Isn’t it time to open our “First Impression” already?
I work for an international logistics and supply chain management firm with the global headquarters based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Under the IT Division, part of my work involves global integration projects. And so, my work involves international travel. I did a lot of global integration work that brought me to Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Milan in Europe.
Two years ago, I was lucky enough to be sent by my company on a business trip to Asia. This was one trip that I was excited about because I had to fly to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hongkong and Shanghai. I was delighted because it was my only chance to visit four cities in Asia without spending a dime.
While growing up in the Philippines, the only place I got to visit locally was Bicol. We went to Legaspi, Albay. We took a train ride and the experience was fun. I got to see Mayon Volcano first hand, including the Church of Cagsawa (umakyat pa ko dun sa steeple) which was usually referred to as “the sunken church” because the church was buried by rocks and lava after the eruption of Mayon Volcano on February 1, 1814.
Other than the local trips that our family took, that was about all I can recall about travel until I came to the US of A at the age of 18. We did travel to the US to visit my sister when I was five years old but I couldn’t recall much.
Since being here, I have always loved to travel. I like seeing other places. Ang ganda kasi ng mundo talaga. There are so many places to see and the history abounds everywhere. So when I got this opportunity, I took it.
In all four countries (Malaysia, Hong Kong, China and Singapore), I saw beautiful airports. The best was Changi International Airport in Singapore where they literally have Koi Ponds inside the airport. It was also a shopping mecca. Very clean and beautiful including the TOILETS.
Then, it was Hong Kong International Airport, next was Kuala Lumpur International Airport, which was state of the art and very well-kept as well.
Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport is another beauty. During my other trips, I have also seen Seoul, Osaka, Tokyo Aiports. I mean, I’ve walked the streets of these countries and although some of the areas (like everywhere else) are shady (with the exception of Singapore, their airports were marvels to behold. It served as the country’s “first impression”.
That is why I was shocked when I arrived in Manila during the same trip. They were still using the Ninoy Aquino International Airport which wasn’t just small, it was filthy, cables hanging from the ceilings, carpet stained with whatever it was and the stench of mold is all over. It was simply disappointing. I blogged about it at the time.
See the photos below:
Cables hanging from the deteriorating ceiling.
Soot marks on the walls.
The wall baseboards are screaming to be replaced or repainted.
Hardly noticeable in this photo but the column on the left is deteriorating as well.
Then, as I was browsing through blogs by celebrities, I stumbled upon Lea Salonga’s entry about our very own airport. She mentioned the need to open our “first impression” (NAIA Terminal 3). We advertise WOW Philippines, showcasing how beautiful our country is and we boast of our white sand beaches and the warm hospitality of Filipinos. All true but what impression would tourists make of us when they land at our airport? Di ba parang kasinungalingan lahat ng mga advertising natin? Whatever the scandal was about that delayed the opening of that airport, it should have been a major priority (for whomever, be it the Department of Tourism, the President, etc. ) to be resolved. As a matter of fact, it was a necessity.
When I went home last month, I was again welcomed at the NAIA Terminal 1. I saw the same cables, the same floors and the same stained red carpets. Nalungkot ako. Sabi ko, two years na hindi pa rin na-aasikaso.
But wait….
As I was going through Immigration, this is the sign that I saw:
Huh? Improvements?
Wow, the airport is actually under renovation?
The sign was enough for me to rejoice. Ala, may nakikinig din pala. And to think na akala ko ay ganun na lang ang airport natin sa Pilipinas, nahihiya akong ipagmalaki sa mga kebigan ko dito kung yung airport na yun ang sasalubong sa kanila.
That was the start. Natuwa na ‘ko. But this was the kicker. When I spoke to people about the state of the International Airport, sabi nila bukas na raw ang NAIA Terminal 3! I had the chance to see NAIA Terminal 3 on my way to Boracay because Cebu Pacific air only flies in and out of this terminal. As soon as I walked in, I was very impressed with the new airport. Of course, natuwa ako.
This is what I saw:
Okay people. I wanted to jump up and down with joy. Meron pala tayong airport na puedeng ipagmalaki. This airport was very clean, well-ventilated (ang lamig nga ng aircon no!), and huge. Of course, there are areas where they are still working on pero I was so happy. Ang tanong ko lang. Bakit hindi itong airport na ito ang gawing International Aiport? It seems big enough to accommodate travelers.
