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.

Kevin Durant Manila Tour
July 7-9, 2018

NBA All-Star Kevin Durant was given a warm welcome by Filipinos on Sunday, when the Golden State forward visited Manila for the second time.

Durant, who was then playing for the Oklahoma City Thunders, played in the Philippines in 2011 during the NBA lockout with a slew of other All-Stars. This time, his visit is to promote his new shoe, the Nike KD 11.

Filipino fans braved the sun—and later, the rain—just to catch a glimpse of the reigning two-time NBA Finals MVP at Bonifacio High Street where he conducted an intense training session with young basketball players at the Nike Hyper Court in Comembo, Makati and then he met with local media where Durant unveiled the newest colorways of his latest Nike Basketball signature shoe—the KD 11.

He then made his way to the big event at Araneta Coliseum for the Nike KD Hyper Court Team All-Star Challenge, where the Warriors forward played against a select team of local collegiate athletes showing the crowd an array of long-range shots and thunderous dunks.

Ages Aviation Center, Inc. takes honor in once again providing unparalleled service to Nike as well as the NBA Final MVP during his Manila tour. Kevin Durant arrived in Manila in the late evening of July 7, 2018 aboard Nike’s Gulfstream 550. After an eventful day in Manila, he enjoyed a brief rest stop at the Ages Lounge before departing on July 9th for Taipei, where he’ll continue his Asian tour.

Ages Aviation Center, Inc. was ‘at your service’ to the family of Filipino migrant worker killed in Slovakia last June 19, 2018. Henry John Acorda, a financial analyst, died May 31 after being beaten for trying to stop suspected neo-Nazi harassing two women in Bratislava.

The Ages lounge hosted the family of Henry as they waited along with officials of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA), the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), the Mayor of Taguig City Ms. Laarni Cayetano and Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Mr. Allan Cayetano for the arrival of the remains of the hailed hero.

A short press conference was later held inside the Ages lounge and at the Balagbag Ramp area by the mother of Henry and Secretary Cayetano.

Japan Maritime Self Defense Force Kawasaki P-1 hold joint maritime patrol in Puerto Princesa
May 7-9, 2018

The Philippine Navy and Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) held a joint maritime patrol in Palawan on Tuesday, May 8.

The Philippines and Japan conducted a joint maritime patrol near the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) early this week. The goodwill exercise, which was conducted last Tuesday in Palawan, focused on search and rescue missions.

Air assets involved in the joint exercise include two (2) Kawasaki P-1 patrol aircraft from the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) and one (1) Beechcraft C-90 of the Philippine Navy.

Ages Aviation Center, Inc. was in Puerto Princesa to provide full ground handling service to the inaugural visit of the two (2) JMSDF Kawasaki P-1 to the Philippines.

Extending Ages capability and handling strength with the support of the Philippine Naval Air Group, the Philippine Air Force – Antonio Bautista Air Force Base, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines- Puerto Princesa and the Custom, Immigration and Quarantine Officers- Puerto Princesa, Ages was able to provide seamless service including expedite Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) clearing, land transportation and flight plan filing to the crew of the JMSDF visiting PPS/RPVP.

JMSDF previously donated five units of C-90 (formerly TC-90) to the Philippine Navy to help the latter with its maritime surveillance. The first two were delivered in 2017 and the three were delivered last March ground handling service for these deliveries were provided by Ages Aviation Center, Inc.