Reviving the ‘Bicol Express’

By Danica Hermogenes, Fatima Reyes

INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – The plains of the countryside, the landscapes of hills and coconut trees, the serenity of remote villages, views of the sea and high bridges – these were some of the scenes that were unique to passengers aboard a Philippine National Railways (PNR) train which left Tutuban station in Manila a few minutes past 7 a.m. on May 22.

Looking through the glass windows, passengers saw people who lived near the railways – children playing, women busy with their laundry, and men taking their rest after a hard day’s work – waving their hands as the train went past them. Some of them covered their ears as they heard the loud sounds of cracking metal and blows of the horn.

The long wait for commuters who desire non-stop travel from Metro Manila to Bicol province might be over as refurbished PNR trains are expected to be up and running by July.

PNR successfully conducted its third trial run on Sunday, beating its target of a 10-hour travel time from Manila to Bicol, said Jera Sison, PNR spokesperson. The train, which ran from 40 to 60 kilometers per hour, left the Manila station a few minutes past 7 a.m. and arrived at Naga City in Bicol at 5 p.m. It left Bicol at 11:00 a.m. from the Naga station Monday and reached Tutuban at 9:00 p.m.

The trip, one-way, is about two to four hours faster than the run in March and six hours more than the trial run in September 2010, when train took 16 hours to ply the 400-kilometer route, said Jera Sison, PNR spokesperson.

PNR’s Manila to Bicol services have stopped operating since 2006 because of the damages caused by typhoons Milenyo and Reming.

Convenient, Cheap , secure alternative to buses

PNR General Manager Jun Ragragio, in an interview during the trial run, encouraged passengers to support the restoration of the Manila-Bicol train line saying it is a “cheap alternative to buses.”

“Our fares are cheaper compared to buses because PNR does not pay the SLEX [Southern Luzon Expressway] toll fees,” he said. “Plus our coaches are wider compared to buses.”

He said the trial run was part of a major PNR project which aimed to fully restore operations in the main line south railway system.

He said PNR would be offering a promo during the first months of their operations – rates from Manila to Naga would start from P500 to P550 for those who would avail of the seats in reclining coaches, P700 to P800 for those who would want to use the sleeper coaches and P1000 to P1400 for the VIP or solo cabins.

As part of PNR’s security measures, Ragrario said they would not be allowing vendors to enter the train as dining carts would be available.

First aid kits are also available, he added.

There are two trained and armed rail police officers assigned in every trip to ensure the security of passengers, said Ragrario.

“Our duty is to escort and assist the passengers and to secure them from pick-pockets and accidents,” said Mariano Baguio Jr. who has been

working as a rail police for two years.

“We were also part of the clearing team whose duty was to clear obstructions in railways,” Baguio said, adding that clearing illegal settlers were part of it.

There were also linemen assigned in every kilometer to inspect the safety of rails, said Ragrario.

PNR Bicol area Director Manager Constencio Toledano Sr. said their fare was “40 percent cheaper than other means of transportation.”

Toledano noted that their daily fare to and from Manila to Edsa is P10; Manila to Bicutan, P15; Manila to Sucat and Alabang, P20.

Airnel Abarra, a public school teacher and UP graduate student who was also onboard the train during the trial run, said people would surely support the PNR if they would ensure a “safe, reliable, comfortable, and fast” train ride.

He said the restoration of the Manila to Bicol train line would be a big help for passengers who seek convenience for long distance travel.

PNR will be having its inauguration last week of June, in time for St. Peter’s Day and will be fully operational in July. “This is so that our trip will be blessed,” Ragrario added.

New and refurbished coaches

During the trial run, guest passengers were able to have a taste of the experience of riding two types of fully-air-conditioned coaches the PNR would be using for the restoration of the operations.

The “tourist-bus” type of coach featured “reclining” and “rotating” deep-cushioned blue and yellow seats. The revolving mechanism of the seats made it possible for passengers to turn and face each other and easily communicate with one another. Ragragio said that these designs “fit” Filipino passengers well, as we are very “social” people.

