Red Dot Pinoys

NAIA tagged as world's worst airport, ouch!

2011-10-19T20:27:00.004+08:00

Oct 19, 2011

TERMINAL 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International has been voted the world’s worst airport this year 2011 by the online guide to sleeping in airports (http://sleepinginairports.net).

The online site has served as the guide and travel blog of the travel community for the last 15 years, and for sharing their airport sleeping experiences around the world. The site tells travelers on which airports they can sleep safely and comfortably, and which they should avoid altogether on their next trip. Since 1996 the online budget traveler guide has featured the best and worst airports in the world annually based on the comments posted by passengers and travelers.

Why Manila is the worst?

More from SleepingInAirports.net:

There will be numerous and long queues. Terminal is in bad shape. Earlier this year, some bad press regarding the state of the airport made airport officials promise to clean its Terminal 1 toilets and provide running water and soap. Imagine.... they actually had to "promise" to offer this! In May, a ceiling at Terminal 1 caved in, while over at Terminal 3 a report came out in early October 2011 stating that the 9 year old terminal was "structurally flawed".

We're not finished yet.....there's more.

Forget about sleeping in this airport! You will not want to even close your eyes here! Bribery and theft exists. Airport taxes are collected, but the money does not seem to go towards the betterment of the airport. Document holders have been told their papers are not correct, but a fee of x amount should clear up the matter.

In terms of facilities, visitors will have better luck at the newer Terminal 3, where it is clean, spacious and one can find an internet connection. However, one must remember that, as mentioned previously, the terminal itself has been deemed "structually flawed".

The terminals are lacking services such as left luggage and pay-in lounges for transit passengers. However, the one big plus is the Free WiFi in the "passenger movement" areas.

"I lost my cellphone between the drop-off at the entrance and the security check! The phone was in my side pocket of my handbag and this side pocket was slashed with a sharp knife! I mentioned it to the PNP officer and he referred me to an airport policeman. This guy had the guts to suggest that I go to the lost and found office and check if they found it. Long story short, he didn't even get my name and address to file a report and was just saying: ma'am there are many thieves in this airport. Just look after your belongings!"- Monette

“Several times I have seen [workers] trying to pocket trinkets and phones from bags while not allowing you anywhere near your bags.” – livingabroad

“The concession stand down at the gates was selling bottles of water that had already been opened, reused bottles with broken seals and they pretended to break the seal on the bottles when selling.” – living abroard

“Their arrival ramp is not user friendly because it slopes downward!! If you happen to be pushing your loads of baggages through this ramp watch out or your baggage might get to the bottom of the ramp before you!! “ – tiffycality

“I've travelled to many airports and have stayed overnight at some of them, but nothing compares to the experience at NAIA. In short, it's a horrible waste of time and you should all hold onto your wallets as tightly as possible. I especially advise any foreign travellers to avoid this airport, the amount of corruption and bribery is just mind blowing. “ – shizumasa

The 10 worst airports in the world (the top being that listed as No. 1):

1 Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1

2 Beauvais-Tillé Airport (85 km north of Paris)

3 Iceland’s Keflavík International Airport

4 Caravaggio Airport Bergamo Orio al Serio in Bergamo, Italy

5 Kyiv (Zhuliany) International Airport in Ukraine

6 Frankfurt-Hahn Airport (Germany)

7 Luton International Airport (England)

8 Pisa Galileo Galilei International Airport (Italy)

9 Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris

10 Los Angeles International Airport.

Corregidor

2007-10-29T23:32:00.000+08:00

Corregidor is said to be one of the most haunted places in the Philippines. Some people reported of hearing moaning, footsteps, and other noises inside the hospital ruins and old bunkers.

Perhaps, these "experiences" can be attributed to the fact that several men died in Corregidor when it became the headquarters of Gen. Douglas MacArthur's Allied Forces during the Battle of the Philippines (1941–42) under WWII.

Its Malinta Tunnel was initially used as a bomb-proof storage and personnel bunker but later served as a 1,000-bed underground hospital during the said war.

But beyond these ghostly tales, one cannot argue the beauty of Corregidor and its importance to the country's history.

It is just 1 & 1/2 hour boat trip from Manila and the largest of four islands protecting the mouth of Manila Bay, the finest natural harbor in the Orient. American servicemen dubbed it as "The Rock" or the "Gibraltar of the East", in comparison to the peninsular fortress that guards the main entrance to the Mediterranean Sea between Europe and Africa.

During the above mentioned war, the Japanese had to take Corregidor because as long as the island remained in American hands, they would be denied the use of the Manila Bay, thus failure to conquer the Philippines.The fall of Corregidor to the Japanese forces was instrumental in the subsequent capture of the Philippines and the retreat of the United States in the early stages of the war. It was from Corregidor that MacArthur left for Australia where he subsequently said his famous speech, in which he said "...I shall return."

So in your next trip to Manila, spend a day or two in Corregidor. Tours from Manila include boat transfers, an island tour, admission and terminal fee. Enjoy a jeepney guided tour of the devastated military buildings, cannons, and numerous war monuments. The island also offers a good view of the Manila Bay. Stay overnight at Corregidor Hotel or Lodging Row House.

Of course, my most favorite part, try the Malinta Tunnel Night Tour which is only available to overnight tourists. Explore every inch of the tunnel and switch off your flashlight (the guide will actually ask you to, :D bwahahaha) to “feel” the moments that happened inside the tunnel during the war.

More about Corregidor:

Some travelogs:

Books on Corregidor:

Corregidor: The American Alamo of World War II: by Eric Morris
Ghost Soldiers: The Forgotten Epic Story of World War II's Most Dramatic Mission

Aerial view of Corregidor

White lady at UST Hospital

2007-10-26T15:48:00.000+08:00

Philippine's University of Santo Tomas or UST is one of the world's largest Catholic universities in terms of population, it was founded on April 28, 1611 by the Spanish Reverend Miguel de Benavides. Growing up, I heard a lot of stories about ghosts that haunt the campus and hospital. I remember a story about a headless padre (priest) who was often seen by students peeking through a window in one of the buildings.

Recently, I stumbled upon this video about a white lady captured on camera at a ward in UST hospital...

The deteriorating state of Manila Zoo

2007-10-04T14:54:00.000+08:00

As the world observes Animal Day on today Oct-4, a discussion rages about the state of animals inside Manila Zoo.

“The animals at the Manila Zoo are treated like prisoners, even though they've committed no crime. These animals are bred or captured for a lifetime of loneliness and misery, and the best way to help stop the suffering is to boycott the zoo,” PETA director for Asia-Pacific Jason Baker said.“It’s really sad,” said Mona Consunji, board secretary of the Animal Welfare Coalition, of the Manila Zoo’s current state. “That elephant, I think is already going crazy,” referring to Mali, prancing about in his small pen near the gate.

“If you watch that elephant for 30 minutes, you’d see that it’s doing the same thing over and over again,” she said.

Consunji said zoo animals should just receive better care, and proper space --certainly lacking in the 5.5-hectare area along Adriatico and Mabini Streets in Malate, Manila.

Click here to read the full article in Inquirer.