Scarlet Scorpion

So people think its embarrassing to be named as one of the world’s worst airport. Well I think nothing could be more embarrassing than to have a 1.16 billion peso budget for an airport when millions of Filipino children are homeless and starving not to mention the thousands of public schools that are ill-equipped and lacking not just in terms of space but also in proper facilities and materials for good education. Good, because right now that is barely feasible for our public school system. 

So 7 million airport users are complaining about the ancient facilities in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. How fortunate for these travelers who have access to the Internet and the different forms of media that allow them to whine and complain about the inadequacy of our airport. If only the uneducated and undereducated had sufficient access to communicate their grievances; these people who will probably never ride an airplane or see a real airport in their lifetime. 

Taking into consideration the political turmoil in our country as well as the growing gap between those living well below the minimum cost of living and the 1% of the upper class Filipinos, i find it unnecessary to champion the cause of that airport.

I am not discounting the importance of an airport nor belittling the value of tourism for our country. But a 1.16 billion budget to renovate an airport when there are 2 other working and modernized airports that were made to address the problem of the old airport is a frivolity we cannot afford. Is it not cheaper to fix the issues that are hindering the full use of NAIA 3? Won’t the same kind of corruption and issues arise in the renovation of NAIA?

Have people even seen the list? Paris, LA, and Brazil. Do these countries care that they have consistently been in that list? Has it prevented millions of travelers 5 times the amount of those who pass in NAIA from going through those airports? 

1.16 billion for an airport that will cater to less than a tenth of the Philippine population.

Where is the social justice in that? 

We put such a premium in how the international community view us when they won’t even give us a second look. We give our best to serve foreigners while we move away with embarrassment from our fellow Filipino. 
The measurement of our worth must not be taken by the standards of others. We have our sore spots but by grace we have our exquisite qualities too. These don’t necessarily have anything to do with being world renowned. I hope we can stop looking at other countries and comparing ourselves to them. We are different. We are unique. We are beautiful. I don’t need a list to know that.

(Source: scarletscorpion.blogspot.com)