Sleeper coaches, on the other hand, were more appropriate for those who would avail of the night trips, Ragragio said. Sleeper coaches featured rooms or cubicles where two double-deck-like types of couches were placed facing each other.

Ragragio said sleeper coaches elicit a “barkada feel” and would be good for groups of people who would want more privacy and a place of their own in the train for them to conduct different activities.

Need for Funds, More trains to boost economy

Ragragio said the refurbished coaches were all donated by Japan. He said around 80 coaches have been successfully imported from Japan and that the country was expecting 50 more by September.

He said PNR would need around P2 billion for the restoration project but only P 250 million pesos have been released.

“That’s why we are continuing our policy of being aggressive in asking for more donations from other countries,” he said.

Ragragio said more funds were needed to make the railway system more intact but the PNR is “making the most of what we have.” He said it was better for them to revive old trains instead of buying new ones since it would cost less and would allow them to contribute to the economy.

“Reviving old trains enable the PNR to provide job opportunities and improve our technology,” he said.

He said PNR expected to gain P800 million additional income and a 33 percent increase in employment opportunities during the first year of the revival of the Manila to Bicol train line operations.

“Around 4, 800 families could benefit from the restoration of the train line,” he said.

Ragragio said for the first month of the operations, there would be one train line from Manila to Bicol. There will be five short stopovers in stations in Lucena, Hondagua, Tagkawayan, Cagay, and Sipukot. He said with the arrival of more trains, eventually the PNR would be able to conduct six trips a day, three going to Bicol and three returning to Manila.

He emphasized the need for more trains for the PNR to provide more services to around 300,000 commuters.

“PNR could only provide services for around 50,000 passengers due to lack of trains,” he said.

Heritage-oriented, ‘Very Filipino’ vehicle

The train swayed like a boat at times, even rocked continuously, during the trial run but the passengers did not mind as they watched how the view from the window changed, depicting the differences between life in the city and the countryside.

The train ride gave the passengers access to see the shanties and houses near the railways, remote villages and nipa huts, the green plains filled with vegetables and fruits, and the day to day plight of men and women of the provinces.

“These are scenes you cannot see on a bus,” PNR spokesperson Sison said.

Ragragio said Bikolanos have loved trains because they’ve been part of their culture.

“Trains have been significant not only traditionally but also culturally,” he said.

He went on to describe the train as a very “Filipino vehicle” by saying that we Filipinos were very social in nature, and that the features of the train complemented this quality.

Karl Brouwers, president of the Railways and Industrial Heritage Society of the Philippines (RIHSPI), said the revival of the south line railways was a good way for the PNR to re-establish itself as one of the leading modes of transportation in the Philippines, and a way for Filipinos to realize how long they have come in terms of “industrial” heritage.

RIHSPI is a non-government organization that has been closely working with the PNR in its efforts to preserve and restore railways and educate the public about the industrial heritage of the Philippines.

Jaime Tiongson, former president and treasurer of the organization, explained that the 100-year-old railroad route plied by the train was the first land route to Bicol, and that the trains have been part of Philippine heritage since the time of the Americans.

“Travelling by train reminds me of different events from our industrial history,” Tiongson said. He said that ever since, the growth and development of a country was characterized by the quality of its railway systems.

RIHSPI is planning to build an “industrial railway heritage museum” where they will showcase the “history of the PNR and the railway system in the Philippines.” The museum will educate the public on how the group deals with identifying and restoring locomotive motor and other heritage equipment for the PNR.

Abarra said the features of the train, like its wide leg rooms, will provide a means for train passengers to “interact” with other passengers, and might even allow them to gain new friends.

He said that with the long hours of travel, it was unavoidable for passengers not to get bored and eventually talk with one another.

He added that some of his friends years back, who could not afford a bus ride but wanted a comfortable ride to the provinces, preferred to use the train and eventually it became a part of their tradition and way of life.

