Pal's Daghang Salamat/Madayaw Awards 2006

Once again, we received an invitation from Jun Canton of PAL-Cebu's Corporate Communications Dept. to attend the annual honoring of Philippine Airlines of its top producers in the Visayas and Mindanao. For the second year, it was held at Century Park Hotel in Manila and we looked forward to another rousing get-together with our friends in the travel trade industry. And what a lively night it turned out to be!

Asumptuous buffet dinner was laid out in the hotel's ballroom where a dance floor was set for an all night dancing after the awards. It was a double-event as PAL was also celebrating its 65th Year of Service so the airline bigwigs, led by PAL President Jaime Bautista and EVP-Commercial Group Henry So Uy, were seen welcoming the guests at cocktails in the foyer. Also attending to the guests were VP-Corp. Communications Rolando Estabillo and AVP Visayas Sales & Services Barazel Salazar. PAL-Cebu angels who took good care of us, Cebu media guests, were Jun, Marijo Aranita, Gemma Karganilla and Ayee Noval.

The 2005-2006 PAL Visayas Stars are the following: all-time gold awardees Destination Specialists (represented by Marget Vilarica) and Grand Holidays (represented by Christine Tan); silver awards for Travelways (proprietor Alan Carvajal received the plaque), Cebu Fortune Travel (glamorous owner Aida Uy was there) and Worldwide Travel (intrepid couple Zenaida & Paquito Chua went onstage); bronze awardees - Grand Hope Travel (represented by another intrepid husband/wife team Baby and Nelson Dy), Leisure Travel (bubbly Sheila Colmenares received the award as hubby Caloy applauded), Pan Pacific Travel (represented by Rosie Gwen Po), Global Link (with the dynamic couple Andrew & Jenny Teh), Universal Holidays Inc.(represented by Rosemarie Avila) and UniOrient Travel.

Entertainment was never wanting with intermission numbers provided by upcoming young singers Jed Madela and Angelika de la Cruz. Then Big Night Out Band filled the ballroom with danceable tunes that made dancer-ous couples fill up the dance floor in no time. I was told that the dancing lasted till the wee hours. Trust travel trade personalities to know really how to party. And expect the nation's flag carrier to be the perfect host!

Congratulations to all the PAL Stars this year and daghang salamat, Jun and Philippine Airlines for a great overnight break.