Joery Falloria: Surviving Typhoon Yolanda and Life’s Excruciating Challenges (…unsung hero of Philippine Airlines)

Joery Falloria: Surviving Typhoon Yolanda

And Life’s Excruciating Challenges

(…unsung hero of Philippine Airlines)

By Apolinario Villalobos

 

Just like most of Philippine Airline marketing and airport personnel, Joery started his career at the lowest rung of the airline’s corporate ladder which is his case was as a porter. Although, the trainings involved courses on cargo handling, passenger check in, basic domestic ticketing, and customer handling, the employee of “long ago” cannot say no, if he was assigned at the airport to haul carry checked-in baggage and cargoes on tow carts from the terminal to the aircraft. This was what Joery experienced when he joined the airline.

 

The kind of exposure that an employee gets has been actually designed to toughen and prepare him for more responsibilities ahead as he advances in his career. It makes the employee some kind of a well-rounded guy – an airline man who can later handle responsibilities as manager. Joery has marshaled incoming aircrafts to guide them to their slot in the tarmac, computed weights to be loaded for safe flight,  which included those of cargoes, checked-in and carry-on baggage, as well as passengers that also include the crew and paying ones.

 

Along the way, he was also trained to handle PAL customers, be they walk-ins who would like to make inquiries or purchase tickets. To cap this particular training, he was also fed with knowledge on values and attitudes to maintain the high quality of service standards that his person should exude. It was a long journey for Joery from the airport ramp as loader to his present managerial position as Head of the Tacloban Station. It was a journey beset with financial difficulty and emotional pressure. But he made it….on August 15, 2015, he was designated as Officer-In-Charge of Tacloban Station, a managerial position.

 

It was while navigating his challenging career path that he met Pomela Corni Tan who eventually became his wife, and who gave him two offspring, Anthony who is now a registered Nurse working with the Davao Doctors’ Hospital, and Mary Rose, on her second year of Veterinary Medicine course at the VISCA in Baybay City.

 

The typhoon Yolanda devastated Tacloban to the maximum, and recovery was even more challenging, as Joery and his local PAL team, worked hard to rise from such disheartening situation. To make PAL operational again, he had to coordinate with concerned government agencies and the head office in Manila for replacement of lost equipment and office supplies, as well as, reconstruct destroyed records. The story of recovery that was woven around the effort of the PAL Team, with Joery at the helm, was just one of the many that inspired many people around the world.

 

With Tacloban City propped back to normalcy, Joery resumes his overall administration of the whole Tacloban station that includes routine calls on travel agents, issuance of tickets and airport operation. His free time is spent on spiritual-related activities of the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, being a Lay Minister. He is also an active officer of their homeowners’ association.

 

Over a simple lunch at the canteen of SSS near the PAL Administrative Offices in PNB building, he confided that he feels blessed for working with the airline. And, as the company is in its recovery stage, he has committed himself to do his best as part of the team. In a way, Joery has survived the various changes at the top management of the airline…just like the survival that he experienced when typhoon Yolanda devastated their city.

Ang Pangangasiwa ng Manila International Airport (MIA)

Ang Pangangasiwa ng Manila International Airport (MIA)

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Hindi pala alam ni G. Honrado na saklaw ng kanyang responsibilidad bilang General Manager, ang buong Manila International Airport. Ibig sabihin, hindi pala niya alam na Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) ang nag-iisyu ng mga temporary pass sa buong airport para sa lahat ng mga taong may kaugnayan sa operasyon nito. Hindi pala niya alam na para maisyuhan ng temporary pass ay kailangang i-surrender ang company ID, o di kaya ay dapat magsumite lahat ng mga ahensiya ng listahan ng mga empleyado nila upang maisyuhan ng pangmatagalang temporary pass. Hindi pala niya alam na ang  malalaki hanggang sa kaliit-liitan gamit ng MIA, ay may tatak na “MIAA Property” at may control number. Nakalimutan rin siguro niya ang malaking “insidente” na nangyari noong panahon ni Gloria Arroyo tungkol sa pagsugod nito sa MIA nang walang pasubali o abiso upang makita talaga ang mga kapalpakan sa mga parking areas, kaya nang mabisto nga ay “sinabon” niya on the spot ang pinsan nitong in-assign din na tulad niya bilang General Manager.

