Espina: 50th year of Silkair

THE golden year of SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines, will touch down with a countrywide travel fair on Feb.19 to 21 at the Gallery of Ayala Center Cebu. On the same dates it will also be at the Glorietta Center, Makati.

Ganesh Perumal, SilkAir Philippines manager and Julienne Irene Chiong, Bank of Philippine Islands (BPI) regional marketing head, hosted a media lunch at Laguna Garden Cafe to announce their partnership with Kris Flyer members, BPI credit cardholders, Ayala Center shoppers and Globe Platinum customers.

Kristene Dianne Lim, senior sales officer of Silkair, said, “SilkAir’s amazing anniversary sales will offer all-inclusive round trip promotional rates at USD $150, with an option of real zero percent interest of up to six months, with BPI special installment plan valid from Feb. 1-29 purchases.” These amenities come in special packages from Economy, Premium Economy and Business Class fares, with free one-night hotel stay in Singapore.

In 1992, (exact date escapes me) Charles Lim, then part of SilkAir’s marketing arm, brought the University of San Jose-Recoletos Dramatics and Cultural Ensemble for a show at Orchard Hotel Singapore. The show showcased Cebu’s arts through fashion designer Leonardo Igloria and launched SilkAir in Cebu. Singapore is one of my best destinations from both business and cultural linkages. Years ago, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry had a successful travel and tourism mission. Moreover, we had very fruitful media fam tours in the past years.

Kung Hei Fat Choi

The close Cebu-Chinese ties have all these years been manifested in arts, culture, tourism, trade and education. Every February, the Chinese New Year has been fabulously celebrated. The resorts and hotels are prime movers.