Roamer’s Roundup

APEC 2015: A Postscript

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It was an interesting week here in Metro Manila as the metropolis was host to one of the most high-profile international summits to be held here, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

As was explained here in a previous post, the APEC summit is an annual event in which 21 economic leaders converge to talk about various economic issues, as well as other matters that affect the Asia-Pacific region.

the 21 APEC economic leaders in their traditional family photo with the barong as attire (photo courtesy of GMA)

This year’s summit is an interesting one, not only in the light of the US-China relations and China’s moves in the region that is causing worry, (something I touched upon in that aforementioned post) but also in light of what happened in Paris a few days before the summit in which terrorists said to be belonging to the group ISIS/ISIL stormed different venues in the city and killed hundreds in the process.

And as the days went on during the summit, there was that lingering fear that Manila would suffer a such terrorist attack that would endanger the lives of the people in the metropolis, and especially the delegates in the city for the APEC summit. Thankfully, such an attack did not happen.

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Woe NAIA

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Ninoy Aquino International Airport or NAIA, Manila and the Philippines’ premier gateway is in the spotlight once again. Sadly, it is not that type of spotlight that would showcase this oft-derided airport in the positive light.

This comes with after repeated incidents of passengers being caught by airport security ostensibly because they were carrying some bullets in their luggage upon inspection, a charge being denied by the passengers involved and are in turn crying foul over them being framed for the crime.

(courtesy of Trending News Portal)

These incidents have become known as “laglag bala” or dropped bullet incidents, a new low for the airport whose reputation has been in the low for quite a while now.

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From Padre Faura to EDSA: The Iglesia Ni Cristo Mobilizes

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The past few days have been quite crazy to say the least. And I’m sure “crazy” is an understatement as to what we are witnessing at this moment.

It all began last July when religious group Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) was rocked with an internal crisis as some members, including relatives of the current executive minister of the group Eduardo Manalo, came forth and exposed the corruption going on there.

Iglesia Ni Cristo’s Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo

It would seem this is all an internal matter for the INC to deal with. That was, until allegations of abductions and serious illegal detention were raised by one of its members.

This prompted an investigation initiated by the Department of Justice (DOJ) under Secretary Leila de Lima. Something the INC did not like on the basis of meddling of the INC’s internal affairs (whatever that means) and the fear of bias the DOJ will have against them.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima

Thus, last Thursday, August 27, which happens to be the birthday of Sec. de Lima, hundreds to an estimated thousands of INC members decided to celebrate her birthday by staging a protest in front of the DOJ Building along Padre Faura Street in Ermita, Manila against the DOJ’s violation of the principle of “separation of church and state.” Again, whatever that means.

the INC protesters at Padre Faura and their birthday greeting to Sec. de Lima (courtesy of GMA News Online)

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Roundup Bits: Things “Going” On This Week

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So many things have been going about these past few days around the metropolis that it is proper to do another edition of the Roamer’s Roundup. This edition is packed with many interesting stories around the city; check them out below for the lowdown.

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