 

Ang Manila International Airport ay parang shopping mall. Ito ay may pinaka-hepe na dapat mangasiwa sa lahat ng mga nagtatrabaho sa loob, kasama na ang security, mga concessionaires, contracted agencies at mga namimili o namamasyal lang. Ibig sabihin ang pinaka-hepe nito ay may responsibilidad na sumasaklaw sa buong operasyon ng mall. Ganoon din sa MIA na dapat lahat ng bahagi nito ay pinangangasiwaan sa kabuuhan ng General Manager – mula sa runways, tarmac, terminals at parking lots. Siya ang nasa itaas at sa ilalim niya ay iba’t ibang ahensiya ng gobyerno at mga concessionaires na nagkakanya-kanya ng pagkontrol ayon sa saklaw nilang operasyon na nakasaad sa mga Operating Manual nila, na nakabatay naman sa Operating Manual ng MIAA. Sa pinakagitna ng kani-kanilang operasyon ay ang Manila International Airport Authority.

 

Dapat ang susunod na itatalaga bilang General Manager ng MIA ay taong may “managerial skill” (kaya nga tinawag na General Manager) at may malawak na kaalaman sa airline operation. Saklaw ng airline operation ang iba’t ibang kaalaman tungkol sa mga bagay na may kinalaman sa “aviation security” kaya hindi kailangang manggaling ang taong itatalaga mula sa anumang military branch ng Pilipinas. Bilang isang industriya, ang international aviation ay may mga pinatutupad na mga patakaran upang masigurong ligtas ang mga pasahero ng iba’t ibang airlines. Napapag-aralan ang mga patakaran sa pagpapatupad ng security sa airport, at palagi ring ina-update batay sa pangangailangan ng panahon, na tulad ngayon ay hantad sa terorismo. Dahil dito, hindi kailangang may actual exposure sa military operation, na napakalayo sa isang civilian airline operation, ang General Manager.  Dapat ay ituring na malaking leksiyon dito ang nakaupo ngayong General Manager na nagpipilit na wala siyang pakialam sa ibang operasyon ng MiA.

 

Ang malaking problema nga lang ay kung umiral uli ang napakakorap na pag-iisip ng uupong Presidente na magtatalaga na naman ng pinsan, o kapatid, o bayaw, o tiyuhin, o dating driver, o dating messenger, o dating masahista, bilang General Manager. May napapagbatayan na kasi…kung sa Ingles – may “precedent”….may mga una nang ginawa kaya gagayahin na lang!

Mga Likas o Natural na Bagay ang Ginagamit na Anting-anting…HINDI BALA NA MAY LAMANG PULBURA

Mga Likas o Natural na Bagay ang Ginagamit na Anting-anting

…HINDI BALA NA MAY LAMANG PULBURA

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Kawawa ang mga taong nagpapauto sa mga arbularyo o kung sino man na nagsasabing ang bala, lalo na ang “live” o ang may lamang pulbura ay isang anting-anting. Ang ganitong pang-uuto ay sinimulan ng mga taong nagnanakaw ng bala mula sa kung saan mang imbakan at binibenta sa mga taong tanga na naniwala naman. Sinabi ko na sa isang blog ko noon tungkol sa isyu ng tanim-bala, na kung ituring man na anting-anting ang bala, dapat ay yong walang lamang pulbura dahil ang ginagamit lang ay ang “metal” na nilalagyan ng pulbura na kung hindi yaring tanso ay tingga. Puwede ngang baguhin ang porma tulad halimbawa ng pagpepe o pag-flatten ng basyong bala upang maipormang pendant, o di kaya ay lagyan ng dalawang “kamay” upang magmukhang krus at magamit na palawit sa kuwentas….ganoon lang. Hindi kailangang bumili sa mga nagtitinda ng mga ninakaw na bala, sa halagang Php1,500.00 ang isang piraso! Ayaw ko na lang isulat kung bakit nagkakaubusan ng bala sa mga imbakan nito. Ang isang ordinaryong mamamayan ay hindi naman nakakabili ng paisa-isang bala.

 

Batay sa mga nasagap kong impormasyon galing mismo sa mga nagtatago ng balang may pulbura, “panlaban” daw ito sa mga taong may masamang balak sa kanila, kaya swak sana sa mga OFW na ayaw mabugbog o magahasa ng mga malupit o manyak na employer. Ang masama, pati mga matatanda ay napagpaniwala din ng mga unggoy na nangraraket! Sabihin ba naman ng mga hangal na ito na hahaba ang buhay ng taong may itinatagong bala, kaya ang mga uugud-ugod na gusto pa yatang mabuhay nang mahigit 100 taon, ay hindi rin magkandaugaga sa pagbili, sa halip na gamitin ang perang galing sa pension, na pambili ng gamot sa rayuma man lang!

