B/GEN. ERNESTO S. LEVANZA PAFR
SAPPHIRE INTERNATIONAL AVIATION ACADEMY WAS FOUNDED BY B/GEN. ERNESTO S. LEVANZA PAFR.
HE IS AN AIR FORCE RESERVE OFFICER BY VOCATION, A COMMUNITY SERVANT BY OCCUPATION, AND A BUSINESSMAN BY PROFESSION.
HE WAS BORN IN THE TOWN OF SIPOCOT IN THE PROVINCE OF CAMARINES SUR IN THE BICOL REGION ON THE 8TH OF SEPTEMBER 1950. HE BELONG TO A FAMILY WHOSE SOCIAL STATUS IS ON THE TYPE C LEVEL.
THEIR SOCIAL STATUS DID NOT DETER HIM FROM STRIVING TO SUCCEED AND HAVE A BETTER LIFE. HE FINISHED HIS ELEMENTARY EDUCATION AT THE SAN FRANCISCO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE CITY OF MANILA AND COMPLETED HIS SECONDARY EDUCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST HIGH SCHOOL.
HE HOLDS A COLLEGE DEGREE IN COMMERCE, MAJOR IN MANAGEMENT FROM THE JOSE RIZAL UNIVERSITY.
HE IS HAPPILY MARRIED TO THE FORMER LUZVILLA RECODO, WITH WHOM HE HAS THREE LOVELY AND RESPONSIBLE DAUGHTERS, VALERIE, IRENE, AND CATHY.
HE IS A SUCCESSFUL AND EXPERIENCED BUSINESSMAN. HE IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND PRESIDENT OF THE SAPPHIRE GROUP OF COMPANIES, NAMELY. SAPPHIRE CARGO MOVERS INC, ENGAGED IN CUSTOM BROKERAGE AND INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT FORWARDING, SAPPHIRE BEACH RESORT, SAPPHIRE AVIATION SUPPORT SYSTEM INC., SAPPHIRE AMERICA, INC. AND SAPPHIRE INTERNATIONAL AVIATION ACADEMY.
HE WAS COMMISSIONED AS AN AIR FORCE RESERVE OFFICER WITH THE RANK OF MAJOR IN 1993 AND IN 2002, HE WAS PROMOTED TO FULL COLONEL. HE WAS THE WING COMMANDER OF THE READY RESERVE AIRLIFT AND TACTICAL SUPPORT WING (RRATSW). HE IS AN HONORARY MEMBER OF THE PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY MASIKAP CLASS 1977.
AS AN AIR FORCE RESERVE OFFICER, B/GEN. LEVANZA RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS AND DECORATIONS. AMONG THESE ARE MILITARY MERIT MEDALS, THE KAGITINGAN BADGE, LAPU-LAPU KATAPATAN BADGE, MILITARY COMMENDATION MEDALS, ANTI-DISSIDENCE CAMPAIGN MEDALS, DISASTER RELIEF AND REHABILITATION OPERATIONS RIBBON, AND MANY PLAQUES OF RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION.
HE JOINED THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD AUXILIARY (PCGA) IN 1995 AND WAS GIVEN THE RANK OF A COMMANDER. IN 1996, HE WAS DESIGNATED COMMANDER OF THE 130RD AUXILIARY SQUADRON WITH THE RANK OF CAPTAIN. IN 1999, HE WAS PROMOTED TO COMMODORE AND WAS NAMED WING COMMANDER OF THE AIR OPERATIONS WING. IN 2002, HE WAS DESIGNATED NATIONAL DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS AND WAS PROMOTED TO REAR ADMIRAL. HE WAS DESIGNATED AS THE WING COMMANDER OF THE 4TH AIR FORCE WING RESERVE STATIONED IN PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN IN 2019 BY PRES. RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE.
HE IS A DECORATED OFFICER OF THE (PCGA). HE IS A RECEPIENT OF THE PCG COMMANDANT’S UNIT CITATION RIBBON, THE PCGA NATIONAL COMMANDER’S UNIT CITATION RIBBON, OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT RIBBON, DISTINGUISHED SERVICE RIBBON, MERIT MEDALS, SEARCH AND RESCUE MEDALS, DISASTER RELIEF AND REHABILITATION MEDALS, COMMENDATION MEDALS, CIVIC ACTION MEDALS, AND VARIOUS PLAQUES OF RECOGNITION AND LETTERS OF APPRECIATION.
A LOVER OF SPORTS. HE IS THE PRESIDENT OF CLUB 86, A SHOOTING CLUB THAT HAS PRODUCED THREE WORLD SPEED SHOOTING LADY CHAMPIONS, WHO HAPPEN TO BE HIS DAUGHTERS. HE IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE UNITED NATIONS ROTARY CLUB, WHERE HE IS A PAUL HARRIS FELLOW.
HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN MANY VOLUNTEER MISSIONS, WHERE HE FIGURED PROMINENTLY IN SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL SEARCH AND RESCUE AND DISASTER RELIEF MISSIONS.
THE DIFFICULTIES HE UNDERTOOK AND SURVIVED DURING THE TRYING EARLY DAYS OF HIS LIFE HAS CAUSED HIM TO BE SERVANT LEADER TO ALL COMMITTED TO ENABLE OTHER PEOPLE TO HAVE A BETTER LIFE AS HE NOW HAS AND, MAY BE, EVEN BETTER THAN WHAT HE HAS ACHIEVED.
HE WAS ALSO A LICENSED FIXED WING AND HELICOPTER PILOT.
HIS LOVE FOR AVIATION AS WELL AS HIS INTENSE DESIRE TO HELP THOSE WHO’ LIKE HIM, DREAMS OF ACHIEVING A HAPPY, SECURED AND SELF-FULFILLED LIFE CAUSED HIM TO ESTABLISH AN AVIATION ACADEMY WHERE THOSE WHO COME TO BE EDUCATED IN THE REALM OF AVIATION CAN LEARN FAST AND EARN FAST.
AND SO, WITH THE HELP AND SUPPORT OF HIS FAMILY, THEY ORGANIZED AND SET-UP THE SAPPHIRE INTERNATIONAL AVIATION ACADEMY; AN AVIATION EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION WHICH PROVIDES A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED AS AN INVITATION TO LOVE; LOVE GOD, OTHERS, AND SELF WHICH IS THE KEY TO THE EFFECTIVE ACHIEVEMENT OF THEIR LIFE MISSION; AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION WHICH IS HIGHLY AFFORDABLE TO THE GREATEST POSSIBLE NUMBER IN THE LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY;AN AVIATION ACADEMY THAT WILL SERVE AS THE WINGS BENEATH THEIR WINGS AND ENABLE THEM TO FLY, FLY HIGH LIKE AN EAGLE; A LEGACY THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE TO THE FUTURE GENERATION.