He said he hoped the PNR would be able to provide quality service for passengers especially during parts of the year when people would want to go back to the provinces to celebrate festivities, like the “Feast of the Penafrancia” in Bicol.

“The train will grant Filipinos a very accessible means for them to go back to their home provinces,” he said.

When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Echoes of the living past

By NOEL F. DE JESUS

Calle Crisologo (Photo by RONALD JAYME)

MANILA, Philippines -- By plane, the trip takes an hour and a half. By land transport, the journey lasts a minimum of seven hours.

Through history, however, you’ll be travelling over four-and a half centuries back in 1572. This was the year Captain Juan de Salcedo “discovered” this northwestern coast of Luzon during a reconnaissance mission. The captain from Castille was attracted by the region’s topographical similarity to his hometown. He thus decides to make Vigan his second home.

In the tradition of his grandfather, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, first governor-general of Spanish Philippines, Salcedo subdues the confederation of Ilocano barangays to found a settlement. He named it Villa Fernandina, after the young son of Philip II. Later, in recognition of his brilliant “pacification” of the Bicol Peninsula and Catanduanes, the crown deeded to Salcedo the entire region as an encomienda or fiefdom. In 1574 Salcedo returned to villa Fernandina to lead the tranquil life of a feudal lord. Transforming the sitio into a replica of his hometown in Spain, Salcedo built a church, a munisipio (municipal seat of government), a school and a commercial area around a central plaza – the Spanish pattern that was to become the model for countless Philippine towns.

Salcedo did not live long enough to witness the realization of his plans, having contracted the illness which eventually caused his death. He was only 27 years old. Yet, characteristically, the man left nothing to change. Having laid down a blueprint, Salcedo was not so improvident as to die intestate. He named the Ilocanos on his encomienda as his heirs. In grateful remembrance, the Ilocanos erected a monument to him at the Vigan town plaza, named in his honor.

Only one of Salcedo’s plans failed to take hold; the name he had chosen for the settlement – Villa Fernandia – fell into disuse. Vigan was named after the biga (Alcosia indica), a coarse plant with very large and ornate leaves that once grew wild in the region. From the Tagalog kaibigan meaning “a place where there is biga,” the name was shortened and Hispanized to Vigan.

In the 1650s, Vigan became the center of Spanish culture and influence in Northern Luzon. The Augustinian fathers, assigned in the Ilocos region, presided over its gradual Hispanization. They made Vigan the hub of their missionary activities and constructed a grand cathedral to replace the wood and thatch chapel that Salcedo built. They also influenced the building of immense houses with red tile roofs and spacious balconies of ornately carved wood, of which some still stand today, narrow cobblestone streets. The town’s source of income was from corn and tobacco products. Vigan later became the seat of ecclesiastical and civil power in religion.

Although Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte were one province until 1818, the people of Ilocos Sur bear more evidence of Spanish heritage. Compared to their northern brothers, Ilocos Sur natives are generally fair complexioned. They are likewise reputed to be industrious, thrifty and migratory.

A few abandoned mansions in Vigan are mute evidence of upper strata migration, but over 30,000 Vigan folk remained to work in industries that probably even antedate the Spanish colonization. These industries include weaving, pottery, salt and sugar-making and the production of staple foods.

Vigan today is the most preserved Spanish town in the Philippines. It has become one of the richest, historically. Its sons and daughters figured in several abortive anti-colonial uprisings, the best known of which was Diego Silang’s anomalous collections of taxes and the venal monopoly of provincial commerce by alcaldes mayores (representatives of provincial governors). The revolt was eventually quelled by the Spanish soldier’s superior weaponry and its leaders executed. When Diego Silang was assassinated at the height of the revolt, his dauntless wife, Gabriela carried on the battle. The two are now in the roster of Filipino heroes immortalized in town plazas of Vigan and elsewhere.

