Flew PAL in C from HKG-MNL-HKG, with some trepidation, but decided I ought to try it and see -- after all, it was just a short flight.

In both directions, the flight in an A320 was spot on time. Seating in C was like U.S. domestic F on AA or UA (3 rows of 2 x 2 with maybe 38" seat pitch). C class was firmly enforced; there were no interlopers. In fact, in one direction, I was the only passenger in C. There was a curtain between C and Y and one time when a passenger from Y tried to use the C lav, he was stopped.

In fact, the pilots had no compunction about coming out into the C cabin and no special ceremony was held when they did, unlike the "security routine" on U.S. carriers.

Food in both directions was a strange hot meal that I found, like the OP on this thread did, to be pretty yucky. In each direction, the cabin crew handed out newspapers and magazines to read, and gave each passenger a deck of cards. Sort of retro!

PAL trades at a considerable discount in C to CX on this route and I see no reason not to take PAL again and pocket the difference. Might well make a different decision on a longer haul flight, however.