MANILA, Philippines — It wouldn’t matter whether the world-class Cobonpue-Layug-Pineda tandem or Mar Roxas’ favored in-law Leonardo V Locsin Junior does the face-lift of the Ninoy Aquino airport.

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(Please don’t call it “NAIA 1” out of respect for the martyr who died on the spot and earned the honor to have the airport named after him).

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The former Idlewild International Airport isn’t called the JFKIA, but simply the John Kennedy airport, or “JFK.”

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The main Paris international airport isn’t called the CDGIA, but “Charles de Gaulle.”

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In any case, an air force general who asked t be unnamed worries if our airport’s face-lift will just be old w(h)ine in new bottles:

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“We fix up the NAIA terminals, spending billions  [but] the tourists come to a new terminal and wham, they encounter the same personnel with the same attitudes... the corrupt customs and immigration and porters …welcomed by the noise and chaos at the arrival curbside and arrival waiting area… accosted by men offering rides in colorum vehicles... mulcting taxi drivers… extortionists clinging to vans [and] asking for pasalubong…people [looking] at them as cash cows… ativan gang protected by  police…

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“Clean up the people factor first!  An airport’s success depends on 3 factors – facilities (terminal, toilets, amenities), the processes ( immigration, customs, check-in), and the personnel (airline, airport workers, customs, and immigration officers).

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“I think our facilities are adequate; they are not 5-star but serve the purpose. Airport check-in and immigration procedures have been established to provide the shortest delay for passengers. NAIA has even been ISO-certified. However, old habits die hard and the persons working there have not fully imbibed daan matuwid. We can have the newest, most expensive terminal in the world but if the workers have the old mind-set, walang mangyayari.  The billions spent is just “papogi” without effect. Sa airport pa lang yan.”

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FROM SERIOUS TO RIDICULOUS. A tip to Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez: Take a cue from Bedouin kidnappers who were seeking leverage to pressure the Egyptian government to release two relatives, including one of their sons.  Norma Supe and Patti Ganal of California gave ringing good housekeeping endorsement of their kidnappers who:

– gentlemen to the core, gave them dried fruit and tea;

– lit a fire to keep them warm;

– discussed religion and tribal rights;

– even put out the cigarette when a hostage complained.

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The Bedouins drove for a few hours through the mountains, and suggested to the women that they were doubling as new tour guides. “They reassured us, they are just continuing our tour in the mountains,” Ganal said. “I said, ‘Yes, what a beautiful scene.’”

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“Even though this happened to us, people are nice to us,” said Supe. “I feel that people here are considering us as family.”

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If DoT can educate the Abu Sayaaf and JI on this, we could have a win-win situation.  We could even open Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

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Word of mouth would spread that “It’s really more fun in the Philippines.” Who knows, there might even be repeat visits!  FEEDBACK:  jaz_aide@yahoo.com