Category Archives: Tourism

Government, International, Media, Tourism, Travel

LAGLAG BALA: TOURISM SECRETARY TELLS FILIPINOS, MEDIA TO SHUT UP

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imageMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Hush!  Philippine Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. urged Filipinos and the media to STFU (shut up) because it is hurting the country’s tourism industry.

Jimenez was referring to the laglag bala  or tanim bala scheme at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in which airport personnel allegedly “plant” bullets in bags of unsuspecting airline passengers in order to extort money.

Speaking at a weekly forum at the Luneta Hotel, Jimenez said reports on the tanim bala demonstrate the media’s tendency to discuss issues “to death until it actually injures our own interest.”

“I am very concerned on both ends of it — not only because it is a symptom of corruption that we have yet to uproot, it is also a symptom that sometimes as a country we don’t know when to stop talking about something,” he said.

Jimenez went as far as recommending to President Aquino to change the administration’s anti-corruption mantra from Daang Matuwid (straight path) to Daang Matahimik (quiet path).

 

 

International, Politics, Tourism, Travel

MANILA’S INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: NAIA RENAMED FEMIA

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From NAIA to FEMIA
From NAIA to FEMIA

MANILA, Philippines ( The Adobo Chronicles) – The laglag bala scheme at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has caused the Aquino administration so much ridicule and embarrassment that the President has ordered the renaming of the airport to FEMIA.

The scheme involves the alleged ‘planting’ of bullets in the bags of unsuspecting airline passengers for the purpose of extorting money.

“I do not wish the Aquino name to be associated with this international scandal,” Aquino said.  NAIA was named after his father who was gunned down at the Manila airport after returning from years of exile in the U.S.

Just in time for next week’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Manila, to be attended by some 21 world leaders, the new signage was put up today in austere light switching ceremonies.

Henceforth, NAIA will be called FEMIA: Ferdinand E. Marcos International Airport, in honor of the late dictator, a nemesis of the Aquinos.

The lighting ceremony was led by Senator Bongbong Marcos, Ferdinand’s son, who is a candidate for vice president.

Law Enforcement, Tourism, Travel

NAIA AIRLINE PASSENGERS WARNED: DON’T USE ALUMINUM FOIL

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imageMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Yesterday, we reported that the Philippine government has approved the importation of 500 tons of plastic wrap in order to meet the  demand resulting from the laglag bala scheme whereby bullets are allegedly being planted in bags of unsuspecting passengers going through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for purposes of extortion.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Many passengers, unable to procure plastic wrap to protect their luggage from being targeted by the schemers, are turning to aluminum foil which is plenty in  supply from local supermarkets and other retailers in Metro Manila.

But these passengers only end up in frustration upon arriving at NAIA to be told that aluminum foil cannot be used to wrap their bags because it is against airport security regulations.

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Jose Angel Honrado said that x-ray cameras cannot see through aluminum foil and won’t be able to detect bullets, illegal substances and other prohibited items.

Honrado warned that bags wrapped in aluminum foil will be confiscated and will not be allowed on board any departing aircraft.