InsideFlyer
We understand that you host a golf tournament every year for your elite members. Can you tell us when it began and why you chose golf as the sport?
Barbara Aragon
The Mabuhay Miles Elite Invitational Golf Tournament is a one-day tournament held annually during the month of November. The first golf tournament was in 1992. Since golf is a popular sport among the business/elite group, Philippine Airlines decided to gather its first class and business class frequent flyers to promote goodwill and encourage camaraderie among the Mabuhay Miles Elite and Premier Elite members. Through the years, the tournament has earned a well-deserved reputation for the warm camaraderie among participants, along with dollops of fun, entertainment and great food. This is a much-awaited event which members look forward to.

IF
Are all elite-level members invited, or a chosen few? And if it is a select group, how is that determined?
Aragon
Mabuhay Miles Elite and Premier Elite members who have golf as their sports interest (based on their profile) are invited to this event.

IF
How many members play? Do any employees of PAL also play?
Aragon
Over the years, the tournament has attracted a steadily bulging roster of participants, from less than 200 players in the 1990s to an average of 250 in the early 2000s to over 350 players this year. Philippine Airlines, headed by our president Mr. Jaime J. Bautista and executive officers, also play to accompany the representatives of our valued major sponsors, corporate sponsors and minor sponsors.

IF
What kind of prizes are offered?
Aragon
We offer gift items (event shirts and caps) for all registered participants. For the winners, we have trophies, Samsonite luggage, roundtrip Mabuhay Class (business class) tickets to choice Philippine Airlines’ destinations. On the other hand, a top-of-the-line luxury vehicle from Toyota Motor Philippines and two roundtrip first class tickets to Los Angeles goes to the most skillful and luckiest of golfers who hits a hole-in-one shot. We also have trophies for fun competition such as most number of bogeys, most number of pars, number of birdies, longest drive and nearest to the pin. An impressive array of raffle prizes also awaits our participants — roundtrip business class tickets to choice Philippine Airlines destinations, gift certificates from top hotels/resorts and lifestyle/premium gift items.

IF
Do you hold the tournament at the same golf course every year?
Aragon
The past tournaments were held in different golf courses (utilizing two courses). Last year’s tournament was played for the first time across three courses to accommodate more players.

IF
Is there anything else you would like to share about the tournament?
Aragon
The 2006 Mabuhay Miles Elite Invitational Golf Tournament was supported by major sponsors Adidas Philippines, Airbus, Boeing, GE Aviation, HSBC, Mizuno and Petron Corporation. Corporate sponsors were Allied Bank, the Department of Tourism, LG Electronics Philippines, Panasonic Avionics Corporation, Smart Communication and Wide Wide World Express/DHL. Minor sponsors included American Express Bank Philippines (A Savings Bank), Boehringer Ingelheim, Cross, Ethan Allen, Nestle Philippines, Pacific Paint (Boysen) Philippines, Spring, Tanduay Distillers, U-Freight Philippines, Visa International. Century Park Hotel was the official hotel of the tournament, Philam Insurance the official insurer and Toyota Motor Philippines the hole-in-one car sponsor.