JAPAN AIR SELF-DEFENSE FORCE (JASDF) visit Clark Air Force Base
July 22-25, 2019

The JASDF C-1 transport departed from Japan, Iruma Air Base and arrived in Philippine Air Forces’ Clark Air Base last July 22, 2019. During the visit, the C-1 crew conducted a unit-to-unit exchange with the Philippine Air Force that included a trip to neighbouring Cebu, Benito Ebuen Air Base.

The Kawasaki C-1 is a twin-engined short-range military transport aircraft, used by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). Development began in 1966 as the JASDF sought to replace its aging World War II–era Curtiss C-46 Commandos. Production commenced in 1971, and the aircraft remains in service. The Kawasaki C-1 has been in use since 1974 but will be replaced by the new Kawasaki C-2, which is larger, can lift three times the weight and has a longer range.

Ages Aviation Center, Inc. provided complete ground handling service in both Clark (CRK/RPLC) and Cebu (CEB/RPVM) to the JASDF C-1. Other services provided were direct bus transfer from aircraft to hotel and vice versa for the 21 crew members and 8 military passengers.

It was also the first official endeavour of incoming JASDF Attache Col. Yu Nakano who takes over the Philippine Defense Attache post from the outgoing incumbent, Col. Kazunobu Akutsu to the Philippines.

Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jf. US Pacific Air Force Commander visits the Philippines
May 15-17, 2019

The commander of the US Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., traveled to the Philippines from May 15 to 17 to meet with senior officials from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

This was Gen. Brown’s visit was his first to the Philippines since taking command of PACAF, the air component command of the Indo-Pacific Command. The visit reinforces the US Air Force’s commitment to its bilateral relationship with the Philippine Air Force.

During his visit to Manila, Ages Aviation Center, Inc. provided full ground handling service to the General’s C-37. The U.S. Air Force C-37 is based upon the high-altitude, intercontinental Gulfstream V aircraft, capable of cruise operations from 41,000 to 51,000 feet.

Balikatan 2019
April 1-12, 2019

Over 7,500 military troopers from the Philippines, the United States and Australia took part in this year’s Balikatan exercises in Northern and Southern Luzon as its 35th iteration evolved from a bilateral to a multilateral activity.

The term ‘Balikatan,’ translates from the Tagalog phrase that means ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’ or ‘sharing the load together,’ characterizes the spirit of the exercise and represents the partnership between the U.S. military and the Philippines.

AGES Aviation Center, Inc. is honored to have once again been a part of the success of this year’s exercises and continues to support the steadfast relationship between the participating countries.

Below: Members of the Balikatan including Generals Smith and McPhillips together with our GM Christopher Salonga take a minute to cap off the 2019 exercises. #AgesAviation #AGESatyourservice

U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo visit the Philippines
February 28 – March 1, 2019

U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo reaffirmed the strong ties and enduring alliance between the United States and the Philippines during his first visit to the Philippines as Secretary of State.

Secretary Pompeo met with President Rodrigo Duterte on February 28 to discuss the importance of the bilateral relationship and opportunities for greater cooperation on regional security and counterterrorism.

On March 1, Secretary Pompeo met with Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin, Jr., joined by U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim and Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez. They discussed the friendship, partnership, and alliance between the United States and the Philippines as well as greater cooperation to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Ages Aviation Center, Inc. was honored to be of service to Sec. State aboard his C-32, a military passenger transportation version of the Boeing 757 -200. During the visit, the Ages lounge hosted distinguished guests from the US Embassy Manila, Philippine Armed Forces and other members of the Philippine Government.

US Marine Lieutenant General Lewis A. Craparotta visit
February 16-18, 2019

Manila- Lieutenant General Lewis A. Craparotta, Commander of U.S. Marine Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC), visited the Philippines from February 16 to 18 and emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Philippine alliance to the Indo-Pacific region.

During his visit, Craparotta met with the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. and the Commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) General Alvin Parreño to discuss the U.S. Marine Corps-AFP partnership.

Lt. Gen. Craparotta’s visit to the Philippines, his first since taking command of MARFORPAC in August of 2018, reaffirmed the U.S. Marine Corps’ close ties with the PMC.

Orignal post from the US Embassy Philippines Website.

Ages Aviation Center, Inc. is honor to have been of service to the Lt. Gen.’s C-20 a militarized Gulfstream 450 while in Manila. The Ages lounge hosted the delegation assigned to meet and accompany Lt. Gen. Craparotta while in the country.

US returns Bells of Balangiga taken from Philippines in 1901
December 11, 2018

For over a century, the Bells of Balangiga have not rung in the Philippines, a silence that the president last year called “painful.” Now, the revered bells will once again be heard in the country.

The Balangiga bells are revered by Filipinos as symbols of national pride, and their arrival on a U.S. Air Force C-130 plane and the ceremony were shown live on national TV. Two of the bells had been displayed for decades at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and the third was with the U.S. Army in South Korea.

