Notice to the Public
The undersigned, Mr. George G. de Guzman, President of Sky Freight, is at this moment issuing this Notice to the Public to address accusations being levied against Sky Freight by the clients of Sky Balikbayan, a cargo forwarder based in the U.S. handling Personal Effects from the U.S. to the Philippines.
For the longest time, Sky Freight has refrained from making any official statements concerning Sky Balikbayan for personal/private and professional reasons. Private, since Sky Freight’s Chairman and Sky Balikbayan’s owner are siblings. Sky Freight, however, holds no financial interests or investments in Sky Balikbayan whatsoever. At that time, we saw no compelling reason for Sky Freight to issue any statement clarifying the nature of our relationship with Sky Balikbayan (purely, as the connection was solely due to the familial ties between the respective owners) as we did not see the need for us to do so and avoid speculations by the public as to possible reasons why Sky Freight would have to come out with any statement which in effect “distances” it from Sky Balikbayan. In hindsight, we should have done it back then, as this seems to be the angle people are banking on to justify our supposed liability for Sky Balikbayan’s inability to live up to their commitments.
Similarly, we cite professional reasons as we do not have a professional relationship with Sky Balikbayan. From the get-go, we never acted as Sky Balikbayan’s broker in releasing and delivering their cargo as they partnered with another broker to handle their brokerage requirements. This underscores Sky Balikbayan’s independent handling of their operations through a separate brokerage firm – not Sky Freight, thus, reiterating the latter’s absence of a professional connection with Sky Balikbayan. Suffice it to say that they already had an established team to assist them in running the business, and we were never involved in any aspect of their operations.
Our only concern then was using “Sky Freight, USA” as their trade name and Sky Freight’s corresponding company logo. Considering our business relationship or the relative absence thereof, we requested them to kindly cease using “Sky Freight, USA” and the Sky Freight logo to avoid any potential confusion or complications should problems arise, much like what they are experiencing now. Much to our relief, they adopted “Sky Balikbayan” as their trade name after considerable prodding from our end. We would’ve wanted them to cease using the word “Sky” altogether, but we know that it is a “generic” word that is commonly used and may not necessarily raise intellectual property rights concerns. Sky Balikbayan also requested that we give them ample time to deplete their inventory of cargo boxes bearing Sky Freight’s logo, to which we reluctantly agreed on the premise that they cover or paint over the symbol of Sky Freight on their cargo boxes.
Sky Freight has been in existence since 1966. Throughout our 57-year history, we have steadily built our reputation through sheer determination, dedication, and professionalism. As a recognized leader in the country’s local cargo industry, we know that the value people would give us depends on how we handle their logistics requirements. This is what brand equity is all about. Our equity as a brand is also what Sky Freight desires to protect, which is why the undersigned was encouraged to inform the public of the nature of his company’s ties with Sky Balikbayan.
The recent inundation of unsavory remarks in social media blaming Sky Freight for Sky Balikbayan’s inability to deliver personal effects cargo coursed through them from the United States to the Philippines has become a cause for concern for Sky Freight. Having stated that Sky Freight is not involved in any manner with the business of Sky Balikbayan is enough reason for us to be alarmed. No company or individual would want to get involved with the problems of another, especially if we never had a hand with it. We empathize with Sky Balikbayan’s clients as we feel helpless since we are dragged into a transaction we never were a part of.
Sky Freight’s equity, which it has built for over fifty years, is being placed on the chopping block and questioned and maligned by this unfortunate series of events. We do not blame Sky Balikbayan’s customers for things they’ve said against Sky Freight, as they were expressed in reaction to Sky Balikbayan’s inability to deliver their end of the deal. We hold Sky Balikbayan responsible and thus answerable to us for the damage they are causing to Sky Freight’s name. This is a problem we know we would have to face and one we would instead meet as a family, owing to the private reasons we stated earlier.
We join the public in their desire for a favorable outcome regarding their concerns. Similarly, we encourage Sky Balikbayan to face and owe up to their obligations by finding immediate and drastic solutions to this problem. The image and good reputation of Sky Freight have been needlessly involved in this stew, and we expect all those responsible to put a stop to it.
Thank you very much, and we look forward to the public’s support and cooperation on this matter.
(SGD.) GEORGE G. DE GUZMAN
President
Sky Freight