Around the World in 27 Hops

Manila, the Other Side of the World

Hop 20

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I thanked Mr. Legaspi several times as I handed him my Visa card. In his office I was able to check the weather which was fine for this leg. Since I was flying east to west, and a long leg at that, I had to make sure the winds were acceptable. I didn’t want to fight strong headwinds the whole way.

I set off early for Manila. As I climbed out, I looked back at Guam, green and blue in the tropical sun. It was the last bit of land I’d see for almost six hours. I set the engine for max endurance cruise and settled back. I was high enough that even here, near the equator, it was cool. The only thing I had to do was keep the plane on course and at altitude. It was a long five hours. As I got close, I began to see the mountains of the Philippines rise from the sea. If you ever had any doubt the world is round, ride a plane in from the sea and watch as the mountains rise up like giants from the sea.

I crossed the small bit of island and began my descent into Manila. I rolled out over Manila harbor. There was the island of Corregidor and the Bataan peninsula, the last hold out of the Americans when the Japanese invaded the Philippines. That was where the Japanese should have begun to realize this wasn’t going to work out well for them.

The Japanese Army projected it would take them two months to conquer Luzon in the Philippines. McArthur and the Americans, with Filipino regulars, retreated to the Bataan Peninsula and the island of Corregidor. They fought the good fight without any air support. The Japanese constant bombardment from the air turned the tide. But the Americans and Filipinos had made the Japanese pay dearly and it took five months instead of two. Those additional three months wrecked the Japanese time table. We’ll never know for sure but those three months probably made the difference in allowing the allies to get ready and in the battle of the Coral Sea a recently repaired US aircraft carrier Lexington was able to turn back the invasion of Port Moresby, the first allied victory of the war. The sacrifices of the men in Bataan and Corregidor made that possible.


That night, I took a ride out to Olongopo city, called Po city by the navy. It is infamous in the service for its girls, bars, and filth. Many a US serviceman remembers Po city and the little brown fucking machines in the bars. Since there were no Navy ships visiting, Po city was almost deserted and even tawdrier than I could have imagined.

The few girls in the bars were more than happy to see me, but there was sadness in the squalor. I think had the bars been full of guys, the energy would have hidden the ugliness, but here alone nothing could hide it. I couldn’t even get it up to try one of the girls. I had the cab wait for me and within an hour I was heading back to Manila. I took a long shower trying to wash Po city from my pores.

I showed up early for the flight on my next hop which would be Taipei. As I walked up to the plane I was surrounded by a bunch of police. One demanded my papers. I showed him and in bad English he informed me I was under arrest. I wasn’t handcuffed or ill treated; I was simply arrested and taken down to police headquarters.

I was shown into the Captain’s office. I sat. He picked up a file and calmly said. “I’m sorry but my men found drugs on your plane.”

I was stunned. “That’s not possible.”

“Oh yes. Quite possible. The penalties for drug smuggling are severe in the Philippines,” he informed me.

“I want to speak with the Embassy,” I demanded.

“Oh do not worry. I will of course contact your Embassy, before the trial as required by law. But when your trial will be…” he shrugged, a vicious smile on his face. He sat back and let me ponder. I stewed for a bit, then the rat bastard continued, “For ten thousand, cash, for bail, you will be free to leave.”

I fell back in my chair. It all became so clear. This was a pure and simple shake down. I was stuck here in this rat infested jail for God knows how long unless I gave this brigand ten grand. I had no idea how long he could hold me before he’d have to turn me over for trial. And I had no idea if they really had planted drugs on my plane, then ‘found’ them.

“I’ll write you a check…”

He held up his hand. “No, that is not so convenient. A wire will do nicely.” He looked at his watch, “The United States is asleep now. But soon it will be morning. East coast or West coast?”

Christ, the guy had it down to a science. “West coast.”

He rapped on the table and the door opened. A man took me off to another room to wait until morning in America. I sweated and fumed, wondering if I could escape and make it to the plane. If I did I would come back and strafe this shit infested…

I had lots of time to plan my revenge. A lot of good it did me.

That night, the Captain had me brought back to his office. I had the money wired to me at my hotel, no way was I going to wire it directly to him. But he still had my plane and me so I was a hostage. I had set up a special one time password with my bank, the Big Ten sucks, which made the girl giggle, but got the wire sent to the hotel.

The Captain was smiling as he released me to house arrest at the hotel. He was careful to tell me the plane was guarded so it was staying even if I tried to leave. The phone in my room didn’t work. I went downstairs and saw one cop watching my every move. The money arrived in the morning and I picked it up at the front desk. Surprise, but the Captain was waiting in the restaurant and waved me over for breakfast. I handed him the envelope which he didn’t even open. As he stood he said, “Please, come again to the Philippines.”

I held my tongue as he smiled and left. I grabbed my stuff and went straight to the airport. My plane was unguarded. I climbed aboard and started her up. I hadn’t even filed a flight plan but I was getting the fuck out of the Philippines.

Note from the author: If you think this stuff doesn’t happen, think again. I once received a frantic call from one of our account holders and had to wire money from their mutual fund to the Philippines directly to the police chief to get a customer released in what was a shake down. He flew home the day after the wire arrived. He was extremely thankful that we had wired the money. Other countries, other rules. Be careful out there kiddies.

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Copyright Rod O'Steele © 2008