Insider Spotlight
This was made during the Cebu Aviation Summit 2025 which was held last Friday, Sept., 19, 2025, organized by Airworks Aviation Academy at the City Sports Club. The event drew industry leaders, military officers, aviation professionals, and hundreds of students.
Cebu Governor Pamela “Pam” Baricuatro, the keynote speaker, shared her two decades in aviation and stressed the sector’s role in connecting people and creating livelihoods.
“Aviation is more than an industry—it is a livelihood, a driver of growth, and a chance for our youth to rise above challenges. Together with schools, airlines, the Air Force, and the private sector, we will keep Cebu soaring high,” Baricuatro said.
Why it matters
Global manufacturers see demand accelerating. Boeing projects the sector will need 2.4 million new aviation professionals by 2044, including 660,000 pilots, 710,000 technicians, and 1 million cabin crew. Airbus expects the global aircraft fleet to nearly double in the same period, requiring tens of thousands of new planes and more skilled workers.
Airworks CEO Vincent Ong said Cebu’s flying schools, backed by supportive policies and infrastructure, are poised to meet this demand and train professionals for the global market.
Stories of resilience
The summit also spotlighted personal journeys that underscored aviation’s transformative power.
The bottom line
The summit reinforced Cebu’s ambition to be more than a gateway for travelers. Organizers cast it as a future regional center for aviation training, operations, and tourism growth.
For students and aspiring aviators, the message was clear: hard work and collaboration can turn ambition into opportunity.
As Ong put it, “This summit is more than a conference. It is a conversation about the future.”
— Edited by Daxim L. Lucas
