LOOK: Luxury yacht of Miss Universe candidates

MANILA – The luxury yacht to be used by the candidates of the 65th Miss Universe pageants has arrived in Manila.

Called “Happy Life,” the triple-decker Alfamarine boat was brought from Italy by former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson.


Singson, along with Okada Manila, Solar Entertainment Corporation and Philippine Airlines, are among the major sponsors of the Miss Universe pageant scheduled on January 30 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The former Ilocos Sur Governor said his group shouldered about $12.9 million for the event.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

2 irate men tell Kris to 'get out of my way'

MANILA - Two irate men told Kris Aquino to "get out of my f***ing way" while in line at an airport Wednesday -- a "stressful" incident she narrated on Instagram on the same evening.

Aquino, 44, posted an image with the quote, "It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice," pertaining to how she handled the encounter at the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.

The "Feng Shui" actress and her two sons, Josh and Bimby, were on their way home to Manila when the men, who were ahead of her in line to check in at a Philippine Airlines counter, allegedly berated her.

She narrated: "[I was] respectful of [their] space... Na-shock ako when as they were exiting I was told, 'Get out of my f***ing way because I want to get out of this f***ing country.' 'Di ko sila hinaharangan, nakapila kami properly. I chose to keep my dignity and didn't reply.

"Sobrang stressful that when my sons and I got to the plane, they were seated near us. I just prayed that sana hindi na sila magpaka bastos my sons and I just get back to Manila safely."

Aquino pointed out that she could have answered back, but chose not to, saying it would be easy for her detractors to make the situation appear she was in the wrong.


"I was actually within my rights if you think about it na makipagmurahan, since unprovoked yung pagmura nila directed at me... But what for? Sobrang daling mabaliktad ang kwento and the 'haters' will find a way to make it appear na ako 'yung masama," she said.

Aquino added: "But headed home in traffic now and realizing that God saw what happened & somehow my turning the other cheek must account for some good girl points."

Recalling she obliged to requests for photos despite the situation, and before boarding and during the flight, Aquino pointed out in her post that "we all have our burdens, we have difficulties, but it is character that defines how we carry them. And it is conducting your life with dignity that will help you live a life of peace."

The youngest sister of President Benigno Aquino III also shared a lesson she learned from her mother, the late former President Corazon Aquino, as it applies to her encounter at the airport.

She said: "People in public life live under a magnifying glass... And it's something I trained myself to live with. My mom always reminded me 'to whom much is given, much is expected in return.'

"One thing I am proud of, is regardless of all the criticism hurled at me and my family, nobody can ever say nag power trip kami."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

PAL to fly to 11 new int'l destinations this year

MANILA -- Philippine Airlines (PAL) is set to fly to one new domestic and 11 new international destinations this year as the flag carrier undertakes a re-fleeting program.

PAL President Ramon S. Ang said the carrier is set to mount flights to new locations in Australia, China, Malaysia, and the Middle East, and to a prime local tourist spot, Batanes.

In a briefing on Friday, Ang said PAL will start flying to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) on May 2; to Darwin, Brisbane, and Perth (Australia) on June 1; Guangzhou (China) on June 2; Abu Dhabi (UAE) on Oct. 1; Dubai (UAE) on Nov. 1; Doha (Qatar) on Nov. 1; and Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam (Saudi Arabia) on Dec. 1.

Manila to Basco, Batanes flights, meanwhile, will begin on May 1.

Ang said the country's current good economic conditions are among the factors behind PAL's aggressive expansion of routes.

PAL, together with its sister carrier PAL Express, currently flies to 32 domestic and 28 international destinations.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

PAL launches new routes to Australia, China, Middle East

MANILA, Philippines - Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Wednesday revealed an aggressive route expansion to help the firm rake in profits by next year.

PAL President Ramon S. Ang said the airline will be flying to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia starting May 1; to Brisbane, Darwin and Perth in Australia and to Guangzhou in China on June 1; and to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates on October 1.

"Australia, Kuala Lumpur and Guangzhou are major destinations for business and leisure. Abu Dhabi, on the other hand, has a large concentration of OFWs, making it a prime destination in the Middle East," Ang noted.

PAL will be flying the Manila-Kuala Lumpur, Manila-Guangzhou, and Manila-Perth routes four times a week, and the Manila-Darwin and Manila-Brisbane routes thrice a week.

The carrier will be flying from Manila to Abu Dhabi and back daily.

Ang said the airline is aiming to cut its losses by half through the acquisition of fuel-efficient aircraft and new long-haul routes.

"By next year, PAL will earn money," Ang said confidently.

The airline's parent firm PAL Holdings Inc. recorded a net loss of P2.74 billion in the first nine months of its fiscal year ending December. The figure is already an improvement in the previous year's net loss of P3.59 billion.

PAL earlier inked a $10-billion deal with Airbus for 64 new aircraft expected to help cut the firm's fuel and maintenance costs.

Moreover, Ang said that if international aviation audit bodies would lift its safety concerns on the Philippine aviation industry, these would also help PAL bring in profits as it can add more international routes.

The country is restricted by the US Federal Aviation Authority, International Civil Aviation Organization and the European Union from expanding flights to the US and Europe pending the Philippine government's compliance to various aviation safety standards.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

PAL ticket payments made easy through 7-Eleven

MANILA, Philippines – Travelers using Philippine Airlines (PAL) can now pay their domestic tickets at any of the 766 retail outlets of 7-Eleven nationwide.

