Another Aguirre war

In this country, the concept of family extends not only to close relatives but even to in-laws, with help generously provided when a member is in trouble – which is precisely what Maria Belen Baylon-Mangonon did when she came home a few years ago to help her twin sister Mariemil Baylon (who passed away in 2010 due to lung cancer). Mariemil was the long-time live-in partner of Adolfo “Ady” Aguirre, who happens to be the biological father of ex-presidential girlfriend Shalani Soledad (now Mrs. Roman Romulo) and brother to polo playing businessman Bobby Aguirre of Banco Filipino. The relationship between Bobby and Ady have been marked by a “war-and-peace” saga with the latter currently finding himself in the good graces of Bobby as witnessed during the Soledad-Romulo wedding where the brothers were seen engaged in what seemed like deep conversation.

Reports reaching Spy Bits allege that while Mariemil lay dying in the hospital, Baylon-Mangonon used her financial resources to help not only her twin sister but Ady as well, who was reportedly unemployed at the time and in dire need of emotional support. Baylon-Mangonon reportedly helped Aguirre with his financial needs (including paying up for his stay at Ascott hotel in Makati for almost a year) in the belief that Aguirre would make good on his promise to pay her back. Imagine her surprise, therefore, when her repeated requests for payment of outstanding obligations owed her (over P2.6 million plus $38,000 plus) were repeatedly ignored – despite Ady having managed to sell family-owned real estate property amounting to several millions.

So now you have a lady in distress, unable to find employment, her credit card rating shot to pieces and her future virtually robbed – simply because she had been generous to extend help to “family” when it was needed. As they say, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, and we have it on good authority that the lady is now preparing to fight for her rights, with a draft complaint already prepared for filing and the case to be handled by the high-powered law firm of Tan Acut Lopez & Pison.

Phenom-enal Embraer

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer is making a lot of inroads in Asia, particularly in China where the company secured an agreement with Avic for the production of Legacy 600 and 650 aircraft in Harbin, northern China. Aircraft manufacturers are upbeat about the great market potential China has to offer in the area of executive aviation, with the wealthy Chinese upholding their business and social standing by having their own aircraft. It is estimated that the demand for executive fleet will grow ten-fold in China in the next decade worth over $21 billion.

Emerging as one of the favorites is Embraer’s Phenom 300, a light jet which can accommodate up to nine passengers with a price range estimated at over $8.5 million. Early this month, Embraer also delivered the first “special mission” version of the Phenom 300 to Amil Assistencia Medica for its medevac outfit Amil Resgate Saude, an air and land rescue organization with expertise in handling delicate and complex emergency situations.

In the Philippines, Embraer recently renewed the appointment of Raco Trading as its authorized distributor in the Philippines, a clear signal that the Brazilian manufacturer has been very happy with the way Raco has been making a lot of headway to heighten the presence of the company in the Philippine market. As a matter of fact, Embraer’s Legacy series and Phenom 300 would be perfect for politicians because they can easily travel between islands to enhance their presence in every nook and cranny of this country. According to Raco Trading managing director Peter Hager, they have indeed been receiving a lot of new inquiries lately.

Hawaiian earns first aviation carbon credits

With global warming and climate change having become an “inconvenient truth,” companies are stepping up efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, with the airline industry having come under fire for being a major contributor of carbon dioxide emissions. The European Union even went so far as to impose charges on the world’s biggest airlines for their emissions – triggering a heated cost war with a number of US airlines who feel that the proposal is also in contravention of existing aviation treaties.

But while other airlines still have to initiate programs to reduce carbon emissions, Hawaiian Airlines has achieved a milestone, having the distinction of being the first airline ever to earn aviation-based carbon credits. A carbon credit is measured by the reduction of industrial carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, with one credit equal to the removal of one ton of CO2.

HA was able to reduce its CO2 emissions by nearly 22,000 metric tons in the last six years – which is almost like taking 700 cars off the road per year – through an eco-friendly engine washing technology called “EcoPower” developed by Pratt & Whitney which helps mitigate rising fuel costs and significantly reduces carbon footprint at the same time. Since launching the program in 2005, Hawaiian’s commitment to the engine-washing system has saved the company more than 2.5 million gallons of fuel, along with an estimated 26,000 gallons of water that is normally used with traditional washing methods. Hawaiian also employs other measures to reduce its carbon footprint, including the recycling of waste materials and use of renewable and biodegradable resources in onboard meal packaging and utensils.

Airline passengers turn blue

Passengers of a JetBlue flight from JFK Airport and bound for Las Vegas turned blue with fear when the pilot began exhibiting erratic behavior, banging on the door of the cockpit and hysterically shouting about threats from Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan. Horrified passengers described the pilot as “foaming in the mouth,” screaming “They are going to take us down! Say the Lord’s Prayer!” Luckily, one of the passengers was an off duty policeman who helped the others subdue the captain while the co-pilot made an emergency landing in Amarillo in Texas.

* * *

Email: [email protected].