Graduation Day. Andres Silos of Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Arys Obeso of Philippine Airlines, OMNI’s President/COO Steven Cesar Virata, Training Head Polans Gochangco, Chief Ground Instructor Xaxa Manalo and Cabin Crew Instructor Beth Ramos join the first batch of graduates of IATA Cabin Crew Training. Contributed photo
CLARK FREPORT – One of the pioneer locators in this freeport has turned out fresh graduates for the airline industry.
Omni Aviation, which was incorporated in 1993, held its graduation ceremony for 11 cabin crew trainees over the weekend at the Widus Hotel and Casino here. Steven Cesar G. Virata, Omni Aviation president and COO, said his vision is to transform Omni into an airline academy.
“We are the authorized training center (ATC) of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a trade association of the world’s airline that counts some 240 members,” Virata said. He said the 11 graduates will take their examinations in December and then receive certificates recognized by the 240 IATA airline members.
“This is an advantage over the other applicants in the airline industry,” he added. The son of former Prime Minister Cesar Virata said the cabin crew school started with a promotional tuition of only P40,000 but next year it will be increased to P45,000.
He said the course is set for 21 days but broken up in two sessions – 18 days classroom training and three days for examination review. Virata said his mission is “to give people here in this region the opportunity.” But Virata said to become a very qualified cabin crew there are many aspects oftraining like swimming, service and even grooming.
He said trainees should also meet the minimum height requirement which some airlines like the Philippine Airlines (PAL) follow strictly which is 5’2’’ for ladies and 5’5” for men.Meanwhile, Andres F. Silos, a legend in the airline industry, delivered the keynote address. Silos gained prominenceas the purser of Pope John Paul II, who is now a saint, during his last papal visit here in 1995.
Silos, who has a vast field of training and experience, started with PAL’s domestic flight services in 1965 and was senior manager of inflight training division until his retirement in 2009 or after 43 years of working diligently with the Philippines’ flag carrier.
But he said the most difficult job he had was when he was chief purser for St. Pope John Paul II who travelled throughout the Philippines. Silos was hired as a government consultant upon retirement and was responsible for putting the Philippines back to Category 1 status of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
Silos advised the graduates to pray and keep on learning in order to succeed in their field. The graduates were Christabelle P. Angeles, Rhebbigail C. Baluyot, Mary Joyce P. Calara, Georgette Ann Q. Diaz, Jocel M. Millet, Caril Anne C. Nepomuceno, Jonny S. Nillar, Donabel R. Oribado, Virra S. Rubio, Karen C. Salunga and Maricris P. Suarez.
