MANILA, Philippines - The country’s flag carrier, Philippine Airlines, marked its 70th anniversary recently and some of the country’s top entertainment artists (led by Kuh Ledesma, Gary Valenciano and Martin Nievera) performed and helped PAL portray the last seven decades in a star-studded program that is both nostalgic and informative. PAL’s milestone was celebrated at the Newport Performing Arts Theater at the Resort World Manila complex in Pasay City.

Dr. Lucio C. Tan, PAL Chairman and CEO, led in welcoming the more than 1,500 invited guests from government, the diplomatic corps, and the aviation, travel and business sectors. Also in attendance were PAL staff and officers.

Aside from the cocktail reception and subsequent musical program, PAL’s milestone was also marked by other simple but meaningful activities. Masses were held at the airline’s various stations and facilities throughout the country and even overseas.

As PAL turned 70, it has one eye on the legacies of its past and another on its goals of for the future. Since its founding 70 years ago, PAL has been inextricably linked with the Filipino nation as the pioneer flag carrier, major air transport utility and partner in nation-building.

PAL was founded by a group of prominent Filipino industrialists on Feb. 26, 1941. On March 15, 1941, a tiny Beech Model 18 aircraft carrying five passengers took off from Nielson Airport in Makati bound for Baguio – earning for PAL the distinction of being Asia’s first airline.

The flag carrier is bidding to replicate its past success in the more demanding operating and competitive landscape of the future. However, it faces a slate of tough challenges in their quest.

PAL reported a modest profit of $15.1 million in the third quarter (October to December 2010) of its current 2010-2011 fiscal year – a period when air travel gingerly recovered from a slump the previous year.

But the succeeding months, from January 2011 to the present, showed just how fragile the recovery was. The sudden eruption of political unrest in the Middle East send crude oil prices skyrocketing to nearly $120 per barrel in late February – the highest in two and a half years.

This forced the global airline industry to flag a potential loss for carriers by the end of 2011. In fact, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has already downgraded its outlook for the year.

“Our current forecast is based on an average oil price of $84 per barrel. Today, the price is over $100. For each dollar it increases, the industry is challenged to recover $1.6 billion in additional costs. 2011 is starting out as a very challenging year for airlines,” said IATA director general Giovanni Bisignani recently.

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Annabelle Rama signs up four more talents

No-nonsense manager Ms. Annabelle Rama recently signed up four more talents, so now she has a total of 31 artists in her management stable including her husband Eddie Gutierrez, and children among them Ruffa, Richard and Raymond Gutierrez.

Those who signed up recently with Annabelle were Jay Manalo, James Blanco, Karel Marquez and Bearwin Meily. The signing ceremony was held at the Imperial Palace Suites.

It was noted that all of Annabelle’s four new artists are already married. But she said, it doesn’t matter since what is really needed here is talent, no matter the status. “Single nga kung pasaway naman, magkakaproblema lang ako.”

Before she accepted Jay Manalo, Annabelle said she did a research on him. “Lahat ng nalaman ko negative. Very unprofessional daw siya, laging late. Kung minsan hindi na lang sisipot sa shooting o taping. Basta lahat, hindi maganda ang nalaman ko about him. So kami ni Eddie, kinausap namin siya. Sabi naman ni Jay subukan ko muna siya.” Jay is in the cast of “Babaeng Hampaslupa” and so far, the feedback on him has been positive and encouraging, Annabelle said. “Very professional na daw siya. Mabuti naman.”

Jay signed up for a five-year management contract with Annabelle, and three years contract with TV5.

Aside from Jay, another talent of Annabelle in “Babaeng Hampaslupa” is Karel Marquez who plays effectively a kontrabida. Karel has two kids, and she said singing is her real passion but she also loves acting and so she decided to make a showbiz comeback.

James Blanco who also has two kids, is in the cast of TV5’s newest drama series “Mga Nagbabagang Bulaklak,” along with Ruffa Gutierrez, Carla Humphries, Arci Muñoz and Jay Aquitania. The show premiered last night.

“Lahat ng talents ko, hulog ng langit sa akin. Magagaling lahat sila,” Annabelle proudly said. “Sabi ko sa kanila, I’ll do my best to help you with projects. Sina Jay at Arsi assured sila ng at least two or three projects a year sa TV5.”

Among Annabelle’s other talents are Assunta de Rossi and Yayo Aguila (who appears in ABS-CBN shows), Danita Paner, and of course, JC de Vera.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, March 22, go to Atty. Ed Oliva, Anya Katigbak, Beverly I. Alforque, Fr. Elias Tanopo, Filomena Batungbacal, Baby Naidas Zapata and Mrs. Lydia Loyoa… Happy wedding anniversary to Ray and Helen Sampilo of Queens Village, New York…