All Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) employees were ordered to smile and be cheerful to everyone at the NAIA following an incident where no less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo noticed that most of them had a frown on their faces during her most recent trip abroad.
It was learned yesterday that NAIA General Manager Alfonso Cusi had issued a memorandum to all airport employees to be cheerful, courteous, and helpful while at the NAIA.
The memorandum reportedly stemmed from an incident where no less than the President asked Cusi why the airport staff does not smile at her.
The incident happened three weeks ago while the President was at the Presidential Lounge of the Terminal 2 waiting for her flight to Busan, South Korea to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
Airport insiders disclosed that while the President was having a snack inside the lounge, she noticed that most of Cusi’s staff inside the room had a frown on their faces.
Noticing the cold reception inside the Presidential Lounge, the President reportedly whispered to Cusi and asked, "Why doesn’t your staff smile at me?"
The following day, Cusi issued the memorandum ordering all employees urging them to show the Filipino trait of being a smiling and hospitable people, not only to the President, but to all visitors as well.
When told that the President rarely smiles herself, Cusi said it’s because of the many problems of the presidency and the daily criticisms she is subjected to by her critics, the political opposition, as well as those who personally does not like her.
"How could she smile when all she hears are negative things? Bigyan ninyo (media) siya ng konting positive," Cusi said.
