Turning night into day...

Another storm in Luzon has again allowed our airport, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, to provide sanctuary to 10 diverted flights, 10 delayed flights and five evacuated aircraft. After leaving a trail of destruction, and covering the whole of metropolitan Manila in darkness, Storm Basyang had again proven that man and his machinery could do nothing much against such calamities, but to wait, hold on together and rebuild lives. The flights resumed immediately after operations were restored in the Manila airport.

Other storms have put into question the capacity of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to operate for 24 hours under any condition of visibility and human endurance, in accordance with internationally accepted standards of airport accommodation. Many problems of maintenance and procurement of needed navigational aids have come about because of issues of antiquated laws and policies. No matter who takes over and promises profusely to effect changes for the better, he is destined to fail if everyone does not unite to do his work at all levels of the organization.

Our airport here in Cebu operates with the same type of DVOR that has served for even longer than that of NAIA. But we have had only 4 failures in the past, and have managed to put this vital navigation equipment back in operation always. The same is true of the radars and the limited-use ILS. While the airport maintains the airfield (runway, taxiways and parking aprons) and the different terminals, it is CAAP that operates the navigation equipment all through out the archipelago, connecting the different hub and destination airports in a system of airways. It is the great partnership between MCIAA, CAAP and the Air Force that has made our airport able to do its mandate as a major hub in Asia.

In And Out

The Mactan Cebu International Airport has been an active participant in the nation’s important activities. In the almost four years I have been here, I have witnessed and have been much involved in numerous welcome and send-off activities.

Last June 24, we welcomed the new US Ambassador, his Excellency Harry K Thomas Jr., in his first official trip to Cebu. The Air Force 2nd Air Division Commander, Major General Jess Fajardo welcomed the Ambassador, while the 560th Air Base Wing Commander, Colonel Dong Dimatatac led the military honors at the ramp of the MIP Lounge.

Last June 28, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was in Cebu to officiate many oathtaking activities across the province. Her last was the oathtaking of the new mayor, vice mayor and councilors of Lapu-lapu City. This was done inside the MIP Lounge.

After the picture-taking activities were completed, I walked the President to her aircraft for the last time from Cebu. This time we were able to talk longer about many different things. I could not help being overwhelmed by the significance and the formality of the honor and privilege.

I have served and performed several honors already to five presidents in the past. I received my diploma at PMA from President Ferdinand E Marcos, led honors for President Corazon C Aquino at Clark, President Fidel V Ramos at Villamor Air Base, Subic and at Washington DC, when I was attaché, with President Joseph E Estrada at a small town in New York State and at Wallace Air Station, La Union and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at Sangley, Cavite, at Clark and now at Mactan. To be entrusted with great responsibilities under these five presidents certainly defines the highest level of service to the nation and I will always be thankful for the honor and privilege.

Jampacked July

We were caught by surprise by the number of charter flights to Cebu this month. A total of 58 more flights were added to our already many international flights for July. Yes, school is out in Korea and in many other countries; but this is the only time we have seen these much number of flights. From 66 flights weekly, we have increased to an average of 80 international flights a week for July. This is the highest in the whole history of the Mactan Cebu International Airport.

Since most of the international flights were at night, we focused on the two nights with the greatest number of additional flights – July 21-22 and 24-25. We started to be at the Terminal at 2200 of July 21.

We witnessed the arrival of the first Air Phil Express Airbus 320 in the new livery of orange, blue, yellow and white. The aircraft docked at Bridge 3 at about 2220, as we welcomed their first passengers from Manila.

As the Air Phil Express aircraft started to leave, we went on to check on the international flights, one after the other: Asiana, Korean Air, Jeju Air, Cebu Pacific, PAL, Shanghai Air, China Southern, China Eastern and Trans Asia arrived from Inchon, Pusan, Jeju Island, Shanghai, Canton, Taipei, and Singapore.

The staff at Customs, Immigration and Quarantine had their hands full. The check in counters had to be efficiently turned around and many times shared among airlines. We had to use Lounge 6 at the ground floor and Aircraft Parking Bays 1 and 6, that had no Boarding Bridge and passengers had to walk a short distance or take a bus.

The airport has started to be proficient in night operations and the rain added challenges, as well. This July, we operated for 24 hours continuously as international and domestic flights overlapped at 4AM and 11:30PM. The six parking bays and the eight waiting lounges were extensively used. The storm diverts and evacuations did not hamper the 24-hour operation in a major way.

We look forward to the completion of the Terminal Upgrade and Expansion and the new ILS equipment and Navigational Aids Improvement.

In life we all have the same ups and downs, but the journey becomes easy when we all join hands, carry the sun across many storms...and Follow The Dream.