Keeping Capt. Ri safe in Manila

We already know that Capt. Ri Jeong-hyeok has crash-landed in Manila – straight into the hearts of hundreds of Filipino fans.

Indeed, Korean actor Hyun Bin, who played the heroic Capt. Ri in the K-drama-romance hit “Crash Landing on You,” arrived at tycoon Enrique Razon’s Solaire Resort last week to a wild and swooning crowd eager to catch even a glimpse of the dapper and dashing captain. Cameras flashed, selfies abounded and hearts of gushing fans thumped with excitement.

But did you know that while visits by high-profile celebrities like Hyun Bin put fans on cloud nine, it is almost always a security nightmare for those in charge of keeping these VIP visitors safe?

Fortunately, Michael Ray Aquino or MRA, vice president of security of Solaire Resort and the rest of the Razon Group of Companies, knows his stuff well and has made sure that Hyun Bin remained safe throughout his four-day visit to Manila as Solaire’s brand ambassador.

As someone interested in cloak-and-dagger-style behind-the-scenes security planning for dignitaries, tycoons, state leaders and celebrities alike, I asked MRA how he was able to secure the man known as Capt. Ri.

Behind the glamor, I learned, was a well-oiled machine. There was a security detail, with MRA – a former intelligence officer in the police force – in charge, moving with clockwork precision. It was many things all rolled into one – a celebrity welcome, crowd control and entirely about keeping the star safe from being swept away by his own admirers.

No stranger to international visitors, Solaire’s security team, when necessary, operates almost like the Secret Service – planning routes down to the second and securing perimeters, all while ensuring that the guest’s experience is as pleasant as it could possibly be, on and off the camera.

It was not easy to secure Capt. Ri because there were simply too many overzealous fans, said MRA. “But he was very cooperative.”

Actually, Hyun Bin came with his own security team, at least four Koreans, who were also very good looking. But as soon as he arrived in Manila, it was MRA’s team that took charge. 
The schedule was tight. Upon arriving at the airport, Hyun Bin traveled to Solaire via land transportation. Nobody outside the security team knew about the route, the schedule or the type of vehicle.

He arrived at Solaire on Aug. 7 around 11 a.m. and, barely having settled in, Hyun Bin, an avid golfer, headed to Laguna to play golf.

The next day, Aug. 8, Hyun Bin’s schedule was packed with a press conference, one-on-one interviews, photo sessions and the much-awaited meet-and-greet with his fans.

On Aug. 9, his schedule was again packed with photo shoots, with the last one at the Chairman’s Villa of Solaire.

Sunday, Aug. 10 was his last day in Manila, which he spent playing golf again from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. He left Solaire at 10 in the evening for his flight out of Manila.

In between his busy schedule, he exercised daily at Solaire’s fitness facilities.

I’m not sure if Razon himself actually met with him but I learned that the tycoon’s wife Lizzie, whom I was told had seen "Crash Landing on You," actually met the Korean star and even gamely posed for a photo.

Interestingly, the crowd of fans who joined the meet and greet included some of Manila’s well-heeled crowd – construction magnate Alice Eduardo, beauty guru Vicki Belo, actress Sylvia Sanchez, Taguig mayor Lani Cayetano, Carla Tengco, the wife of PAGCOR chairman Al Tengco, media icon Charo Santos, Diday Zamora, the daughter of mining mogul Manuel Zamora and many other personalities.

How much did it cost to see Hyun Bin?

Solaire didn’t actually sell tickets. Instead, every P2,000 spent on all F&B outlets at Solaire Entertainment City and Solaire North qualified customers for one raffle ticket to Hyun Bin’s fan meet.

But lo and behold, a super fan spent P1.7 million on F&B and was able to get 850 tickets. Fortunately, she won 37 seats out of only 1,871 seats available.

Talk about the ultimate fandom.

For Solaire, bringing Hyun Bin to Manila was complicated as far as logistics and security were concerned but the payoff was more than just prestige.

For sure, celebrity visits like Hyun Bin’s can ripple through the economy, boosting hotel bookings, spurring dining and retail sales and generating viral social media posts from swooning fans.

Solaire welcomed Hyun Bin as its newest ambassador. Facing the press, the Korean star said he enjoyed the warm welcome in the Philippines and noted the luxury and prestige vibe he witnessed in the integrated casino resort.

I congratulated Michael Ray Aquino for keeping Hyun Bin safe. It would have been a nightmare if the popular actor, known for his portrayal of Capt. Ri – a member of the North Korean elite and a captain in the Korean People’s Army – had encountered trouble within Solaire’s premises.

It was all good, Michael Ray said, jokingly remarking, “Michael Ri took care of Capt. Ri.”

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