Bariles received a confirmation the other day that the newly renovated PAL Mabuhay Lounge at the General Santos City International Airport in Barangay Tambler is set to be inaugurated soon!

The management of the local PAL office in downtown Pedro Acharon Boulevard has been sending out invites for the Friday, March 11, 2011 Inaguration to prominent personages in the city through Branch Manager Noel Herico.

According to their invitation letter, “The Mabuhay Lounge have (sic) been redesigned and refurbished to cater to the tastes of our modern business travelers.  it is equipped with some of the most useful amenities to provide comfort and relaxation before boarding the flight.  There is also a buffet of light meals and refreshments to enjoy.

The letter continues:  “The Mabuhay Lounge serves passengers flying the Mabuhay Class on Philippine Airlines flights, as well as members of the Mabuhay Miles Elite and Premier Elite membership tiers.”

Wow!  This is welcome news if you’re  a frequent PAL Mabuhay Class flyer who before this development, could only avail of their Mabuhay Lounge privileges and perks when you’re at the NAIA in Manila.  (Bariles specially adores their hot arroz caldo at the Mabuhay Lounge there especially when your flight is at 7am in the morning.)

But if you are just an ordinary mortal who go for the cheaper seats of PAL and the budget fares of Cebu Pacific, then take your place at the  pre-departure lounge of the GenSan International Airport along with other members of the working class.

But do not be dismayed.

The pre-departure lounge there has also undergone renovation and is now much bigger and newly-renovated.  Hopefully, it is still wifi-equipped.