A fiesta atmosphere prevailed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Centennial Terminal when the first of about five flights going to the former British Crown Colony of Hong Kong bearing the First Gentleman and most of the athletes boarded Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight PR300 several minutes before its takeoff at 8 a.m.
The entire Hong Kong Disneyland-bound Filipino delegation which will go on a total of four flights either via PAL or Cebu Pacific Airlines reached 337 people with 205 supposedly being Filipino athletes.
Airport sources said a good number of the delegation included members of the First Family and close associates of the First Gentleman.
Accompanying the First Gentleman on PR 300 were his son Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo, daughter-in-law Angela Arroyo, and granddaughter Mikaela Gloria Arroyo. Following on an evening flight is daughter Luli Arroyo and son Dato Arroyo.
Those who left a day earlier for Hong Kong were his chief of staff Juris Soliman and former Lualhati Foundation and Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) head Edgardo Manda and his family.
The Philippine contingent left on three separate flights. First to depart was a chartered Cebu Pacific flight which was followed by the First Gentleman’s flight onboard the PAL flight. A third flight carrying another set of athletes left late yesterday afternoon.
The First Gentleman mingled with the athletes at the PAL boarding gate and shared light banter with them just before boarding.
As part of the athletes’ incentives, the First Gentleman is giving them $300 each as pocket money.