 

Matagal nang ginagamit ang tanso o copper at tingga o lead, na panlaban sa masamang ispiritu, lalo na sa kapre, pero  hindi sa kapwa-tao. Bumibigat daw ang taong mayroon nito kaya hindi basta naitatakas ng kapre, kaya pati sanggol ay palaging may katabing bala na nakabalot sa pulang tela dahil ang kulay pula ay kalaban din ng masamang espiritu. At tungkol pa rin sa kulay pula…yong ayaw masaniban ng masamang espiritu, maliban sa balang nakabalot sa pulang tela ay nagsusuot din ng pulang bra o kamison at panty kung babae at ang lalaki naman ay palaging may pulang panyo. Sa ilalim ng unan nila ay mayroon ding pulang panyo. Sa panahon ng pagreregla ng babae, lalo silang ligtas!  Pinaniniwalaan na ito bago pa dumating ang mga Kastila.

 

Ang ginagamit na panlaban sa kapwa-taong may masamang balak ay dinasalang langis na umaapaw sa sinidlang maliit na bote kapag nasa harap mo ang taong may masamang balak. Hindi nakokontra ang isang masamang balak ng kapwa- tao sa pamamagitan ng balang nasa bulsa o pitaka, dahil kung totoo man, wala sanang inuuwing OFW na nasa kabaong o buntis dahil na-rape ng employer, o di kaya ay naka-wheel chair, o di kaya ay lalaking Pilipinong ni-rape o binugbog ng Arabo! At, lalong wala sanang namamatay sa pagkabaril o natutusok ng patalim, at nakitang nakahandusay na lamang sa isang tabi. Ang isang nakausap ko, tatlong bala nga daw ang palagi niyang dala, pero sa kasamaang palad pa rin, mahigit limang beses pa rin daw siyang naholdap sa Cubao! Kaya ngayon hinahanting na niya ang co-boarder niyang dating pulis na natanggal sa trabaho dahil sa katiwalian, upang pakainin ng mga balang ibinenta sa kanya! Dalawa daw sila sa boarding house nila ang binentahan ng mga bala ng ungas na dating pulis.

 

Kung anting-anting ang gusto dahil ang inaasam ay karagdagang “lakas”, ang dapat gamitin ay mga kristal, bato, o mga bahagi ng mga halaman. Balutin mo man ang katawan mo ng mga ito ay walang sisita sa airport o pantalan kaya walang mangingikil na taga-AVESECOM o OTS. Pwede ka lang sigurong pigilan sa pagsakay dahil baka isipin nilang sintu-sinto ka, kaya sa halip na i-detain ka o hingan ng pera, baka ihatid ka pa pauwi sa inyo dahil sa awa nila!

 

Totoo naman talagang may iba’t –ibang uri ng “lakas” na nanggagaling sa mga bato at kristal dahil sa taglay nilang mga mineral. Ang isang pruweba rito ay ang bato-balani (magnet), quartz, jade, lalo na ang hindi pa gaanong kilalang batong “tourmaline” na napatunayang humihigop ng dumi sa loob ng katawan. Ang mga bahagi naman ng mga halaman ay talagang gamot kaya nakakapagpalakas ng loob kung may dalang maski pinatuyong dahon, ugat o balat man lang. May mga dahon na maski tuyo ay pwedeng amuyin upang mawala ang pagkahilo o pananakit ng tiyan dahil sa kabag, at mga pinatuyong ugat o balat ng kahoy na kapag ikinunaw (dipped) sa kapeng iniinom ay nakakagamot din….yan ang mga anting-anting na dapat ay palaging nasa bulsa at bag!

 

Ang mga tao namang nauto kaya nakabili ng bala sa halagang Php1,500.00, magmuni-muni na, lalo na yong mga OFW na ang pamilya ay nagkandautang-utang, may maipanlagay lang sila sa recruiter at pambili ng tiket ng eroplano, at ang kabuuhang halaga ay katumbas ng mahigit sa isang taong pagpapa-alipin sa ibang bansa. Huwag magpakatanga dahil lang sa bala. Kaya nagkakaroon ng mga tiwaling kawani sa airport ay dahil sa mga taong matitigas ang ulo. Nakasilip tuloy ang mga kawatan sa airport ng dahilan upang sila ay kikilan. Kung mahuli naman, at marami naman ang umaming may dala nga ng bala, ay saka sila magngunguyngoy at magsisisi! Ang masakit pa ay nadadamay ang mga taong wala talagang kaalam-alam sa “anting-anting” na ito.

