By Waylon Galvez
Amateur golfer Luis Miguel Castro has recalled his unforgettable flight back from the US following the lockdown because of the coronavirus.
Castro, 19, was supposed to return early May after finishing his second year at University of North Carolina but only came back late last month after some delays, including a three-day stay inside the Incheon International Airport in South Korea.
“Three days at the airport,” said Castro, son of former Gilas Pilipinas team manager and University of the Philippines coach Aboy Castro. “It was only on the third night that I was able to check in at the airport hotel.”
Castro said he left North Carolina on May 3 for Detroit, where he took a flight to the Philippines via South Korea.
But to his horror, upon his arrival in Incheon, there was no more flight going to Manila after the Philippine government barred international flights. Castro decided to return to the US where he stayed with his relatives in Los Angeles.
Castro left LA last May 17, but when he arrived South Korea, there was another problem – his flight to the Philippines is not permitted. He stayed for three days at Incheon International Airport before he finally got a flight back to the Philippines early morning of May 20.
During that ordeal, he said that there was worry of being infected with the coronavirus.
“I’ve been to different airports, you can’t help but worry. So yes I was worried,” Castro said, a second year student at the Tar Heels – the alma mater of NBA great Michael Jordan – with a Major in Exercise Science.
“But during those moments, I talked to my parents, they kept on checking on me, encouraging me. I wore facemasks all the time, and also had goggles when inside the airplane for protection, and practiced health protocols.”
“So for me, I know that I’m OK. But while at the Incheon Airport, I saw a lot of Overseas Filipino Workers and the hardships they had to go through – it was for me heartbreaking, emotional,” added Castro.
When he arrived, Castro had a swab test for COVID-19, which after five days came out negative. He also stayed at a hotel for several days following his arrival as part of the quarantine protocols.
“After that, I was finally reunited with my family – very happy of course,” said Castro.
With golf finally allowed last Monday by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease or IATF, on various places under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ), Castro said he is looking forward to playing after almost three months.
“I last played March 8 to be exact,” said Castro, a member of the Philippine Team that took bronze medal in the team event of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games here last December.
“So yes, I’m pretty excited to return to the golf course. Of course, we are very thankful to the National Golf Association of the Philippine (NGAP) – it was their initiative, and to the IATF for allowing golf,” he added.
