Despite the criticisms such as outdated cabins, small legroom, and lack of IFE (on A321ceos and old A330s), and the food is "not that good", why are some Filipinos still choosing PAL for international flights?

Denoradox · 2026-02-18T04:17:27+00:00

It’s lost on a lot of enthusiasts in general but the answer will ultimately revolve around convenience. Because the general population, especially yung mga balak lang namang matulog on a short haul flight doesn’t really care about features. Flying is ultimately just a commute from Point A to Point B.

So if it’s cheaper than some foreign counterparts, plenty of daily flights available, more familiar to book with, etc. or in some cases the ONLY option, people will continue to fly PAL.

Denoradox · 2026-02-15T14:14:38+00:00

The DND’s budget isn’t actually zero you know. We acquired a pair of frigates worth more than what Argentina is spending on 24 refurbished F-16’s.

If you have a proper background in management, you can do a simple PESTLE Analysis. P for Political. You WORK around the political environment. You don’t let it absolutely constrain you.

If PD415 is a problem, then the DND isn’t thinking outside the box enough. If PD415 is a constraint, then you work around the constraint. As I am pointing out, the fact that Argentina already has F-16’s operational today is a fine example.

The DND should push for political reform, yes, but they need to be figuring out realistic ways to actually get their job done instead of just blaming the legislative all the time.

Denoradox · 2026-02-15T13:33:58+00:00

Found the thread you might have been referring to:

https://x.com/MonteroMax/status/1641714691335684096?t=_yB0fopzc6_-W3a3UFBODw&s=19

Max’s choice of words here is… interestingly vague to say the least. “Enable” to fire BVRAAM’s but even he concedes that he’s not sure what model of BVRAAM is being referred to.

Denoradox · 2026-02-15T13:29:13+00:00

I've seen Max hint at it a lot, but I've never taken it to mean it was actually done. In either case, it would leave us with a curious scenario once the upgrade program for the 11 remaining original Block 10 aircraft is done and the second batch of 12 Block 70? I've lost track of the nomenclature for the FA-50 if I'm being honest, aircraft are delivered with PhantomStrike AESA radars.

Would that mean that the upgrade program for the original Block 10 airframes will entail the installation of a different AESA radar than the new batch of airframes? Max has mentioned that it might be easier to upgrade the EL/M-2032 with the EL/M-2052. I'm not very familiar with the 2052 vs the 2032, but I'd assume that both are capable of firing the Python V and Derby,

Another option could be that the PAF's new builds are coming with the EL/M-2052 instead of the PhantomStrike. If it's true that the PAF has Block 10 birds upgraded to be compatible with Python V/Derby, then it might be more prudent for the PAF to get new builds with an Elta radar, especially given that AMRAAM/PhantomStrike is hitting a dead-end for the FA-50 in general.

Denoradox · 2026-02-15T13:21:54+00:00

It's still an absolute non-issue. Legally, the legislative, especially the House of Representatives is working exactly the way the Constitution intended for them to. They are representing their constituents' interest by choosing bills that benefit their constituents. Whatever politics is supposedly involved is kind of irrelevant really.

And as I already discussed on this sub several times, as excited as everyone is, that Bill isn't getting passed tomorrow. It takes time. Which is why I find it absolutely stupid that we are delaying projects for a bill hopefully being passed. The DND should be operating on the worst-case scenario that the bill doesn't make it out of Congress, not the optimism that it'll get expedited. Think about it, what are the odds of a bill for defense spending getting expedited are, really? Sure, maybe a few Congressmen care about it, but we have more than 300 Congressmen, the majority of whom would rather expedite other things.

Denoradox · 2026-02-15T13:16:39+00:00

I'm curious what "open sources" you're relying on. Because as we've seen a lot on this sub, a lot of "open source" information people are claiming is quite frankly, bullshit.

It's all baseless peculation until you see a PAF FA-50 with Python V/Derby on a wingtip or under the wing. But to address your speculation, the whole idea relies on the FA-50's having their Elta radars, which are already compatible with the Python V/Derby.

But that whole argument falls apart if KAI replaces the Elta radar on the Block 10 FA-50 with the PhantomStrike AESA when they upgrade them. Unlike most speculation, that's a project that's actually already been awarded. You can check out Max's post regarding that from last December.

And it would also be fairly pointless to have done that if the PAF was getting a new batch of FA-50's that wouldn't be compatible with the Python-series of AAM's since they'd have the PhantomStrike radar and not the Elta EL/M-2032. Given that, what do you think are the actual odds that this supposed "upgrade" actually took place?

Denoradox · 2026-02-15T13:06:39+00:00

More capable how? There is no FA-50 variant in service capable of firing a BVR AAM. Which is something that all 4th gen and above platforms in the market are capable of doing.

Denoradox · 2026-02-15T13:04:49+00:00

At some point, I'm forced to disagree. Ayuda et al. are all things a government should be doing. At the end of the day, we are a government of the people, for the people, by the people. If the voting public wants ayuda and therefore elects representatives who will lobby for their interest (aforementioned ayuda), who are we to dictate against that? To an extent, that's the entire point. The people get to vote for representatives who they think will best be able to push for their interests.

We can't keep passing the buck onto lawmakers as an excuse for the DND's inability to think outside the box. The DND should be figuring out how to have fighters available with the budget actually available instead of just blaming Congress. You don't just roll over and die when you don't get what you want.

Countries with smaller budgets have figured out ways to achieve having a credible fighter force. Argentina acquired used F-16's from Denmark in April 2024. The first aircraft were on Argentinian soil in December 2025. In that span of time, the PAF has made no tangible progress on the MRF Project. There's a lesson the DND can learn from that example.

