Cebu Pacific launches promo for OFWs in Dubai

MANILA, Philippines - Julius Pangilinan, a 23-year-old waiter in a tony restaurant in Dubai, has been skipping meals to save for a flight ticket to Manila.

His contract will end in three years and he can’t wait to see his family again. Unfortunately a two-way ticket costs $1,000.

If Julius is lucky, he can come home this October for free with Cebu Pacific and GMA Pinoy TV Team’s newest “100 Lucky Juans” promo.

CEB President and CEO Lance Gokongwei and top GMA honcho Felipe Gozon said the promo is their way of honoring the efforts of OFWs in Dubai.

“The 100 Lucky Juans promo is our way of recognizing OFW’s hardwork and significant contributions to the country. Their coming home on our maiden Dubai-Manila flight signifies Cebu Pacific’s good news — they can now come home more often,” Gokongwei said.

“We are committed to serving global Filipinos, wherever we fly. Our hope is that by making fares much more affordable, frequent reunions for overseas Pinoys and their families will be possible via Cebu Pacific’s low fare, direct service, “ Gokongwei added.

Cebu Pacific is the first Philippine budget carrier to fly directly from Manila to Dubai, with year-round fares starting at P6,999 (one-way). The service, which will offer seven times a week flights, will begin on Oct. 7.

The fares are 40 percent cheaper compared to the rates of other Middle East carriers.

“It’s a pretty good price since the average fare to Dubai from Manila is $1,000. Our rates are low, you’ll never be able to travel that cheap to Dubai,” Gokongwei said.

According to recent statistics, there are now 700,000 Filipinos living and working in Dubai. A recent data from the Philippine Overseas and Employment Agency (POEA) said there are currently 2.3 million Pinoys working and living in the Middle East.

In a previous interview last January, Cebu Pacific announced its plans to introduce long-haul destinations this year and the delivery of two Airbus A330 and additional two in 2014.

“Our goal really is to open flights to places where there is a huge concentration of Filipinos. We always have in mind countries which have big OFW population,” he said.

For its Dubai flights, Cebu Pacific will use an Airbus A330-300 aircraft with a capacity of 436 seats and available wi-fi service. Like typical long-haul flights, the airline will offer meals and host fun games onboard for that certain Cebu Pacific touch.

‘Lucky Juans’

The Lucky Juans promo is open to all Filipinos working in the Middle East, aged 21-65 years old. Contestants should be subscribers of GMA International Channels and have not been back to the Philippines for at least one year.

To join, contestants must simply “Like” Cebu Pacific’s official Facebook page, click on the 100 Lucky Juans application, and answer the question: “How will I make my homecoming in the Philippines fun?”

Answers may be in a format of a photo collage, a two-minute video or an essay of 200 words or less. Entries will be accepted until August 18, 2013 and judged based on creativity, adherence to the theme and number of “likes” it will garner on Facebook. The contestant’s length of stay in the Middle East will also be a factor in the results.

Cebu Pacific will allow three members of the family household to win.

Winners, which will total to 100 in 14 weeks, will be announced weekly starting June 3 until Sept. 2, 2013.  They will fly back to the Philippines on Oct. 7 on the inaugural flight of Cebu Pacific’s direct service from Dubai to Manila. They can use their return ticket to Dubai anytime until November 30, 2013.