Can you imagine the income this airport could get with advertsing alone? The airport has empty walls, void of any advertising. The technology is there (LCD TVs with advertisement – last photo) and with the traffic from travelers around the world, this airport could pay for itself in the long run.
So, sa tingin ko – may pag-asa naman pala tayong gumawa ng airport na maipagmamalaki sa mundo. I read from Wikipedia that Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (Clark International Airport) will eventually replace NAIA International Airport. I haven’t seen that airport yet but I do hope that when I see it, I could be just as proud.
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Hope to see our new airport this December. At kung papayagan ako dito sa pabrika namin na magbakasyon.
I’ve seen a lot of awesome airports too and sarap ma experience na makapamasyal ng kaunti sa loob ng mga ito habang stop over.
@ rob – mismo brother! nagpasalamat talaga ako ng marami ng makita ko ang Terminal 3 (for domestic use lang right now). I hope the new International Airport na ipapakita ng Pilipinas sa mundo eh kabog na kabog!
Goodluck sa vacation request mo sa December!
nagbabalik si dencios sa barrio.
at ang unang sabak ng comment ay kay mam chuva.
nadaanan ko ang terminal 3 nung magbakasyon ako sa pinas 3 months ago. maganda naman talaga siya. sana lang mas maganda kung mas mabilis ang serbisyo para mapabilis din ang sirkulasyon ng mga lumalabas at papasok ng bansa.
thanx for the fotos mam chuva
lipad Darna…lipad!
@ dencio – agree ago diyan. yun din ang isa pa dapat nating baguhin. customer service should be superb. although, nakita ko yung improvements na yon sa ibang industry sa atin.. like hotels. yung mga rated na 5 stars, magaling ang serbisyo.
ang nakakatawa pa rin sa tin, yung limang sales ladies sa counter pagkatapos mong bumili ng kung ano man (SM for example). May kukuha ng pera mo, at ibibigay yung recibo sa isang sales girl. Titingnan kung tama ang mga presyo according to the price tag ng binili mo. ipapasa sa susunod, at ido-double check, bibilugan ang bawat listing sa recibo. tapos at saka ibibigay sa huli, para ibalot ang binili mo… haha~! i mean, it’s good in a way dahil nabibigyan ng trabaho ang mga tao sa tin, pero talagang kailangan kaya yon?
For us who have seen the world, and to those back in the Philippines who have not gone out and/or have not see what it is outside of the Philippines, I know we could be tagged very negatively for the comparison, unfortunately, it is what it is.
I don’t like Narita because they will bus you to the main terminal. I like Nagoya because it’s new and beautiful and so is the one in Hongkong, except when it gets crowded and all the flights arrive at very short intervals, it’s like chaos just like O’hare in Chicago or the LAX in Los Angeles.
The new PAL Terminal (not the new Terminal III??) the one where we used when we went to Bohol is really nice and clean and very western. I’ve never been to the new one. The terminals in provincial cities are just awful.
There really is no comparison when you talk about airports in the west. Obviously there is a lot of work to do. Hey, these contructions after all have so many patongs already. That we know. All those politicians must have their share first. Pwede ba.
But you’re right. It’s always that first impression of a country’s airport that typically sticks in our head.
It gets “better” in Manila. Once you land in NAIA, then you go through the road along Tramo with the nasty odor of the river? estero? canal? whatever that shit is called and all that you see is like going through a tunnel of utter poverty and hideous government neglect to population.
I think those that we should not be changed. Why? They’re the actual reality of our place. Hahaha! I’m sure cosmetics can be done, just like how Imelda fenced off EDSA just to hide the squatters.
There’s a whole lot of things that needs to be changed.
reynz: alam mo noong 2006 pa sira ang x-ray machine ng legaspi airport. hanggang ngayon sira pa rin. so if you are departing from that airport eh bubulatatin lahat ng bags mo.
bad trip talaga! hahaha. pero just last month eh napansin ko na may conveyor belt na sila sa arrivals area. so hindi ka na makikipagbuno sa mga porters nila para makuha lang ang luggage mo.
hahaha!
imagine nakabili ng conveyor pero walang pampaayos ng x-ray machine! eh ano ba mas importante? hahaha.
i had one experience dyan sa legazpi airport na bwisit na bwisit ako!
