Can somebody please give the Legazpi International Airport in Albay a public address (PA) system so it can provide accurate information?
Last Saturday, several afternoon flights were delayed. The ground crew announced new boarding schedules by sticking letter-sized computer printouts on the glass doors of the airport’s departure gates.
Fortunately, the dozens of passengers, although uncomfortable in the hot predeparture lounge (the air conditioners had become inadequate to keep the temperature cool for the waiting throng) resisted the urge to rush to the door to read the handkerchief-sized announcements.
We had to stand close to the ground crew at the gate to know when it was time to board our flight.
Our Philippine Airlines flight was delayed twice. Our original scheduled departure was 2:35 p.m., then it was changed to 3 p.m. Then we were told we had to wait a few more minutes because they “have to get a new clearance” for us to fly.
I tried to ask what the clearance was. Except for being told it had to come from Manila, I really could not get a clear explanation of what it was.
It was the first time I heard of a flight being delayed because of the need for a new clearance.
Incidentally, it seems airlines still spell Legazpi with the letter “s.” Albay Governor Joey Salceda, when I first wrote about it, said he would ensure it would be spelled correctly. The provincial capital, after all, was named after the first Spanish governor in the Philippines, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.
Despite the minor inconveniences, Legazpi is still a fun place to visit. The majestic Mayon Volcano, reason enough to visit the city, was almost completely visible the whole of Friday when we arrived. Many of Legazpi’s hotels are just a few stories tall, small in comparison to many other cities’ towering tourist lodgings, so they are less crowded but very comfortable.
Ours, the Venezia, was particularly nice, located as it were inside a subdivision. It was quiet most of the time we were there except on Friday evening when people holding their school reunion spent a couple of hours singing on the karaoke. But they finished on schedule and early enough so they did not disrupt anybody’s beauty sleep.
We were fortunate that our trip coincided with a trade fair. I got a couple of pairs of espadrilles for just P300 each, three pairs of comfortable abaca slippers for P100, and a couple of import-quality abaca bags, with designs similar to those of leading international brands, for just P600 each.
Eye care
There are probably very few people these days who do not have a gadget—a mobile phone, tablet or computer. Many hours spent using these gadgets can cause eyestrain, especially since some of them are really small.
To reduce eye fatigue and prevent more serious visual problems, experts say people should observe the “20/20 rule.” Traditionally, 20/20 means normal vision. A person with 20/20 vision does not need to wear glasses.
For gadget users, 20/20, experts explained during the recent launch of Essilor’s healthy vision campaign, means they should rest their eyes for 20 minutes and look at something in a distance of at least 20 feet every so often when using a digital gadget.
Dr. Emelita Roleda, general manager of Essilor Philippines Optical Distribution Inc., said constant use of gadgets, which have become essential tools for school and work, also exposes users to blue light that could cause eye damage.
Essilor, named by Forbes magazine as one of the world’s most innovative companies for four consecutive years, offers lenses, available in most optical shops, to deal with or prevent different eye problems.
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