FILE PHOTO JUN98 - Philippine Airlines (PAL) chairman Lucio Tan chats with Finance Secretary Edgardo Espiritu (L) during a June 98 business forum in Manila. PAL, ravaged by labour conflicts and citing "enormous losses", announced September 17 it was shutting down after 57 years of operation. It is the biggest Philippines firm to fold amid Asia's economic crisis.

RR/TAN/KM