IBENTA BA NAMAN ANG TICKET KO SA IBA! ang mga leche!
that was the time na napunta ako nang Naga to take the flight back to Manila. ang galit ko nonnnn!!
but as if chance would have it, nakita ko ka-klase ko working there palan. tiga-sorsogon sya, i forgot his name hahaha
totally agree with you ditse
yun HK airport, sobrang impressive, airport palang ulam na lols maligaw ligaw ako, sobrang laki at may train sa loob
wait til you see the airport in my barrio, gawa sya sa bahay kubo!!!
@reynz. oo nga, medyo careful nga ako dahil baka mabato ako ng santol dito. hahaha!
I didn’t write the post to insult the philippines.. i just know that we can do better. pano naman, kailan pa tayo napagiiwanan ng mga neighbors natin sa asia.
and you’re right. i don’t mean to sweep the dirt under the rug… if the government says our economy is growing, there should be something to show for it right? besides, the airport is like our living room… the first thing that our guests see.
@malen – hahaha! totoo lang. talagang may train station sa loob.
one day, i am hoping my dear.. one day – - we’ll rise up and show the world “may maganda din kaming airport!” hahaha!
i’ve been to naia terminal 3 just last month. lahat ng cebu pacific flights kasi eh doon lahat. maganda sya pero dahil ang tagal binuksan eh sabi nung unang bukas daw yan eh merong mga ceiling na bumabagsak. of course pinalaya na si erap so nabuksan na ang terminal 3. siguro pag fully functional na ang lahat ng wings ng terminal 3 eh talagang maganda na sya.
@ ate glo – yun nga ang balita ko.. kasi may mga sections pa siya na nakakurtina, and some of the walls are still not finished. hindi ko kasi alam nangyari dun, alam ko lang may nagkupitan daw ng mga funding chorva… kaya nahold ang pagbukas.
naku naman, sana sa susunod na big airport project, huwag namang magkupitan na… we need the airport talaga. wish ko lang.
eh sa lahat naman ng projects dito sa pinas, nangungupit ang politicos. kaya asa pa. unless i-nuke na ang pians at palitan na lahat ng tao dito. hayyy.
tama ka, nakakahiya sa mga guests dito, unang makikita pagpalag eh ang bulok na international airport. hayyy.
i will see this “new” airport in 2 weeks.
i agree, the old airport is truly sad. but i also found HK airport to be confusing.
tell us about what you see and send pictures gabbyd!
Our old airport is really depressing to look at. Sana nga mabuksan na yung bago.
Hay,, only in the pilipins!
forget about the airport for a minute. ang pag-check in lang sa NAIA is like the shittiest thing that will ever happen to one traveller. unless na me kapit ka again and i see them parang kidlat ang checkin.
@ snow, sinabi mo pa. I was glad to be back home and ine-expect ko na ganun ang dadatnan ko. Pero kung ibang tao di ba.. like foreigners who has be lured by our wonderful advertisements of how great the islands are, tapos yun ang dadatnan mo.. kaloka diba?
The challenges facing the ‘improvement’ of the Philippines needs to be approached as a system. We may get the best airport in the world (have all the cosmetic stuff fixed and all that), but it won’t count for anything if Manila remains the cesspool that it currently is.
An airport is but a small component of an overall nationwide transport network. It can’t exist in isolation or be connected to other transport hubs (such as seaports, train stations and bus terminals) by decrepit roads, non-existent rail links, and the kanya-kanya systems of our jeepneys and buses.
Even ticketing is a system progressively being integrated in progressive cities. All that while we struggle with the basic things.
Malayo pa ang lalakarin ng Pinoy…
@benigno – I agree with you a hundred percent. Fixing or building a new airport will not bury the fact that our country doesn’t have underlying issues. Yes, infrastructure must be improved as well.
I remember sa Singapore, as soon as you check out.. you will be lead to the exit where you can get a cab to take you wherever you are destined.. it was so organized, I almost fainted. May linya (sa loob ng airport, hindi sa init sa labas) and as your turn comes – you will be flagged. Pag labas ko.. ang mga taxicabs nakalinya ng maayos.
Yung cabs naman nila, napakalinis… and I was told by one driver that they have to pass certain tests before they can service the airport.
Surprisingly, sa Terminal 3, ganun din ang sabi sa akin nung driver because I noticed his cab was very clean. Mahirap daw makapasok na service sa Terminal 3 dahil kailangan talagang pulido yung cab mo and that you’ve passed all kinds of tests daw.