After being colonized by Spain for more than three centuries, the Philippines became a U.S. possession in 1898 in a new colonial era that began with the outbreak of the Philippine-American War.

American occupation troops seized the bells from a Catholic church following an attack by machete-wielding Filipino villagers, who killed 48 U.S. soldiers in Balangiga, on central Samar island off Leyte Gulf, according to Filipino historian Rolando Borrinaga.

The Americans retaliated, with a general, Jacob Smith, ordering troops to shoot villagers older than 10 and turn the island into a “howling wilderness,” Borrinaga said. Thousands of villagers were reported to have been killed.

Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said at last Tuesday’s ceremony that with the resolution of the issue, “It’s time for healing, it is time for closure, it is time to look ahead as two nations should with a shared history as allies.”

Ages Aviation Center, Inc. is humbled to be part of this historical moment when 2 allies learn from the past to better the future. Ages provides full ground handling service to the U.S. Air Force C-130 plane at the Villamor Air Force Base.

Guns n’ Roses in Manila
November 9-12, 2018

Guns n’ Roses (GnR) performed in the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan last Sunday November 11, 2018 and it was the major rock and roll event of the year in the Philippines.

Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan – three of the original members of the legendary Los Angeles-based hard rock band – reunited for the ongoing “Not In This Lifetime Tour” which marks the first time the three original members played together since finishing their “Use Your Illusion Tour” back in1993.

It is the first time to perform in the Philippines for the rock band. The “Not In This Lifetime” tour is said to be the fourth highest grossing tour of all time, with box-office receipts reaching almost $500 million to date.

Ages is honored to have been selected to provide complete FBO and Ground Handling service to the legendary rock band’s Boeing 767 (B767). The chartered B767 carried the complete GnR band and was readied for departure to receive the artists right after the concert. The artist and band members arrived in waves from the Philippine Arena at the Balagbag “AGES” Ramp and were treated to full rock legend VIP service.

US Navy CNO visits Philippines
Oct. 28-29, 2018

The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John M. Richardson, who is the US Navy top officer visited the Philippines from October 28 to 29 with a focus on US and Philippine maritime domain awareness and naval capabilities.

While in the Philippines, Richardson met with Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Gen. Carlito Galvez and Flag Officer in Command of the Philippine Navy Vice Adm. Robert Empedrad. Richardson also traveled to Palawan, where he received an update on the security situation in the South China Sea from Lt. Gen. Rozzano Briguez, Commander of the AFP’s Western Command.

Richardson’s visit focused on U.S. and Philippine maritime domain awareness and naval capabilities, and the importance of the U.S.-Philippine alliance to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

As the US Navy’s senior military officer, Richardson is in charge of its command and operating efficiency. He has held the post since September 2015.

Richardson is also a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he is the principal naval adviser to US President Donald Trump, as well as the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council and Homeland Security Council.

Ages Aviation Center, Inc. is honored to once again be of service to the Executive Transport Detachment- COMPACFLT, and provided full FBO Service to the Admiral’s Gulfstream 550 in MNL/RPLL- Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The Ages Lounge hosted Philippine Navy VAdm. Robert Empedrad and company before flying to Palawan together with Adm. Richardson to meet with the Chief of Staff of the AFP.

Photo from navy.mil website

Uniqlo opens global flagship store in Manila
Oct. 4, 2018

Japanese apparel brand Uniqlo celebrates its sixth year in the Philippines by opening a global flagship store, the biggest in Southeast Asia.

Uniqlo Manila covers 4,100 square meters, occupying two levels of the Glorietta 5 shopping mall in Makati City.

Uniqlo global flagship store in Manila, is one of only 15 flagship stores in the world. Since first opening in the Philippines in 2012, the brand now has 51 stores in the country.

Uniqlo founder Tadashi Yanai arrived in the country on the day to attend the preview launch for guests and members of the media.

Ages is honored to be personally selected by the retail giant and its local partner SM Investment Corp. to provide full FBO and Business Aircraft Handling Service to Mr. Tadashi Yanai who flew in aboard his Gulfstream 650 to attend this news worthy event.

Akio Toyoda attends 30th Toyota Motor Philippines’ Anniversary
July 31 – August 2, 2018

TOYOTA Motor Philippines (TMP) celebrated its 30th anniversary in the country which serves as a manifestation of the company’s three decades of sustained success.

The guest of honor to this milestone celebration was Toyota Motor Corp. (TMC) President, Akio Toyoda, who flew in <from where> the day prior aboard TMC’s AirFlite Gulfstream 650. President Duterte also graced the event at the Grand Hyatt Manila in BGC to acknowledge the company’s significant contribution to the country’s economy.

Ages is honored for the continued opportunity to be of service to the TMC AirFlite for the past 17 years, providing VIP FBO service as well as VIP lounge access and VIP crew arrangements to TMP’s distinguished guests, which include Shoichiro Toyoda, retired chairman of TMC.

We wish Toyota Motor Philippines continued prosperity—on their 30th year and the ones to come.