BEGINS
[PHOTO - WALL TO
WALL: Thousands of returning Filipino workers fill the immigration area of the
Ninoy Aquino International Airport as six flights from the Middle East arrived
in a span of 30 minutes yesterday. Airport officials have deployed additional
personnel for the arrival of OFWs during the holidays. Rudy
Santos]
MANILA,
NOVEMBER 28,
2011 (STAR) By Rudy Santos - Thousands of overseas
Filipino workers (OFWs) are starting to arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International
Airport (NAIA) to spend the Christmas holidays here with their families.
Yesterday, the airport's arrival area was filled after six planes with mostly
OFW passengers from the Middle East countries arrived, in addition to the
various flights from Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.
But the immigration bureau provided an additional 30 personnel to help
facilitate the processing of documents of around 3,000 passengers.
Damila Jamali, an OFW who hails from Zamboanga, flew in from Dubai with her
two children for the holidays.
"We will spend our month-long vacation here because it is lonely to have
Christmas abroad," she said.
Jamali had been working overseas for the last two years.
Another OFW, Ben Castro, said he also applied for a one-month vacation, his
first since he left the country in 2009.
"I took advantage of the opportunity to have a vacation. I miss my family so
much," said Castro, who works in a construction company.
Julius Cortes, Immigration supervisor-on-duty, said they expect huge visitor
arrivals until Christmas.
Cortes said that based on their record, last year more than 200,000
passengers arrived from Dec. 1 to 7, composed mostly of OFWs, balikbayans and
tourists.
The number of arrivals from January to December 2010 reached more than six
million passengers, according to Cortes. NAIA Terminal 1 manager Dante Basanta
said the Manila International Airport Authority is prepared to deal with the
problem, as more NAIA employees have been assigned during peak arrival hours to
assist those who need help.
TODAY'S IMAGES BACK HOME FROM THE MANILA
DAILY BULLETIN HOMEPAGE
CHRISTMAS IS HERE
A Christmas Village, depicting the joyful atmosphere associated
with the season of Advent in the Philippines, is unveiled, coinciding with the
opening of the Meralco Park at the Meralco Compound on Ortigas Avenue, Pasig
City, Saturday, November 26, 2011. (Photo by MICHAEL
VARCAS)
FAMILY CHRISTMAS
It's bonding time for
this Filipino family as they admirethe LED-lighted giant Christmas tree at
in Cubao, Quezon City. (Michael Varcas)
BIRD SANCTUARY
Herons and other species of migratory birds seek sanctuary in
the coastal lagoon of 'Freedom Island,' on November 27, 2011. The island,
encompassing the cities of Las Piñas and Parañaque in Metro Manila,
serves as haven for marine life and more than 80 species of local and migratory
birds, that flock together during low tide. (Linus Guardian
Escandor II)
RIVER FISHING
A man fishes along the Tigum River portion of the P5-billion
Iloilo Flood Control project, which is being blamed for rapid erosion of the
riverbank in Pavia town, Iloilo. (Tara
Yap)
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All
rights reserved
PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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