It would be a start di ba? Kahit lubak lubak ang dadaanan ko papuntang Makati, ma-aliwalas naman yung dating ko sa airport. Hindi yung sa airport pa lang, wala na kong gana. And I hope, after a new airport, the infrastructure changes will follow.
i agree with benigno as well and not only that chuva, i think the “airport” given na para syang “living room” nang ating culture, it has to follow what we have learned from our folks with the typical accomodations na ginagawa naten pag me bisita. kiver kung butas butas ang bahay naten, we tend to show the best.
so kahit na nga na corruption shoots up on the streets paglabas mo nang international airport, pwede kayang ayusin muna yung “first impression” moments sa loob nang airport bago talagang tuluyang i-shock to death pag labas? hahaha
Amen to that! Hindi papasa sa standard ko as an international venue yang mga pictures na yan. Kachipang tunay. We have the most competetive structural and design engineers and architects, pero bakit nga ba ganyan ang hitsura nyan? Subukan nyo mag-browse ng mga real estate and condos sa web sa pinas, grabe ang gaganda! Then pagdating sa first impression, ZEEEEERRROOOO!
that’s right. we have the best of minds. talent lang nang pinoy. kaso when it comes to actual implementation, ang bigtime na wala sa architectural design is ANG PITAKA.
Agree, masyado ng luma ang NAIA pero hapi ako at least may tube cya – hindi ko kailangan mag bus papuntang tarmac. hindi ko kailangan lumambitin using one hand habang inaalalayan ko yong pagkabigat-bigat kong hand carry in one hand. siyempre pinoy ako – ang mga sobra sa weight limit, isinisiksik ko sa hand carry. Honestly – talagang na-ii-stress ako sa airport ng Qatar kasi stairs pa rin gamit nila. Yong bagong airport sa 2012 pa ata matatapos.
na-stress ako sa sinabi mo nina! i thought, everything in qatar is like in dubai, the best in the world! i can’t imagine yong stairs! hahaha!
we’re still very far from Dubai but getting there. Hindi ko talaga maintindihan bakit sa dinami dami ng developments naiwan ang port at airport which are the most important in any country. Kaka-stress talaga and mind you, ang haba din ng pila sa immigration. kaya pag baba ng bus takbo agad para sa unahan kami. hahahahahha….
oke naman ang doha airport ah…i don’t remember climbing stairs there. cute yung parang mga mushrooms na structures.
ay, roni baka hindi sa Qatar yong sinasabi mo. Kahit business class stairs pa rin ang daan. maganda lang ang coach nila.
@ nina
let me recall…arrival..sa tarmac ang baba, picked up by bus…that was economy class. sa business class…arrival sa tube…maraming pinay sa immigration, mababait sila…walang pila, me escort direct to special counter…moderno ang ambyans…departure…me stair nga pero not that long…domed structure sa loob ng duty free…maliit lang ang waiting nila, circular seating. sa doha yun di ba? (kamot ulo)
ngek, bahrain pala yung sa tarmac ang arrival, hehehe.
sori nina, yung sinasabi ko is abu dhabi airport, lintek na neurons ‘to! hahaha! kasi naman, pag umuuwi ako, pilipinas ang mindset ko (palusot)
Sana maka travel ako diyan sa mga sinsasabi niyong yan,para makita ko naman ang mga irport na yan.
it’s beautiful outside.
actually, when i was still in the philippines, i rarely compare and complain because yon lang ang nakikita ko.
when i saw how it was being done outside – dun namulat at naniwala akong maraming milagro pala ang mga construction or proyekto nang gobyerno gaya nga nang mga na-dya-dyaryo.
don’t feel so bad peeps. yong terminal 1 sa paris bulokski din. sa oman walang tube. london gatwick luma na rin.
saka yong mga airport na sobrang laki nakakahilo at nakakaligaw. tapos kung kelan malapit kana doon sa gate, saka mag-aannounce yan na nalipat sa kabilang dulo ang flight mo. at naku, minsan they don’t announce it in english kaya kailangan matalas ang tenga mo kung airline mo ang ina-announce.
yeah! oo nga pala! nakalimutan ko ang gatwick! some of the best airports eh etong mga nasa asia eh, indi naman sa europe. ewan ko lang nga dyan sa dubai.
opps.. dubai.
