First Lady Optimistic on GMR Group Entry to Sangley

When First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos toured New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, built by India’s GMR Group, she was more than impressed—she was inspired.

Sangley could be more than a terminal—it could be a heartbeat of trade, tourism, and opportunity. (Image: Sangley Point International Airport)

“Blown away by the scale, efficiency, and thoughtful design… Here’s hoping that someday, we’ll bring the same seamless experience to travelers flying in and out of the Philippines. Kaya natin ito,” she posted on Instagram.

That moment—equal parts awe and aspiration—would become the touchstone for a vision that reaches beyond terminals and tarmacs, toward an economy lifted by new currents of skill, trade, and connection.

tanding on the polished concourses of New Delhi’s premier gateway, the First Lady’s words became more than a travel diary—they became an aspiration. It was a vision drawn from a firsthand encounter, not from briefing papers.

The marbled halls, the choreography of departures and arrivals, the human touch behind every process—she saw them all and thought of home.

GMR, an Indian conglomerate with a history of turning transport hubs into catalysts for national growth, now has its sights set on Sangley Point in Cavite as its next transformative project.

If Delhi’s airport is any measure, Sangley could be more than a terminal—it could be a heartbeat of trade, tourism, and opportunity.

With GMR Group joining local investors such as Cavitex Holdings of the Virata family and the Yuchengco Group’s House of Investments, the “economic runway” for the Philippines may be imminent.

From India also comes the Wadhwani Foundation—building not just airbridges but skill-bridges, empowering Filipinos with AI-driven training, entrepreneurial mentorship, and seed grants to turn ideas into enterprises.

Cris Delgado, Wadhwani’s point man in the Philippines, unveiled on Aliw TV’s NegoShow the foundation’s push to educate entrepreneurs and partner with schools—such as Benguet State University—to help transform students into techpreneurs. (Photo: Wadhwani Foundation - Philippines Facebook)

In classrooms and co-working spaces, this is the other runway being paved: one where a young Filipino’s takeoff is not in an airplane seat, but in launching a business or securing a career.

Wadhwani’s point man in the Philippines, Cris Delgado, was interviewed last week on Aliw TV’s Nego-Show, where he unveiled the foundation’s push to educate entrepreneurs and partner with schools—such as Benguet State University—to help transform students into techpreneurs.

Here is where “Kaya natin ito” moves beyond optimism.

In the First Lady’s voice, it becomes a call to resilience—an invitation to believe that world-class service, efficient systems, and humane design are not foreign luxuries; they can be our own standard.

It speaks to the tricycle driver who dreams of his child boarding a flight from Sangley to a better life; to the engineering student who sees in GMR’s terminals a future blueprint; to the OFW who yearns for a homecoming through an airport worthy of the journey; and to the Rappler reader who sees congestion in our airports.

The “economic runway” for the Philippines may be imminent. (Image: Sangley International Airport Facebook)

Together, GMR’s steel and glass, Wadhwani’s human capital, and the Filipino spirit form a three-part harmony. Delhi shows the symphony can be played; Sangley could be our first movement.

And when the final note swells, it may well echo the words the First Lady wrote—not as a wistful hope, but as a lived truth: Kaya natin ito.