Thursday, May 03, 2007 Magsaysay: Sprouting wings By Jo Magsaysay Whatever
What I do not know about Cebu Pacific Airways can probably fill this column, I’m glad Charles Lim remembered to invite me to Cafe Marco for a buffet dinner and an update.
In my case, a briefing, an actual lowdown of facts and figures being practically clueless about Cebu Pacific Airways (CPA, CEB, PPA, whatever!), I only know that the airfare is cheaper than that of the national carrier and that the flights depart and arrive on schedule according to the effectively appealing commercials.
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Not really, Charles enlightens, sometimes there are hitches and glitches which are unforeseen so our planes are delayed. Straightforward. That’s what I like about this old friend from way back when we were charter members of Skoal - the premier club of the travel industry. Non-nonsense Charlie. About the facts and figures, Candace Ablanza Iyog, a tall very attractive young woman who could be a photographer’s model anytime if she were not vice president for marketing and products, opened my eyes to some interesting info about Cebu Pacific which I’d be happy to share with you, eliminating of course, statistics and percentages which I barely understand. Certainly, I know more about Cebu Pacific.
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So should you:
………..that it is not only on par with its closest competitor, it actually, by leaps and bounds over the few years, is leading PAL in terms of flight frequencies and is "slowly dominating the domestic market travelers."
………..that international flights have soared to such heights that routes had to be increased and growth destination to and from Cebu have risen considerably.
………...that the growing Asian network including Taiwan, Bangkok, Singapore, Jakarta, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur can spread onward, outward, beyond these points to special destinations.
…………that there are nine daily flights out of Cebu to Manila which I did not know about and was communicated to me by RG Orense, corporate communications officer.
…………that Cebu Pacific is the first airline to have a woman pilot flying the skies since two years ago. …………that the Happy Pilots training club keeps their pilots quite happy and content there is no way that they will allow themselves to be "pirated."
…………that 20 aircraft have been ordered for delivery in 2011-2013 but that being too far ahead in the future, the airline is leasing additional aircraft aside from the two brand new planes already delivered, a couple more due for delivery this year and then again, 3 or 4 more aircrafts expected by 2009.
…………that the increasing cost of fuel will not in any way increase the price of airfare (in answer to a question posed by Richard Ramos who seems completely What’s On and ‘What’s Up’ in the current scene.
…………that this fledgling airline has sprouted feathers in such a few years it has become a giant in the industry.
…………that it goes without saying that Cebu Pacific is run as efficiently as the diverse other corporations in the immense conglomerate under JG Summit Holdings, which of course is headed by the business titan John Gokongwei.
………..that I could have been more suitably impressed and detailed if I pressed for additional info about the other corporations from Viveca Singson of JG Summit Holdings. She was such a delight, looking like she did, like a pixie with her short hair in spikes, a butterfly tattooed on her left shoulder and twinkling about her state of single blessedness and the gargantuan buffet…"the longest ever, it would take four hours to go through."…at the Westin Plaza...that this dodo, this flightless bird who became extinct in air travel for the past couple of decades may sprout wings and fly, just to get the feel, the excitement of flying Cebu Pacific. Right, Charles?
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A sneak preview of grander things to come at the Marco Polo Plaza. A peek into a June wedding during the merry, marry month of May when the Fashion Council of Cebu joins hands with Marco Polo Plaza to engage the prospective June bride and groom in the excitement of wedding preparations. All the details of picking out invitations, a wedding gown, a trousseau, flowers, photographers, will come easy and convenient with the assistance of professionals. Meet them all at the Bridal Fair and Fashion Show at the grand ballroom of the Marco Polo Plaza.
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The mini fashion show presented by the Fashion Council of Cebu was a delight. Top designers and couturiers of Cebu headed by Perlas awardee Philip Rodriguez, Felix Yu, Arcy Gayatin, Ditas Rodriguez, OJ Hofer, Jun Escario, Albert Arriba, Minnie Yuvienco and Rey Santos showed off a sample of their creations, lovely enough to wear for an engagement party or include in the bridal trousseau. Like adding a touch of class in Philip’s formal gown of mint green modeled by the exquisite Melanie Ediza; a cool summer ade from Ditas in watermelon pink and lime; Felix design of shapely in candy stripes; Minnie’s cocktail dress, flouncy, flirty indigo; chic and stylish lines by Jun Escario and other exciting designs by Cebu’s best.
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A date to remember…May 19…at the Marco Polo Plaza, a romantic place for a wedding reception of any bride and groom to make love’s dreams come true…
