Foreign columnist pokes fun at RP aviation after EU ban

[Leartes]

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Barely had it recovered from the sting of a ban imposed by European Union ban when Philippine aviation got another whammy, this time from an Asian magazine’s humor columnist.

The latest blow came from a humor article by Nury Vittachi, which came out on the April edition of Reader’s Digest. The implied that Philippine aviation officials are not serious in their job.

According to Wikipedia, Vittachi is a Ceylonese journalist and author based in Hong Kong. His columns are published daily, weekly in a variety of newspapers in Asia as well as on his Web site. He is best known for the comedy-crime novel series The Feng Shui Detective, which published in many languages around the world.

The portion of the Reader’s Digest column of Nury Vittachi poking fun at Philippine aviation industry. GMANews.TV In his Reader’s Digest article titled “I’d rather be chained," Vittachi told of an “enterprising captain" aboard an early morning flight over the Philippines who randomly pressed an unmarked button on the flight deck.

When security forces ordered the pilot to dump 50,000 kilos of fuel and land at a remote airstrip, everything was supposedly forgiven when the pilot explained there was no hijacking.

“(The) pilot explained that there were no hijackers – he had just pressed a button randomly. No doubt everyone had a laugh and went back to work," Vittachi’s article read.

Vittachi also said that when the pilot’s action supposedly triggered a silent alarm to the nearest Philippine airport, “control tower staff snapped into action, dropping their adobo breakfasts."

His article even poked fun at the name of Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) deputy chief for security Angel Atutubo. “Only in the Philippines can tough guys bristling with guns have names like ‘Angel,’ ‘Innocent’ and ‘Baby,’" he said.

Vittachi’s article came out only a week after the European Union imposed an operating ban on Philippine air carriers that took effect April 1.

The EU ban followed an audit of the Philippines carried out by the International Civil Aviation Organization in October 2009, after Philippine regulatory authorities could not verify that these airlines comply with international safety standards.

As a result of the ban, the United Kingdom has advised its nationals to avoid flying Philippine carriers in visiting the Philippines. - KBK, GMANews.TV

Foreign columnist pokes fun at RP aviation after EU ban - Yahoo! Philippines News

whose to blame again??

[brangelina]

mao jud..hahay paets

[PascualDelaSerna]

mao jud..hahay paets

The irony is that soon after the EU banned flights from the Philippines, tragedy after tragedy struck the European aviation industry.

First, a Polish plane crashed in Russia, killing the president, first lady and numerous officials of Poland.

Then, a volcanic eruption spewed ash that wiped out the visibility of Europe's airports from the skies.

And third, as if to strike a spooky message that all these things were related to the EU's banning of Philippine flights, a Russian cargo plane that took off from Mactan crashed in Mexico, Pampanga. Investigators said that the mishap did not result out of deficiencies in the Philippine aviation industry; rather, it took place when a fire of undetermined origin broke out inside the Russian-made aircraft.

Sometimes, Europeans need to look at themselves and their surroundings before they belittle other countries.

Incidentally, and silliest of all, most of the aircraft operated by airlines in the Philippines are European-made. Which makes us wonder: if the EU says that flights from our country are unsafe, isn't that an open admission that its airplanes are unsafe, too?

Just asking...

[tracernet_v2]

they think too highly of themselves that they forget the people who takes care of their elderly (and not just looking after them but really taking care of them) are Filipinos...

this must also strike the aviation industry of the Philippines to really step up and make sure safety and quality must be there for every plane roaming above the Philippine skies...

[eax]

Incidentally, and silliest of all, most of the aircraft operated by airlines in the Philippines are European-made. Which makes us wonder: if the EU says that flights from our country are unsafe, isn't that an open admission that its airplanes are unsafe, too?

Sakto jud. Most of the planes are European made.

[unsay_ngalan_nimo]

ummm why make fun of angel atutubo's name? vittachi.. souds more funny.. its like a gay lingo for s*it...

sometimes other's sense of humor is absolutely insensitive...

[FAQ]

Ok, a Sri Lankan national made fun of Filipinos?? Kung bout huna-hunaon, kinsa may mas labaw ug achievements, Filipinos or Sri Lankans? Beh, Nury Vittachi answer this. Kinsa may sikat sa inyo nga pang-international jud? Wala.

Ngano biklan pa man jud ang sayop sa mga aviation officials diri sa Philippines? Taga Reader's Digest man kaha ka, wa ka ka comment sa status sa Human Rights sa imong country? Gi kontrahan man gani mo sa European Union, United Nations, ug sa US tungod ana.

Ok ra na mga fellow pinoys, mas sikat pa ta nila. Suya man gud na si Nuri nga Ceylonese sya dili sya Filipino nga naay freedom. Nya sila, bati ug mga sinul-uban. Suya pud na siya kay walay daghan Ceylonese nga piloto. Nya kana si Nuri Vittachi property na sya sa Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

the United Kingdom has advised its nationals to avoid flying Philippine carriers in visiting the Philippines

How would they fly a Philippine carriers or any other planes, Europe is in a "no-fly zone" mode since the Iceland's volcanic eruption.

[cebu-future]

I think instead of we overreact on this, dapat we take this as challenge. Ipakita sa laing nasod that Filipinos are better people like them. Ang problema lang is gi binuangan ra tah sa ato mga politiko. That is why bisag unsaon nato pagka harworking og pagka maau nga citizens, it is our politicians nga magbinuang nato. Mao gani daghan tah maids, construction workers, Nursing Aid og kanang job mo take care og mga tigulang! That is why they looked down on us. Wala man jud mga BIG negosyante nga pinoy, I mean pure pinoy. Except Villar and Pacman.

Wake up PHILIPPINES!

[FAQ]

^^ I don't think it has to do with business. It's all about our attitude. We are way too modest. If our people have the "Floyd Mayweather" attitude, I think we can do things great. I'm not saying we should have the same attitude as Mayweather, all I'm saying is that we need to have to show some attitudes and let other people perceive us as a threat to them inorder they can't manipulate and make fun of us.

[bungot25]

ka alegre...lols nasayup pagpislit,hehehhehehe