Throwback: The Early Freight Service and PALShop Program of Philippines Airlines

Throwback: The Early Freight Service

and PALShop Program Of Philippine Airlines

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

Almost always, when it comes to specific topics for recollection of ex-PALers, the cargo operation, if ever mentioned becomes only a “by-the-way” as part of the Manila Station- Domestic. One reason, perhaps, could be the unassuming character of the ex-PALers who moved commodities from station to station, but the fact is, cargo operation was never behind as regards revenue generation of the airline, especially, during its Golden Years.

 

The early years of PAL saw Manila Station-Domestic under Manny Panlilio as manager, and located at the old Domestic Terminal (today, NAIA Terminal 4) where Airfreight Marketing-Domestic (AFMD) under Louie Adecer was also located. He was assisted by the All Cargo Aircraft Coordinators (ACAC) such as, Alfonso “Boy” Bayani, Beda Cuenco, Cecille Mella, and Tony Bejar. As Coordinators, they set up domestic cargo flights utilizing three to four DC3s, one YS-11, the “ubiquitous” Argosy, to quote Boy Bayani who added that the said aircraft should have been better called “Agony” as it spent more time on the ground due to frequent servicing than in-flight. In addition to those aircrafts, they sometimes chartered the L100-20, a civilian C-130 from the Philippine Aerotransport, Inc. (PATI), a competitor which was later absorbed by PAL.

 

The sales aspect of the AFMD was supervised by Johnny Corpuz, while the cargo handling was under Nonoy Tolentino. Later, however, due to an organizational shake up, both MSD and AFMD were brought under the administration of the MSP which at the time was headed by Mr. Ricardo Paloma. The organizational change also resulted to the re-assigning of the personnel to other offices, and among them was Boy Bayani who was transferred to the Vernida building.

 

As there was a dire need to shape up the operations of AFMD, Dr. Avelino Zapanta (PAL President during his retirement) was made to manage it in the interim, and later replaced by Jose Clemente. It was during the time that Dr. Zapanta prepared studies that led to the development of the Domestic Cargo Operating Manual, and which further resulted to the mechanization of the whole operation. From such feat, the Cargo Department became a formidable revenue earner of the country’s flag carrier which could have even enabled it to stand on its own as a “separate business unit” (SBU). But, that’s another story.

 

The metamorphosis of what was just a small airfreight division at the Old Domestic Terminal resulted to the conceptualization of other revolutionary programs, with the most remarkable as the “PALShop”. It was a program which benefited both the employees and the company. With the program, the employees were afforded the opportunity to enjoy the products of the provinces where PAL stations were located from Batanes to Tawi-tawi, at the cheapest possible price and could be picked up fresh from the PALShop outlet at the old Domestic Terminal. On the other hand, the company was assured that allowable weight of cargoes that translated to revenue would fill up the regular passenger and cargo flights, especially, during the “lean season”. All that the employees did was fill up an order form based on the list of products provided by the PALShop Office to be covered with the regular airway bill.

 

A year-end bonanza following the PALShop concept was the Christmas “tiyangge” (bazaar) on the fifth floor of the Vernida Building where the Administrative Offices were located. The bazaar was filled with products packed in crates sent by the different stations. Employees of the stations pooled their financial resources that they used for the purchase of local products based on the “order list” prepared in advance by the Standards and Coordination Division, under Ed Guatelara, and in close coordination with the Manila Station and Domestic Cargo Office for speedy delivery to Vernida building. With this arrangement, the provincial/station-based employees earned extra pesos to tide them over the holiday season while those in Manila were able to save on the commodities that they need, instead of being strangled by the prices of those found on the shelves of supermarkets that have soared expectedly.

 

Ex-PALers who benefited from the PALShop would reminisce about it with fondness. “Those were the days”, is what they could just say with a sigh.

Ang Pilipinas Noon at Ngayon sa Isang Sulyap

Ang Pilipinas Noon at Ngayon

Sa Isang Sulyap

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Nadanasan na ng mga Pilipino ang maalipusta ng mga Kastila, pati ng mga Amerikano at sa maikling panahon ay ng mga Hapon….iba talaga ang maging malaya.

 

Nadanasan ang kalayaan nang ibigay ng mga Amerikano sa mg Pilipino ang pamamahala ng bansa, nagkaroon ng Commonwealth….umusbong ang katiwalian dahil ang mga humawak sa gobyerno ay mga mayayamang asenderong nanigurong hindi mawala ang kanilang yaman…pumasok sa eksena ang mga intelektwal, pero sa halip na kapakanan ng buong bansa ang inasikaso ay ang pagpayaman nila kaya nagkaroon ng karagdagang mukha ang korapsyon.

 

Nadanasan ang Martial Law….isinuka dahil ang kultura ng Pilipino ay hindi sumasang-ayon dito na kinopya lamang sa Saligang Batas ng Amerika…. nagkaroon ng People Power….subalit ang masaklap ay hindi nangyari ang ang inasahang pagbabago.