Another hero from Vigan is Fr. Jose Burgos, who, along with two other priests, was executed by the Spaniards on suspicion of complicity in the Cavite Mutiny of 1872. The town’s Plaza Burgos is a memorial to him.

The town’s principal attraction today is its colonial houses, seemingly hunched together like proud old ladies along the town’s main street. These houses are rich in repositories and an infinite trove of period furniture, historical mementoes and Ilocano artifacts. On their walls hang faded oil paintings which recall the affluent taste of a nineteenth century bourgeoisie.

Vigan’s most splendid moment unfolds in the quiet, early morning hour just before the sun bursts from behind the Cordilleras. In the still diffused light, the old town exudes a seventeenth century ambience. Slight imaginative effort can conjure up its Hispanic Majesties in plumed helmet and cuirass, marching between stately rows of stone houses. It takes no effort at all to hear the hoofbeats of their horses on the once cobbled streets.

Soon, fingers of light will probe the chipped tile roofs and crumbling stone walls of the colonial houses, tracing the outline of a door which any moment now, may fly open to reveal a magnificent carriage. But there’s only an old lady, veiled and on her way to morning Mass
.

Preserving Oslob's heritage

By MARS W. MOSQUEDA JR.

Baluarte Built in 1788, the Baluarte was one of the seven watchtowers built along the coastline of Oslob. The locals also referred to the structure as watchtower.

MANILA, Philippines -- The southern town of Oslob, located 125 kilometers off Cebu City, is working doubly hard. As a heritage town, it is working to preserve its antique items and various heritage sites spread around the town to keep these from further destruction and to allow future generations to catch a glimpse of the town’s early settlers.

Oslob will soon have its own museum that will house various antique items, from 18th century gowns, 20th century jars, farm equipment, religious statues, and a lot more. The museum will be constructed within the Cuartel Heritage Park, just a few meters away from Oslob’s picturesque church.

The pronouncement on the construction of the town’s museum was made by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who officially unveiled the design of the facility as part of Oslob’s celebration of Heritage Week, the only town in Cebu that celebrates such occasion.

“As one of the heritage frontiers in Southern Cebu, Oslob is the only town that celebrates its heritage through the park,” said Oslob Mayor Ronald Guaren. The mayor considers the celebration, now on its third year, as a way of developing the love and pride for its rich history dating back to the Spanish era.

Guaren said the museum can help them preserve their history and instill pride among their residents. With the museum, the town can better keep its collection, he said.

During the Heritage Week, booths were set-up in the park, showcasing the various heritage items of each barangay, including an 18th century mourning gown, Maria Clara gowns, jars from the 20th century called tibod, a radio phonograph from the 1950s, a grandfather's clock, and some farm equipment.

Nueva Caseres Barangay Captain Nenita Filosofo displayed the silver gown of her relative worn during a wedding anniversary in 1925. She said they have a small museum in their barangay where they store the items. A 16th century yahong (bowl) was also displayed in her booth.

In her speech, Garcia said Oslob’s heritage items and historical landmarks like the cuartel, an unfinished naval barracks, are irreplaceable and emphasized the importance of protecting them as “our very soul.”

The Spanish cuartel is now an outdoor museum, after the Capitol developed it. The operations and management of the project will be undertaken by the municipality of Oslob, which signed a memorandum of agreement with the Provincial Government.

The Spanish cuartel, built in 1899, served as the barracks of the Spanish armies and was built from coral stones from the remnants of the collapsed floor of the church bell tower.

Another interesting heritage site is the Baluarte, which was built in 1788. It was one of the seven watchtowers built along the coastline of Oslob.  Just across is the 182-year-old Oslob church, which was reconstructed two years ago after a fire in 2008 destroyed majority of the structure and the nearby convent.

A few meters away from the church is the Prayer Room that was built in 1847. It was also called the “waiting chapel” during the Spanish Era as it was used to house those who had leprosy and were awaiting blessings from the church.

