Pioneering carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL), which celebrated its 80th birthday on Monday, assured the public it will stay aloft despite the continuing ravages of the pandemic to the world’s economy as it works towards full recovery and the revival of the tourism and travel sector.
PAL President and COO Gilbert Santa Maria said: “Our message to our country and the world: Buhay pa tayo. Andito pa tayo. At hindi tayo aalis. (PAL is alive, we’re still here, and we’re here to stay.) This great lady–Philippine Airlines–will stay aloft while she is in our care.”
Santa Maria made this statement following a dawn Eucharistic celebration welcoming PAL’s 80th anniversary on Monday.
The open air mass, held at the grounds of the south wing of NAIA Terminal 2, was attended by management officials and representatives from various PAL departments and guests.
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the flag carrier has been focusing on repatriation and cargo transport efforts as well as rebuilding its network of commercial flights on key international and domestic routes, according to PAL Spokesperson Cielo Villaluna.
PAL said it brought home 310,000 of the displaced 420,000 overseas Filipinos to their respective provinces from March 2020 up to the present. Within the same period, tens of thousands of foreign nationals flew back to their home countries via PAL.
At present, the airline is airlifting shipments of anti-Covid vaccines to areas in Mindanao, Luzon and the Visayas.
The flag carrier has restored regular commercial flights to the United States, Canada, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and several Asian countries, as well as most of its domestic trunk and inter-island routes.
As a fitting cap to his message, the PAL President read the Knights Templar Motto: “Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed Nomini tuo da gloriam [Not for us, My Lord, not for us, but to your Name give the glory].”
Image credits: Contributed Photo