Throwback: The Early
Freight Service and PALShop Program Of Philippine Airlines
By Apolinario Villalobos
Almost
always, when it comes to specific topics for recollection of ex-PALers, the
cargo operation, if ever mentioned becomes only a “by-the-way” as part of the
Manila Station - Domestic.
One reason,
perhaps, could be the unassuming character of the ex-PALers who moved
commodities from station to station, but the fact is, cargo operation was never
behind as regards revenue generation of the airline, especially, during its
Golden Years.
 |
| Alfonso “Boy” Bayani |
The
early years of PAL saw Manila Station-Domestic under Manny Panlilio as manager,
and located at the old Domestic Terminal (today, NAIA Terminal 4) where
Airfreight Marketing-Domestic (AFMD) under Louie Adecer was also located. He
was assisted by the All Cargo Aircraft Coordinators (ACAC) such as, Alfonso
“Boy” Bayani, Beda Cuenco, Cecille Mella, and Tony Bejar.
As Coordinators,
they set up domestic cargo flights utilizing three to four DC3s, one YS-11, the
“ubiquitous” Argosy, to quote Boy Bayani who added that the said aircraft
should have been better called “Agony” as it spent more time on the ground due
to frequent servicing than in-flight.
In addition to
those aircrafts, they sometimes chartered the L100-20, a civilian C-130 from
the Philippine Aerotransport, Inc. (PATI), a competitor which was later
absorbed by PAL.
The
sales aspect of the AFMD was supervised by Johnny Corpuz, while the cargo
handling was under Nonoy Tolentino.
 |
| Mr. Ricardo "Tatang" Paloma |
Later, however,
due to an organizational shake up, both MSD and AFMD were brought under the
administration of the MSP which at the time was headed by Mr. Ricardo Paloma.
The organizational
change also resulted to the re-assigning of the personnel to other offices, and
among them was Boy Bayani who was transferred to the Vernida building.
 |
| Jose "Joe" Clemente |
As
there was a dire need to shape up the operations of AFMD, Dr. Avelino Zapanta
(PAL President during his retirement) was made to manage it in the interim, and
later replaced by Jose Clemente.
It was during the
time that Dr. Zapanta prepared studies that led to the development of the
Domestic Cargo Operating Manual, and which further resulted to the
mechanization of the whole operation.
 |
| Dr. Avelino "Lino" Zapanta |
From such feat,
the Cargo Department became a formidable revenue earner of the country’s flag
carrier which could have even enabled it to stand on its own as a “separate
business unit” (SBU). But, that’s another story.
The
metamorphosis of what was just a small airfreight division at the Old Domestic
Terminal resulted to the conceptualization of other revolutionary programs,
with the most remarkable as the “PALShop”.
PALShop
was a program which benefited both the employees and the company. With the
program, the employees were afforded the opportunity to enjoy the products of
the provinces where PAL stations were located from Batanes to Tawi-tawi, at the
cheapest possible price and could be picked up fresh from the PALShop outlet at
the old Domestic Terminal.
On the other hand,
the company was assured that allowable weight of cargoes that translated to
revenue would fill up the regular passenger and cargo flights, especially,
during the “lean season.”
All that the
employees did was fill up an order form based on the list of products provided
by the PALShop Office to be covered with the regular airwaybill.
A
year-end bonanza following the PALShop concept was the Christmas “tiyangge”
(bazaar) on the fifth floor of the Vernida Building where the Administrative
Offices were located.
The bazaar was
filled with products packed in crates sent by the different stations.
Employees of the
stations pooled their financial resources that they used for the purchase of
local products based on the “order list” prepared in advance by the Standards
and Coordination Division, under Ed Guatelara, and in close coordination with
the Manila Station and Domestic Cargo Office for speedy delivery to Vernida
building.
With this
arrangement, the provincial/station-based employees earned extra pesos to tide
them over the holiday season while those in Manila were able to save on the
commodities that they need, instead of being strangled by the prices of those
found on the shelves of supermarkets that have soared expectedly.
Ex-PALers
who benefited from the PALShop would reminisce about it with fondness. “Those
were the days”, is what they could just say with a sigh.
(Note:
Information on the early days of AFMD, including the names, is based on the
recollection of Alfonso “Boy” Bayani.)
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