The Provincial Government has been assisting municipalities and cities around Cebu in putting up their own heritage parks, beginning with the Oslob Cuartel and Heritage Park. Next week, the Moalboal Heritage Park will be formally opened to the public, to be followed by the heritage parks  of Alegria, Dumanjug, Boljoon, Borbon, and Sogod.

“These are all efforts towards all of us Cebuanos embracing and appreciating our heritage and culture,” said Garcia.

When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Shop talk for tourism

A new initiative is set to offer travelers another reason to love these 7,107 islands

By MAAN D’ASIS PAMARAN

From L-R: Ma. Alegria S. Limjoco, Vice Chairman of the PRA; DoT Secretary Alberto A. Lim; and Samie Lim, Vice President for Tourism, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry

MANILA, Philippines -- True story: In a recent trip to Aklan, a metropolis-based tourist went to a sari-sari store to purchase her cellphone load. When she politely asked the tindera if they offered loading services for her particular SMS provider, the latter smirked and replied, “doon sa Maynila, may load.” Of course, this somewhat marred the tourist experience, which was blissfully saved by the beautiful sights of the countryside. This leads to the question of how the locals of tourist hotspots now treat their visitors. They are probably so used to tourists that they have become blasé and indifferent, affecting the world-famous image of Philippine hospitality.  

Thankfully there is a new collective effort to enhance the retail business of the country’s top tourist destinations, via TURISTA-ra Na! Lakbay Turo para sa Micro-Tourism Enterprise. This initiative was made possible through the partnerships of the Department of Tourism (DoT), Philippine Retailers Association (PRA), and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with the support of Duty Free Philippines.

With this program, grassroots retailers such as souvenir vendors, will have access to training provided by the likes of financial whiz Francis Kong, on aspects such as customer service, inventory, and product presentation. These seminars will be given for free, and the participants, who will be pre-selected by the League of Governors, will receive certificates that they can display in their establishments.

According to DoT Secretary Alberto A. Lim, the program will start a one-year run at selected tourist destinations such as Cebu, Boracay and Baguio and will hopefully work its way to the other spots in the country that have their own charms to offer.

Ma. Alegria S. Limjoco, Vice Chairman of the Philippine Retailers Association says that the program will help upgrade micro businesses into small enterprises. “We will equip them with skills, tools, and best practices to help make shopping a memorable experience for tourists,” she says, in keeping with the mission of making a trip to the Philippines a truly unforgettable experience from touchdown to pasalubong shopping.

It is a timely program that will help boost not just local tourism, but also the local economy. According to DoT figures, visitor turnout in 2010 has exceeded its initial targets. The total number of inbound visitors reached 3.52 million, exceeding the target of 3.3 million. This positive performance of the industry is said to have mitigated the effects of the economic downturn, and allowed the country to post growth in 2010.

Secretary Lim was happy to report that in the first two months of the year alone, there were 670,000 visitors to the country. These figures also gave the retail industry a big boost, as DoT findings show that 27% of tourist spending in 2010 went to shopping.

According to Secretary Lim, the Aquino administration is keen on further developing this industry, which also provides 10% of employment, which means jobs for about 3.4 million Filipinos.

“With one new tourist, we create one new job. This would mean 3 million new jobs, on top of the 3 ½ million, if we reach our targets.”  The National Tourism Development Plan, he says, is about “announcing to the whole world that the Philippines is open for business. Marketing efforts will reach out to the United States, Korea, Japan, and the emerging markets such as Russia, India, and China.”

The Development Plan has earmarked 80 tourism development areas which will be included in the infrastructure improvement plan for the next five years.

“We will continue to strengthen the product in terms of variety and quality. We will improve gateways such as NAIA 1 and upgrade facilities and services to be at par with our international counterparts.  Through the TURISTA-ra Na! program, we will be able to reach out to the people who will interact with the tourists, and show them that even if they only have 3-star facilities, they should provide 5-star service all the time. If you give the visitors a good experience, the numbers will grow, others will follow.”

