Senior citizen updates

ENTERING THE Naia Centennial Terminal last week, we were reminded by fellow passengers that we were home again. While moving toward the immigration counters, the lady behind me suddenly exclaimed, “Ay, Kumadre, sira ang escalator.” Her companion, in a matter-of-fact tone, replied, “Tama, nasa Pilipinas nga tayo.” With three international flights from Vancouver, San Francisco and Singapore, arriving at roughly the same time early in the morning, the terminal area was jampacked with incoming passengers. There are 10 immigration counters (two per booth) on each side of the terminal but unfortunately, not all were manned by inspectors, adding to the slow pace of processing. A little advance coordination between airlines and immigration could easily have lessened the discomfort and distress of arriving residents, balikbayans and tourists. Of course, with the large crowd milling about in a small area the situation did not present an attractive picture for foreign visitors having their first experience with the country’s airport facilities.

But anyway, it’s great to be home even with non-functioning escalators and bureaucratic lapses. So what else is new?

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The flight from Vancouver on a PAL Boeing 777 was smooth and restful (except for a few bumps along the way). Jimmy Bautista’s boys were on the ball with wheels off the ground as scheduled.

The pilot was Capt. Bong Masmela Jr. of Lipa City, PMA Class 1983. His flight officer was Mark Anthony Fernandez of Surigao del Sur, Class of 1993; the Second Officer was George Galza of Pampanga, Class of 1996. This was my first experience on a flight manned by an all-PMA crew.

Incidentally, Bong Masmela was a young lieutenant undergoing T-33 combat crew training with the Fifth Fighter Wing in Basa Air Base when I was chief of the Air Force. He left the service in 1993 and joined Philippine Airlines. His father-in-law, retired Colonel Narcida, was a PAF maintenance officer during my time. Among his classmates still in the service, four have made it to star rank: Marine Brig. Gen. Romeo Tanalgo, PNP Chief Supt. Jet Villacorte, Commodores Willy Melad and Luis Tuason Jr., both of the Philippine Coast Guard. The Presidential Security Group commander, Col. Ramon Mateo Dizon, is also a batchmate. Several others are brigade and wing commanders, and should be moving up in the chain of command during the next few years. As continuing retirements take place in the AFP, the younger officers are being prepared for greater responsibilities. With new blood being injected into the leadership, hopefully the abuses that recently surfaced in the military will no longer be tolerated and allowed to discredit the organization.

On another subject, because of the continuing Category 2 status of our aviation safety ratings, the flights of PAL utilizing the B-777 to Las Vegas and other points in the United States have not been allowed. It has been over three years now since the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) downgraded our facilities from Category 1 to Category 2, meaning that our aviation safety standards do not meet the international civil aviation organization requirements. How much more time will Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director General Ramon Gutierrez need to convince US FAA to restore our Category 1 status?

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As always, my mail has piled up but there are some items that I wish to bring up particularly as regards our senior citizens.

First is a copy of a letter addressed to members of the Wack Wack Golf & Country Club, which reads as follows: “With respect to the senior citizens discount which drew some undeserved attention in a national broadsheet, as part of the Club’s desire to provide members maximum benefits including those not required by law and regardless of extraneous factors, said senior citizen discount of 20 percent shall be granted by Carte Blanche (our present service provider) to senior members of the Club availing themselves of food and non-alcoholic beverages at the restaurant and tee houses. This privilege is extended to senior citizens who are guests of senior citizen members. Our non-profit, non-stock club is one of the very few extending this privilege to senior citizens.

“It must be emphasized that the senior citizen card must be presented when ordering food and non-alcoholic beverages and that, like in any other establishment, the ‘no senior card, no discount’ policy will be strictly enforced.”

Circular No. 2011-018 signed by Wack Wack general manager Francisco M. Legarda also states: “The grant of senior citizen discount will continue regardless of who the service provider concessionaire is.”

We commend the Wack Wack board of directors led by president Philip Ella Juico, for their positive response to senior citizen concerns. As I mentioned in an earlier column, last January, Alabang Country Club led by president Louie J. Morales granted the same privileges to senior citizens of the Club. This makes two of the leading country clubs in Metro Manila senior citizen-friendly.

Second, I wish to acknowledge a handwritten letter sent by mail from a senior citizen in Cagayan de Oro city. She is suggesting that “free calls and texting be granted senior citizens of 70 years and up. More power to you and the Philippine Daily Inquirer.” This arrangement may raise some complications but thank you anyway for your ideas on how to help the elderly.

Also another letter comes from General Santos City from retired judge Querico C. Constantino, who is now 84 years old: “Your idea of a cash gift for senior citizens at age 90 years tickles me so much and the mere thought of such a bonanza in the future helps to keep me going.” I hope Rep. Edcel Lagman takes this comment into account in the deliberations on this topic.

Third, senior citizens may not be aware that 10 minutes of exposure to sunshine each day may help ward off a host of illnesses like cancer and heart disease. Recent studies have indicated that vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, is good for the bones and reduces the risk of hip fractures and significantly increases muscle strength.