The rains were relentless, from morning throughout night; young girls and boys got a day off from school, government workers were told to leave their offices, and the streets were covered with knee-high waters. Indeed, everyone scrambled to go home.
But somewhere inside the historic Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base in Pasay, in a glittering makeshift tent at the Lufthansa Technik Philippines hangar, there was a grand celebration, perhaps the grandest that night in that corner of the metropolis.
The bad weather last Tuesday failed to dampen the festivities and no less than President Duterte came to party.
It was the 83rd birthday of taipan Lucio Tan — many times the subject of the President’s ire in the past — and the roll-out of the new Airbus A350 and A321neo of Tan’s four-star carrier Philippine Airlines.
The President arrived early, gave El Kapitan a most endearing message, sat beside him and even stayed for a while to listen to Sharon Cuneta serenade the well-heeled crowd.
“May God grant you a thousand years more of your life. Happy birthday, Mr. Tan. You are 83 years old and still a success story on all fronts. I wish you a happy birthday and may you continue to be endowed with good health, countless blessings and greater success in all endeavors,” said the President.
Clearly, the President has had a change of heart, softening on the taipan whom he criticized many times in the past.
Many were wondering what happened. Wonder no more, said Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez. A whopping P6 billion in taxes and Kuwait flights happened.
“They’ve paid their taxes. That’s what the President wants — for them to just follow the law. Don’t take shortcuts,” Sec. Sonny said when asked about President Duterte’s softening stance on businessmen like Tan.
Last year, the President threatened to shut down the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 if PAL failed to pay its P6-billion tax liabilities. PAL has been using the terminal since 1999.
But it’s water under the bridge now as seen in Duterte’s presence in Tuesday’s party. PAL has paid its dues.
As for the Kuwait flights, Duterte thanked PAL and Gokongwei-owned Cebu Pacific for helping repatriate distressed overseas Filipino workers from Kuwait after he enforced a ban on the deployment of workers to the Arab country following the death of eight Filipinos who were allegedly maltreated by their employers.
“Let me just express my profound gratitude to the two airlines that helped government during the Kuwait stressful moments – not a crisis,” he said.
A diplomatic row between Manila and Kuwait erupted in April after videos showing Philippine embassy staff rescuing Filipinos from their employers circulated on the internet. The “unauthorized” rescue prompted Kuwait to expel Philippine Ambassador Pedro Villa and to declare him persona non grata.
As for the new planes, Duterte didn’t have time to go up inside the two new aircraft but he was eager to get even a glimpse of it.
“Asan ang eroplano?” he asked as soon as he got on stage, drawing laughter from the crowd. When he arrived, the curtains weren’t parted yet to reveal the planes, which were parked elegantly outside the hangar.
Tan and PAL officials trumpeted the planes.
“As the PAL family works together to achieve our dream of becoming a five-star global carrier, we have achieved great strides in support of this goal…I am happy to welcome the A321neo and A350 to our fleet,” Kapitan said.
PAL president Jimmy Bautista said with the new planes, PAL hopes to reclaim its stature as one of the best airlines.
Duterte left after a while, but the celebration continued.
I guess all’s well that ends well.
Among those who came celebrate with the taipan were US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose “Babe” Romualdez, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Transportation Secretary Art Tugade, Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, Duterte’s pal Sammy Uy, who is a director of PAL and former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco, also a director of PAL.
Ambassador Sung Kim to stay in his post
Speaking of US Ambassador Kim, he doused cold water on rumors he is being recalled to Washington to help resolve the US-North Korea issue because of his expertise on the matter.
Kim said the rumor is not true. “I love it here,” he said.
NAIA consortium is keeping its fingers crossed
Meanwhile, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), the government agency responsible for the management of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport will decide in its meeting today (July 19) whether or not it will grant the NAIA airport consortium of seven conglomerates the original proponent status as recommended by the transportation department.
Members of the consortium, some of whom also graced Tan’s birthday celebration, are keeping their fingers crossed.
PAL’ Bautista said they are really hoping to get the OPS and move forward with the project. The country’s airport infrastructure is already way behind those in other countries, he said.
I agree and I hope, indeed, that we would soon have an efficient and refurbished world-class airport, one that we Filipinos truly deserve.
Iris Gonzales’ e-mail address is eyesgonzales@gmail.com