Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
When in the Manila Airport, Keep Your Pants On
If you're feeling annoyed when you have to go through airport security checks, particularly in Manila, whatever you do, keep your pants on. One German tourist, Hans Jurgen Oskar von Naguschewski, age 66, took his off when asked to go through an X-ray machine twice and he may find himself in a jail in the Philippines for awhile. Six years is the maximum sentence he could receive. Hans already spent a weekend in the slammer after he was arrested for doing his partial strip tease. If he was in a hurry to get to Frankfurt where he was heading, he was out of luck that the officials weren't in a laughing mood.
From what I read, he became annoyed after being asked to go through the security check again. It must have been a long day and this was the last straw. It doesn't sound like he was particularly violent or anything, just less clothed when he walked through the detector the second time around than the officials would have liked. I can imagine for everyone else waiting in line this must have livened up the day and helped them be a little more patient for a while longer.
If you are going to be traveling through the Manila airport, I came across some tips in the Virtual Tourist on Airport Security checks that might give you an idea of what might try your patience in Manila and reasons why it's so security minded there. It doesn't sound like the airport is much different than many other places in the Philippines and travelers have a variety of opinions about the safety measures.
Filed under: Stories, Asia, Philippines, Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mardy Jul 18th 2008 9:41AM
Message to the building manager of NAIA
I like to become one of your team, working in NAIA.. Im looking for a job as JANITRESS. Please accep me cos i need a job. I didnt finish my school but i went to different school and experrience diffferent kinds of job in Denmark, as a baby sitter, five years helper in the kitchen hotel, costumers service in the Supermarket, assistant in factory making frezer and i did a job trainee in kinder garden and job trainne in elder center. I went to business college and technical college some years but i didnt graduate, i was there to take some course in economi and cooking. I like to help people and like to experrience new job as janitress in the NAIA. I hope there is available job for me in January 2009 as i like to start next year. I'll be in the Philipines as balikbayan this year december 2008 and i need a job. I come from San Pedro Laguna and went to school for only 5 years in the Philippines. untill grade 4 and 2nd high school, the rest of my school years was in Denmark. I went to Denmark when I was 11 years old. I missed the Philippines and like to start a new life there next year 2009. My email is mardy2345@yahoo.com
wenola Oct 27th 2008 7:36AM
My recent experience with Manila airport is a bit more "hair-raising", if you will, than Han's pants.
Recently I had to change plane at Manila. I was dropped off at Terminal 1 then tried to catch a shuttle bus to Terminal 2. Direction signs weren't very clear. So I decided to ask an airport security for direction.
Two officers dressed in white uniform, complete with golden badge and sidearms were shaking hands with each other. One motioned me over as I waited by the curbside. When I approached, the first officer immediately asked me for my passport and ticket, the other simply went behind me and stood at a nearby make-shift check point. I took out my travel document and asked for directions. The first officer asked me, "Long waiting time. Want souvenir. Yeah?" I said no. Heck I just want to catch my plane. The officer persisted, "You carry US dollar? Souvenir?" I got alarmed. So I took back my paper, told him no, and turned around and proceeded to walk away.
I guess I could have been either clobbered from the back or wrestled to the ground or something, because when I turned around, the second officer was standing there, stopped me and asked to see my passport. I looked back at the first officer, he was following me, rubbing his right thumb and his right fingers together, and kept saying, "For me, yeah? For me?" Yeap, there is no mistake, these two characters are exercising their God given rights to extort international tourists for money - in front of their 3 other colleagues and with sidearms at ready! I thought this sort of things only happens in Ho Chi Minh airport when you have to slip a Lincoln or a Hamilton bill inside the US passport to pass through Vietnamese customs. And that's only when you have nothing to declare! I didn't even want to land here, I am just a transit passenger whose only desire is to catch my next plane!
At this point I was literaly afraid for my life: I've never been to this country, traveling alone, dressed like a hippy and probably worse than Hans, no visa, I was told to fill out custom paper twice, I had to pass through security points 3 times so far and now I am 'sandwiched' between two armed uniform officer who is telling me that they want my "US Dollar".
Moral of the story: if you can help it, don't even land at Manila airport. Believe me, there are other places where your "US Dollar" will buy just as much goods and services than Manila, if not more. Even in Vietnam. At least you won't feel the taste of death when you are paying for "souvenir"!
manos1970 Mar 8th 2009 11:32PM
and as about the safety imagine they let me one time to carry on board 25 kilos when from europe only six.imagine if every pasenger would take 25 kilos the pilot would have to cancel the take off to remove weight perhaps!like the rest of the country and people are pathetic thats how also their airport is.never again to philipines for holidays!dirt and misery.and as about their hospitality its all hypocrisy.and they try to cheat on u in every way!
Rob Brooks-Bilson Feb 14th 2007 3:22PM
As I frequently travel to Manila for business, I've found my experience to be quite different than those described in your post, and on the Virtual Tourist site.
Personally, I find the airport "security" in Manila to be a lot more lax that what one goes through in the US. There's no taking your laptop out of its bag, taking your shoes off, etc. I've never spent more than 20 minutes in a line, either.
Outside of the airport, it's true that lots of places will wand you and search your bags upon entering buildings, but I've also found these attempts to be half-hearted. Being a westerner, I've also found that many of the guards simply wave me through without so much as a check.