It was not yet dawn, but the newly-opened Bacolod-Silay Airport of international standards in Barangay Bagtic, Silay City was already lit up and humming with activity yesterday.

The Silay Children's Rondalla was strumming away just outside the gates of the arrival area, the pleasant music of their stringed instruments barely audible but recognizable at the other end of the terminal marked as the departure area. This was where most of the activity was taking place as Manila bound passengers were being dropped off and going through the checking in process.

The airy interior of the new terminal building was in stark contrast to the serviceable yet obviously aged facilities of the new airport. Travelers lined up at security checks with brand new x-ray machines, and lined up some more at the numerous check in counters with electronic displays indicating flight details such as destination, carrier, and time of departure.

Those who had finished checking in made their way up an escalator, through another set of security checks, into a spacious pre-departure area that would have offered a grand view of Mount Marapara and the mountain ranges of Negros Occidental if it were not yet shrouded in darkness that came before the dawning of a new day.

At the far end of the predeparture area, some food was prepared and a group of people who included Silay Mayor Jose Montelibano and Vice Mayor Mark Golez, were in a festive mood while waiting for the first commercial flight to land on the new airport.

Welcome tokens had been prepared for this group of passengers who were to be the first to deplane from an aircraft, use the passenger tunnel, and enter the terminal of the new airport.

The Airbus A319 jet of Cebu Pacific, which had 124 passengers on board when it officially landed on 5:22 a.m. , was the first commercial aircraft to land in the new airport. The person in command of the aircraft, Capt. Allan Garces, was, fittingly, a native of Silay City .

The first passenger to deplane from Cebu Pacific flight 5J437 was former DOTC Assistant Secretary and current LTO-NCR Director Ricardo “Cano” Tan, who was heavily involved in the construction of the new airport during his time in the DOTC.

The second passenger to deplane was businessman Ed Alunan, who the day before had also been part of history by being the last person to board the last flight out of the old Bacolod Airport .

An obviously happy Mayor Oti greeted the historic travelers as they reached the end of the passenger tube.

After the fanfare and the tokens, the rest of the passengers of this historic flight made their way downstairs to the baggage claim area, where they got to test the baggage carousels and the free pushcarts before they made their way out of the new airport.

GENERALLY POSITIVE

Most of the passengers of the first flight into Bacolod were generally positive when asked for comments about the new airport.

Tan, who held the distinction of being the first passenger to deplane at the new airport, said “We are blessed with this impressive gateway that would link us to the rest of the world. You and I will be truly proud of this new airport facility.”

“This is an honor and pride of Negrenses and Bacolodnons that this huge infrastructure was realized through the initiative of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as among her priority projects,” he said.

“The new airport is big, good and will surely change the economic landscape of the province,” Tan added.

Erlino Vallagomesa of Kabankalan City, who flew home to enjoy the Sinulog Festival with his family, said “It is organized and clean”, he said, but was worried if his family who had come to pick him up made it to the correct airport.

Garth Borrero of Victorias and Nanette Villaluna, an OFW from Japan , both commented that the new airport was “very convenient”.

Adryano Tabligan, who is working in the US and was coming home to Bacolod, commented, “So far, ok”, while Danny Absalom of Silay had just one word to say: “Better”.*CL

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