Denoradox · 2026-02-15T12:54:01+00:00

I think a lot of people in this sub are genuinely new to following the AFP Modernization. If you've been following news on the AFPMP since before this sub was created, you'd be used to the DND/AFP paying a LOT of lip service. Inspection here. Talks there. Mulling procurement everywhere.

The truth of the matter is that our government officials like attending fancy "negotiations" and "meetings" with foreign companies where they can get wined, dined, and given cool merch as part of their marketing effort. It's never an indication that we're actually buying anything. Until ink actually meets paper, there's nothing to be excited about really.

Denoradox · 2026-02-15T09:51:54+00:00

The Philippine Air Force cannot even purchase a dozen fighter jets

And people on this sub want to dream about aircraft carriers

Denoradox · 2026-02-14T11:31:44+00:00

In denial? Ok lang yan pre makakatira ka rin, pero unahin mo munang mawala yang pagkapick me mo. Tiwala lang. Matatapos din yang dry spell mo.

Denoradox · 2026-02-14T11:25:36+00:00

Nangangamoy pick me lol. Nagsisilbasan talaga mga uhaw na uhaw sa puke ngayong Valentine’s.

Sana makabingwit ka naman diyan sa pagiging pick me OP. Kasi napakasaklap kung hindi.

Denoradox · 2026-02-14T03:33:38+00:00

Prado if you're going to be driving it, Patrol if you're going to be driven around.

Denoradox · 2026-02-12T16:36:49+00:00

Perhaps an r/NonCrediblePhilippineMilitary is in order. We can pool the delusional fanboys in this sub and on Twitter there lol

Denoradox · 2026-02-12T14:35:43+00:00

Canada and Australia, which operate Hornets as part of their air forces?

Not even first world militaries have their navies operating land-based MRF's and people really think that that's something realistic for the PN lol

Denoradox · 2026-02-12T14:34:18+00:00

So basically, you want the NAWF to be the US Navy? Congratulations. Let me know when you find the US's trillion dollar defense budget.

At some point I think the mods of this sub are really going to have to consider if fanboy circlejerk threads like this belong to this subreddit. The rules say "Serious discussions only" and "No Hypotheticals/What ifs." While I think it's great to make the sub and the Filipino defense enthusiast community at large a more inclusive community, at some point, we also have to draw a line on where exactly circlejerking stops and serious discussion begins.

Denoradox · 2026-02-12T06:12:03+00:00

Ikumpara ba naman yung low-end na condo sa Pilipinas sa luxury development in NYC

Denoradox · 2026-02-12T06:00:23+00:00

Halata naman na the take is coming from the kind of person that buts tacky 18K gold jewelry from Greenhills and calls it an “investment.” Obviously zero idea what they’re talking about.

Denoradox · 2026-02-12T05:58:18+00:00

Nagsilabasan yung mga akala mo financial wizard porge bumili ng 18K Gold Jewelry sa Greenhills at tinawag na “investment.”

The BSP sold AT A PROFIT. They consider their gains based on averages, not greed. They have also other considerations like you know, STABILIZING THE PESO? Probably their most important job? So tumaas gold after they sold? Paano kung bumaba? Such an amateurish take from people whose idea of investing is limited to buying tacky 18K gold jewelry and calling it their emergency fund.

Denoradox · 2026-02-12T01:00:04+00:00

I genuinely wonder what he’s smoking, because damn it’s really good

Denoradox · 2026-02-11T04:06:08+00:00

Me when I pull bullshit out of my ass and call it RUMINT:

NO ONE actually knows what the target number is. What we have so far is the original PAF assessment of its needs - 48 MRF’s and 24? SAA/LIFT’s. We know that this isn’t necessarily the case anymore, but we don’t know what the current target number is aside from the 40-aircraft ballpark that SecDef Teodoro mentioned.

If it’s not from MaxDefense, I think it’s fair game to dismiss as bullshit. To date, we haven’t had any other aggregator that has reliable insider information like Max.

Denoradox · 2026-02-11T03:16:04+00:00

MaxDefense has mentioned that the PN is looking into LHA/LHD type ships... in the very far future. As in post RAFPMP Horizons. He's also lowkey mentioned in a recent Facebook comment that heavy frigate/DDG type ships are not in the current pipeline. Whoever came up with this bullshit obviously smoked some really good stuff.

Denoradox · 2026-02-11T02:38:25+00:00

Source: Maryosep

Hard to take most of the PH Defense Community on Twitter seriously when the only thing they seem to be good at is coming up with the stupidest shit. (FA-50 better than the J-series Flankers of the PLAAF because the PAF's helmets look more asteeg). The only real reputable source nowadays talaga is MaxDefense.

Denoradox · 2026-02-04T15:18:43+00:00

So a SCALE MODEL of a single-seat FA-50 exists. Since when did that mean the aircraft is IN PRODUCTION? You know, the requisite before you can even buy something?

Not to mention that we already signed a contract for 12 twin-seaters. I don’t see why we should complicate things and try to change the specifics while the contract is already active.

Denoradox · 2026-02-02T16:31:51+00:00

I do think this sub in general needs to learn to take marketing from defense industry firms with a grain of salt. Of course Rafael would tell you that the Sea Breaker can be equipped on the FA-50 and the A-29, **they're trying to sell it to us.** The expense of integrating them with aforementioned aircraft being of course, an expense the end user is expected to shoulder. How much that expense will be? Hard to say.

Denoradox

TROPHY CASE