(nina… yung lecheng binilhan ko nga pala nang pridyidir, ofw na. andyan daw sa dubai hehehe)
nasan na kaya yong ref? Bka bumili na ng mas malaki…hehehehe
Sa dubai may bago silang terminal – maganda daw pero di pa ako napadpad. Yong first trip ko to Doha via Dubai. I expected a lot because I’ve heard so much about Dubai Airport. Kaya lang when I got there, I was disappointed. Kasi mas maganda pa yong HK at Changi Airport.
duda ko pinakilo na yong ref. matagal na un eh.
unbelievable ang mga ginagawa dyan sa dubai kaya i won’t be surprised kung ang bago nilang airport will be the best – kung me plano. meron ba?
iisa lang ang masasabi ko sa Dubai.
THEY’RE NUTS! hahaha!
terminal 3 just opened
sigh, matagal nakong naunsyami sa NAIA kaya nga kahit ayoko ng PAL pinagtityagaan ko nalang para wag lang ako mag landing sa NAIA, minsan narin akong napaaway nung araw sa NAIA hahaha ng dahil sa $1 na fee sa trolly, sabi ko nakakahiya pati trolly my bayad, sagot ba naman sakin nung nasa cashier—
“bakit first time mo nag abroad?di mo ba alam na sa lahat ng sulok ng mundo my bayad ang trolley?”
huh! halleeeeeeerrrrr hahahahahaha ayoko manlait ng tao pero bukod sa NAIA anu pa ba kakong airport ang narating moh? gagah, hahahaha natawa nalang ako sa pagiging ignorante ng bruha hahaha.
AVA! nabuhay uli ang lee! hehehe! stranded ba eroplano mo?
nagbagong buhay kamahalan ahahahaha.
graveh bc bchan ng husto kamahalan natambakan ako ng labada at dilang labada ang nasabon pati ako bwahahahaha,im back balakubaks, ipunin na ang mga labada at ioobeytaym ko hahaha
hay naku. wala lang kasing PAL dito sa kuta ko. sa totoo lang ayoko na sa NAIA. Bukod sa ansikip sikip, andami pang dinadaanan. Akala ko after all these years, me mababago, wala naman.
pagpagsak mo pa lang, pila ka na kaagad sa immigration na wawalo lang ata ang windows. kaya parang bottle neck pagbaba ng mga pasahero. paglampas mo dun para kumuha ng luggage, agawan kayo sa apat na carousel. susmiyo.
pagkakuha mo ng luggage mo, dadaan ka sa 3 (ewan ko kung bakit tatlo) na custom na kunyari chechekin yung bagahe mo, kelangan ata pirmahan nila. minsan magpaparamdam pa na bubuksan nila yung maleta mo. nung una, maglalagay na ko ng 5 dollars para walang abala. tutal maliit lang naman yun, tulong na lang. kaso, nung huling mga uwi ko, naisip ko, hindi ko din sila tinutulungan kasi pinapalala ko lang yung sistemang mali.
kaya nung me magparamdam sa kin uli ng ganun, dedma lang ako, eh di buksan nya?di rin naman binuksan.
pagbaba mo naman sa arrival pick-up area, malas mo kung naka jacket or amerkana ka dahil sigurado, maliligo ka sa sarili mong pawis. 45 years bago ka maispatan ng pipik-ap sa yo.
paglabas nyo pa sa parking, add another 45 years.
pero infainess napahiya naman yata ang pamunuan ng NAIA inalis din naman nila— katagalan at sa dami narin siguro ng nagpaparinig at umaangal.
anlayo pa rin kamo nang waiting nang taxi no? taz yong pababa hila – hila mo kariton na leche nauna pa seyo! hahaha
oo nga kamahalan tapos kakainis pa yung mga trolley puro luma nyahahaha my mga bago naman infainess kaya lang kung bakit yung mga lokbulayts ang napapasakamay ko, tapos pababa kelangan bitbitin mo yung de takong mong sandals kung hindi kasabay mong gugulong paibaba yung trolley mong di mo makontrol
dati kamo nanni-ngil sila nang $1 dun sa trolley na yun, pero nung last kung uwi Oct 08, wala nang singil. pero who knows baka ibinalik hehe
nyahaha hala sila pag ibinalik nila yun—
wala akong choice ahahaha.
Oks pala naman yung Terminal 3. Nung uwi ko last May di ko napasyalan. Para syang airport sa Incheon. at least medyo hawig. Sa dami ba naman ng perang naubos dyan, pag di pa gumanda yan ewan ko na lang…
Mismo Buraot! I am really hoping na the next International Airport we’re going to showcase to the world is something that is “world class”. Tama na muna ang kurakot di ba?