BAD EXPERIENCE DURING AIR TRAVEL – The flight attendants especially on all long-haul air travel are well-trained to keep an eye out for passengers who aren’t handling the flight well. I and my wife were in a 14-hour ride from Toronto, Canada to Seoul, South Korea last year when I noticed how they treated their clients.Our stress was so low we decided we have to sleep. We easily dropped off and caught a 6-hour nap. The seat of the plane listed to be one of the world’s best airline companies are so comfortable that no embarrassing head drops onto your neighbor’s shoulders. So after another sumptuous meal, a movie, some mingling and a 2-hour additional nap, that leave us with 6 more hours to go.
As the plane finally touched down at Incheon International Airport in Seoul, some 12, 000 kilometers and 14 hours after takeoff, the passengers disembarked appreciatively. From Seoul we took a 4-hour connecting flight for Manila. Nonetheless, the flight was as good as the previous one. Then three hours into the flight, it was time for dinner: delectable Korean fare accompanied by either red or white wine, or champagne.
At the point when we boarded the 319 Airbus plane for the last leg of our flight – Manila to Davao, we could see that the airline company known for its budget fare scheme and much-ballyhooed good service has “drastic” changes inside the cabin. It adjusted the seats and even made the clearance in between much narrower to create a very uncomfortable situation.
Once the plane was at cruising altitude, we spent several minutes or so just getting used to the cramped seats. The plane model is one of the best in the world in terms of space and comfort and can seat typically 120 passengers, but perhaps management decided to install additional seats to accommodate more passengers – adjusting the seat pitch from 33” down to 30” leaving no more room for adjustable foot and leg rest, which is useful for rest.
Not only is the scheme creating discomfort to passengers but what is rather lamentable is the arrogance and inconsiderate attitude of the company staff especially its ground personnel at the airport. It’s really sad when greed sinks in into the heads of corporate executives.
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THERE IS EVIDENT PROGRESS – For Davao City’s confident entrepreneurs the competition is stiff, but there are rewards. The influx of Manila-based capitalists with a dash of foreign investors is a sign of confidence of the business climate in the city. Despite the arduous business competition that resulted in the increase of property prices, which have almost tripled, there is evident progress. Investors are keeping up with the trend as commercial establishments, and of course, guest houses and high-concept hotels are being built to accommodate business locators and frequent travelers alike.
Not a few optimistic entrepreneurs are getting a toehold and probably think that Davao City is a great place to make money – “the perfect location for business.” The basic institutions are firmly in place and in some ways, business is brisk with the peso has shown surprising strength against the US dollar. Being an entrepreneur based in the city may be among the most reassuring jobs in business today. As Dabawenyos and people in adjacent provinces have begun to earn more and spend far more money than ever, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, entertainment joints, hardware and appliance stores, car exchange and other line of business are proving to be “highly lucrative.”
The clearest sign of progress can be felt both in the southern and northern parts of the city. In the northern part for example, the private sector is really booming with the ongoing construction of huge shopping malls, several high-end hotels and commercial establishments. With its seaports strategically located and proximity to industrial zones in nearby areas, government-controlled Sasa wharf is rapidly re-establishing itself as a major entry port at the mouth of Davao Gulf.
As of late, property prices according to a series of reports have tripled or maybe even quadrupled in some prime locations throughout the city. But amid the high prices of prime properties, Manila-based and some foreign investors setting up operations in the city are among the risk takers who are riding the wave to get the economy moving.
Amid the tough competition are hard-nosed business smarts, say those who are already here. Perhaps other capitalists will follow the trend if there is good business in Davao City and huge contracts to be done. The entrepreneurs on the ground say the know-how they have developed through the difficult months will give them a hugely valuable edge over latecomers.
Furthermore, city officials still expect that more new capitalists with business contracts to flood the city, and probably those with existing sub-contracting deals and other spending. All of which prove their point: for the confident and stouthearted, Davao City is a great place to invest and make money. The city promises to be a gold mine for the busy and assertive entrepreneurs. But to make money and make your business grow, first you have to be highly competitive.
