Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
The historic event, which took place on Nov. 29, 1935, wasn’t just a landing; it was a giant leap for global connectivity and a testament to human ingenuity
On Jan. 20, 2024, the Philippines celebrated a significant milestone in its aviation history by unveiling a historical marker at the Manila Yacht Club, commemorating the arrival of the legendary Pan Am China Clipper.
This event, which took place on Nov. 29, 1935, wasn’t just a landing; it was a giant leap for global connectivity and a testament to human ingenuity.
The ceremony at the Manila Yacht Club was overseen by Emmanuel Calairo, Chairperson of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and MaryKay Carlson, the US Ambassador to the Philippines. Additionally, Commo. Marco Tronqued, the President of the Manila Yacht Club, was present at the event.
Calairo shared to guests the importance of the monumental occasion. “The arrival of the Pan Am China Clipper in Manila on November 29, 1935, proved that it is possible to travel west of the orient by flying across the Pacific Ocean.”
According to Calairo, the historic landing, in that single moment in 1935, put the Philippines in the spotlight of world aviation.
On Nov. 22, 1935, the China Clipper, commanded by Captain Edwin C. Musick and navigated by the legendary flight navigator Fred Noonan embarked on the historic San Francisco to Manila journey.
It is poignant to note that Fred Noonan subsequently disappeared over the central Pacific Ocean near Howland Island with the legendary American aviator Amelia Earhart during their attempt to circumnavigate the globe in 1937, just two years after their historic landing in Manila.
The route covered over 8,000 miles, with planned stops at Honolulu, Midway Island, Wake Island, and Guam before the grand finale in Manila on Nov. 29, 1935. Contemporary reports state that there were throngs of people in Manila who welcomed the flight that day.
Beyond the efficient delivery of letters and parcels, the China Clipper’s arrival symbolized a new era of international connection. It opened doors for trade, tourism, and cultural exchange, fostering closer ties between the Philippines and the United States.
“The China clipper came to symbolize innovation and the goodwill connecting our two nations in the intervening decades since that 1935 flight through to the present,” said Ambassador Carlson.
This pioneering flight also paved the way for regular commercial air travel across the Pacific, shrinking distances and bringing the world closer together.
The ceremony, attended by notable figures like Her Excellency MaryKay L. Carlson, Commo. Ildefonso Marco Tronqued and Chair Emmanuel Calairo served as a reminder of the transformative power of innovation and the enduring spirit of international cooperation.
“With great honor, on behalf of the Manila Yacht Club board of directors and its members, we accept this esteemed historical marker. We vow to commit to continue to protect the historical value of the club and safeguard its future,” Commo. Marco Tronqued, President of Manila Yacht Club.
— Feliciano Rodriguez III
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Credit belongs to: www.mb.com.ph