 

Dapat tandaang kung walang tanga, ay walang nagagantso o nalilinlang ng kapwa! Kung totoo mang may nagtatanim ng bala sa mga bagahe, ang tanong ay… SINO ANG MGA NAGSIMULA SA PAGBIGAY NG DAHILAN KAYA NAGING RAKET ITO? HINDI BA MISMONG MGA PASAHERONG TANGA NA AKALA AY LIGTAS SILA KUNG MAY BALANG DALA? DAHIL SA TAKBO NG ABNORMAL NILANG ISIPAN, NAGKAROON NG KIKILAN SA AIRPORT KAYA NADAMAY ANG MGA INOSENTENG PASAHERO. Patunay sa raketang ito ang report na sa kabila ng naka-log na kulang-kulang sa isang libong “nahulihan”, wala pang kalahati ang nakasuhan. Ano ang ang nangyari sa iba?…eh, di “napag-usapan”!!

 

At, ang pinakamahalagang paalala: malakas na pananampalataya sa Pinakamakapangyarihan ang pinakamagaling na anting-anting ng tao…wala nang iba! Huwag lang magdasal ng malakas habang nagpapa-inspection ng bagahe sa airport….hinay-hinay lang sa pagpapakita ng matiim na pananampalataya upang hindi mapagkamalang “jet-setter” na baliw!

 

The Admirable Stewardess was an Educator…Ms. Ana Perpetua Ignacio of PAL

The Admirable Stewardess was an educator
…Ms. Ana Perpetua Ignacio of PAL
By Apolinario Villalobos

The crew that serves the passengers on board an airplane is generically called Flight Attendants, although, for gender distinction, she could be a stewardess or he could be a steward. The job of the flight attendant is no joke – demonstrating the use of different safety gear for passengers even while the plane has just made its unsteady ascent, as well as, enduring a sudden jolt due to an unexpected turbulence while serving coffee.

When I took the first flight PR1809 of PAL to Davao on June 17, one of the F/As was a look-alike of Alicia Alonzo, a 70’s Filipino actress who also had a stint as stewardess of Philippine Airlines. I first noticed her at the pre-departure area, because of her smile, although, the airline is supposed to require its F/As to always smile. But hers was different, as it forms naturally on her lips while she spoke.

Inflight, she was so professional in carrying out her duties – checking on the seat belts and putting to upright position reclining seats as necessary. I thought all the while that she was on the job for a long time, as she breezed through the routine checks with much ease, without a bit of self-consciousness. I was surprised to learn later that she had been flying for just three months! I was even more surprised that she was a former prep-school teacher. No wonder, she had a distinct almost flawless diction when she spoke either in Pilipino or English. Her story brought to my mind that of Princess Diana’s, who was also a prep-school teacher before she became a Princess of Great Britain.

When asked what prodded her to join PAL instead of other airlines that proliferate the industry, even the international ones which I was sure would be glad to hire her because of her alluring personality, she told me that she wanted to be part of the country’s flag carrier. It’s PAL for her, nothing else, she emphasized with a smile. Of course, she added that financial security was secondary and next was her love for travel. When she excused herself to do her other chores, I admired her tenacity in proving her worth as a deserving crew of the flag carrier – with her quick movements coupled with ginger sureness of her every step.

Philippine Airlines has a high standard when it comes to hiring its personnel, especially the flight crew – pilots and flight attendants. During trainings, emphasis is given on the aspect of customer service. But for the customer-contact jobs, such as ticketing, and passenger handling on board, much emphasis is on courtesy that should be enhanced with a sincere smile. High intelligence is of course, a must, as the employee is exposed to the different kinds of people with varied characters and mindset. Observing Ms. Ignacio made me conclude that PAL is back to its former high standards. As if by coincidence, Ms. Ignacio joined the airline just when the former Chairman, Lucio Tan, took over the airline from San Miguel Corporation. Both of them seem to be trying to show that the “new” PAL now boosts of fresh energetic and young crew, and is back to its former reliable service with the “Kapitan” at the helm.

I asked the permission of Ms. Ignacio to write something about my impression of the flight and their service with special mention of her name and the other crew, to which she gladly conceded, thinking perhaps that I would be doing a typical critique to improve their service. She gave me the names of the rest of the crew as: Chito Archie Sunga, Gerald Chester Perez, Myra Lorelie Villar, and Ana Francesca Arrida.

When we touched down at the international airport of Davao, as expected, it was smooth. Unfortunately, I failed to take note of the pilot’s name and his co-pilot when he introduced himself over the PA system while we were on our halfway inflight cruise toward our destination.

By the way, as added information, the delays in departure and arrival of PAL flights are due to the heavy traffic of almost simultaneous arrival and departure of aircrafts at the airport in Manila, especially, in the afternoon. They are not the fault of Philippine Airlines. The blame should be on the lone runway of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)…and perhaps, the government for not coming up with a solution about this problem until now.