Honest airport porter makes passenger’s day

Antonio Luna Jr. CATHY BATUYONG

MANILA, Philippines — Amid mounting complaints from weary travelers who lost their valuables inside the airport or were robbed by wily taxicab drivers as soon as they stepped outside, a woman’s post on social media about an honest porter had gone viral.

On Facebook, Cathy Batuyong lauded Antonio Luna Jr., a porter at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), after he returned her husband’s wallet that contained P50,000 in cash and identification cards.

“You are a gem at Naia,” she said of the porter with the same name as the national hero. “Surely you will help in rebuilding the reputation of our airport. You are one of those who can make a difference in your own way.…”

According to a report from the Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa), Luna found a wallet at Naia Terminal 3 departure curbside in Pasay City around 4:30 a.m. on April 30.

He immediately turned it over to the Naia lost-and-found office which determined that it contained P50,000 in cash and the bank and identification cards of Batuyong’s husband.

The couple claimed the lost wallet the next day.

15,000 reactions

“God bless you, Sir Antonio! You made us believe that people are truly good at heart,” Batuyong wrote in her post, which has so far generated 15,000 reactions.

“Your name says it all. You are a real hero,” a netizen commented, referring to the army general who led the Filipino soldiers during the Philippine-American War.

Miaa general manager Ed Monreal also lauded Luna “for giving us a reason to be proud of our very own airport.”

Luna will receive a commendation for his honesty today, May 6, in front of airport employees and officials.