17th of May 2025
I lived in the metropolitan region that encompass the capital city of the Philippines. On one of the highly urbanized northern part but the southern part of where the Bonifacio monument stands.
The first time that I’ll flew out 13-14 hours straight. It was early afternoon on the way to NAIA, out Metro Manila Airport. in Manila Bay. As I look out the window, knowing that I’ll be missing the place where I grew up to be an adult. The traffic jam, noice, fumes since most of the jeepney use diesel gasoline, and the food. My brother dropped me off, and I was three hours early to check in. We decided for them not to wait, because of the traffic jam for it’s a Saturday. A crew helped with my local brand luggage, and as I enter our Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the space was crowded with people. It started with the x-ray and one of the crew asked if I have food inside. It was a lot of x-ray machines that needs to pass though as a traveler. It’s been a while since the last. It is not as organized as I remember, when I pass by their shopping area. I kept on walking till I find the area where I can wait while charging my devices and served mini buffet. Till the time when I need to wait by the on-boarding area. The building was named after our former president Ninoy Aquino preceding his assassination.
When I got to immigration it went smoothly except for their computer. The officer looks very asian, as Filipina terms it. A “chinito”, with his pronunciation and sentence delivery, he grew up in United States. He was facing the screen, when it suddenly blacked out. Being “makalikot” was useful, so I helped in tightening the plug, the one at the back part of the monitor. It was loose, the usual dilemma of employees in the corporate arena. But because of my laughter, another officer walked towards us with a discerning look. That’s all I did, I helped out a American – Asian officer. The space was vast, it was a long walk towards the exit. It took me a while to get my luggage, I asked around, when I came across a Filipino ground employee. For I can’t seem to find the exit. I don’t usually use a cart, I let my luggage roll with me.
NAIA or Ninoy Aquino International airport was once a US Air Force base in 1919, and in 1941 a British Royal Air Force arrived. In 1948 it was in transition to the Philippines as civil base. It was occupied by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in World War II, and shared the tales by our late “ditse.” She told us those times, when they need to dig like burial for them to hide in. Till there was this young Japanese with a sword, when she shared her tale when she was still a child back then. She was uncertain if it was a Samurai, but he helped her to escape. There was even some stories older than her, experiences of their older siblings and that was before the Japanese. There is another side of that story, a tale from my late grandmother from another side of the family. They welcome the Spaniards to their homes. Now at present time, everyone became friends and somehow connected to each other, more than just the similarity of cuisines.
By: Khristine Dizon