How Philippine Airlines’ heart shines through
It was with all heart and soul that Philippine Airlines, led by its chairman Lucio Tan, celebrated its 75th year with a gala dinner last March 16 at the Soiaire Ballroom.
First of all, the song Heart of the Filipino, sung by world-class performers Lea Salonga, Bamboo and Sarah Geronimo, defined what makes this heart always shine through: the much-vaunted warmth and hospitality of Filipinos.These are the same qualities that have made Philippine Airlines the airline with a heart.
As PAL president and COO Jaime J. Bautista said:”We take pride in the fact that PAL is the only Filipino legacy carrier offering the distinct brand of service marked by heartfelt warmth and hospitality. The country’s national flag carrier aims to continue its legacy of service to the nation and the rest of the world, leveraging on the strengths of the brand. We take pride in the overall safety and competence of the team.”
From a Manila-Baguio flight with only five passengers on board on March 15, 1941, PAL has soared and stood resilient over seven decades. Now it has 43 international destinations and 31 domestic destinations and a total of 76 planes, with more scheduled to arrive within the next five years. Its goal is to become a five-star airline in five years.
I can think of more than seven reasons why PAL is the airline that’s all heart. Good, caring so-Pinoy service with compassion for passengers, young and old. Delicious food choices that include the comfort food you hanker for when your spirits are down even if you’re 30,000 feet high in the air. Direct flights to London, LA, New York and many more places in your heart. The latest movies on board that you missed because you were too busy. And movie classics like Gone with the Wind which you’ve never watched because you were too young when it was a hit. PAL is one airline that goes to the aid of beleaguered or persecuted OFWs who are aching to go home, and of typhoon victims who need help. And have you seen PAL bosses Lucio Tan and Jaime Bautista going through all the aisles during a flight, from biz class to the last economy seat, to greet passengers and even pose for selfies with them? That’s really heartening.
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