When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Enduring Camarines Sur's adventure trail

By BRYAN B. GARCIA

A runner precariously navigates through slippery rocks near the Tumaguiti Falls.

MANILA, Philippines - Not until recently did people pay attention to the province of Camarines Sur. What was once an impoverished and calamity stricken land has now become one of the top tourism destinations in the country. Attracting both foreign and local tourism alike, CamSur has done so by developing facilities around the province suitable for adventure sports.

The most famous spot and arguably the main reason behind all the hubbub is the CamSur Watersports Complex. Designed virtually as a giant playground for all ages, CWC has succeeded in establishing a base for extreme adventure sports in the country with facilities such as their skate park, inflatable obstacle course as well as a cable park where riders can wakeboard to their hearts’ content.

Although CWC has put Camarines Sur on the world map, it is but the tip of the iceberg in terms of the wealth of natural wonders and amazing sights the province has to offer. Situated at the heart of the Bicol region, CamSur is blessed with a variety of flora and fauna and an equally diverse terrain to go along with it. There’s no better way to explore these hidden treasures than an endurance race that navigates through its backyards and traverses its rough yet scenic trails.

When recently concluded ultra marathon event The North Face 100 laid plans to hold their endurance race in Camarines Sur, everyone involved, from organizers, sponsors and more importantly the racers, knew that it would be a challenging course. With previous races held in different spots around the country, which includes places like Sacobia Valley in Clark Field Pampanga and Baguio City in Benguet, this year’s race offers another unique ultra experience. “We don’t want repeat of races, because the nature of The North Face is testing the limits and exploring different areas,” shares race director Neville Manaois.

As the name suggests, the ultra marathon race runs through a distance of 100 kilometers through different terrains and seldom accessed routes testing the very limits of human endurance. Aside from the full 100 kilometer race, there are the shorter 50km, 22km and 11 km courses.

Covering such distances gave the organizers the opportunity to lay down a route that ran through a microcosm of the province’s landscape, starting from the CWC complex, through the CamSur plains and up and across towering Mt. Isarog. “Here we want to utilize the features of Mt.Isarog, the waterfall areas, the trail networks as well as the mountain bike trails,” Manaois says.

The course starts out flat from the base camp in CWC and begins to ascend as the trail pushes up Mt. Isarog, across rivers and through mountain passes that have a series of spectacular waterfalls. The course then descends and traverses the perimeter of the mountain eventually ascending towards Consocep Mountain Resort where the trail offers a stretch full of spectacular views under tropical canopies highlighted by a portion in which runners precariously navigate the tracks beside the Tumaguiti Falls.

“With this race we got to visit points na iilan lang nakakapunta, kagaya ng falls sa taas ng Mt. Isarog. Madaming bagong features sa trail and it turned out to be full of surprises,” shared 49-year-old 100km finisher Cesar Abarientos. “Of all people that you would expect na makakakilala sa Mt. Isarog, dapat yung mga taga dito,” the Naga local added.

From Consocep, the course then winds its way down to a deer farm, through a bike trail amid a bamboo farm and descend towards Barangay May-Ogob in the municipality of Ocampo which serves as the course’s turn around point.

Although the beauty of the trail offers a fitting consolation, the harshness and dangers of such a long endurance race are real. The challenge of merely finishing the race takes an incredible amount of determination and effort, not to mention countless hours of conditioning and training. “I came in expecting the unexpected. The course was very challenging but it was nice at the same time because it develops gradually and it’s not too rigid,” women’s 100km third place winner Ellen Tolentino shared. “I’m a nature lover and I’m very relaxed when I’m around it,” the 27-year-old Philippine Army runner added.

Despite the hazards involved, the race proved to be a success in terms of challenging each runner from all race categories as well as acquainting each one to the hidden wonders of the province, something which the organizers credit to the overwhelming support of the Camarines Sur locals. “We’re very happy with the support of CamSur and the communities around the areas here,” Manaois said.

