DOTr chief graces oath-taking of new Airport Press Club officers
The newly elected officers of the Airport Press Club (APC) were sworn in on Thursday, Oct. 6, in Ortigas, Pasig City with Department of Transportation Secretary (DOTr) Jaime Bautista gracing the event.

The APC officers led by its new president, Ariel Fernandez of Manila Bulletin, took their oath before Bautista, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Cesar Chiong, and Cebu Pacific President and CEO Lance Gokongwei.
Elected APC Vice President was Itchie Cabayan of Journal Online, People's Tonight, Agila ng Bayan, and Publiko; while Froilan Morellos of Pilipino Mirror is the treasurer. Christina Arayata of Philippine News Agency is the secretary; and Rodolfo Santos of Philippine Star is the chairman of the board.
The APC also elected two chairmen, one each for membership and external affairs, as well as 13 directors.
The oath-taking ceremony coincided with the 59th founding anniversary of the APC.
Other officials who attended the ceremony were Bureau of Customs Port of NAIA District Collector Carmelita M. Talusan, Office of Transportation Security (OTS) Administrator Ma. O Aplasca, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) spokesman Undersecretary Romel Lopez, and former Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) secretary Jose Ruperto Martin Andanar.
The Airport Press Club was established in 1963 by Jose C. de Venecia Jr., or Manong Joe, who used to cover the airport beat for the Manila Times before he entered politics and became the Speaker of the House of Representatives. After him, it was Maning Silva of Daily Express who led the APC, followed by Louie Perez from Manila Bulletin.
The APC is the oldest legitimate press corps in the airport beat. It currently has 20 active members from different print, broadcast, and online news companies.