 

Pagkalipas ng administrasyon ng unang babaeng presidente, si Cory Aquino, na nagsilbi sanang “nanay” ng Republika ay nabigong magpakita ng mga inaasahang katangian…. hindi nagkaroon ng leksiyon ang mga Pilipino dahil nagkaroon ng isa pang babaeng presidente, si Gloria Arroyo….subalit, wala ring nangyaring pagbabago dahil lalo pang umalagwa ang korapsyon.

 

Nagkaroon ng presidenteng dating heneral at isang artista, at isa pang mabait at mahinahon kuno….puro sumemplang pa rin sa mga dapat asahan dahil lalo pang umalagwa ang korapsyon at ang nakawan sa kaban ng bayan ay halos hantaran na kung gawin….lalong tumapang ang mga kawatan dahil sa kalamyaan ng mga batas na walang pangil….at, ang masakit, nadagdagan ang problema ng Pilipinas sa droga na hindi alam ng mga Pilipino ay nagkakaugat na pala ng malalim at mabilis na yumayabong. Nabisto lamang ang katotohanang ito nang lumitaw ang isang Duterte.

 

Nagkaroon ng presidenteng hindi malamya, si Duterte, subalit tinutuligsa naman dahil sa mga extra judicial killings na pinaparatang sa kanya, pero wala namang napatunayan pa sa korte.

 

ANO KAYA KUNG ISANG KATOLIKONG OBISPO NAMAN ANG MANUNGKULANG PRESIDENTE DAHIL BATAY SA MGA PANANALITA NG ILAN SA KANILA, LALO NA YONG TAGA-NORTE, PARA BANG MAGKAKAROON NG KATAHIMIKAN ANG BANSA KUNG MAGING MABAIT LANG ANG GOBYERNO SA MGA TAONG SANGKOT SA DRUGS DAHIL “BAWAL” DAW ANG PUMATAY. SINO BA ANG MGA PUMAPATAY? AT, SINO ANG MGA PINAPATAY? KUNG SAKALING MATULOY, SANA AY ISAMA NA RIN NILA SA MABAIT NILANG PANUKALA ANG “MATIWASAY” NA PAGSAWAY SA MGA KORAP SA GOBYERNO!

 

AT LEAST,  AKO AY MAY SUGGESTION, HINDI TULAD NG IBA NA TULIGSA LANG NANG TULIGSA KAY DUTERTE PERO WALA NAMANG SUGGESTION KUNDI ANG MAGSAMBIT NG “DUE PROCESS” NA NOON PANG PANAHON NG COMMONWEALTH AY GINAGAWA NA PERO WALA NAMANG NANGYARI. DAHIL SA “DUE PROCESS” NA YAN, NAGSULPUTAN LANG ANG MGA KORAP NA HUWES AT MGA “MAGAGALING” NA ABOGADO NA ANG PABORITONG KLIYENTE AY MGA KRIMINAL NA MAY PERANG PAMBAYAD NG MILYON-MILYONG PESOSES!!!!

 

 

Don’t Despair If You Cannot Share Blessings the Way Others Do

DON’T DESPAIR IF YOU CANNOT SHARE BLESSINGS

THE WAY OTHERS DO

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

If you come across stories in the internet about people sharing blessings, do not wish that you could do exactly the same. Just absorb the message of the story and transpose it into what is applicable in your community and capability that you can possibly and sincerely do. There are many stories in the internet with some made more interesting by accompanying photos but, what you should do is profusely thank the Most Powerful for giving life to these unknown altruistic souls who reached out to others during unguarded moments and at unexpected places. What should be given notice is their immediate unselfish act that need not be copied, but instead, used as guidance and inspiration.

 

If you exert so much effort in imitating others, the act would not be realistic.  Try to be original. Unconsciously, that could be the reason why I did not attempt to read the book that I won as a prize and donated by our school Director, Fr. Robert Sullivan, during an extemporaneous writing in English when I was in high school. As a provinciano, I did not know that the book was very popular, then and today…the title on the cover was “Imitations of Christ”. The word “imitation” turned me off. I gave it to a boyhood buddy who is now with the Lord (hopefully) in exchange for a paperback that contained Khalil Gibran poems that he gave me, but which unfortunately, did not impress me, so I passed it on to another friend, too. I am not saying here that I do not like Jesus, but, since childhood, I had been guided by the Golden Rule, and of course, love of the Most Powerful.

 

Filipinos living in Europe and America who come across stories about altruism in the Philippines should consider the vast differences as regards living condition and other factors. In countries where they are, working hard for their families in the Philippines, every penny counts a lot. Taxes in the country where they are, are high and budgeting is to the last cent. Although, they may have a few dollars set aside for the “rainy days”, they also need to hold on to such savings, as they have nobody to turn to in time of emergency.

 

On the other hand, Filipinos in the Philippines have friends and relatives to turn to in case of emergency, making them “bold” enough to share their “extras” with strangers.  My point here is, if ever fellowmen abroad who come across situations about the Philippines in the internet that picture want or poverty in various angles, they should offer prayers, rather than force themselves, to part with their hard-earned money which they may need later.

 

Altruism does not manifest in the form of material objects alone, but in things that only the heart can define with sincerity….and they include prayers. If this attitude can be maintained, the setting in of despair or feeling of remorse can be prevented. Be charitable in your own affordable and doable way.