The Problem with AirPhilippines

“You need a credit card to avail of our promo fare.” - this is the explanation of the AirPhilippines call center representative when I asked them why I can't book for their 888-peso promo flight. This answer made me feel frustrated and caused me to book online at Cebu Pacific airline.

My beloved ask me to help her book a flight from Iloilo to Davao last month. She specifically told me that I book the cheapest flight that I could find because her budget is limited. The flight is for her parents (and my future in laws), who are now going home for their short vacation from Iloilo. Following her instructions strictly, I searched for cheap flights from all the budget airlines in the Philippines. I am fortunate to find an 888-peso promo fare from AirPhilippines, which prompted me to book through the AirPhilippines website. Everything is OK until I reached the “Payment Options” page where I discovered that the only available payment option is through credit card. The bad thing is that I don't have a credit card because I avoid having one.

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I called the AirPhilippines hotline to book the 888-peso promo flight. The call center representative told me that I am not allowed to reserve for 888-peso promo fare. Only the regular (and more expensive) fares are the only available ones available for those who doesn't have credit cards.

AirPhilippines promo fares are not open for the general public. I believe that this is the reason why AirPhilippines lags behind Cebu Pacific. AirPhilippines promo fares are only available to credit card users while Cebu Pacific promo fares can be availed by anyone. Cebu Pacific allows anyone to book their cheapest fares and still give them the chance to pay through credit card or payment centers like LBC and Banco de Oro.

It is understandable that AirPhilippines is reducing the risk of unpaid booking reservations for its promo fares. This is the possible reason why they only allow credit card users to avail the AirPhilippines promo fares. This is good protection for the airline but it causes frustrated clients like me to book flights in Cebu Pacific.

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Mother from Bulacan is the first PPUR Millionaire

It was blessed day for a mother of three when she received the news that she won 1 million pesos from the “Pera sa Kweba” text raffle. Marites Balagtas, who is the text raffle’s first millionaire, was awarded the facsimile of 1 million cheque by the Task Force PPUR at Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center in Quezon City. 

The “Pera sa Kweba” text raffle was initiated by the private sector to promote the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) in Palawan. The three telecom giants in the Philippines; namely Globe, Sun and Smart; gave 25 million pesos in prizes for the PPUR text raffle. PPUR was recently included in the provisional list of New7Wonders Foundation.

The 1 million-peso prize came at the right time for Marites as her son was stricken with dengue. Her husband, who is a pedicab driver, is ill for several days. Their house was also flooded during the onslaught of Typhoon Pedring. Marites said that she will invest her 1 million-pesos prize for the education of her children and for the building of a small house.

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Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje said that the text raffle for the PPUR is extended until December 30, 2011. The grand prize is 25 million pesos that is why he urged the public to continue texting. Aside from the grand prize, there are still five 1 million pesos consolation prizes that are at stake for the PPUR text raffle.

Anyone can join the PPUR text raffle by typing the word PPUR then send to 2861 for all network. Each text costs 2.50 pesos.

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Latest PUPCET Schedules

The day for PUPCET is getting nearer and those who will be taking this entrance are now studying or processing their PUPCET application. Previously, I placed the PUPCET schedules for the Santa Mesa, Manila campus of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP). The PUP Admin uploaded new PUPCET schedules and campuses that already have schedules include PUP Santa Mesa, PUP San Juan City, PUP Taguig City, PUP Commonwealth Avenue campus in Quezon City, PUP Santa Maria campus in Bulacan, PUP Santo Tomas in Batangas, and PUP Lopez in Quezon.

Here are the PUPCET schedules for each campus:

1. PUP Santa Mesa, Manila

Date of Online Application: September 1 to December 4, 2011

Start of Issuance of PUPCET permit: September 12, 2011

Deadline of Payment: December 5, 2011 3:00 PM

Last Day of Issuance of PUPCET permit: December 8, 2011

Test Schedule: January 29, 2012

2. PUP San Juan City

Date of Online Application: September 2011 to February 8, 2012

Start of Issuance of PUPCET permit: September 2011

Deadline of Payment: February 8, 2012

Last Day of Issuance of PUPCET permit: February 10, 2012

Test Schedule: February 12, 2012

3. PUP Taguig City

Date of Online Application: September 1, 2011 to February 24, 2012

Start of Issuance of PUPCET permit: October 10, 2011

Deadline of Payment: February 24, 2012

Last Day of Issuance of PUPCET permit: February 29, 2012

Test Schedule: March 4, 2012

4. PUP Commonwealth, Quezon City

Date of Online Application: September 1, 2011 to March 25, 2012

Start of Issuance of PUPCET permit: September 1, 2011

Deadline of Payment: March 25, 2012

Last Day of Issuance of PUPCET permit: March 30, 2012

Test Schedule: April 8, 2012

5. PUP Santa Maria, Bulacan

Date of Online Application: October 10, 2011 to March 7, 2012

Start of Issuance of PUPCET permit: November 10, 2011

Deadline of Payment: March 7, 2012

Last Day of Issuance of PUPCET permit: March 12, 2012

Test Schedule: March 17, 2012

6. PUP Santo Tomas, Batangas

Date of Online Application: October 10 to December 9, 2011

Start of Issuance of PUPCET permit: October 10, 2011

Deadline of Payment: December 14, 2011

Last Day of Issuance of PUPCET permit: December 15, 2011

Test Schedule: March 18, 2011

7. PUP Lopez, Quezon

Date of Online Application: October 10, 2011 to April 11, 2012

Start of Issuance of PUPCET permit: October 10, 2011

Deadline of Payment: April 9, 2012

Last Day of Issuance of PUPCET permit: April 11, 2012

Test Schedule: April 15, 2012

PUPCET schedules for other campus is yet to be uploaded. So stay tuned. Are you applying for PUPCET? Visit my post about the requirements for PUPCET application.

Taking the PUPCET? Read my tips when taking the PUPCET.

Visit the PUP website for more information.

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