MIAA: Asean meet gave RP chance to showcase hospitality

Ranking government and airport officials took pride yesterday on the warm hospitality accorded to foreign ministers and other delegates to the 40th Assocation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ministerial meeting held here last week.

“We adopted our Filipiniana theme in the welcoming and sending off of our guests by having our public relations staff don updated versions of Filipiniana outfits and the Barong Tagalog and instructing our food servers to prepare fresh juices featuring a wide array of fruits that the country is known for,” said MIAA assistant general for airport development and corporate affairs Tirso Serrano.

“We may not have the same level of modernity in terms of airport facilities compared with other global airports but when it comes to our warmth, and level of sincere service from our ever-smiling and courteous airport staff, NAIA can very well compete and help promote the country as a whole,” he added.

Upon setting foot on Philippine soil, foreign ministers and heads of delegations of the 27 participating ASEAN countries as well as delegates from non-member nations were met by Department of Foreign Affairs chief of Protocol Jerrill Santos, senior DFA officials led by Undersecretaries Ebdalin Custodio and Esteban Conejos, and other government officials.

“These are indeed rare opportunities for the country to put its best foot forward and we at MIAA can only be too glad to serve and be at our utmost best when officials and guests of their caliber come to visit,” MIAA general manager Alfonso Cusi said.

“Whenever we succeed in giving positive impressions about the airport and the country as a whole, these pleasant experiences somehow contribute to making the country a favorite destination and an investment haven,” Cusi said.  – Michael Punongbayan