PAL inaugurates Mabuhay Lounge in Cebu Airport
The GMR Group of India and the Mega Wide Construction Corporation in a joint venture that started in 2016 recently delivered a second terminal in Mactan Cebu to meet the growing passenger traffic in the Visayas. The extensive project provides a world-class terminal airport with a welcoming ambiance that is distinctly Filipino, particularly Cebuano. On June 7, Terminal 2 was inaugurated by President Rodrigo Duterte.
As expected in five-star airports, lounges are added as a service to premium passengers. Accommodations may include private meeting rooms, Internet access and other business services along with provisions to enhance passenger comfort.
Jaime Bautista with Jordan Lamberto Magsaysay, Cynthia Almario, Ivy Almario, Beatrice Isabelle Cabagay and Karl Patrick Santiago
PAL’s brand new Mabuhay Lounge at the Mactan Cebu International Airport in Terminal 2 opened its doors to the four-Star carrier’s business class and premier elite passengers with a simple blessing ceremony. Among the attendees were Jaime Bautista, PAL president and COO; Louie Ferrer, president of GMR Mega Wide Cebu Airport Corp.; Shalimar Hofer Tamano, DOT Region 7 director; William Tan, PAL VP corporate logistics and services; Meliton Pascual Jr. VP airport operations; Jose E.L. Perez de Tagle, VP for corporate communications; Salvador Britanico Jr., VP inflight services, Ismael Gozon Sr., VP airline operations and Benedicto Yap, AVP Mactan Airport operations department .
With design context by GRiT Design Studio and execution by Atelier Almario, the lounge showcases Filipino culture by way of combining contrasting influences — Eastern and Western. These contrasts are seen via the presence of lines and curves I the foyer with a multi-faceted cantilevered reception desk adorned with a background of tribal tapestries cut and laminated on backlit glass.
World-class Mactan Cebu International Airport Terminal
The open layout of the lounge itself projects the warm and welcoming nature of Filipino hospitality. Natural wood finishes envelope the space with warmth and the texture of stone provides a dramatic contrast.
The PAL lounge utilizes Net Effect, a carpet tile collection that depicts and pays tribute to the country’s oceans and seas.
The 190-sq.m. lounge carries PAL’s trademark food and beverage selection and has free Wi-FI access, Flight Information Display Systems and a tarmac view location.
