First published in InfraTalks, Aboitiz InfraCapital’s monthly column in The Manila Times.
More than three decades in aviation teaches you to see airports not merely as infrastructure, but as living systems—places where economies breathe, communities meet, and opportunities take flight. Over the course of my career, I have seen how a well-run airport can reshape a region, shorten distances in real and human terms, and unlock possibilities far beyond the runway.
My last three years in the Philippines have reinforced that belief.
Few countries understand the meaning of connection quite like the Philippines. An archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, it is a nation defined by movement—of people, ideas, goods, and aspirations. Aviation here is not a luxury; it is a lifeline. Each flight stitches together families, fuels tourism, enables trade, and gives communities access to education, healthcare, and livelihoods.
This is why the journey of Aboitiz Airports resonates so deeply with me.
What began with a single gateway—Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA)—has grown into a network of three strategically important airports, now including Bohol–Panglao International Airport (BPIA) and Laguindingan International Airport (LIA). This growth is not simply a story of portfolio expansion. It is a deliberate commitment to regional development and inclusive progress.
At Mactan-Cebu International Airport, we saw how a modern, passenger-focused airport can elevate an entire region. Cebu’s connectivity strengthened its position as a tourism, business, and cultural hub, benefitting not only the city but surrounding provinces as well. The airport became a bridge—linking Central Visayas to the rest of the country and the world and onward to its vision to become the main tourism and transfer hub in the country.
Bohol–Panglao International Airport brings a different but equally important dimension. It connects a world-class natural destination to global markets while preserving the sense of place that makes Bohol special. Improved air access supports sustainable tourism, creates jobs, and gives local communities greater participation in economic growth—while allowing visitors to discover the province’s unique heritage and environment.
Laguindingan International Airport, serving Northern Mindanao, underscores the transformative power of regional connectivity. For many communities, this airport is the fastest and most reliable link to opportunities elsewhere in the country. It enables commerce, supports agriculture and industry, and helps Mindanao strengthen its ties to the national economy.
Across these airports, a single insight stands out: connectivity changes lives.
In an archipelago, progress does not flow evenly without strong links between regions. When air connectivity improves, travel becomes more predictable, supply chains more resilient, and investment more viable. Small businesses gain access to bigger markets. Families separated by water find it easier to stay close. Overseas Filipinos come home more often. Students, workers, and entrepreneurs move with greater confidence toward opportunity.
This is the human value behind aviation—and it is the reason our brand promise as Aboitiz Airports is “Connecting You.”
Connecting you is not only about routes and runways. It is about connecting you to people—loved ones, colleagues, customers, and communities. It is about connecting you to places—home towns, emerging cities, natural wonders, and global destinations. And most importantly, it is about connecting you to possibilities—jobs created, businesses built, dreams realized.
Our responsibility as an airport operator extends beyond terminals and tarmacs. We are stewards of gateways that shape first impressions and lasting memories. We have a duty to ensure that connectivity is reliable, safe, inclusive, and forward-looking—designed around the needs of passengers and the aspirations of the regions we serve.
After more than 30 years in aviation, and three meaningful years calling the Philippines my second home, I remain convinced of this: when you invest in connectivity, you invest in people. As Aboitiz Airports continues to grow its network, our focus remains clear—to build airports that do more than move passengers, but truly connect Filipinos to a better future.
That is what “Connecting You” means to us.