088) 531-1916 RUFING’s EATERY & LODGE Enerio Street Poblacion 2, Oroquieta City Contact Person: Mrs. Rufina C. Taladua Tel. No. (088) 531-2012 TATINE’s FOOD HOUSE Independence Street Poblacion 2, Oroquieta City Contact Person: Mr. Eduardo N. Matildo Tel. No. (088) 531-1131