We received a lot of messages from readers reacting to yesterday’s column about the robbery at the NAIA I. One reader said that from what he knows, airport security operates a 24-hour video monitor of how checked-in luggage is handled and should be able to spot if a bag was pilfered. The video is erased after a week so if the theft was done last Friday night, the video is still recoverable.
Another reader wondered if the robbery was done at the Hong Kong airport. I doubt it very much because the delay was at departure, not arrival. The bags were quickly on the carousel at the Hong Kong airport and there couldn’t have been time to rummage through Menchu’s things to pry out the camera under a lot of clothes at the bottom of the luggage. In contrast, the Dragon Air flight was delayed leaving Manila.
Still another reader wrote: “Nakikiisa kami sa inyo ni Menchu sa pagkawala ng napakahalagang bagay na naging kabahagi na ng inyong buhay. Sana maibalik, kahit sa anong paraan, ang memory card na naglalaman ng mga ginintuang alaala. Marami talagang ahas diyan sa gubat ng NAIA I. Dapat na mapatawas nang lugar na ‘yan. Puno ng demonyo.”
By the way, on our return from Hong Kong, we were greeted in the airport by a video on TV monitors announcing NAIA’s slogan “We Go the Extra Smile.” But we didn’t see too many immigration officers smiling as they went over passports of passengers in long queues. Believe it or not, when we cleared immigration, we were shocked to find out there were no baggage carts left. What happened to them? A porter said they were all carted away but why couldn’t anyone bring them back?
There was no TV monitor showing which carousel would bring out our bags. I asked a tall lady inside a large information counter and she didn’t know either. Here was an information staffer who had no information to share. A porter overheard us and pointed to a carousel with a sign saying it was for bags from New Delhi. There was no sign showing the carousel was also for bags from Hong Kong. But several minutes later, our bags came through on the carousel with a New Delhi sign.
Corruption, poor facilities, mismanagement and indifference are the trademarks of NAIA I. Menchu and I are victims of a NAIA thief and we’re witnesses to gross inefficiency at NAIA I. This harrowing experience will be difficult to forget particularly as we went on the trip to Hong Kong to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary.
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Graham Lim is stateless and the man who remains secretary-general of the discredited Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) said recently he wants to apply for Filipino citizenship. He was imprisoned for seven months two years ago for allegedly falsifying public documents.
“I suffered in jail in Bicutan where my cell neighbors were foreigners accused of grave crimes and even former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr.,” said Lim. “My father was born in China but my mother was born in Tugegarao. I was born in the Philippines. Now, I realize my parents never fixed my citizenship and I took it for granted. But my Filipino passport was issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs. My passport is genuine. When I was declared stateless, even the NBI couldn’t classify my status because their computer program only recognizes countries. I am able to travel with a document issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs. I plan to formally apply for Filipino citizenship. I couldn’t be deported because no country would accept me. I am not from China or Taiwan.”
Lim said his Chiang Kai Shek classmates took care of his family while he was imprisoned. “I am grateful to my friends,” he said. “My wife and two children wouldn’t have survived without their help. My son is now 16 and going to college while my daughter is 13. Right now, I receive a salary as a consultant with the Federation of School Sports Associations of the Philippines under president David Ong.”
Lim was with the Philippine delegation of 58 athletes and 36 officials at the Universiade held in Shenzhen last August. The Universiade recognizes the federation as its official Philippine affiliate. There were 150 countries in the conclave that featured 306 events in 22 sports. Of the 150 countries, 65 collected medals and 42 at least a gold. The Philippines limped back home with a single medal – a silver from taekwondo’s Samuel Morrison of FEU. The Philippines competed in swimming, basketball, table tennis, badminton, chess, archery, beach volleyball, athletics and taekwondo. The contingent’s flagbearer was 6-10 center Junmar Fajardo of the University of Cebu whose varsity represented the country in basketball. The Cebu squad lost all its five games and even forfeited its game against South Korea in the consolation pool to go home.
Lim said the federation is linked to over 1,000 schools all over the country. If the federation is accountable for the Philippines’ showing at the Universiade last year, surely a change in direction is in order. The Philippines was a disappointment in Shenzhen.