With ECPay’s Payment Center Facility in 7-Eleven stores, those who book online would no longer have to line up at PAL to pay for their tickets. All they need to do is to simply go to their nearest 7-Eleven stores.

“This latest passenger service innovation involves a few "easy" steps: First, a passenger books a flight through the PAL website. The flight must be at least 48 hours from the time of booking. Once booking is confirmed, passenger will select "Reserve and Hold" option on the summary page. To complete the process, the passenger details are inputted and the confirmation email must be printed,” PAL said in a statement.

The passenger should go to the nearest 7-Eleven outlet and present their booking confirmation and pay the corresponding amount. The itinerary receipt (E-Ticket) and official receipt will be sent to the passenger's email address.

However, the facility only accepts payments for flight bookings done online.

PAL said the scheme also enables those without credit cards to do their bookings online at the convenience of their homes, offices, internet cafes or mobile phones.

In case of inquiries, passengers may call the ECPay Customer Support hotline at (02) 421-6032 to 35 or email customerservice@ecpay.com.ph.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Corona conviction renews flight attendants' hopes for justice

MANILA, Philippines -- The conviction of Renato Corona by the Senate impeachment court on Wednesday renewed the hopes of the 1,400 flight attendants and stewards laid off by Philippine Airlines that they may find justice in their case against the flag carrier.

In a statement Wednesday, Bob Anduiza, president of the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines, lauded the verdict on Corona, who was found guilty of betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.

“Now with CJ Renato C. Corona out of the picture, it is our own fervent hope that things will change for the better in the Supreme Court,” Anduiza said. “The real victims of injustice, the 1,400 PAL flight attendants who were unjustly thrown out of their jobs in 1998, eagerly await for the day that true justice is finally served."

Among the charges raised against Corona were the Supreme Court’s sudden reversal of a decision favoring Fasap after receiving a letter from PAL lawyer Estelito Mendoza.

Fasap alleged that Corona "meddled" in the case.

"Corona, who claims that he did not participate in this case, saying he had earlier 'inhibited,' actually played a major part in the Recall Order of the Fasap case. Because of the Recall, our case which has been pending for more than 14 years was again delayed and re-opened for the nth time," Anduiza said.

He called Corona’s conviction a "victory for the Filipino people" and a "major step" in the Aquino administration's campaign to get rid of rid corruption in government.

source: interaksyon.com

American fugitives deported

MANILA, Philippines -- Two Americans wanted for crimes in their country were deported Friday night.

Alexander Theodore Bean, wanted by the US District court of Montana for conspiracy to distribute heroin and possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and Russel Ree Henricks, wanted by the Court State of Alaska for attempted sexual abuse of minor, were escorted by immigration agents on Philippine Airlines flight PR102 for Los Angeles where they will be turned over to American authorities.

They were seen off by staff of the US embassy in Manila.

They took the same flight as celebrities Aga Muhlach, Ruffa gutierrez and Charisse Pempengco.

Both fugitives had been overstaying in the country, Bean arriving on September 10, 2011 and Henricks on August 1, 2011.

The US embassy had requested the help of the Department of Justice, through the Bureau of Immigration, to find and apprehend the fugitives after their passports were revoked.

source: interaksyon.com

Xoom and Philippine Airlines’ Mabuhay Miles announce special offer for Filipino remitters

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Premier online money transfer company Xoom.com is excited to
announce its partnership with the national carrier, Philippine Airlines. First-time Xoom customers who send money to the Philippines between April 10, 2012-December 31, 2012 are entitled to 2,500 bonus Mabuhay Miles.

“We are excited to have Xoom.com as a Mabuhay Miles partner,” said PAL Assistant Vice President for Product Loyalty Marketing, Ria Domingo.

Xoom has launched several successful promotions in the last few months including offers for the last two Pacquiao fights and Goldilocks . Xoom Marketing Director, Pia Guter said, “I hope Filipinos take advantage of this offer and discover for themselves how convenient, fast and secure it is to send money with Xoom.com. We are proud to partner with Philippine Airlines and hope this offer will help our kababayans travel home or help their family and friends in the Philippines travel as well.”

For more information on this special offer, please visit www.xoom.com/pal. Terms and conditions apply.

Press release from Xoom.com

source:gmanetwork.com

Foreigners Caught With Fake Visas

MANILA, Philippines — Immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have arrested three foreigners who tried to use Manila as a transit point for gaining illegal entry to Canada.

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said the three aliens were apprehended at the NAIA 2 terminal last Feb. 4 before they could board a Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight for Vancouver.

He said the passengers were attempting to board a PAL connecting flight to Vancouver when they were intercepted by immigration officers from the bureau’s travel control and enforcement unit (TCEU).

The Canadian visas stamped on the passports of the passengers were found to be spurious.

The three are now detained at the Immigration jail in Bicutan, Taguig City, pending issuance of exclusion and blacklist orders against them.

Ma. Antonette Mangrobang, Immigration’s acting intelligence chief, said the aliens will then be sent back to China.

Mangrobang said the passengers attempted to board the PAL flight to Canada just a few hours after they arrived as transit passengers aboard a PAL flight from Hong Kong.

source: mb.com.ph