I will live with a facility that is old and decrepit but I cannot live along with people who are hurting and demotivated. How can they serve well if their soul are bedraggled.

Yes let us tell the pilots to love our country but when the stomach is aching or the respect to oneself is zero a catastrophic scenario is just around the corner.

Moreso, if offers on all sides of the globe is very tempting.

There is a middle ground. However, I think that this is a case of a lazy giant not having a competition that led to this quagmire. A giant that has become so relax that it forgot basic responsibilities to its people.
Haaay PAL.

The last time I talked about airports it feels like I am ranting. But of course I do. I believe that we must rant in order to be felt by the government and private sectors that are powerful to make some change in our airports.

It seems my ranting is working. I know that I am not the only one making comments about our airports, there are millions of nationalistic Pinoys praying and hoping to someday see an airport that would be like an edifice that everybody can be proud of.

Last time I have heard it was Manny Pangilinan who wanted to develop Clark Airport, I feel elated and looking forward in him making it happen. However, today it hit the major dailies that a consortium backed by the Malaysian government is willing to pour $150 Million in direct investments to jumpstart Clarks Airport Development.

I say things are looking a bit rosy. I say if all transactions are above board then let us do it. Secretary Alberto Lim, Department of Toursim, said that it is his priority. P-Noy emphasized this focus on making infrastructure a center piece of his leadership in the government to uplift not only our economy but our spirit as a country that is eager to embrace development.

Again, let us do it and make a dash to the finish line of having an International Airport that will make tourists feel great upon landing in our country and our Balikbayan and OFWs proud upon returning to their country.

Today’s headline banners the first Philippine Marketing Plan that is geared towards achieving P2.4 trillion worth of investments. It is a welcome news and I pray that this happen. However, before this happen I would just like to make a pragmatic observation. How can we achieve it if we do not have the infrastructure to welcome the investors? In particular, we have to have a first class and state-of-the-art airport to prove our seriousness to achieve this plan.


Just recently, I blogged about the plight of our airports, I called P-Noy to take a special look on the airport industry. Funny that day after my blog, our airport encountered the breakdown of our NAIA Radar that sent thousands of passengers stranded and flights re-routed to Clark.

I believe that we as a country can achieve the dreams we are all aspiring for – to be a developed nation, but this recent event reeks of incompetence and lack of proactiveness to have redundancy in the area of systems that critical in running an efficient and safe airport.

Again, in this particular industry we have suffered enough from the downgrade coming from US, to the ban implemented by Europe, to the decrepit and ailing NAIA 1 and 2, and now the conking out of the radar.

So amidst the much publicized Philippine Marketing Plan and the target earnings it promised to deliver I feel that it will be more words than action if we will not do something about our airports.

Our airports are the world’s entry to our country. It is the tourists and investors first moment of truth experience of the Philippines and yet our official and businessmen that declare their love for our country seem to be turning blind in confronting the airport maladies.

Just recently, Singapore experienced its first flood in the Orchard Road, and yet a day after this catastrophe, the officials and department assigned to monitor such disaster came out and apologize. To think that Singapore only experienced this incident only now, not often as we do, but their government officials and our government officials have disparate value system.

A change in the government leadership is a positive change; I pray that my ranting turns to praising in the end. I know Filipinos can do it and we can do it. The first step is a massive improvement with our airports that will make us proud and clap our hands symbolizing we have arrived in the center stage of the world.

Now that the dust of the election campaign has settled it is time to buckle down to work.

Base on all economic indicators, like consumer price index and GNP, all is looking up. However , before anything else. Before we are drown into celebration, I would just like to request that President Noynoy Aquino and his government should prioritize in creating an International Caliber Airport.

Yes! An Airport that will awe the tourist visiting in our country. An airport that will symbolize our resurgence as a country that will grab the economic opportunity the changing world offers.

Each time I go out of the country, there is always that gnawing feeling that our airport is one of those lagging behind our Asian neighbours and the world. I know the same sentiment is shared by other Filipinos who wanted to showcase how great our country is in terms of tourism and doing business here.

No wonder our tourist visitors last year is only at three million while our Asian neighbours generated as high as 14 Million.

It is not rocket science, if we do not have the facility and infrastructure to welcome visitors we will not have visitors. Tourist visitors that can promote our country thru world of mouth when they get back home to their respective countries. Business tourists that can be encouraged to set-up shop in our country.

Even our three million visitors are mostly comprise of Balikbayans. A sad reality that does not augur well to our country.

We are declaring that we are embracing globalization and yet we are not doing anything to improve the access of our country to the rest of the world who are very eager to get inside, provided there is ease of access and security.

President Noynoy I know that the past government will leave you a big budget deficit. But please do not make it as an excuse not to create an International Airport – the country’s welcome lobby to the world.

I once attended an event welcoming a new tourism official, she said that our country is the heart of Asia. I like that and I hope the rest of the world can personally know that the Heart of Asia truly is something worth seeking and immersing for.

But only if the heart provides an accessible door way for those willing to enter – an Airport that is.