<?php 
...
function display() {
	if(!$this->RequestHandler->isAjax()) {
		$this->pageTitle = "Customer List";	
		// clear the session on first page visit
		$this->Session->del($this->name.'.search');
	}
	
	if(!empty($this->data))
		$search = $this->data['Customer']['search'];
	elseif($this->Session->check($this->name.'.search'))
		$search = $this->Session->read($this->name.'.search');

	$filters = array();
	if(isset($search)) {
		$filters = array("lower(Customer.name) like '%".low($search)."%'");
		$this->Session->write($this->name.'.search', $search);		
	}
		
    $this->set('customers', $this->paginate('Customer', $filters));
    
    if($this->RequestHandler->isAjax()) {
		$this->viewPath = 'elements'.DS.'customers';
		$this->render('paging');			
	}
}

...
?>