The prospect of conquering a seemingly insurmountable challenge, coupled with an innate urge to explore, pushes some athletes to test their personal limits. Choosing to ignore ease and comfort, these elite runners lay it all out in order to successfully finish this grueling race. Regardless of struggles and hardships, these athletes brave the trail to reap a unique reward, an intimate relationship with the rich landscape of Camarines Sur.

When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for real estate and retirement needs.

Premium travel packages, amenities for HK visitors

By: Cheche V. Moral

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Cathay Pacific Airways offers special package tour to Hong Kong

The Package seems thoughtfully designed so there’s money left for your trip’s main objective: shopping.

In time for Hong Kong’s summer shopping festival, Cathay Pacific Airways is offering a three-day, two-night “Visit Hong Kong Now” package starting at US$275 (plus taxes), inclusive of Manila-HK round-trip air ticket, hotel accommodations plus a selection of free gift offers. (Business Class package starts at $717. There are similar packages for flights departing from Cebu. Call 7570888 in Manila, 2313747 in Cebu, and 2228901 in Davao.)

CX has 30 hotel partners to choose from, and the package is valid for departure until Aug. 30 (selling period is until Aug. 27). As a freebie, passengers can choose from round-trip airport-hotel transfers, Ocean Park entrance ticket, a copy of Hong Kong-Macau Michelin Guide 2011, a Peak tram Skypass and admission at Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum or a duty-free coupon worth HK$150.

It seems that even as there are now budget airlines servicing the Manila-Hong Kong route, CX still enjoys the patronage of travelers who prefer the comforts of flying with a premier carrier. CX and its partner Dragon Air fly to Hong Kong from Manila 42 times each week.

“They [budget airlines] have not really taken a chunk of our passengers from us,” says Jan Charmaine Te-Agoncillo, CX marketing manager in the Philippines. “It’s just that the traveling market has grown a lot.”

CX has just launched its newly redesigned business class – wider, more relaxing and comfortable private space for long-haul travelers. Akin to the old, long-haul business-class seat of the airline, seats convert into a flat bed with foams ergonomically designed to ensure a restful sleep. While the new seat provides utmost privacy, it will also delight claustrophobes as it’s not as confined as the previous design.

The New Business Class has ample storage space for passenger belongings like handbags and laptops. There’s a side cabinet that doubles as a privacy screen, a shoe locker, and even a vanity mirror inside the cabinet door. Unlike before when the window is to your back, the seat is now angled to provide a view of the window.

Along with the New Business Class, CX has also just launched The Cabin, its ultra-modern lounge for first- and business-class passengers, as well as Silver and above Marco Polo Club, Sapphire, Emerald and oneworld members, located at Gate 23 of Hong Kong International Airport’s Terminal 1.

Sleek design

While smaller than CX’s other lounges (The Wing, The Pier, G16 and The Arrival), The Cabin’s sleek, contemporary design makes up for what it lacks in size.

Designed by the London firm Foster + Partners, The Cabin is the default destination for many passengers in transit at this time as The Wing is undergoing a facelift. In place of The Wing’s famous noodle bar is The Deli, which serves a good selection of antipasti and salads, as well as hot, grilled sandwiches, and a buffet of Asian and Western dishes.

The Health Bar on the other side of the lounge serves the usual alcoholic beverages and cocktails, as well as fresh-squeezed juices, smoothies and shakes, and herbal teas.

There’s an IT Zone that has high-speed WiFi Internet, 11 PCs, six iMacs, as well as 20 iPads preloaded with the latest apps and reading materials. Adjacent is a coffee machine with a selection of cookies and tea cakes (and magazines and newspapers) if you can’t be bothered to cross the room to get to the main mess hall.

The Cabin also features the Solus Chair, handcrafted by the Italian firm Poltrona Frau, so designed to provide an individual private space to work, eat or relax.

From the privacy of the New Business Class, to the privacy on the Solus Chair. In the frenzy of an airport as busy as Hong Kong’s, sometimes we all just vant to ve alone.

When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.