IT was a bit startling to see a woman done up like the Roman goddess Libertas walking around nodding her head ever so slightly at passersby. For a moment there, I felt like I had been mysteriously transported to some mall where cosplayers seemingly have become a fixture.
But of course, I wasn’t at a mall. It was a mid-March evening and I was at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2, dragging my lone check-in luggage through the routine security stops en route to New York, USA, to which flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) had invited a group of media people for its inaugural flight to the Big Apple via the John F. Kennedy International Airport. Thus, the walking Libertas (best known to all as the Statue of Liberty) at the airport premises—and, at the departure gate, a send-off setup that had a cardboard yellow taxi cab parked against a backdrop of (presumably) Broadway, along with a hotdog and lemonade stand, and what else but the rousing Kanderand Ebb classic “New York, New York” playing in a loop in the background.
Needless to say, the song choice couldn’t be helped obviously because, despite the best and rather impressive efforts of Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, “I want to wake up in a city that never sleeps” isn’t going to be displaced anytime soon by “Concrete jungle where dreams are made of” as the tune that defines this city as much as, yes, yellow taxi cabs, hotdog-and-lemonade stands and the Statue of Liberty do. At the PAL send-off ceremony that March evening, it was—not surprisingly—the Sinatra version that was played endlessly, although I must say that I’ve always preferred the original and thoroughly exuberant Liza Minnelli version from the 1977 Martin Scorsese film of the same name.
By the way, the flight of PAL’s Boeing 777-300ER (PR 126) into New York may have been bandied about as an “inaugural” before and after the occasion, but that wouldn’t be quite right. It marked a “return” to New York by the flag carrier, which serviced the route for a year back in 1996 via what is now the Newark Liberty International Airport. It was, however, PAL’s “inaugural” journey into the Big Apple by way of JFK International Airport.
Regardless, there was plenty of high spirits at the send-off ceremony, which drew not only the top officials of PAL, including Chairman and CEO Dr. Lucio Tan and President and COO Jaime J. Bautista, but also top officials from the government’s tourism and transport agencies, and of course, US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg who spoke of how “PAL’s return to New York is a testament to our friendship, our common history and shared heritage.”
For his part, the affable Jaime Bautista said: “Deep in our hearts, we knew that one day, PAL would be back in New York. After 18 years, that day has come. And that day is today, March 15, 2015, which is also Philippine Airlines’s founding anniversary. This milestone would not have been realized without the support of many sectors…most especially, the Filipino-American communities of New York, New Jersey and many other areas along the eastern seaboard who are our most passionate supporters and who have passionately pushed for the resumption of PAL New York operations.
“Above all, PAL is today back in New York because of the vision and drive of one man—our chairman, Dr. Lucio Tan. It was also under Dr. Tan’s leadership 18 years ago that PAL first flew to this city. And he has made sure that we would return, no matter how long it took, under his watch.”
On that note, Dr. Tan—the Filipino-Chinese tycoon whose business interests, including aviation, food and beverages, liquor and tobacco, banking and real estate, have helped shape and fuel the country’s economy—took over the rostrum and said: “I am very happy to be here today to welcome you to the inaugural flight to New York City (via JFK International Airport). This marks PAL’s return to New York after 18 years. Today is also special because the inaugural flight is happening on PAL’s 74th founding anniversary.
“Our sincerest thanks to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States and friends in travel and trade. I also wish to thank my PAL family for their efforts in making this US East Coast service a reality. Please enjoy the flight. PAL is happy to serve you on board PR 126.”
And indeed PAL was. Moments later, we were up in the air with the cabin crew of PR 126, led by flight purser Bernard Buenaventura, making sure that everyone was comfortably ensconced in their seats and all the in-flight creature comforts were provided—and for many in our group, the highlight of these could only be PAL’s legendary arroz caldo with a side of dilis that is always a taste of heaven. I was this close to requesting for a second serving but that would’ve been the third really, the first of which I greedily finished off in mere moments while waiting at PAL’s Mabuhay Lounge for the send-off ceremonies to start.
PAL’s flights to New York take all of 17 hours, with a stop in Vancouver, and through it I alternated between getting some shut eye and getting as much work done (and e-mailed back to the office via the plane’s in-flight Wi-Fi service). On that “inaugural” flight, I woke up several times to the sight of Dr. Tan and Mr. Bautista going up and down the aisles ensuring that everyone was comfortable and having a marvelous time.
Now, that’s Filipino hospitality for you.
Coming up next, my vagabond shoes that have longed to stray right through the very heart of it—New York, New York. Well…exploring at least as much as 48 hours would allow.
***Philippine Airlines flies from Manila to New York every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 11:50 pm, with a two-hour stop in Vancouver. Return flights depart JFK International Airport at 11 am every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, also with a stop in Vancouver. For information, visit www.philippineairlines.com.
